“If a poet has a dream, it is not of becoming famous, but of being believed.”
Brick Clips
Available at Lee Valley Tools
Available at Lee Valley Tools
“These handy clips let you quickly attach anything to brick without in any way damaging either the bricks or the mortar bond. Great for tying up vines, holding a trellis in place, or hanging wreaths on a brick wall. Clips securely snap in place by hand and each can hold up to 25 lb — no tools are needed for installation.”
I'm convinced that there are answers to every single one of life's problems, it's just a matter of finding those answers. This clip? Such a genius idea. Already bought two packs. They're $9/per 4-pack, which isn't crazy at all considering it's such a specialty item.
Autumn Punch Bowl
Of course this pumpkin-punch-bowl idea comes from Martha Stewart. OF COURSE IT DOES. She's better than us all - when it comes to parties and when it comes to living.
Love this idea.
Trader Joe's Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip
Sometimes it's okay to indulge in unhealthy, but delicious acts once in awhile. But for the most part, we can all be making better choices when it comes to food.
This Trader Joe's dip blew my face off, it was way more flavourful than I was expecting it to be. It tastes like it should be a terrible-for-you dip but somehow it isn't. And it's definitely better than any grocery store dip I've ever bought before. You have to try it. There's a copycat recipe for it here, but really... just go buy the stuff. (I mean, what the hell is dillweed? Is that dill? Is dillweed different? If it's the same, just call it dill!)
And for my Canadian readers, I know that Trader Joe's isn't in Canada, but if you find yourself in Buffalo at some point, I really think you should check out the Trader Joe's there. I'm not telling you to solely cross a border for this dip (though it IS cross-a-country-kind-of-good), but Trader Joe's has some great stuff in general. I'm sure you'll find a few things you wouldn't at Loblaws.
Later, dillweed.
Song of the Moment
If this song doesn't do it for you, you must be going through some stuff. In which case, I hope you get through it and someday come around to how great this song is.
“If you’re wearing lipstick, use concealer just outside and around your lips. It’ll brighten up that area and make the lipstick pop louder.”
Mind Over Matcha at Booster Juice
I feel slightly cheated that I've ONLY DISCOVERED THIS DRINK THIS YEAR. I can't believe that I've walked past many a Booster Juice for fifteen years - all the while this beautiful drink was sitting there, watching me, silently taunting my ignorance. I've never tasted a smoothie as delicious as their Mind Over Matcha. You have to try it. I didn't (/still don't) know exactly what matcha is and I never bothered to look it up since the word itself never sounded very appetizing to me. I couldn't have been more wrong. Drink this baby. Drink it hard.
(And is it not nuts that Booster Juice has been around since 1999? That seems a little wild to me.)
Pumpkin Float
I'm sorry but this seems like an adorable event. It happens in Central Park every year and it's pretty self-explanatory: you go to Central Park with a carved pumpkin and you set him afloat. You can find more details here.
Who the hell came up with this idea? I want to squeeze him/her quite hard.
Mom Says
“A cricket in your house is good luck.”
Free (or Crazy Cheap) Things To Do in NYC
If you're visiting New York City (or even if you live here), these are the most popular free days that we should all be aware of.
Tuesdays
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, free from 8am - 6pm
The 9/11 Memorial Museum, free from 4:30pm - 7pm, and it's best to show up for this to get tickets at 4:15pm or so and they'll give you tickets with a time to come back at (which isn't a crazy request since it's free). If you're looking for things to do before your allotted time, there's a Century 21 across the street (not the real estate company, it's kind of a large department store) or you can see the Twin Towers water memorial infront of the museum.
Look at stars on The High Line - on Tuesdays through October, astronomers host free stargazing nights at New York City’s elevated park, where you can gaze up at the stars and planets via high-powered telescopes. Tuesdays through October. The High Line is between W. 13th St. and W. 14th St. at 10th Ave., 212-500-6035.
Wednesdays
Bronx Zoo, free from 10am - 6pm
The Staten Island Zoo, free from 2pm - 4:45pm, pretty sure the Staten Island ferry that you have to take to get there is free, too.
The New York Botanical Gardens, free from 10am - 6pm
Thursdays
The New Museum (on Bowery), pay $2 from 7pm - 9pm
Smaller Art Galleries in Chelsea, completely free. Sometimes has snacks.
The Museum of Arts and Design (Columbus Circle), free from 6pm - 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays
Fridays
The Museum of Arts and Design (Columbus Circle), free from 6pm - 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays
Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria (36-01 35 Avenue), free admission from 4pm - 8pm
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), free admission from 4pm - 8pm
International Center of Photography, free from 5pm - 8pm
The Whitney Museum, free admission (or pay .25 cents, can't remember) from 6pm - 9pm
The Aquarium at Coney Island, Aquarium Admission on Summer Fridays goes from 4pm - 5pm (before Sept 2) and on Fall/Winter/Spring Fridays from 3:00pm - 3:30pm (after Sept 3) is by pay-what-you-wish donation.
The Noguchi Museum in Astoria is free on the first Friday of every month.
Saturdays
The Guggenheim Museum, free from 5:45pm - 7:15pm
Sundays
The Frick Collection, free from 11am - 1pm
Everyday
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it says that their admission is $25, but if you look closer that's the recommended price. Don't be a sap and pay that. Every single time I go, I pay either .25 cents or $1 depending on what I have with me. Maybe that's being cheap, but they allow it so I say do it. All you do is say, "One ticket, please" and hand over what you want to pay. Also, they have a rooftop exhibit area that has a really nice view of the park. More thoughts here.
American Museum of Natural History, this place is the same deal at the Metropolitan (above), so you can pay what you want.
Sabon, if you ever see a Sabon store (it's a Body Shop type place), go inside and they'll ask you if you want to have your hands put through one of their routines. This isn't a thing only women do, they have a "gentleman" line and it makes your hands wicked and soft and great. If they don't ask you, then loom around the fancy sink they have in the middle of the store and then they'll ask. I tell people to get this done all the time 'cause it's great.
There are cheap movies days and here's a listing of them.
Real life night court. More on that here.
The arcade in Chinatown. It's small and not free, but cheap. Open all the days of the year. More here.
In the summer, the outdoor pool in Astoria. It's free as long as you bring your own lock.
Other Not Free Things, But Still Cheap
Renting row boats in Central Park.
Mini golf on Governor's Island (with a free ferry there).
Also this site (89th and Broke) is a really good site to bookmark 'cause of how many current/free things she blogs about.
This weekly free site's pretty okay, too.
Also, Bryant Park has tons of free stuff and sometimes free classes on things all the time (like juggling and beginner Italian for example).
You can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.