Bargain Biatch

Eat Fresh, Summer Specials And a Bounty of Bargain Food

Organic and sustainable food is what’s hot and every greenmarket is bursting with the season’s bounty. All good, but wow, bargains on this just picked, fresh harvest, sprinkled with fairy dust food are few and far between.  I took a cruise Saturday through the Grand Army Plaza stalls and prices were double what I’d just seen at Rossmans, my favorite produce market in Sunset Park.  I make a weekly trip there and stock up everything from staples like clover honey, and canned goods to all kinds of veggies from basic greens to specialty cucumbers and fava beans in season.  And they have THE BEST tomatoes that actually leave your hands with that delicious earthy fresh tomato smell after you touch them. Then there’s a huge array of fruit including specialty melons all at considerably lower prices than the supermarket, the farmers market and even the Food Coop.  And nope it’s not all organic and nope, I don’t care.   But if you don’t want to buy or make your own farm stand food, take a trip to Rose Water restaurant and take advantage of their summer market menu.  From Monday – Thursday they’re offering 3 courses for $26 prix fixe, and add $15 for a wine pairing and let someone else be sustainable for you.

Sexy Summer Skin and Swimsuits on Sale

Going to shelve my Friday movie review to post about 2 time sensitive 20 percent off deals.

 

The first is from Bath and Body Works.  I always stock up during the semi-annual sales and get tons of hand and body soap.  Just recently I bought another haul and tried out all of the new scents that were green or came in a green bottle to match the green tiles in my newly renovated bathroom….of course.  Now through August 8 you can get an extra 20% off of any $25 purchase.  For in store follow the link and print the coupon and online it’s coupon code TWENTYOFF.  And yes they are having a sale, including anti-bac hand soap 5 for $15, 7 for $20 so with the coupon it’s basically free.

 

Second is Athleta, love the clothes, not so much the prices, but for the last few weeks they’ve been advertising their summer clearance sale.  Now as an extra incentive to move that merchandise, now through August 8, they’re taking an additional 20% off all sales items using coupon coed, HANG20.  So update your sporty clothes and splurge on some new bikinis and cover-ups since and summer isn’t over…but on Sunday, these sales will be.

Happy Hour: Drink Early Drink Often

In addition to constantly checking in with the Best App On The Planet, Cocktail Compass, which gives you up to the minutes info about Happy Hours in your area, I’ve just heard about a few other food and drink deals in my hood. First stop Olea in Fort Greene where you can indulge in some early bird eating and drinking.  The Mediterranean Taverna offers a generous Happy Hour with half price wine, drafts sparklers, bottled beer and Sangria.  And you won’t leave hungry, or sober because there’s a selection of $3-4 tapas and $1.50 oysters.  It’s perfect for a hot lazy day and hard to beat a dozen oysters and some Lambrusco.  Next Stop Cornelius, the Prospect Heights bar and restaurant where they’re offering a similar deal.  From 5:30 to 7:00 it’s blue points for a buck and $4 drafts and even if you order another side or a slider, it’s good deal for some very good food.  Then keep walking up Vanderbilt and cut across to James,  one of my favorite restaurants with fantastic drinks but a bit tough on the wallet. Now through Labor Day take advantage of a $30 three course prix fixe daily from 5:30 -7:00.  So grab your grandma or anyone else who doesn’t care for night owl dining and dig in and drink up.  Or lap yourself and stay out for the second round of Happy Hours that start up at 10pm.

Direct TV: Call and Demand Your Discount

It’s August and time for the midsummer call to try and lower my cable bill.  I’d phoned Direct TV a few months ago after a storm disrupted service and was told my receiver was basically as old a Betty White but not nearly as entertaining.  They offered an upgraded receiver with DVR and installation for free. They throw in a year of DVR service, regularly $7 per month at no extra cost. DEAL!..Unfortunately I had to cancel the appt, and when I tried to reschedule a month later, they NO DEAL! I was transferred to a customer service rep, and then her supervisor, both of whom sounded like they were working at a call center deep in the Ozarks.  No know hillbillies have to eat too, but were there no opening in the crystal meth shack.  Anyway after and unproductive conversation with Ruth Ann and Billy Bob, I was ready to cancel my cable.  Hey, I’ve got Netflix and Roku, the magic black to stream movies instantly, and figured I could find anything else on Hulu. So I asked for the cancellation department and the rep there said of course I could get the deal and said I was eligible for a bundled promotion with a 10 discount or $17 if I upgraded to DVR. So I scheduled and installation appt and will net a $10 a month discount and get a free DVR.  Seems good but coming up in a later post…..Brain Dead Service Tech:  The installation Hell!

 

Movie Review: Inception

What can I possibly add to the dialogue about the movie Inception?  I say this after seeing the movie and then having to search the Internet to find out what actually happened.  I went in knowing I couldn’t even blink too long much less take my usual movie siesta since the plot was …..complicated.  The basic premise is that technology has evolved so that people have the ability to manipulate dreams.  The main use is for extraction, where someone enters your mind and steals your ideas or buried secrets.  Dom Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio is the most talented of these “extractors” but also emotionally damaged due to the death of his wife from some sort of meltdown after an extraction job.  Cobb and his team are hired by the mysterious Saito, played by the VERY handsome Ken Wantanbae, for a new job, but for an inception, or the planting of an idea.  The tagline: “what’s the most resilient parasite? An idea” because once the seed of that thought or idea is planted, its spreads, sometimes virally and often has with unforeseen consequences.  There’s an elaborate set up of how to build the dream matrix including the hiring and training of a new architect (Ellen Page is hired).  Their mission is to implant the kernel of an idea into the mind of the heir of an industrial tycoon. What unfolds next is beyond explanation but is essentially the layers and plotlines of a dream within a dream within a dream.  Trying to keep all three scenarios straight is work but worthwhile. I found the movie thought provoking and kept me guessing until the end and beyond.  Phew! Must relax my brain and something by Pixar.

 

Yoga For The People...Cheap Or Free

100 degrees in the shade.  Add a blanket of ridiculously high humidity, then maybe some herbs and a splash of wine and I’m officially steamed.  So when confronted with the 4 H’s, hazy, hot, humid and hellish, what’s more refreshing than a 90 minutes of Bikram yoga? I know it sounds crazy, and probably is, but if you can find some Zen in the extreme heat, you can save money on the original hot yoga. To entice you into the oven-like room, and then get you coming back, Bikram Yoga park slope and south slope studios have a $20 first time special.  That’s for your first class and if you survive, you can come back as many times as you want for the next week at no additional charge. Hopefully you will find some benefit from twisting and bending in the hot stinky room (I did and do) and if so, you can upgrade your intro week into an unlimited month for another $80.  It’s a great deal and the perfect way for beginners to initiate their practice.  If you prefer your hot yoga au natural, Bend and Bloom is offering free yoga classes in Prospect Park Thursdays and Sundays.  Click here for more details and add some inner peace to so your summer doesn’t boil over.

Cheap Travel (Central) American Style

Due to the extreme heat, not only am I dehydrated, tired, I seem to have caught a travel bug. The only cure, researching my next vacation destination and healing myself with travel deals. Thanks in part to the Euro, which had dipped to an all time low last month against the dollar, Europe’s more affordable.  Even with a slight rebound, it’s still down, so boo hoo EU countries and yee-haw for frugal American tourists. The caveat is that flights prices are still relatively high.  To find a variety of well priced packages check out Central Holidays , they offer discounts by bundling air and are featuring a two eight day trip to London and Paris for $1000.

 

Sill the best deals are in South and Central America.  I can vouch for the deals and still talking about last year’s incredibly cheap and incredibly fun trip to Peru and Argentina. Recently I’ve noticed that Panama is getting a lot of good press. It’s made several top five lists for the best vacation spot and also cited as of the best places to retire.

Sounds good but if you’re not ready to permanently decamp and become a pensioner in panama, you can still take a trip to survey the scene.  Budget Travel recently listed a trip to Panama in their “Real Deal” roundup.  Right now $600 will get you a 4-night package including air, hotel and extras like daily breakfast a few tours. Contact Gate 1 Travel for all the info and then write the trip off as retirement expense.

 

Movie Review: I am Love

Ever since Orlando I have been in love with Tilda Swinton.  She gives off that cool androgyny and makes me want her as my bff, boyfriend and girlfriend. Couldn’t wait to see her in her new movie “I Am Love” in which she plays Emma Recchi, a Russian woman, hailing from a small village, who has married into an umber-wealthy aristocratic Italian family.  Bathed in luxury, she’s the head or her household and life revolves around overseeing and managing their massive estate and caring for her now adult) children.  It’s clearly a life of privilege but also tedium. What cracks her perfect veneer is an encounter with her son’s friend, a chef who dreams opening a restaurant.  As she falls in love, perhaps for the first time, we begin to see the depth of feeling and emotion that Emma has bottled up and her increasing dissatisfaction with her life. The movie is a beautiful meditation about love and letting go in order to open up and experience true passion.  In addition to fabulous Tilda, who speaks fluent Italian, Italy was also the star. From snowy winter landscapes to the Italian countryside, the cinematography was breathtaking and haunting. It was a beautiful and touching movie and a feast for the senses, and Tilda fans.

 

 

Cheap Eats Around Town

Eating well and saving money.  Those two things are not mutually exclusive and you don’t even have to shoplift at Dean & DeLuca or sleep with an old rich guy, unless you want to, no judgment.  Summer Restaurant Week kicked off on Monday but I didn’t bother to acknowledge the event till now.  There’s always plenty of time to treat yourself to tasty $35 prix fixe dinners ($24 for lunch) since they always extend the deal at least another week and sometimes till Labor Day.  If you’re looking for a round-up of the good cheap eats, pick up this week’s New York magazine.  Their awesome annual bargain dining issue is the frugal foodies bible.  In addition to lots of noodles, the favorites skew heavily towards ethnic cuisine, particularly Latin fare.  And there’s a special section for the best food trucks from “Frites ‘N’ Meats” to the “Big Gay Ice Cream Truck”….they should do a mash up.  So check out the online issue or shell out some money at the newsstand to keep a copy on hand.

Ole Ole Ole: Celebrate Spain's Beastly World Cup Win

GOAL!!!! To celebrate Spain’s World Cup victory over the Netherlands I plan to indulge in some Iberian food and drink.  Really just an excuse to visit my favorite Spanish (influenced) neighborhood restaurant Beast. Granted it not strictly a Spanish but the menu definitely has a Latin flair along with budget friendly prices. The vibe is friendly and there’s a lovely variety of well-priced Spanish wines to wash down the sweet taste of victory.  A good way to start is with a cheese plate for two. Fifteen bucks will get you a selection of three cheeses courtesy of Stinky Brooklyn served with a plate loaded with delicious accompaniments including, bread, fruit, nuts and fig paste.  And it’s only another $5 for 2 glasses of wine.  Entrées are very reasonable ranging from $10-$15 and are portioned like medium sized plates (larger than tapas but not ginormous).  I like the stuffed chicken breast but they also serve up a mean burger.  And your meal will not be complete without the sticky toffee pudding, big enough to share but don’t. Stop by for Happy Hour from 4:30 –6:30 and toss back $4 drinks and every Tuesday, bottles of wine are half off. And if your weekday social calendar is full, Beast has prix fixe weekend brunch, which comes with a cocktail ….as all brunches should.