Leaving a tourism short list for visiting friends and family

My sister and her family are coming to spend the weekend at our apt for Columbus Day. We won't be here (more about that tomorrow) so we wanted to leave them a few neighborhood spots to visit. Here's what's making the list:

• Bagel Talk bagel shop
  It's not H&H, but it's not H&H's prices either. While a bit divey, the bagels are great (the ones that Zabar's buys even) and they have a huge selection of cream cheeses, including tofu.
  
  
• American Museum of Natural History
  Yes, it's a huge tourist destination, but there's a reason for that. It's AWESOME! It's also close by. As a "suggested donation" entry, it's the perfect spot to stroll around and pass some time on the cheap. I've also found that if you're not careful, you might just learn something. Consider yourself warned.
  
  
• Buttercup Bake Shop
  The cupcakes are delicious and reasonably sized at this West 72nd street cupcakery. We used to frequent Crumbs on Amsterdam, but you could choke a horse with their oversized $4 cupcakes. The cupcakes at Buttercup are about half the size, with a price that matches. Buttercup was a refreshing change, and they offer a 20% discount for teachers (which will come as a nice surprise to my bro-in-law).
  
  
• Riverside Park, during sunset
  It's such a beautiful stroll when the weather is nice. It's probably getting too cold now. As a reformed Long Island boy, my heart will always have a soft spot for beaches and waterways and after summer the park's groupies make their exodus.
  
  
• The playground at 77th and Amsterdam
  We've been itching to take Pumpkin here since before we were even expecting her! My 9 year old niece and 3 year old nephew are going to have such a good time!
  
  
• Arties
  Arties pseudo-authentic Jewish deli, that has some eclectic foods, great soups and enormous onion rings. It's is a fun place to go and has a little something for everyone. Plus, it's fun to sit in their solarium and watch the passers-by.
  
  
• Central Park
  Pack a picnic and find a patch of grass. Head over to the CP zoo, or just find yourself lost in this 843 acre oasis.
  
  
• IMAX Movies
  Who doesn't want to see a movie on a 7-story tall screen? If the weather punks out, it might be just the thing to do. Head down to 67th and Broadway on a Friday morning or weekend morning and see that first-run IMAX movie at a discount.
  
  
• Jeckyl and Hyde Club / Mars 2112 / Other theme restaurants
  While these aren't everyone's favorites (I think it's something New Yorkers or adults are too cool for) I would have killed to eat here as a kid! The closest I had to a theme restaurant as a child was Chuck E Cheese, a restaurant who's theme is "Mice"... Ummm, yeah, well we have some of rodent themed eateries too, I guess...
  

As I make this list, I realize there are so many more places to share and love in this great neighborhood and city! I'd love to hear what's on your short list for when company visits.

Bravo Supermarket? Bravo, Indeed!

On my way home from work last week, I realized that there was yet ANOTHER chain grocery store on my commute: Bravo Supermarkets. I picked up an ad to check out with JC at home. Now, one might recall an equally promising discovery of Western Beef, a trip which ended in great sadness. Would Bravo be just another heartbreak to my tight-wadded longings? Could I recover from being as just another notch in Bravo's checkout belt? I couldn't resist. I put on my best game face and hit those sales like an 18-wheeler.

The ad lured us with the following stock-upables:

• 5lb bag of flour for $1.79.
  The same sized bag for JC's delicious homemade bread costs $3.29 at Fairway.
• 1 dozen Jumbo brown eggs? $1.50
  Fairway's jumbo white eggs rang up at $2.19 a week or so ago. Yikes.
  
• Boneless Chicken cutlets? $1.99/lb
  Geez, I haven't bought chicken cutlets at Fairway in a looong time. I think they were $3.69/lb last time I checked. Probably past the $4 mark by now...
  

Fairway has been my go-to supermarket for the past 8 years. I love it. If something is to be found there, chances are it's good. It's an experience (to say the least). I enjoy knowing where most everything is hidden in this bizarrely laid out, ever-changing labyrinth*. But the fact remains -- Fairway is too expensive for just about everything, and rarely has published sales.
*Interesting sidenote: Have you ever tried to find regular black peppercorns at Fairway? They do sell them, but they aren't in either place you'd expect.

Wouldn't you know it, Bravo came through with everything I came for except some Baggies that were on sale. The store was clean, the meat looked good, and it wasn't overly crowded. It's near the train I take home, so I'd call this a win! Bravo for Bravo! If I needed more convincing, they won me over again at the checkout when they printed out my receipt using both sides of the paper! By using only half as much paper to print receipts, I'd have to tip my hat to their clever act of eco-responsibility.

I shopped at the Bravo in 90-30 Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, NY (Between 90th & 91st St.)

As we speak, about 8 pounds of chicken are taking a cryo-nap until we choose to reanimate them. With the chicken alone, that's over $13 saved by not shopping at Fairway (given my rather conservative estimate of $3.69/lb.)

By reading this blog, one might think all we do is shop for food. I'd like to say that's inaccurate, but I'm actually writing this from the freezer section. Please don't stare. It's actually quite cold over here, and I'm regretting having worn such a light shirt today.

Recycle? Reduce!

While making dinner, I bumped my leg on the recyclables bag that hangs from a cabinet knob. It was overflowing. Again. I didn't feel any satisfaction this time in our 'green' efforts and didn't get the 'green glow.' While we are recycling, there is still quite a bit of waste. I began wondering if there was a way to reduce the amount of waste we have, recyclable or otherwise. One way might be to utilize more fresh fruits and vegetables in our cooking. That is not always the cheapest option, especially for a family now living on one income. When planning meals for next week I want to think more about the produce on sale and how we might center the meals around those items. Surely there are ways to be environmentally minded and frugal. If so, we'll find them!

Posted picture used under creative commons license from Flickr user caseyswest.

Happy Blog-iversary Free From Broke!

Today is Free From Broke's one year Blog-iversary! We love 'Broke, and it's not just because

• he lives in NYC!
  
• his wife is a teacher
  
• ... for the New York City public schools
  
• ... and is taking the year off to be home with the kids
  
• when you subscribe to his blog you get a secret message (How cool is that?!?)
  

But also because Free From Broke provides awesome financial insight and advice.

To celebrate 'Broke is having a contest and giving away amazon gift cards. See how you might get some of that action.

Posted picture used under the creative commons license from Flickr user emma. c.

Western Beef... I wanted to love you.

Last time I rented a car, I had to put that go-stuff in it (gasoline? I'm not very auto-minded), and found myself searching West End Avenue for one of those gasoline stores. Wouldn't you know it, I found a Western Beef! Had I found a local, fully functional discount grocery store? (Note: They do not sell the gasoline. Don't even ask. Trust me.)


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I told JC, and we searched the ads, and wouldn't you know it, they have some stellar deals. Ground turkey for $1.39/lb, 99¢ for 2/lb bag of onions, $3.99/48oz of canola oil, Silk milk for $3/half gallon... We headed out.

When we got there, the sale stars faded from my eyes. No ground turkey... onions with fruit flies... misleading sale items... A sliver lining to this cloud was that the butcher was very nice and ground us up some turkey on the spot. Our walk of shame home had only a few things from our list.

Despite a somewhat disappointing first experience, I think we'd try Western Beef again. It was kinda a schlep and not nearly as amazing an experience as I was hoping for. But if the deals were sweet enough, we'd consider the hike again.

Western beef has 21 locations in the greater NYC area. We went to the one at West 62nd and West End Avenue.