Merry Christmas Everyone! I wanted to take a minute and thank you all for your support. Thank you readers, sponsors, guest posters, Email and RSS subscribers, Twitter followers and everyone who took a minute to say hello.
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Most of all I wanted to thank my family and friends for their support. Things have been tough, but with ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT, even the tallest mountains can be overcome.
Wishing you all the best of what life has to offer. Spend your happy Holiday break with your family and friends, for each of them are the best gifts we can have in our lives.
Looking forward to a great new year in 2010!
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
Interview With Nicole Bouchard Boles
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Labels:
interviews,
philanthropy
Several weeks ago we gave away several copies of the book How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist. The concept of the book was very interesting to me. The ideas from the book can change your life and those you touch. No matter if those people are family, friends or strangers half way around the world, your taking part makes a big difference. The great thing about the book is, it gives you ideas that you can DO right away!
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We had a chance to sit down with Nicole Bouchard Boles, the author of How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist, and asked her a number of questions. Here is what we discussed.
What inspired you to write the book?
I wrote this book as a road map for those who'd like to make a difference, but have no idea where to start. I was one of them. Seven years ago, before I started writing How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist, I wanted to make a difference. But I had the same problem most people face. I was expecting my first child and wasn't able to volunteer long-term and being a young family just starting out, spare cash was hard to come by. I didn't think there was much I could do.
Then I came across a magazine article that listed a few ways any person could make a difference with small actions like knitting hats for the homeless and recycling cell phones to help victims of violence. This style of giving made sense to me and with each "everyday" action I took, I felt empowered and I wanted to do more. The problem was, I had a hard time finding more of these time and budget-friendly ways to give back. That's when the inspiration for the book hit me.
I knew I wasn't the only person who lacked the time or money to donate as generously as I would like. And, I wasn't the only person who was spending a lot of time trying to figure out what it was I could do. I reasoned that if I created a kind of charitable yellow-pages that would take the guesswork out of "giving" more of us would be inclined to participate.
I wanted to make it super-easy and possible for others to see what they could do and to have that information at their fingertips so they could immediately jump into action.
How did you get started in writing?
I spent the better part of the last decade interviewing, researching, working with and understanding how charities work. And more importantly, how the average person can be of assistance to the causes they care about. What I learned, is that people do care about the world. They want to make a difference but they don't know how to go about it. In my work, I've identified three obstacles to making a difference, almost every person faces; 1. Time 2. Money and 3. Opportunity.
These are the "snags" I set out to solve for the reader in How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist. My goal for writing this book is to show people exactly how they can make a difference by using the time, talent and treasure that's within reach.
Where did you come up with all these ideas for the book?
Well, with bank accounts lowering and stress levels rising it's easy to see how we could lose sight of how easy and basic "giving" really is. So with less cash to spend and more causes in need of support, I spent a great deal of time talking with charitable groups, combing through magazines and newspapers, searching the internet and watching news programs for actions that the everyday person can take to help make the world a better place. I researched over 300 powerful giving strategies that are simple, cash-free and time-flexible for people who want to support the causes they care about.
Have you ever been to NYC? What is your favorite destination in NYC?
I have to tell you, I'm obsessed with New York City and have been since I was a young girl! The excitement, the buildings, the cobble stone streets, the culture, the history and of course, the shopping. I've always been in love with the city and always wanted to go at some point in my life. I got the chance about seven years ago, when my then-boyfriend gave me trip to NYC for a Christmas present. I was in heaven. Our visit to the city was amazing. All that I'd imagined it to be. I was like kid in a candy shop! We went everywhere we could in five days, Empire State Building, Central Park, Grand Central Station, and Rockefeller Center, shopping along Fifth Avenue and dining at Katz Deli. It was the best trip of my life, and of course, I cannot wait to visit again. I'll take any excuse to come back to NYC!
My favorite NYC destination? Hmmm...has to be under the Brooklyn Bridge, where my now-husband, proposed to me (during a Harbour cruise) on that trip!
Do you consider yourself frugal? In what ways?
I am rather frugal (though not always). I am one of those people who will spend good money on something I really want but - rather stubbornly - will not pay a cent for purchases I feel are not necessary or of value. I have gradually learned that being frugal on the smaller things helps me save for the bigger dream-like things.
Do you have a favorite from your book? Which cause/idea would that be?
I definitely have some favourites from the book; actions that I thought were particularly unique and outstanding in the issues they help mitigate. One of my faves is donating second hand fur items to the Humane Society's Coats for Cubs program, where it will be used as a sort of surrogate for orphaned wildlife. One rehabilitator related a story about an orphaned bobcat that wouldn't drink from a bottle and was starving. Once she was given the bottle through a fur blanket, she nestled up to it like a mother and began drinking. The rehabilitator said that without the fur donation, they surely would have lost the infant bobcat. Coats for Cubs takes an item that people have, but no longer use, and turns it into a source of warmth and comfort for a wild animal that has been orphaned or injured.
Another favourite is breast milk donation - perhaps because of the simplicity and necessity of the donation. Premature babies and babies whose mothers can't breastfeed can still get breast milk and all the benefits that come from receiving breast milk from a human milk bank (a non-profit agency that collects human breast milk from lactating volunteers in this country and distributes it free of charge here and abroad) Milk banks exist because many babies will not thrive without human milk. Infants with certain medical conditions may even require real human milk for survival. Human milk banks accept donations of breast milk from carefully screened donors. If you're a nursing mother with a plethora of breast milk, this is a great way to help in-need infants.
I also love the Internet-related actions. I spend a great deal of time on my computer, so giving back online really appeals to me. The Internet has made is so easy to support the causes we care about. There are thousands of mini "micro actions," we can do online, in the comfort of our own homes that give back. You'd be surprised by the number of organizations that can receive donations just from click-throughs or sent emails. When you click on web sites like HungryChildren.com or Care2.com or send emails through Hotmail, advertisers donate to charitable causes. You could even switch to a charitable search engine like Goodsearch.org or Ecosearch.org for your day to day queries, and each time you do a search - you're raising money for nonprofits. You can use the power of the web to make a real difference - in no time at all!
Who do you think can benefit most from your book?
Every person, from the soccer mom to the CEO, that has the impulse to do good, but doesn't know where to start, who to contact, and what is needed. How to be an Everyday Philanthropist was written with busy schedules and tough economic times in mind. Many times, people who say they have nothing to give right now or are too busy to give, are just procrastinating as they are not sure what to do or how to get started - even if they are well intentioned. In this book, I show you how to help others on a daily basis - without having to donate millions or become a full-time volunteer. It's so important for us to realize that almost every daily action can result in a deeply meaningful act of giving.
Where can we find more of your writing and ideas?
You can take a look at my website www.nicolebouchardboles.com or my blog FrugalPhilanthropist.blogspot.com for more cash-free, time-friendly ways to give back.
Is there anything else you want to share with the FrugalNYC audience?
Look at the resources you already have or the things you already doing, then look for a need in the community or around the world - and fill it!
Do you have additional questions for Nicole? Have you read How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist? What is your favorite charity or cause for giving? What challenges do you face when looking for a charity to support?
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
New to FrugalNYC? Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
What inspired you to write the book?
I wrote this book as a road map for those who'd like to make a difference, but have no idea where to start. I was one of them. Seven years ago, before I started writing How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist, I wanted to make a difference. But I had the same problem most people face. I was expecting my first child and wasn't able to volunteer long-term and being a young family just starting out, spare cash was hard to come by. I didn't think there was much I could do.
Then I came across a magazine article that listed a few ways any person could make a difference with small actions like knitting hats for the homeless and recycling cell phones to help victims of violence. This style of giving made sense to me and with each "everyday" action I took, I felt empowered and I wanted to do more. The problem was, I had a hard time finding more of these time and budget-friendly ways to give back. That's when the inspiration for the book hit me.
I knew I wasn't the only person who lacked the time or money to donate as generously as I would like. And, I wasn't the only person who was spending a lot of time trying to figure out what it was I could do. I reasoned that if I created a kind of charitable yellow-pages that would take the guesswork out of "giving" more of us would be inclined to participate.
I wanted to make it super-easy and possible for others to see what they could do and to have that information at their fingertips so they could immediately jump into action.
How did you get started in writing?
I spent the better part of the last decade interviewing, researching, working with and understanding how charities work. And more importantly, how the average person can be of assistance to the causes they care about. What I learned, is that people do care about the world. They want to make a difference but they don't know how to go about it. In my work, I've identified three obstacles to making a difference, almost every person faces; 1. Time 2. Money and 3. Opportunity.
These are the "snags" I set out to solve for the reader in How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist. My goal for writing this book is to show people exactly how they can make a difference by using the time, talent and treasure that's within reach.
Where did you come up with all these ideas for the book?
Well, with bank accounts lowering and stress levels rising it's easy to see how we could lose sight of how easy and basic "giving" really is. So with less cash to spend and more causes in need of support, I spent a great deal of time talking with charitable groups, combing through magazines and newspapers, searching the internet and watching news programs for actions that the everyday person can take to help make the world a better place. I researched over 300 powerful giving strategies that are simple, cash-free and time-flexible for people who want to support the causes they care about.
Have you ever been to NYC? What is your favorite destination in NYC?
I have to tell you, I'm obsessed with New York City and have been since I was a young girl! The excitement, the buildings, the cobble stone streets, the culture, the history and of course, the shopping. I've always been in love with the city and always wanted to go at some point in my life. I got the chance about seven years ago, when my then-boyfriend gave me trip to NYC for a Christmas present. I was in heaven. Our visit to the city was amazing. All that I'd imagined it to be. I was like kid in a candy shop! We went everywhere we could in five days, Empire State Building, Central Park, Grand Central Station, and Rockefeller Center, shopping along Fifth Avenue and dining at Katz Deli. It was the best trip of my life, and of course, I cannot wait to visit again. I'll take any excuse to come back to NYC!
My favorite NYC destination? Hmmm...has to be under the Brooklyn Bridge, where my now-husband, proposed to me (during a Harbour cruise) on that trip!
Do you consider yourself frugal? In what ways?
I am rather frugal (though not always). I am one of those people who will spend good money on something I really want but - rather stubbornly - will not pay a cent for purchases I feel are not necessary or of value. I have gradually learned that being frugal on the smaller things helps me save for the bigger dream-like things.
Do you have a favorite from your book? Which cause/idea would that be?
I definitely have some favourites from the book; actions that I thought were particularly unique and outstanding in the issues they help mitigate. One of my faves is donating second hand fur items to the Humane Society's Coats for Cubs program, where it will be used as a sort of surrogate for orphaned wildlife. One rehabilitator related a story about an orphaned bobcat that wouldn't drink from a bottle and was starving. Once she was given the bottle through a fur blanket, she nestled up to it like a mother and began drinking. The rehabilitator said that without the fur donation, they surely would have lost the infant bobcat. Coats for Cubs takes an item that people have, but no longer use, and turns it into a source of warmth and comfort for a wild animal that has been orphaned or injured.
Another favourite is breast milk donation - perhaps because of the simplicity and necessity of the donation. Premature babies and babies whose mothers can't breastfeed can still get breast milk and all the benefits that come from receiving breast milk from a human milk bank (a non-profit agency that collects human breast milk from lactating volunteers in this country and distributes it free of charge here and abroad) Milk banks exist because many babies will not thrive without human milk. Infants with certain medical conditions may even require real human milk for survival. Human milk banks accept donations of breast milk from carefully screened donors. If you're a nursing mother with a plethora of breast milk, this is a great way to help in-need infants.
I also love the Internet-related actions. I spend a great deal of time on my computer, so giving back online really appeals to me. The Internet has made is so easy to support the causes we care about. There are thousands of mini "micro actions," we can do online, in the comfort of our own homes that give back. You'd be surprised by the number of organizations that can receive donations just from click-throughs or sent emails. When you click on web sites like HungryChildren.com or Care2.com or send emails through Hotmail, advertisers donate to charitable causes. You could even switch to a charitable search engine like Goodsearch.org or Ecosearch.org for your day to day queries, and each time you do a search - you're raising money for nonprofits. You can use the power of the web to make a real difference - in no time at all!
Who do you think can benefit most from your book?
Every person, from the soccer mom to the CEO, that has the impulse to do good, but doesn't know where to start, who to contact, and what is needed. How to be an Everyday Philanthropist was written with busy schedules and tough economic times in mind. Many times, people who say they have nothing to give right now or are too busy to give, are just procrastinating as they are not sure what to do or how to get started - even if they are well intentioned. In this book, I show you how to help others on a daily basis - without having to donate millions or become a full-time volunteer. It's so important for us to realize that almost every daily action can result in a deeply meaningful act of giving.
Where can we find more of your writing and ideas?
You can take a look at my website www.nicolebouchardboles.com or my blog FrugalPhilanthropist.blogspot.com for more cash-free, time-friendly ways to give back.
Is there anything else you want to share with the FrugalNYC audience?
Look at the resources you already have or the things you already doing, then look for a need in the community or around the world - and fill it!
Do you have additional questions for Nicole? Have you read How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist? What is your favorite charity or cause for giving? What challenges do you face when looking for a charity to support?
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
4 Reasons To Eat Grapefruit
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Labels:
health
Grapefruit contains a good deal of health improving vitamins and minerals. Grapefruit supplies the body with essential nutrients, adding grapefruit to your daily diet can improve your health. Here are the reasons why.
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4 Reasons To Eat Grapefruit
Do you love grapefruit? Now you have even more reasons to eat it! Share your thoughts on your favorite fruit and the good it can do for your body.
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
4 Reasons To Eat Grapefruit
- Detoxification - Grapefruit may help cleanse the kidney, digestive and urinary systems in your body. It can also help by detoxifying the liver and help eliminate toxins. Why pay for detox programs when you can just have several healthy and tasty servings of grapefruit daily?
- Lowers Cholesterol - Grapefruit helps break down fats, this means less in your belly and other places where you don't want fat gathering. Eating the membranes surrounding the individual sections may help lower cholesteral in blood. So remember to eat it all, not just the juicy bits, if you want to improve your health.
- Weight Loss - A whole grapefruit contains approximately 100 calories and 4 grams of fiber. That's a lot of fiber, which is naturally filling and helps reduce appetite. It has a Glycemic Index of 35 (under 55 is good) which is very good for keeping your blood sugar where it should be, most fruits and vegetables are in this range.
- Anti-cancer - As mentioned in last week's post, eating colorful fruits and vegetables can help our immune systems stay healthy. Red and pink grapefruit contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, and may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Daily intake of grapefruit can reduce the chances of getting different types of cancer such as from smoking.
Do you love grapefruit? Now you have even more reasons to eat it! Share your thoughts on your favorite fruit and the good it can do for your body.
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
10 Holiday Shopping Switches that Help Charity
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Labels:
philanthropy
Today's post comes from Nicole Bouchard Boles - Hope you will enjoy the post and give back in your own special way!
New to FrugalNYC? Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
As the holidays approach, Nicole Bouchard Boles, author of How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist, offers gift ideas that give back. What’s really unique about all these stylish philanthropic finds is that 100% of the purchase price (less taxes and all related expenses) goes directly to benefit various causes. It’s the perfect way to give something special and something back this Christmas!
Nicole Bouchard Boles is the author of How to be an Everyday Philanthropist (Workman, 2009), with more than 300 ideas for low-cost, everyday ways to make a difference. www.nicolebouchardboles.com
Stay tuned for an interview with Nicole Bouchard Boles, coming next week!
Check our weekly post at The 405 Club for some free fun!
Have you finished your Holiday shopping? Have you thought about helping others while you shop? Share your thoughts in the comments.
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
New to FrugalNYC? Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
As the holidays approach, Nicole Bouchard Boles, author of How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist, offers gift ideas that give back. What’s really unique about all these stylish philanthropic finds is that 100% of the purchase price (less taxes and all related expenses) goes directly to benefit various causes. It’s the perfect way to give something special and something back this Christmas!
- Greeting cards - Holiday Reindeer Greeting Cards $15 for a box of 25. 100% of proceeds will benefit Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
- Holiday Treats – For Giving Souls Hot Chocolate Trio $14.95. The Hunger Site will donate 25 cups of food to the hungry for each trio purchased.
- Stocking Stuffers – UNICEF Jungle Soft Toys $9 - 100% of sale proceeds benefit the work of UNICEF
- Gifts for Kids – J.K. Rowling’s newest book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, $9.35. Net proceeds will go to the Children’s High Level Group, which helps children in Eastern Europe.
- Gifts for Her - JUICY Couture Canvas Tote. $55.00 100% of profits after all related expenses benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital Research.
- Gifts for Him – Tommy Hilfiger Limited Edition Necktie $24.50. 100 % of the proceeds are donated to Dress for Success Worldwide.
- Secret Santa Gifts - Noodle and Boo Believe Honey Soap Bar $12. All Proceeds go to the Raise Your Hand Campaign which is building a water purification system in Heeraraa, Ethiopia.
- Gifts for the Family Pet - Dog T-Shirt $26.00. 100% of proceeds go to Love Without Boundaries – A charity that helps the orphaned children in China.
- Employee Gifts - Gift of Hope: Night Before Christmas Mug Set. $12.99. Every penny of profit from your Gift of Hope purchase goes directly to diabetes research.
- Wrapping and packaging – Reusable Holiday Felt Bags Starting at $3. 100% goes to Benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Nicole Bouchard Boles is the author of How to be an Everyday Philanthropist (Workman, 2009), with more than 300 ideas for low-cost, everyday ways to make a difference. www.nicolebouchardboles.com
Stay tuned for an interview with Nicole Bouchard Boles, coming next week!
Check our weekly post at The 405 Club for some free fun!
Have you finished your Holiday shopping? Have you thought about helping others while you shop? Share your thoughts in the comments.
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
Billy Elliot at The Pond
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Labels:
Entertainment,
free,
nyc
Want to Win FREE Billy Elliot on Broadway Tickets? Read on...
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I've mentioned The Pond, the only FREE winter skating rink in NYC, in several previous posts on FrugalNYC. If you enjoy outdoor fun in the wintertime, you won't find a better deal!
This Thursday December 17th from 11 am - 1 pm, there is a special event held at The Pond. You can meet the Ballet Girls from the Broadway hit, Billy Elliot. You can also skate to the cast recording by Elton John. The first 50 guests to wear ballet tutus win free skate rentals!
There will be many giveaways including a grand prize of two tickets to see Billy Elliot on Broadway!
The Pond is open daily through January 24th 2010.
Hours:
Sunday - Thursday - 8 am - 10 pm
Friday - Saturday - 8 am - 12 am
Location:
At Bryant park - 6th ave and 42nd Street
Have you been to The Pond? Why do you enjoy skating at The Pond?
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
New to FrugalNYC? Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
I've mentioned The Pond, the only FREE winter skating rink in NYC, in several previous posts on FrugalNYC. If you enjoy outdoor fun in the wintertime, you won't find a better deal!
This Thursday December 17th from 11 am - 1 pm, there is a special event held at The Pond. You can meet the Ballet Girls from the Broadway hit, Billy Elliot. You can also skate to the cast recording by Elton John. The first 50 guests to wear ballet tutus win free skate rentals!
There will be many giveaways including a grand prize of two tickets to see Billy Elliot on Broadway!
The Pond is open daily through January 24th 2010.
Hours:
Sunday - Thursday - 8 am - 10 pm
Friday - Saturday - 8 am - 12 am
Location:
At Bryant park - 6th ave and 42nd Street
Have you been to The Pond? Why do you enjoy skating at The Pond?
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
Four Foods That Help Your Body Fight The Flu
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Labels:
health
With flu season in full effect, I'm sure you have heard about many ways of preventing the spread of the flu virus. There are also many foods that help keep you healthy, boost your immune system and help fight the flu virus - be it the seasonal or the H1N1 swine flu. Staying healthy is the ultimate way to be Frugal.
New to FrugalNYC? Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
Today we talk about four foods that help your body fight off the flu.
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
New to FrugalNYC? Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
Today we talk about four foods that help your body fight off the flu.
- Garlic - More than a vampire fighting herb, garlic helps stimulate infection fighting white blood cells (the soldiers in your blood stream). Taking a couple of cloves of garlic a day can help sharpen your body's virus killing instincts.
- Lemons - When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! We all know lemons contain vitamin C. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system's health. Beyond that, lemons keep your body in proper pH balance for fighting off disease. Including four to five tablespoons of lemon juice in your daily intake can help promote healthy bacteria to thrive instead of viruses and harmful bacteria.
- Yogurt - Speaking of healthy bacteria, we have all seen the word probiotics all over the news in the last two years. All "yogurt" contain probiotics, the good bacteria that help strengthen the digestive system. Having two servings, of 6 oz, a day may improve your overall health.
- Colorful fruits and veggies - Nature speaks to us in many ways, one of those is through color. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots contain antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamin C, among many other vitamins and minerals. All these natural vitamins and minerals help keep our immune systems healthy.
Do you now of other foods that help boost your body's defenses? Share your tips with us in the comments.
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
A Backstage Tour - Metropolitan Opera
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Labels:
Entertainment,
nyc
This past Tuesday evening, I had the pleasure of getting a backstage tour of the Met along with a select number of other bloggers. We were treated to hot chocolate and the tree lighting before the tour began. I brought my daughter with me and she loved it so much she told me she wanted to go back to the Met the next day.
Some additional facts we learned during this backstage tour:
- There are 50 trap doors on stage.
- Childrens chorus comprises of 100 children, who either grows out of the outfits or their voices before leaving.
- The 110 musician orchestra is placed on a double decker elevator set
- The Ceiling is 23K gold plated
Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia for some further reading.
The Metropolitan Opera is America's largest classical music organization, and annually presents some 220 opera performances. The home of the company, the Metropolitan Opera House, is considered by many to be one of the premier opera stages in the world, and is among the largest in the world. The Met, as it is commonly called, is one of the twelve resident organizations at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The Met's artistic standards are considered to be among the highest in the world. The company's stage facilities and technical staff offer leading directors and designers a state of the art environment in which to create any kind of production. The Met's production designs range from elegant and traditional to highly innovative and avant-garde.
Have you been to the Met? What do you like or dislike about it? What's your favorite performance?
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
FrugalNYC's Metropolitan Opera Giveaway
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UPDATE: The winner of this Contest is Adam Cohen. Congratulations Adam! Thank you to all those who entered the contest! I will contact Adam to verify his winning, once he claims the prize it will be mailed.
If you enjoyed the Season of Savings Broadway Giveaway on FrugalNYC, you're likely to enjoy our Metropolitan Opera Giveaway! I may be attending as well, courtesy of our sponsor.
The winner of this giveaway will be attending a performance of Hansel and Gretel, which opens on December 14, at the Metropolitan Opera. (Directions here). Find more information on the Hansel and Gretel Opera.
Metropolitan Opera House
The Metropolitan Opera, now in its 126th season, is a vibrant home for the most creative and talented artists, including singers, conductors, composers, orchestra musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers from around the world. Known as the venue for the world’s greatest voices, the Met has been under the musical direction of James Levine since 1976. Levine is credited with having created one of opera’s finest orchestras and choruses.
Check back here for more information soon.
Prize
A Pair of Orchestra section Tickets to the December 17th performance of Hansel and Gretel (Yes, it's in English!)
Approximate running time 2 hrs. 15 min.
Haunting, charming, and a little wicked, the Met’s production returns as the season’s special holiday presentation for families. Miah Persson and Angelika Kirchschlager are the lost siblings. Philip Langridge reprises his outlandish portrayal of the Witch in Humperdinck’s take on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Sung in English and conducted by Fabio Luisi.
Rules
- Leave a comment on this post and let us know what you would like to see from FrugalNYC in the upcoming year. Feel free to share your thoughts on Operas in general.
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COBRA subsidy starts to phase out
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personal finance
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If you have utilized the COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) subsidy signed into the stimulus package by President Barack Obama, you've been saving hundreds of dollars on your monthly health insurance premiums. This program was put in place for 9 months. If you signed up for COBRA in the beginning of March 2009, you will see an uptick in your premium costs starting this week. The program was established to help you pay 65% of your COBRA premiums, you paid the remaining 35%. For a family of four, this could be a lot of money.
Whether you decide to keep paying the premiums or look for alternatives, you should think things through before pulling the trigger.
What options are you looking at? Share your thoughts in the comments.
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
If you have utilized the COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) subsidy signed into the stimulus package by President Barack Obama, you've been saving hundreds of dollars on your monthly health insurance premiums. This program was put in place for 9 months. If you signed up for COBRA in the beginning of March 2009, you will see an uptick in your premium costs starting this week. The program was established to help you pay 65% of your COBRA premiums, you paid the remaining 35%. For a family of four, this could be a lot of money.
Starting this week, the program will start to phase out. Those of you who have found jobs, congratulations, you don't have to worry about COBRA anymore. For everyone else, what can you do to keep your costs down? There have been bills introduced to extend the program, but none of them will be acted on anytime soon. You may want to think about alternatives, such as public health insurance programs for low-income families. If you are still unemployed and qualify, programs such as Health First in NYC come to mind.
Whether you decide to keep paying the premiums or look for alternatives, you should think things through before pulling the trigger.
What options are you looking at? Share your thoughts in the comments.
For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.
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