What’ll it be?

In today’s economy, the bartender has it pretty sweet. He’s gainfully employed, doesn’t wake up early, wears whatever he wants, and probably has more Twitter followers than I do, all dying to know what kind of bitters he’s hand-making today. While it is a sweet gig, with tip money rolling in, ranging from a $100 to thousands a night from certain big spenders and a plenty of of hot drunk people to flirt with, the job seems to have become all-but-impossible to get without that New York City experience that you can’t get without already having it. So what are your best odds to landing a job on the other side of your glass? We asked the experts: (more…)

NYLAG Mobile Legal Help Center. via NBC

Sandy has left her victims with many questions as people try to put their lives back together: Do I qualify for FEMA assistance if I’m a renter? What about my car that was filled with sea water and pushed into a mangled trash heap? What can I do if my apartment is now unlivable because of flooding, wind, or falling tree damage?

New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) and The Legal Aid Society have dispatched mobile units to help victims of the storm deal with a wide range of legal problems, including completing and submitting aid applications, applying for food stamps, and dealing with housing issues. My NY Legal Help has an extensive list of resources to help you find the answers. Here are some quick FAQs, and how you can help if you’re a lawyer. (more…)

Volunteers in Coney Island, which still needs major help. Photo by Timothy Krause/Flickr

Who would have thought that Doctors Without Borders’ first-ever operation on U.S. soil would be right here in New York City—in Far Rockaway? Nearly two weeks after Sandy, our neighbors still need help. Here’s what you can do this weekend and beyond: (more…)

Do you have financial woes that can’t be cured with a couple extra shifts at Trader Joe’s? Like everyone else in Brooklyn, I’m banking on the eventual wild success of my book (no, seriously– I just have to write 50k more words then find a publisher, nbd). In the meantime, I’m constantly brainstorming ways to fund the lifestyle that provides fodder for me to write in coffee shops every day and not get a real job. When I saw For a Good Time, Call suddenly the answer hit me like a bag full of giant double-sided dildos: Phone. Sex. Operator.

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Gerritsen Beach, among other places, can still use your help. via The Daily News

Brooklyn! Great job volunteering this weekend. You nailed it! But there’s still more work to do and, to that end, here’s an updated list of places to volunteer. If we’ve missed something, please add it in the comments and we’ll continue updating this post. (more…)

Be a hero like this guy: bring a power strip. Via Reddit.

Perhaps certain retailers struck the wrong tone with their attempts to capitalize on Sandymonium, but not all New York City businesses are as shrewd. Several places are opening their doors for people who need showers, workouts, desk space or just a trip to the museum. Here’s some places you can seek out today if you’re still stranded without power/shower:

-NY Sports Clubs are opening their doors to anyone needing a shower, cell phone charge or bit of exercise after the storm. BK locations include Cobble Hill, Park Slope, Bay Ridge and Midwood. Details.

-Brightbox is offering free cell phone charging at Fifth Avenue and 28th Street in Manhattan. Details.

-Free coworking space (outlets, desk space, wifi, coffee, etc) is available at several locations. Find the list here. (more…)

Unsalvageable furniture after flooding in Red Hook. Photo by glynnmacn on Instagram.

Even if you were hyper-responsible and remembered to get renters insurance (thanks roommate), turns out weather related flooding is considered an “Act of God” (cue boiling blood) and is not covered anyway. While a week ago your basement apartment was filled with secondhand and Ikea junk, now it’s a den of gross black mold. Your landlord’s insurance policy will cover the structural damage, but your personal property is your own problem. Our Congresswoman, Nydia M. Velázquez, put together the following list of  contact information for federal, state, and city emergency relief and response programs to help you and your small business recover from this terrible disaster asap.  (more…)

A ray of hope over the Gowanus this morning. Via Conor McDonough/Twitter.

UDPATE: Check our most recent volunteering guide here for the latest volunteering info. We made it through this thing, Brooklyn, or at least some of us did. What may have felt just like playful building-swaying wind to you elsewhere materialized as deadly fallen tree limbs, a sprawling fire that destroyed 60 homes in Breezy Point and caused some as-yet-to-be-determined damage to our ancient subway system. So instead of sitting around acting out Hungry Hungry Hippos with your extra storm supplies, you could go do something to help the less fortunate. Councilman Brad Lander is looking for volunteers or evacuation shelters at John Jay High School in Park Slope and at the Park Slope Armory, for six to eight hour shifts. New York Cares is posting volunteer opportunities here too. And there’s more: (more…)

They wanna paint you up. Well, not these guys, but the stylists do. via Soul Culture

If you’ve been looking to drastically alter your appearance on the cheap, hopefully you’ve been reading the site lately. On the heels of our news about free Sailor Jerry tattoos comes word from the Twitters that swanky haircuttery The Parlour Brooklyn is looking for hair models for a hairpainting class. If you’ve got virgin, untouched hair or roots that are least 4 inches long, email info@theparlourbrooklyn.com to throw your head in the ring. As we’ve gone over before, you won’t necessarily get to do whatever you like with your hair, but free is free and you’ll be helping stylists perfect their craft for future customers. So it’s also a good deed too.

Don’t wake up to this. via Strong Girls Win

Missed out on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s free tree giveaway last weekend? Don’t worry about it, you still have a chance to get the foundation for the treehouse of your dreams. Somehow, the park didn’t go through it’s supply of trees on Saturday, so you, you lucky procrastinator, can get in the running for one by emailing them at brooklynbridgepark@bbpnyc.org. They’ve only got 35 left though, so be quick about it. If you’re too slow for those ones, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy is giving away 150 trees of their own this Saturday. If you’re on the fence about putting a tree in your yard, consider this: when the Ents finally come visit Brooklyn, they’ll be more likely to treat you well if they see you’ve been taking care of one of their cousins.