It’s September, which means school’s back in session and Fashion’s Night Out is back for a second year. Originally created as a way to help recession-addled fashion retailers, this year’s slate of Vogue-sponsored shoptastic events spreads to Brooklyn neighborhoods like Mill Basin, Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst in addition to more expected nabes like Williamsburg and Greenpoint. You may not see the likes of Michael Kors out here (he’ll be at Bloomingdale’s), but chances are there are some stylish goings on near you: The FNO web site very conveniently lists events by neighborhood (we like the ones with booze and freebies). Here are a few of the Brooklyn shopping spots we’ll be checking out on Friday night: (more…)

Free eye exam

You know that dreadful time: Your prescription is expired, your contacts are way past their three-month life-span and that inevitable eye exam… is just one big, foreboding dollar sign looming on the fuzzy horizon. So, as with any routine doctor’s visit for the insurance-less, it’s time to price-check. What we’re looking for: an eye exam, for contacts, for less than $100. Here’s what we found so far: (more…)

Get your own "yes" man for $5

Would you go all Marilyn Monroe for a friend’s birthday for $5? Or maybe even take the ultimate blame at the party? Well, someone will be rakin’ it in for those services-rendered. And they’ll be doing it through Fiverr.com, a new marketplace site for anything and everything that could possibly be worth a good-old Abe Lincoln. Think of an all-for-$5-Etsy, of the mostly-intangible, with a little Twitter-aesthetic thrown in—that’s Fiverr. (more…)

Occasionally we find a coupon actually worth all the printing, filling-out, even mailing-in hassle. This one: a $20 mail-in rebate from Olay when you spend $50 on any facial moisturizers, facial treatments or cleansers. The downloadable form’s here, along with a few other Olay offers. And while we were on the topic, we decided to peruse other cosmetic brands to see what deals they had too. While nothing else was as sweet as the $20 rebate, freebies and samples did abound. (more…)

Photo by architekt2.

If you’ve been lobbying Craigslist to start a  “green jobs for foodies” section, take a break and try this place instead. Sustainable Food Jobs is a new job-listing site dedicated to, yep, you guessed it, only jobs in the sustainable-food sector. Started in November last year by a college grad who wanted to work sustainably, but didn’t know where to look, the site lists jobs nationwide with non-profits, farms, restaurants, grassroots organizations and anywhere else a green food-related job is likely to be had. The listings are organized by region and by type, with the “Northeast”  section showing three NYC-based jobs posted this week alone (forager, culinary assistant and farm food delivery associates). The culinary assistant opening is a Park Slope gig, by the way. (more…)

Greenpoint artists, your Brooklyn Public Library branch is calling. The Friends of Greenpoint Library are seeking local art to stock the library’s spring benefit: an art show and silent auction this Saturday, May 1. The show is called the Greenpoint 100, and the organizers are looking for 100 under-appreciated (or fully-appreciated) Greenpoint Gauguins to help line the walls. All you artists will get some love and maybe even a cash prize, and the library will get some much-needed support. Non-artists should stop by too and, you know, actually bid on something. (more…)

Dancers from the Cynthia King Studio and their vegan slippers (and a sheep).

We’re actually being told to “be there or be square” for the Greenwood Playground Spring Flea Market and Tag Sale on Saturday, and we’re inclined to believe it. This is no ordinary flea the Friends of Greenwood Playground have put together, but a MEGA-Flea, with live music, live dance from the Cynthia King Studio, discounts for local restaurants, prizes, a book-swap and even worm-composting lessons from the Botanic Garden. And, oh yeah, probably a ton of stuff to buy from the vendors selling “treasures, joyous junk, and everything in between!” All this, from 9 to 5 at the playground. We’ll be seeing all you non-squares there.

Greenwood Playground, Fort Hamilton Pkwy at E. 5th St., F or G trains to Ft. Hamilton Pkwy.

If you haven’t yet started your windowsill garden, this weekend’s the perfect opportunity. Come to Ditmas Park on Saturday, Apr. 24, for a free plant swap, sponsored by the Flatbush Food Co-op and Sustainable Flatbush. The swap, from noon to 3, is exactly what it sounds like: you meet up, trade your expendable perennial or other plant and leave with a new leafy best friend. In fact, this is a swap of the best variety—you don’t even have to bring a plant to walk away with a new one. It’ll also be the place for trading gardening tips, whether you can’t keep a Chia Pet alive or you can help green another’s thumb. (more…)

What if Jack hadn't drowned? Could he have held a job?

Should you date the spendthrift? How about the eternal mooch—you know, the guy who uses deli napkins as toilet paper until his roommate breaks down and buys the real thing? We’re all for penny-pinching, but too much of it can doom your relationship. That’s what the excellent personal-finance site LearnVest says, anyway, in a post this week on the dangerous spending habits (or lack thereof) that should make you want to put your sweetie-pie, honey-bunch back on the shelf. (more…)

Anders and Regan's Powerhouse Arena wedding, photo courtesy of Brooklyn Bride.

Planning and budgeting a wedding can be a joyous, exciting, financially eviscerating event. That’s why Brokelyn Labs contacted local wedding planners, caterers, florists, photographers, bloggers, stationers and even Brokelyn readers to pull together this list of the most creative, “why didn’t I think of that” ideas to save money for your big day. From DIY catering schemes, to off-the-rack dresses, don’t get married without them. (more…)