THIS WEEKEND: Chinese Lunar New Year Parade!

I know, I know. It's only hump day, but having suffered from a case of the "Mondays" all week I can't help but think about the weekend.

This weekend is the perfect weekend to put down those Netflixs and head to Chinatown. "Why Elle*?" you may ask. Because the 10th Annual Lunar New Year Parade is taking place. Best of all it is FREE!!! So grab your best buds and your camera. This is one of the reasons why living in NYC is so amazing.

10th Annual Lunar New Year Parade

Sunday February 1st, 2009

Noon-3pm

Parade route: Starts at Mott St, Chatham Square,

East Broadway, Allen St, Grand St, Chrystie St, NYC

Description: The spectacle features elaborate floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dances galore, Asian musicians, magicians, acrobats and procession by local organizations. Over 5,000 people are expected to march in the parade- From gonyc.com

There are a bunch of other events going on as well, so visit ExploreChinatown for more information on events and Chinatown itself.

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Update: Taschen Warehouse Sale

I gallivanted down to the store this morning, right around 11am in fact, just so I could make sure I would get the best browsing selection.

There were about five table tops filled with a mixture of books. From The Big Book of Breasts to The Book of Plants- The Complete Plates to History of Men's Magazines, Vol. 5 to Michelangelo, Complete Work, there was an interesting (and somewhat erotically focused- lots of photography books of naked women and sexual exploits) selection. The prices ranged from 99c to $99. Most books ranged around the $7.49 to $29. There was this beautiful tome on Da Vinci, but it weighed in at 25lbs and I believe it would break my coffee table (well, if I actually had one).

Anyway, it wasn't as fabulous as I expected, but it's worth a look if only to see people's reactions when they catch you browsing through a book full of muffs and puffs (and then slyly reach for said book when you are finished, buy it with downcast eyes and then scurry out the store).

Taschen Warehouse Sale!

Okay, so usually I don't like to share when it comes to my absolute favorite art book publisher, but I thought it was only fair to give everyone the heads up (if only for karmic reasons) about the Taschen Warehouse Sale going on this weekend in NYC.

TASCHEN Store New York

107 Greene Street, NY 10012

Tel: +1-212-226 2212Fax: +1-212-226 2218

store-ny@taschen.com

January 23 - 25, 2009

Friday, Saturday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sunday 12:00 to 8:00 pm

Ode to RAMEN (recipe included)!

Yesterday morning as I was commuting, I picked up my daily AM New York (I like it better than the Metro. It's more pop-culturie- and yes, "pop-culturie" is a word. I just made it one.) and happened upon an article about the economy and ramen. It is the ultimate cheap meal ranging from 10c to 70c for a basic package. ("Gourmet" ramen can get as high as $4.50. At least that I've seen.)



Since, I am very, very impressionable, throughout my day, all I could think about was how I wanted Ramen. Hence, on the way home I picked up some Ramen. The article I read that morning gave recipes (I kid you not) on how to make gourmet Ramen with non-dehydrated ingredients. However, I just didn't have the energy to make the actual recipes, so instead I've complied a list for you of things that I like to add to my Ramen (and they're cheap!).

• Bac-Os- faux bacon bits: Just what you need added to your Ramen- more salt, but these yummy little pieces of faux bacon made of soy are just soy delicious! (Okay, so maybe not as great as real bacon, but come on, I'm a vegetarian. I like to pretend.)
• Scallions- they add mild onion-like flavor and some light greenery to your dish (Thus, making it seem good for you.) and are cheap! (I bought a bunch for 25c, tax included.)
• Carrots- add some orange, get better vision (or night vision).
• Plain Yogurt- to give your broth a little more depth. (And calicum-duh!)
• Hot Sauce- to give it a little kick. Again tons of salt, tons of spice. (just how I like it!)
  

And as an added bonus, I decided to include my own Ramen Recipe....

Okra Chaat Masala Ramen

1. Start boiling water in a small sauce pan.
   
2. In a frying pan, lightly saute 1/4 of the bag of Okra in a little oil.
   
3. Boil the noodles in the sauce pan.
4. Add Chaat Masala Spice to the Okra and stir till fully coated and you can smell the ingredients mixing together.
   
5. Strain and place the ramen in a big bowl.
   
6. Add the Okra Chaat Masala on top the Ramen.
   
7. Add Scallions or Plain Yogurt to garnish.
   
8. Eat.
9. Repeat if you find it delicious and a bit sassalicious.

So basically my point is (did I have one to begin with) is that Ramen used as directed is for college. Ramen with a little somethin' extra is the grown-up version of something cheap and easy! As Mary says in 3 Men and a Little Lady (one of my fav movies from childhood), "Try it. You'll like it."

Obama's Free Art Gallery

Starting Inauguration Day a new exhibition opened up at Danziger Projects* all about.....(did you guess yet?)...everyone's FAV, Just-became-pres, Bam Man, Barack Obama.

So go support the NYC art scene and a soon to be "back to reality" presidency.

Can & Did

GRAPHICS, ART, AND PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN

JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 28, 2009

Danziger Projects

521 West 26th St.
New York, NY 10001

Phone: 212-629-6778

*Special Thanks to Lexis for the heads up!

Happy Inauguration Day!

Enjoy making yourself a piece of propoganda with this great site.

From Obamiconme.com - 'Create your own Obamicon, your image inspired by Shepard Fairey's iconic Barack Obama 'Hope' poster.'

Thrift Store Shopping, Name Brands, Cheap Price!

A few weeks ago my coworker told me about the thrift stores on 23rd St (Thanks, Kirtley!). I was in desperate need for some new clothing, but I am on quite a tight budget. Thus, this weekend, I ventured to 23rd St (btwn Lexington and 1st Ave) to go find some treasures.

Boy, did I hit the jackpot!!!

First, I stopped by the Salvation Army.
212 E 23rd St, New York, NY‎ (btwn 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
(212) 532-8115
‎

In terms of thrift stores, it's not the cleanest or the most organized (except for the clothing). Also, if you walk in and are wondering where all the clothes are, they are 1 floor below in the dimly lit basement (and yes the only mode of transportation is a rickety elevator. Looking for the perfect location for a Horror film in NYC?). If you are willing to dig you might come up with some treasures (They did have a great selection of cowboy boots. However at $30 it was still out of my price range.). I did find this gorgeous, gray, GAP shift for work and at $6.99 (tax included) it is a great addition to my work wardrobe. The only major issue I had with the place, was the lack of dressing room. I wanted to try on more things, but I didn't really feel like showing the other shoppers my bright, red Super girl boyshorts.

The next stop was Goodwill Industries.
220 E 23rd Street, New York, NY (btwn 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
(212) 447-7270‎


This store is like the Mecca of thrift stores in NYC. First, the store is bright (like fluorescent, Wal-mart lighting bright), big and well organized. Clothing is separated by color and type. I went straight to the sweaters. One of my first picks was a chic, black, Banana Republic sweater. Perfect for work or a first date: classic, but slightly salacious. At $9.99, it made the cut.

Next I headed over to the jeans. I think the final count for the number of jeans I tried on was 40 pairs. However, with over 100 jeans on the rack, it wasn't hard to pick a few out. Another great thing about this store- it HAS A DRESSING ROOM! And on a busy Saturday afternoon, there was never more than a 4 minute wait. I finally settled on 3 pairs, in excellent condition and all name brand: Gap, Express and Guess. At $7.99 a pair, you can't beat it!

Final total:

3 pairs of jeans, 1 sweater and 1 shift = $40.95
(which doesn't even cover the cost for one pair of jeans at the mall).

New Year, New Hair (on the cheap) PART 4- THE REVEAL

Ta-Dah!

One part Becca Moody and one part Lady Gaga, with a little sass mixed in. I guess that's who I've been my whole life, so why would a hair cut change it?

New Year, New Hair (on the cheap) PART 3

So the next morning (did you really believe I would cut my hair while drinking?), I did some research on my "side swept bangs." I recommend Chris Faircloth's Women's hairstyles instructions on Expert Village. His videos will show you how to cut a variety of women's hairstyles, although really I suggest practicing on a friend, not yourself.

I grabbed my sewing scissors, my smaller scissors from the 5th grade, a comb, some water and case things got too out of hand, some wine to calm myself down.

Thus I started cutting and a half an hour later.....

I looked like Lady Gaga, before she went blonde. Instead of stopping and leaving my hair alone (since I obviously didn't manage to pull off the side swept bangs), I thought the bangs were still a little off-centered.......

2 hours later....

I now look like Becca Moody from Californication. And, yes that is the 12 year old daughter of Hank Moody. And, yes that means I look like a 12 year old (well in real life, she's actually 15, but still I'm not even legal).




I'm still coming to terms with my new underage look, therefore, you'll have to give me some time before I reveal the look. Let me have some time to "age it up" a bit. Maybe go more Cleopatra than Goth Lolita.

Stay tuned for the PART 4- The Reveal!

New Year, New Hair (on the cheap) PART 2

So last night was the night that I decided to whip up some D.I.Y. action to become a celebrity (well, at least have celeb hair).

First I decided to get some celebrity inspiration for what I wanted- Enter the Internet and the hairstyle websites (http://www.hairpedia.com, http://www.hairstylesdesign.com).

Second, there were some conditions. No to Brook Hogan, Charlize Theron, or Paris Hilton. My hair has only been blonde once and I got sick of the drag queen comments. Also, since it is Winter, I should go darker in hair color and keep my hair longer.

After searching around the sites for a while, I remembered someone once said I looked like a mixture of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Alyson Hannigan (must be the quirkiness. Well, that or the pronounced chin). Therefore, I decide on an Alyson Hannigan style, which was Dark Brown with side swept bangs.


So now that I decided on my style, it was time for action. Enter the drug store. Oh, so convenient (down the block, real time saver) and oh so cheap for hair color (in a box at $7.58 with tax vs. at the salon, low end starting at $50 plus tax and tip). I decided on L'OREAL Paris ColorSpa Moisture Actif No. 12- Dark Brown. I've used this brand before and love it, because it is about 3 bucks less than most hair color and it is Non-Permanent color (for all us commitment-phobics out there. Plus if the color is abhorrent, in 28 hair washes its gone, whether over the course of a month or one very scour filled night.).

Then I gathered my supplies:

- hair color
- bottle of $6.99 Finca Flichman 2007 Malbec (the wine is the best part of hair coloring at home and it's still under $20 for a color and a few drinks! You can't beat it!).
- wine glass
- corkscrew
- iPod
- old towel


After reading all the instructions and drinking a glass of wine, I began....

Stay tuned for PART 3!

Let's Take Manhattan, Free Museum Style....

I am like most New Yorkers in the fact that this City fascinates the heckaroonie out of me. I am constantly searching to learn more about this City and its people. There is, of course, the old fashioned way to learn about the City, this being by living here, breathing the air and interacting with the myraid of personalities (and they are quite diverse and encompass the good, the bad and the (unfortunately) ugly).

However, sometimes I just want to learn, but with less interaction with...well...the sights, the smells and the sounds (basically, the City proper). Ironically, it just so happens that the other day when I was on the Subway, I saw an advert for the Museum of the City of New York. Eureka!


That's right. Who knew we had our own Museum (well, at least I didn't). Best part is there is FREE ADMISSION EVERY SUNDAY from 10AM-12PM.


And, right now they have Exhibitions on Paris/New York: Design/Fashion/Culture/1925-1940 and Growing and Greening New York that I hear will knock your socks off!

So grab a date, friend, lover or an imaginary other and be a part of it- New York, New York!

New Year, New Hair (on the cheap) PART 1

If you have been following the gossip pages, the New Year always brings new hairstyles for the Celebs (did anyone see Heather Mills? Icky!).









As you can see my basic cut/color with my utter pasty-ness is great for looking like a coked-out celeb, but otherwise is fairly drab. Thus, being a pseudo-celeb Perez I need a new style, on the cheap of course!

Stay tuned for developments as I decide on a new style and D.I.Y. it!

99c PIZZA! Oh My!

I work in Midtown East. When I forget my lunch there aren't that many cheap lunch options. Most lunches around this area average in the $7-10 range, which racks up to about $35-50/week on lunch alone! Just not something I can afford (or really would want to spend my money on)!

However, there is a cheap food gem not to far from my office.......


Well, not exactly 99c (because of tax), but its still some damn cheap pizza.

1 Cheese Slice- $1.07
2 Cheese Slices- $2.15
3 Cheese Slices- $3.25

On the counter, they supply free garlic powder, salt, oregano, red pepper flakes and hot sauce. They also have pick-up only specials such as One 18" Pie for $8, One Med. 16" Pie for $7 and 14" Pie$5 and 2 Slices and 1 can of Soda for $2.75.

There are 2 locations:

569 9th Ave (corner of 41st & 9th Ave)
and
151 E. 43rd St. (btwn Lexington & 3rd Ave).

Become the next J.K. Rowling w/ FREE Writing Classes!

That's right! You can become richer than the Queen of England, by dipping that pen in some ink and getting to work (well more likely, tapping away on your MacBook, but a gal likes to dream that this is a more Shakespearean society).

The Gotham Writers' Workshops is offering free introductory courses to some of their popular courses today and tomorrow night all over Manhattan. Registration is required so SIGN UP now!

Have you already filled up your dance card for this week?

There are more FREE Writing classes available at local bookstores in Manhattan sponsored by GWW. Just check out their Community Events page where they list all of their Free Classes. Best of all, pre-registration is not required! Just show up and get your write on!

Free Metrocards!

That's right! Starting this morning, Dunkin Donuts is helping those commuters continue commuting by handing out Free Metrocards during the morning rush hour for the next month. I can't wait to see the madness ensue!

Time: 6:30am-9:30am

Monday, January 12th- Lexington Ave/ 53rd Street

Tuesday, January 20th- 14th Street/ Union Square Station

Monday, January 26th- Grand Central Station

Monday, February 2nd- Times Square/42nd Street

Thanks for the heads up- FreeNYC!

Get Your Library Card!!!

Tomorrow starts another work week and the morning commute. This task can be quite irksome, especially since commuting means interacting with the human race (and for those of us in NYC, the MTA).

Want to make the task a little less daunting?

Get your Library Card!

Nothing drowns out the sounds of the hustle and bustle than that Ken Follett thriller, Nora Roberts swashbuckling romance or the latest New York Times bestseller (I prefer paperback myself).

If you actually want to drown out the sounds, most libraries have a wide selection of CDs that you can rip to your computer and download to your iPod. My current favorite is Bret Michaels' solo album (yes, he made a solo album and yes, it is quite delectably bad).

So go to your nearest library and sign up for a card. It takes about 5 minutes, is free and is the Cheap Chic's option for staying sane while commuting (without breaking the bank). Most libraries also have DVD collections, so you can secretly watch The Love Guru from the privacy of your own home and not have spend a dime by renting it (Trust me, it would be sorry with your investment).

In NYC, there are three main library systems: the New York Public Library (otherwise known as the NYPL), the Brooklyn Public Library and the Queens Borough Public Library. With over 50 million items in circulation (NYPL), I'm sure you will be able to find something that would tickle your fancy.

All these systems have websites and online catalogs where you can look up their entire collections and place things on hold (Currently, I'm waiting on The House Bunny to come in! Oh my!).

So go online, find your nearest library branch, and get that card!

'Cheap Vodka to Top Shelf' Myth BUSTED!

I was watching an old episode of MythBusters, one of my Cablecrack shows (because it's so addicting) and they were trying to debunk the adage that if you buy cheap Vodka, you can distill it (through a Brita filter) to make it taste like top shelf Vodka.

Well guess what?

YOU CAN'T!

So don't waste your money on cheap Vodka. It's not worth the money you spend on useless filters, aspirin, and greasy food to get rid of the inevitable hangover the next morning.

Thanks MythBusters!

(Episode Title: Bullets Fired Up)

Calendars: The Cheap Chic's Decorations!

So, I will admit it. I have a major printed paper fetish. Whether a postcard, a greeting card, a calendar or an advert, I am usually quite intrigued. My walls are festooned with all of these things, a lifelong collection of postcards with waiters racing trays of drinks through the streets of Paris, calendars with sassalicious phrases on them ("She liked her men like her cocktails...neat, but with a twist) and cards denoting love, life and liquor (these are a few of my favorite things).

One of my favorite times of year is the New Year. The Cheap Chic loves the New Year, because it means find a new use for the old and bring in with the new.

Thus, don't throw away those old calendars! They make great wall hangings. If you are like me you liked your calendar and anxiously awaited the next month to see what intriguing salacious quote set the tone for the month. Now that its the new year- deconstruct it. Take all those months and tape them up on the wall as artwork as a modge podge, cheap chic collage. Or if you are anal, take a few calendar months and find cheap frames (check the dollar store, Joanns or Michaels) and frame them up!

Also, the New Year brings new Calendars and guess what? They are CHEAP! That's right, the New Year brings the 50-75% off Calendar sales all over (and I'm not talking about the dollar store Cat calendar your Great Aunt gets you every year). These are the beautifully printed, glossy paper, and fabulous artwork variety. For the price, why not buy one as a calendar and another as more decorations for your bachelor/bachelorette pad! For the price of 1 you get 2 or 3!

So raid your local B&N, Borders or discount store.

An Ode to 3 Buck Chuck! (well, 2 Bucks in CA)

I thought it was only apropos to start my first posting with something that is especially near and dear to my heart.....

WINE!

and particularly my love for 3 Buck Chuck as we fondly refer to it in New York City which costs $3, is produced by Charles Shaw Winery (hence the name) and bottled exclusively for Trader Joe's.

The 3 Buck Chuck brand is known for its consistency in flavor and accessibility the masses, whether, a budget conscious wine connoisseur or a wannabe posh college student trying to look sophisticated at the local Frat. However, in essence, really these wines are about drinkability, especially when most wines at this price point taste like vinegar with funky undertones.

The only downfall to this wine, is its location to me. If I live in California it would only be $2 and in NYC the only Trader Joe's is right by Union Square/14th St and a trip for me. However with Trader Joes offers a handy 6 Bottle Reusable/Eco-friendly Wine bag for the Cheap price of 99c.

Log on to Trader Joe's to find the store nearest you.

Cheap is Nouveau Chic!

This guide is not for anyone who is looking to keep up with the Joneses. Frankly, I don't know who the proverbial "Joneses" are nor would I care to spend my hard earned wages (or eventual lottery winnings) on a $1,000 handbag and Botox for my Shitzu.

This guide is for those looking for richness, in terms of life fulfillment (and maybe a bit more honestly....in knowing that anything the Joneses can do, you can do better, and quite unadbashedly cheaper).

I'll leave with you two things:


First with this recommendation. Pick up this book at your local library or hell splurge on buying it at your local Strand or bookstore (remember you are not only supporting actual tactual publishing (death to the Kindle!), but the author as well).....Prosperity Pie: How to Relax About Money and Everything Else by SARK.

Second with this Quote (thanks Rita).

"Money is only a tool.
It will take you wherever you wish,
but it will not replace you as the driver."

Ayn Rand