Just try not to think of how covered in sweat everything is. via Facebook

For people of a certain age, the Market Hotel was the ultimate DIY venue in Brooklyn. Maybe even in the world. Well, OK, maybe that’s a little bit of an overstatement. Still, the Market Hotel was really cool, and was shut down too early by Bloomberg’s fun police. They’re cleaning things out there now, and will be having a tag sale this weekend, so maybe you can own a thing that you sat on looking bored because you thought that made you look cool. (more…)

Mermaid Parade ready eyeshadow from the dollar store? Methinks so. All photos by Cat Agonis

As much as we adore all those summer moments on rooftops and in hydrant pools, it takes a little extra care to stay fly and fresh to death in the heat. That’s already hard enough when you’re hustling in this city, and time and money is always something you’re running short on. So you need to learn to take advantage of beauty product deals at your local dollar store, mine being Flushing 99 Cent Plus, on Flushing Avenue. Unfortunately since many things at the dollar store aren’t actually a dollar anymore, prices here cross the .99 cent threshold. But they’re still way cheaper than anything at Sephora or even Duane Reade where you have to spend upwards of $8 just for a flippin eye pencil. WACK. Anyway are we ready? Let’s do this! (more…)

Now when you get in a cab to go home, you can just point at your shirt!

It’s almost summer, allegedly, even if the best you can hope for from the weather right now is freezing your ass off in Citi Field’s cheap seats. Summer, of course, means going to thrift shops and finding basketball jerseys to wear both because they are comfortable and because they’re still timely, because the NBA playoffs last until around August or it feels like that anyway. What if you don’t want to go to a thrift store though, because they’re too dirty or you’re taking a (non-violent) stand against Macklemore? Well, Urban Outfiters has your back with their Bushwick jersey/tanktop thing! (more…)

What treasures await educated bargain hunters? via Flickr user emily geoff

I LOVE to shop, but this habit of mine comes with some unfortunate side effects.

In the past, I’ve hit up an outlet spot like DSW, thinking I’m getting a deal on some pair of Aldo boots or something that still comes out to like, 100 freaking dollars, and then 6 months later the zipper breaks and the heel pops off. Or there’s the time I spent $60 on some dress at Topshop, since that’s apparently the going rate nowadays for something that cost $2 to make, only to have the seam inexplicably unravel and leave me half-naked in line at some Duane Reade NOT within walking distance from my house.

F that.

I don’t know about you guys, but these betrayals, which always occur after I justify a higher-than-normal purchase price, are what caused me to look into other cheaper outlets to do all my shopping. And let me tell you, Brooklyn’s very own Fulton Mall is the place to Get. Shit. Done. The amount of times I’ve spent more than $30 on a single item are zero, and I’m still rocking things bought from years past. Here’s a little guide to help you save in your wallet and amp up your wardrobe, minus the morning after guilt. (more…)

CAN’T WAIT TO EAT THIS (via flickr user skelastic)

Don’t let the wind chill deceive you — the summer outdoor market season is VERY NEARLY UPON US, and this weekend marks the return of Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea! And thank god, because that artisanal BK-made salsa we bought last July has totally expired. Not that that’s stopped us… (more…)

Mombucha, just like Mom used to make! (via Zaarly.com)

Oh, Williamsburg, is there no end to your artisanal craft fairs? Between the Brooklyn Night Bazaar, all one million incarnations of the Brooklyn Flea and that overpriced clothing market you’ve got going on for “vintage” shoppers from Manhattan on N. 7th Street, we’re getting a little overwhelmed. So, yes, there’s a new bazaar headed to the Northside this Saturday, but this one really might be worth a visit: not only is it totally free to attend, but the organizers are giving you $20 to shop there! (more…)

Head down to Academy, and a few other stores, for your limited edition vinyl fix. via Facebook

We’ve been mourning the impending death of Williamsburg vinyl shop Sound Fix Records for the past few weeks, but there’s some good news for lovers of stores that sell music outside of the iTunes gulag: next month marks the return of the annual Record Store Day, in which independently-owned record stores nationwide celebrate their dying awesomeness with special record releases, meet-and-greets, performances and general record-related revelry. (more…)

Although, we guess you can hang out at the bar while the person shops for you. via Flickr user Urban_Lisa

So we’ve previously covered how much it costs you to to shlep all your crap home from Ikea (both a useful guide AND a window into Tim’s hairstyle at the time). But we’ve also gotten sage relationship advice from cupcake genius Allison Robicelli that included a whole paragraph on not going to Ikea. Fortunately for you, Ikea has a way to avoid both the shlepping and the fighting, and still get your stuff, but of course, it’ll cost you. For $99, you can give them a list of all the stuff you want, and they’ll both buy it for you and deliver it to you. So, the question is, is the Picking with Delivery service worth it? (more…)

Drink up, for freedom!

Jesus have we been thirsty lately. Ever since Nanny Bloomberg told us that we couldn’t drink soda in 48 oz. Big Gulps, the way that nature intended, we’ve been avoiding liquids in general. Of course, that makes washing down various Doritos-flavored tacos a little harder, and is constantly drying us out. But what else were we going to drink? What else was there?

Then an angel, in the form of a judge, told the Mayor he could sit and spin on his soda ban and gave freedom back to New Yorkers. But while we were watching the news, we heard something strange: people advocating other forms of liquid to pour into your mouth? This was news to us! So we set out on a price check: what do these things that are not soda cost to drink? (more…)

It’s there, just waiting…Via Armed Forces Pest Management’s flickr

Consider this your PSA for the day: Craigslist is a wonderful resource for finding many things, like jobs, apartments and that beautiful bearded man who smiled at you on the G train. But sometimes, we see things up for grabs on Craigslist that make us cringe, like ads for free and/or cheap mattresses and beds. (more…)