Does this place put you in the mood for love?

There comes a time in a couple’s relationship — and for some of you people it’s about two weeks in — when it’s time to flee the 17 roommates and upgrade to a love nest. In today’s edition of Awesome Cheap Apartments, we look at inviting one-bedrooms that will leave you enough money for the couples therapy you will inevitably need after moving in just to save on rent. First up (above): a light-filled 1BR in Sunset Park for $1,150, on the second floor of a walkup. Even if you’re solo, a joint like this will help you find a rent buddy real fast. What other cozy shacks beckon from our apartment listings? (more…)

The outside of Lioni, where they serve meat 140 ways.

Bensonhurst, like much of the rest of Brooklyn, is an area in flux. Take a stroll down 18th Ave. or 86th St., and you’ll notice that what was once one of the largest Italian neighborhoods in Brooklyn is becoming predominantly Chinese. Italian bakeries and Sichuan restaurants share the same block, and you’ll hear a mix of languages — Italian and otherwise — from the people on the street. But it’s still the destination ‘hood for all kinds of Italian food, from spleen sandwiches to cannoli, in our fine borough. Read on to see what you can find for under $10. (more…)

Joey Lynn and Christie fight a lot.

When I was approached to write a review for Brooklyn 11223, the new reality series airing on the Oxygen channel tonight at 11, I was excited about the opportunity to give a true voice to the native Brooklynites who live in areas sitting below a 5 on the cool-o-meter that has come to represent BK. As a woman who hails from the 11223 world (Represent! Avenue X and East 2nd Street!), I find we are often regarded as gum-cracking, cawfee tawking, and generally obnoxious – and well, that kinda pisses me off. I cannot tell you how many times people ask me if I have mafia affiliations because I have a deep Brooklyn accent and because I am Italian. I’m not exaggerating here. It happens on a regular basis. That’s like asking an Irish person if they’re an alcoholic. (more…)

For your Friday enjoyment, The Bensonhurst Spelling Bee starring Kelly Ripa, Lorraine Bracco, Tony Sirico, aka Shit Actors Playing Italians Say?

“Can I have the origin of the word?” “The origin of the word is from Borough Park, Brooklyn.”

Is this more or less offensive than the Brooklyn 11223 reality show coming to Oxygen network? Discuss. (more…)

Bay Ridge? More like NAY Ridge!

Attention enraged peoples of Bay Ridge, Gravesend and Bensonhurst — and we know there are a lot of you, judging by your comments on this post: You now have a public forum to express your distress at Oxygen’s latest stereotype-laden, girls behaving badly program Brooklyn 11223. As highlighted by The Bensonhurst Bean, Councilman Vincent Gentile and a group of “unnamed prominent Bay Ridge women” will host “a press conference in defense of our neighborhood” tomorrow. The protestors will meet outside of the Beyond Dance Studio 8717 Third Ave. at 11am to address their grievances with they say is the show’s crude and reductive portrayal of Bay Ridge residents, grievance including that the zip code isn’t even in Bay Ridge. Well guys, now you know how New Jersey feels.

[UPDATE: Due to popularity, the deal has been extended throughout August!] Fried food and beer go together: we know it, your old man knows it, the Brits know it, and even the folks down there in Bay Ridge know it.

Reader Allie passed on this great tip about Longbow Pub & Pantry in Bay Ridge which is offering a summer special: every order of fish and chips comes with a pint of any of their 12 draft beers.

The deal lasts through the end of the month August and is good every day, all day long. It’s sort of like a reverse of the pizza-and-a-beer deals we’re all used to (which is no longer available at The Charleston, btw. Sad face).

Since it’s a classic Italian tale that works wherever it’s set, we imagine a South Brooklyn version of  Romeo and Juliet should go over especially well. Bensonhurst is where the Genesis Repertory Ensemble calls home, and their season-opening production is set right there on the company’s own turf. Genesis has been setting classic plays in not-so-classic settings since they debuted in 1999 with Hamlet in Kennedy-era Washington D.C. Romeo and Juliet opens this weekend (Fri., May 7 & Sat., May 8) with a Russian-Jewish Romeo and Palestinian Juliet. We’re not sure if Little Italy comes into play—maybe that would have been too easy. (more…)

When the weather’s nice, there’s nothing like heading to a new neighborhood. Or, if you live in Bay Ridge, then it’s awesome when you have a reason for your friends to come to you. Like this weekend, for the art expo, craft show and live music of the Bay Ridge Festival of the Arts. The fest opens tonight with a reception and live jazz, and events (raffles, plant sale too) run through Sunday. The thing’s been going on since 1968, and the folks behind it provide scholarships to help local high-schoolers pursue a college degree in the arts. Here’s the full schedule: (more…)

BEFORE my $10 blow-out

You could pull your hair out looking for cheap beauty services in New York. Take, for example, the blow-out. It’s a basic treatment that runs upward of $45 at popular salons like Beehive and Woodley & Bunny, and Slope Suds is right there at $40+. So, when I heard that there was a Daily News-approved salon in Bath Beach, Brooklyn offering blow-outs for a measly $10, I was more than willing to brave the freezing one-hour subway ride from Williamsburg for the good hair deal. After all, there isn’t a cheap-o hair experiment I’d ever pass up. (more…)