Cheap Chick Weekend Bonus Picks, May 30th, 2009

Came across a few extra events for the weekend, enjoy!
Saturday May 30th
Coney Island Tug of War
11 a.m., championship at 1 p.m.
Watch an array of groups including Wall-Streeters, fire fighters, police officers, Cyclone fans, and Wonder Wheel fans face off over the ropes.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Coney Island Beach (Between W 10th and W 12th Streets in front of Wonder Wheel)
Subway: D, Q N or F train to Stillwell Avenue (last stop)

A Very Brady BBQ
10 p.m.
Watch out for mysterious tiki idols and creepy men who talk to statues at this event with drink specials, BBQ, and music, though not, I'm sad to say, "Time to Change." Don't forget your 70's style Hawaiian shirt!
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Hope Lounge (10 Hope St., Williamsburg)
Subway: L to Bedford

Saturday May 30th and Sunday May 31st
Washington Square Park Art Spectacle
12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (both days)
Now in its 79th year, this outdoor art fair will feature more than 200 artists displaying and selling their paintings, sculpture, and photography.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Washington Square East and 12th Street
Subway: N,R,W to 8th Street

Cheap Chick Weekend Picks, May 29-31st, 2009

Friday May 29th, 2009
80's Karaoke and Dance Party
9 p.m.
Cuff those jeans, solve a Rubik's cube, and crimp that hair, it's time to get down with your 80's self, whether it's ALF, Punky Brewster, or Ronald Regan. At this party you can sing and dance to 80's tunes with DJ Claire Darko and Mike from The Airwaves.
Cheap Chick Info: $10
Location Info: Parlour (downstairs), 250 W 86th St. (corner of Broadway)
Subway: 1 to 86th Street

Saturday May 30th, 2009
Score! Gowanus Free Swap
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There's nothing (well almost nothing...) the cheap chick likes more than a good swap, bring on the flowered blazer, red scarf, and copy of Rocket Boys (all items I've found at swaps) and find your own hidden treasure. There will be music as well as refreshments, and craftsers who will help you recreate your finds, Bedazzler anyone?
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: The BKLYN Yard (400 Carroll St.)
Subway: F, G to Carroll Street, N,R to Union Street

Saturday and Sunday May 30th and May 31st, 2009
Lit Mag Marathon
Saturday: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m./ Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
This two-part event includes Editors Unleashed on Saturday, where editors will be reading from a variety of magazines and a literary mag fair at Housing Works bookstore on Sunday, where all literary magazines are just $2.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Saturday: DeWitt Wallace Periodical Room at the main branch of the New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street/ Sunday: Housing Works Bookstore, 126 Crosby Street (near Lafayette)
Subway: Saturday: D,F to 42nd Street/Fifth Ave., 7 to Fifth Avenue, 4,5,6 to Grand Central/ Sunday: D,F to Broadway-Lafayette/ Downtown 6 to Bleecker Street

Sunday May 31st, 2009
The Ladies Love Paris
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Enjoy a series of authors reading from books relating to the l'amour of Par-ee. The event includes drink specials and drawings for free books.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Flûte Gramercy, 40 East 20th Street
Subway: N,R,W to 23rd Street, 6 to 23rd Street

Central Park Japan Day
10 a.m.
This family-friendly celebration includes Japanese food, karate demonstrations, tea ceremony, music, and dancing as well as activities such as origami, calligraphy, and robot battles. You can even have your picture taken with Hello Kitty.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Central Park, East Meadow, enter at Fifth Avenue and 97th Street
Subway: C to 96th Street

Bang on a Can Marathon
12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Enjoy performances by a variety of artists.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street
Subway: E to World Trade Center

Salute to Israel Parade
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This parade will include shofar blowers, floats, marching bands, street performers, clowns, and jugglers, and motorcycles with Israeli flags.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: The parade starts at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street
Subway: N,R,Q,W to 57th Street

Cheap Chick Weekend Additions, May 24th, 2009

Hey all, sorry for the date mix-up in my weekend picks, they're now fixed, the days were all correct, the events were listed for the right day: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Anyway, I've come back with some extra events for the rest of the weekend! Here you go:

Sunday May 24th through Monday May 25th, 2009
Dance Africa Bazaar
Sun: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mon: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Check out vendors displaying wares from Africa, Caribbean, and African-American food, crafts, and fashion.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Near BAM, Lafayette Ave and Ashland Pl, Fort Green
Subway: 2,3,4,5,Q to Atlantic Avenue, C to Lafayette Ave.

Monday May 25, 2009
Beats and Barbecue: The Memorial Day Affair
4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Enjoy music and food from Kiss the Cook.
Cheap Chick Info: Food is free with beverage purchase, first-come, first-served
Location Info: Artland Bar, 609 Grand Street (Williamsburg)
Subway: L to Lorimer, G to Metropolitan

Green-Wood Historic Cemetery Ride
10 a.m.
A bike tour for folks just "dying" to check out the famous cemetery, which is usually closed to cyclists. This all-day ride is sponsored by the Five Borough Bicycle Club.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: The ride begins at 125 Canal St. in Manhattan
Subway: N,R,W,Q,4,5,6 to Canal Street

Revolutionary New York Walking Tour
1 p.m.
This Big Onion tour includes stops at Fraunces Tavern and Federal Hall.
Cheap Chick Info: $15
Location Info: Meet at City Hall Park (Broadway at Murray Street)
Subway: A,C,1,2,3 to Chambers Street

Free Screening of On the Town
12 p.m.
In honor of Fleet Week enjoy a movie at pedestrian-closed Times Square.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Broadway from 42nd Street to 47th Street)
Subway: N,R,Q,W,7,S,1,2,3 to 42nd Street Times Square

Cheap Chick Abbreivated (Pls See Editor's Note for Details) Picks, May 21st-23rd, 2009

Friday May 22nd and Saturday May 23rd, 2009
Kidnapped by Craigslist
8 p.m.
This comedy show finds its inspiration in actual ads found on the CL site combining them with script material and live music.
Cheap Chick Info: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Location Info: People's Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th Street
Subway: 1,9 or N,R,W to 28th Street

Saturday May 23rd, 2009
Mp 3 Experiment
4 p.m.
Get in touch with your inner conformist at this event organized by Improv Everywhere. Simply visit improveverywhere.com, download the instructions, transfer them to your iPod, and synchronize your watch to their atomic clock on their website, and then head to Roosevelt Island, and do everything you hear once you turn your headphones on all the very same time. Sounds scary, is Big Brother watching?
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Roosevelt Island
Subway Info: Take the Tramway!

Parked Festival
12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Enjoy all the street food you could ever want to eat out of a Styrofoam container or on a stick at this kick-off party festival.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: The BKLYN Yard (400 Carroll St)
Subway: http://www.atlanticyards.com/html/ay/subway_map.html

Sunday May 24th, 2009
Central Park Walking Tour
11 a.m.
Join Big Onion and explore the park's sites such as Sheep Meadow, Belvedere Castle, the Lake, the Ramble, Bow Bridge, Seneca Village, the Casino, and the site of the "rocking chair" riot.
Cheap Chick Info: $15
Location Info: Meet at Northeast corner of 66th Street and Central Park West, under the Tavern on the Green sign.
Subway: 1,9 to 66th Street, C to 72nd Street

Plus...
Fleet Week Activities!
Here's a link to a bunch of special Fleet Week activities!
http://gonyc.about.com/od/holidays/p/fleetweek.htm
Cheap Chick Info: All are free unless they are being held at the Intrepid Museum.

Lower East Side Festival of the Arts
Runs Friday through Sunday and includes more than 100 poets, playwrights, and performers.
For more info check here: http://www.theaterforthenewcity.net
Cheap Chick Info: Varies by event

Apologies for the short list, check back for more activities!

Editor's Note

Hi all,
I'm out-of-town for a personal family event with limited Internet access, so I'm going to do my best to post my Weekend Picks, but I'm not sure if I'll have full set of events for the holiday weekend by Friday, but please be on the lookout for at least some weekend picks throughout the next several days with info on what's going on!

Thanks for your understanding and I'll be back with regular listings next week! Also be on the lookout for my summer guide!

CCintheC

Cheap Chick Bargain Bulletin, May 17, 2009

In the Red Room, Redux
May 19, 2009
8 p.m.
If you missed out on the previous performances of In the Red Room: Every Woman / Dances for Someone, now's your chance to catch it a second time around!

The play is based on women's real-life stories and performed in a monologue format. Upcoming performances are May 26th and June 2nd, 2009.

Cheap Chick Info: $10, also get a 10% discount on meals more than $15, just say you're going to "in the red room." For tickets email: red.productions.08@gmail.com or call 646-678-3520.
Location Info: People Lounge, 163 Allen Street bet. Stanton and Rivington.
Subway: F, V to 2nd Avenue, F to Delancey

Cheap Chick Weekend Picks, May 15th-17th, 2009

(Remember that the Rooftop Films kick-off party is Friday, see my latest Cheap Chick Bargain Bulletin for details.)
Friday May 15, 2009
South Street Seaport Museum
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Enjoy guided tours of century-old ships, galleries of artifacts, and the historic district, along with a behind-the-scenes look at the Old Hotel, which is not open to the public yet.
Cheap Chick Info: Free, $10 for Old Hotel tour
Location Info: 12 Fulton Street
Subway: 2,3,4,5,A,C,J,M,Z to Broadway/Fulton/Nassau

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday May 15th-17th, 2009
New York City Tattoo Convention
Show off that ankle rose tattoo to other inked-up folks at this annual event.
Cheap Chick Info: $18 per day
Location Info: Roseland Ballroom, 239 West 52nd Street
Subway: C,E to 50th Street

Saturday May 16th, 2009
Lit Crawl
Event runs in two phases, one starting at 7 p.m. and another starting at 8 p.m.
Literature and bars, what more could you need? Gather at numerous venues for various readings then compare notes during the after-party at Fontana's.
Cheap Chick Info: Free! For complete schedule check here: http://litcrawlnyc.wordpress.com/view-the-complete-schedule/
Location Info: Various locations, Fontana's is located at 105 Eldridge St (between Grand and Broome)
Subway: D to Grand Street

You Bet Your Ass ("Where Q Gets You A")
7:30 p.m.
Rock and roll trivia meets burlesque at this variety show hosted by the cheap chick's friend Noah Tarnow and including a female sword swallower.
Cheap Chick Info: $5
Location Info: The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard at Stanton
Subway: F to Second Avenue

Saturday May 16th and Sunday May 17th, 2009
9th Avenue International Food Festival
9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Take a tasty trip around the world while sampling food from local members at this 20-block street fair.
Cheap Chick Info: Price varies, often food is available for as low as $2
Location Info: Ninth Avenue, between 37th and 57th Streets
Subway: A,C,E, S, 7, N, R, Q, W to 42nd Street

Sunday May 17th, 2009
Bust Spring Craftacular
12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Get "crafty" at this fair with 50-something vendors and demonstrations relating to growing your own food. This year's fair has a garden party theme and includes DJs, food, and drink.
Cheap Chick Info: $2
Location Info: The Warsaw, 261 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn
Subway: G to Nassau Avenue

Hip-Hop Lesson
1 p.m.
Learn the basics of hip-hop plus a special guest!
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Stepping Out Studios, 37 West 26th Street, 9th Floor
Subway: N,R,W to 28th Street

Farm Fest at Queens County Farm Museum
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Activities include sheep-shearing demonstrations, Dutch crafts and cultural exhibits, a spring plant sale, hayrides, historic house and greenhouse tours, food, pony rides, and a petting zoo.
Cheap Chick Info: $3
Location Info: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway
Subway: E or F Train to Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike Station
Q46 Bus (eastbound on Union Tpk.) to Little Neck Parkway Stop.
Cross Union Tpk and walk North on Little Neck Pky 3 blocks to Museum Entrance

Drums along the Hudson
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This festival features dance and drumming performed by Native American troupes as well as lectures and demonstrations promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle. You can also buy crafts and food.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Inwood Hill Park, Enter the park at Indian Road and 215th Street, four blocks
west of Broadway.
Subway: 1 or 9 to 215th Street

Cheap Chick Bargain Bulletin, May 13, 2009

Rooftop Films Kick-off Event
Friday May 15
Doors open at 8 p.m.
Fans of short films won't want to miss this kick-off event for Rooftop Films titled "This is What We Mean by Short Films." Normally I would wait and post this for my Weekend Picks (and it still might make an appearance there) but I've been told by my top-secret sources (alright an email) that the tickets are selling out fast. The night includes music by Cymbals Eat Guitars, screenings of "short films that don’t take long to astonish, amaze and inspire" including an animated short, tales of friendship, and even one about someone being hit by a meteor. Afterward you can check out an open bar after-party at Fontana's.

Cheap Chick Info: $9, for more information and to buy tickets please visit the Rooftop Films' website: http://newyork.going.com/event-592057;Rooftop_Films_Opening_Night_2009#
Location Info: On the roof of the Open Road Rooftop, Address: 350 Grand Street @ Essex
Subway: F to Delancey Street, F, V to 2nd Avenue

Cheap Chick Weekend Picks, May 8-10, 2009

Friday May 8, 2009
Petanque lessons
11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Learn how to play this ball game from La Boule New Yorkaise.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Bryant Park, 42nd Street and Fifth Ave.
Subway: F,V,B,D to 42nd Street, 7 to Fifth Avenue, 4,5,6,S,7 to Grand Central

Bingo with the Lunch Club
7 p.m.
No balls here, but plenty of B-I-N-G-O and pub grub.
Cheap Chick Info: $10 in advance or $15 at the event, can register here: http://www.thelunchclub.com/clubhouse/calendar.php?do=viewlcevent&e=2182
Location Info: Playwright Tavern, 202 W. 49th St between Broadway & 7th Ave
Subway: N,R,W to 49th Street

Found magazine party
7 p.m.
Come celebrate the launch of the magazine's newest anthology. It's also a benefit for the Institute of Collaborative Education.
Cheap Chick Info: $10
Location Info: ICE Theater, 345 East 15th Street
Subway: 4,5,6,L,N,R,W,Q to 14th Street Union Square

Saturday May 9th, 2009
Things That Go Bump in the Night Tour
7 p.m.
Find all those creepy, crawly, nocturnal critters that live in the park.
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Prospect Park, Meet in front of the Picnic House
Subway: F train at 7th Ave. station, 15th St./Prospect Park station and Fort Hamilton Parkway station, 2 or 3 train at Grand Army Plaza station, Q train at Parkside Ave. station and Prospect Park station, and the S train to Prospect Park station.

Earth Celebrations: Hudson River Pageant
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The main parade features giant 15-foot river species puppets, costumes representing oysters, seahorses, blue crabs, wetlands, river grasses, and over 70 species of local fish. The parade will be led by the local Hungry March Band, the Afro-Dominica Kalunga Neg Mawon Band, and a conch shell chorus. Music, dance, performances, songs, and poetry, including an Oyster Garden Planting Ceremony, Live Fish Release, River Cleansing Ceremony, and a Water Dance of Boats, highlighting the river, and its species, habitats, and issues, will be presented at the various piers and sites from Manhattan Youth on Warren Street to Gansevoort Street, in the downtown section of the Hudson River Park. (source: http://earthcelebrations.com/)
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Downtown areas of Hudson River Park
Subway: 1 to Houston Street, A,C,E to 14th Street, and 23rd Street

Friday and Saturday Night Movie
Screening of Some Like it Hot
Midnight
Some Like it Hot or not, "drag" yourself to one of these midnight screenings on either night.
Cheap Chick Info: $9.99 (or a penny less than $10.)
Location Info: Landmark Sunshine Cinemas, 143 E Houston St.
Subway: F to Delancey

Sunday May 10th, 2009
Tofu Takedown
4:30 p.m.
Calling all the veggies out there who missed the Chili Takedown, here's your chance to sample everything you could possibly want in tofu!
Cheap Chick Info: $10 to taste everything
Location Info: Highline Ballroom, 436 West 16th between Ninth and Tenth Avenues
Subway: A,C,E,L to 14th Street

Basic Canoeing Lesson
1 p.m.
Learn the basics of canoeing at this lesson.
Cheap Chick Info: Free, but first-come-first served, bring bottle of water, snack, and sunblock.
Location Info: Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Van Cortlandt Park. Enter the park at West 246th Street and Broadway.
Subway: 1/9 at West 242nd Street

Federal Reserve for Free

Beneath the city's subway lies the world's largest source of gold in the world belonging to 36 foreign governments, central banks, and official international organizations. I know it sounds like the plot the latest action movie, but you can actually see this gold on one of the free tours that the Federal Reserve of New York offers.

I admit that I was expecting flashing lights, spinning combinations, and numerous moving doors, but I was a little disappointed; the reality is a rather ordinary elevator that took our tour group down to a corridor that you might find in any office though some of the guys in my group joked that it actually smelled like gold down there. In front area where we left the elevator, there were some informative panels about the vaults and a movie about the history of the Federal Reserve.

When we finally saw the actual gold, it looked just like you'd expect from science book illustrations and cartoons. It didn't sink in to me how heavy the bricks of gold were until the guide pointed out dents in the concrete floor made when gold fell there. We also got to see tools used in in the measuring and loading of the gold.

The tour was a little shorter than I had thought it would be, but we did get a surprise gift at the end, which was fun. I was also able to look at some exhibits on the main floor of the Reserve, sponsored by the American Numismatic Society, which featured interactive displays with videos and quizzes about how checks work, ways to identify counterfeit bills, and historic denominations of money. One of my favorites was a bill from colonial New Jersey that said, "To counterfeit is death." I was surprised to learn that even during this current economic crisis more than 4 million bills totaling more than $105 million are shredded every day after being taken out of circulation. Before shredding machines were invented money was actually burned...something to think about.

Cheap Chick Info: Tours are free, but are offered by reservation only (for more specific information and to make reservations please visit: http://www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/ny_tours.html) Monday through Friday.
Location Info: 33 Liberty Street, between Nassau and William Streets
Subway: 2,3,4.5,A,C,J,M,Z to Fulton Street/Broadway-Nassau

Cheap Chick Bargain Bulletin, May 3rd, 2009

Hey all, just got the scoop on a event that sounds really cool as long as it doesn't get rained out. Here are the details:

30th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sample all things Asian including food, art, and music at this fair.

Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location Info: Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (42nd Street at 2nd Avenue)
Subway: 4,5,6,7,S to Grand Central Terminal

Editor's Note: Weekend Picks Now Posted

Please scroll down for Weekend Picks. Please note that the PEN festival also has a lot of events for the weekend.