Bryant Park Fall Festival 2009

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Recently, several FrugalNYC readers have written us about FREE things to do this Fall and Winter in NYC.  Here is a great chance to enjoy 10 FREE after-work performances featuring artists from NYC’s great dance, musical theater, opera, jazz, and classical music institutions.

From September 28 – October 9, 2009 in Bryant Park, starting at 6:00pm and ending at approximately 7:30pm.  Seating opens at 5pm on the upper Terrace in front of the Bryant Monument.  Tables, chairs, and picnics are also welcome on the Lawn.  You can read more about the Bryant Park Fall Festival via the Bryant Park web site.

Events and Dates

1. 9/28 St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble
2. 9/29 Bargemusic
3. 9/30 New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
4. 10/1 Young Artists from the Metropolitan Opera
5. 10/2 Carnegie Hall Featuring Ensemble ACJW
6. 10/5 The Joyce Theater
7. 10/6 Ailey II
8. 10/7 Bargemusic
9. 10/8 Brooklyn Philharmonic
10. 10/9 Jazz at Lincoln Center

We hope you enjoy these free festivities in NYC. Let us know what you think about these events in the comments.

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FrugalNYC's ZulaWorld Giveaway!

Welcome back to another FrugalNYC Giveaway!

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The Number Generator has spoken, the winners announced in the last comment of this post

This one is for the kids, literally!  Well you adults can enjoy it too if you like spending some time with the kids.  If you have young children or have close relatives with young children, you likely have seen The Zula Patrol on TV.  It is an educational show and I've watched several episodes with my little ones.

ZulaWorld.com, is the new, out of this world, virtual destination being launched into orbit by the same masterminds who bring you The Zula Patrol hit TV series.  Developed in conjunction with IBM, at ZulaWorld.com, kids ages 5 and older, along with their parents and caregivers can enjoy interacting with other like-minded earthlings online in this new virtual world just for them!  In Zula’s unique universe, kids can create their own avatar, fly their own spaceship, and discover for themselves that when it comes to science, exploring is never boring.



The Prize

A copy of the latest The Zula Patrol DVD AND a one month VIP Membership to ZulaWorld.com

The Rules

The Rules are simple, just leave a comment on this post and tell us:

• How long you have been reading FrugalNYC and how it's helped you.
• Have you heard of The Zula Patrol before reading this post.

You can earn extra entries by tweeting about this post and putting a #frugalnyc hashtag on the tweet.  Each day you tweet, will give you an extra entry.

Make sure you send an email to FrugalNYC so we can contact you when you win.

There will be 3 winners!  Tell your friends and children's friends, they can all enter and win!

The winners will be chosen by random.org once again, and it will be announced on Friday Oct 2, 2009 here on FrugalNYC blog and via Twitter.

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.

The Boys Are Back - Movie Review

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I enjoy movies, and I usually want to get lost in the story. Entertainment is supposed to help us enjoy the moment, and I did enjoy "The Boys Are Back".

The Boys Are Back depicts the life of a father, Joe Warr (a sports writer), who doesn't spend much time with his son. He saunters from an occasional dad who shows up from time to time, with gifts for his son, to suddenly thrust into single parenthood. As the film progresses, you find out that he did the same thing in his first marriage.

As a single father, Joe learns that parenthood is harder than anything he's faced before. He stumbles often and deals with criticism from certain "moms" about how he is raising his two sons. He establishes certain ground rules and sticks by them. The whole family ends up learning trust and encouragement from each other.

The Boys Are Back is a moving tale of a single parent who rides an emotional roller coaster, and at times breaks down. The family goes through many ups and downs while learning to live life as a family without a female figure in the family. Towards the end of the movie everything starts falling apart, but with determination Joe Warr puts the pieces back together.

The Boys Are Back stars Clive Owen, whom I've only seen in action films such as Shoot 'Em Up, Sin City and King Arthur. This is definitely a change for Clive Owen and I think he did a great job playing the role of Joe Warr. The film is based on a novel by Simon Carr, which is based on a true story.

Artie his young son, played by Nicholas McAnulty, is by far my favorite in the movie. He does a fine job and is a perfect fit for the role. The older son Harry, played by George MacKay, reminds me of Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley of the Harry Potter movies). I really enjoyed the movie and find the lessons it teaches to be very encouraging.

If you enjoy a story with emotion and real life trials, I think you will enjoy The Boys Are Back. You'll have a few laughs and enjoy some drama. This film will be released (limited) in the US on September 25, 2009.

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.

Turning Off Lights Really Saves

Have you been curious to whether turning off lights really do save electricity? Common sense says it does, but if you consider the cost of replacing a burnt out bulb and other factors, it may not be such a simple decision.  What about the mercury contained in Compact Florescent light bulbs?  Is it really better for the environment when people just toss used light bulbs in the garbage?  By the way, you are not supposed to toss that CFL bulb in the garbage due to the mercury contained in these bulbs.  Some state and local governments allow disposal with trash, but make sure you put it in several bags to keep it from breaking and hurting anyone who handles it.  Find out how CFLs work and how to dispose of CFLs (PDF file).

Save Money - The Proof

Enter the mythbusters to help us determine the cost of turning off lights in a "scientific manner". I watched this video on Sustain Lane called Mythbusters take on lightbulb energy myths and it put my concerns to rest.  You see, I've heard about health concerns for florescent bulbs and still use regular incandescent bulbs in some places.  Incandescent bulbs cost the least, from the startup perspective.  It uses the least energy to start, but keeping them on tend to be more expensive than CFLs and the newer LED bulbs.

Florescent tubes on the other hand, use the most amount of electricity to "start up".  As you learn from the video, even with this "start up" cost taken into account, it is still more cost effective for you to turn off that light when leaving a room.  Just watch the video and you will see for yourself.

The Conclusion

It's cheaper to turn off the lights when you leave a room.  Even if it is for one single minute!  Knowing this will definitely change my habits.  I can now definitely tell and "show" those who tell me otherwise.  What about you?

Did this video put any concerns to rest for you?  Did you end up with more questions than answers than lighting?  Did you get a look at that LED bulb or that bulb that's been burning for over 100 years!?  Share your comments.

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FrugalNYC's Islands Of NYC - Roosevelt Island

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Several weeks ago I tweeted about doing a series called Islands Of NYC.  Today we are starting with Roosevelt Island (aka Welfare Island, aka Blackwell's Island), a place I call "a small town in the middle of NYC".  NYC is so diverse in many ways that you can spend a lifetime exploring all the hidden gems it has to offer.  Roosevelt Island has become one of those gems for me.

Before visiting the island, I did not know much about it.  The only exposure to Roosevelt Island I had was from a movie called Dark Water, starring Jennifer Connelly, and some light reading about the island's history.  The first time I took the F train over to Roosevelt Island, the nearly deserted subway station seemed a bit eerie.  The station is nice and clean, just deserted during the day.  As I took the escalators up to the surface I continued to have an ominous feeling, as if someone or something was following me.  I suggest you don't watch Dark Water by yourself in the dark on a rainy evening or read about the history of the mental hospital on the island before making your first visit.  Just go visit the island and then watch the movie or read more about the island.

The subway escalators up to the surface took a minute or two.  The subway station is one of the deepest in NYC.  Once you get to the surface, you are greeted with a gorgeous view of midtown Manhattan right across the East River.  Outside the subway station, you can catch the Q102 to Queens Plaza or the $0.25 island shuttle.  I prefer to walk, so I started walking toward the NYPL branch during my first visit.

Roosevelt Island's most famous star is the Roosevelt Island Tramway.  Over 26 million passengers -- including commuters, tourists, students and seniors have used the tram. Each cabin accommodates a capacity of 125 people, makes approximately 115 trips per day, and about 100 on weekends. It glides at approximately 16 miles per hour and travels 3,100 feet. At its peak it climbs to 250 feet above the East River. Two cabins make the run every fifteen minutes from 6:00am to 2:30am (3:30am on weekends) and continuously during rush hours.  Read more about the Roosevelt Island Tramway on NY.com.  The tram will take any metrocard (Thanks for the correction JB).  The cost is also $2.25 like the cost of a regular bus or subway ride.  The first Spider-Man movie featured the Roosevelt Island tram.

For a self guided tour of the island you can visit the island's visitor's center, located near the tram station.  You can download a self guided tour for Roosevelt Island or pick up a physical copy at the visitor's center.  I spoke with and did an interview with Judith Berdy, President and Historian for the Roosevelt Island Historical Society.  Below is a summary of our interview.

FrugalNYC's Interview with Judith Berdy

FrugalNYC: How long have you been living on Roosevelt Island?
JB: 32 years and still love living on Roosevelt Island.

FrugalNYC: How long have you served on RIHS?
JB: I've been active on RIHS since living here.

FrugalNYC: How would you describe life on RI?
JB: Quiet. Not chaotic like many Manhattan neighborhoods. Roosevelt Island is a smaller community with close friends and a small neighborhood feel.

FrugalNYC: Are there any major food markets or apparel shops in RI?
JB: There are only 14,000 people living on Roosevelt Island, so there are not that many amenities locally. There is a supermarket - Gristedes. There is also a Saturday green market. FreshDirect delivers to Roosevelt Island and has been doing so for 8 years now. The island was one of the first markets for FreshDirect during their pilot program. Most people leave the island to shop since we are so close to the city (Manhattan).

FrugalNYC: For those who are planning to move to NYC, what makes Roosevelt Island stand out?
JB: It is a nice quiet community and affordable. It's only 3 minutes to midtown Manhattan. There are five different companies managing the buildings here, so the cost of living here can range from affordable to very expensive. Every building is different, there are Condos and rentals.

FrugalNYC: When do you get the most visitors to Roosevelt Island? Are they mostly locals or tourists?
JB: Most visitors come during the weekends. We get 60 - 200 a day. Ninety percent of our visitors come via the tram. We get mostly tourists with about 10% local visitors.

FrugalNYC: Are there tours of the island? What is the cost of the tour?
JC: Tours are available in advance by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society in small groups of up to 20 visitors.

Interesting Facts About Roosevelt Island

• Waste in the Roosevelt Island is collected by an Automated Vacuum Collection System. This is the only AVAC system serving a residential complex in the USA.
• Famous former residents of Roosevelt Island include "Grandpa" Al Lewis of The Munsters, who has a playground named after him, and Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City
• The F Train is the only MTA train that stops on Roosevelt Island
• Roosevelt Island is only two miles long

You can get to Roosevelt Island via the F train, MTA Q102 Bus or the Roosevelt Island Tram.  Via the F train, just get off at the Roosevelt Island station.  Once you are on Roosevelt Island, you can walk, bike or grab the ROIC Red Shuttle for 25 cents a ride!  My personal preference is walking, since you can take pictures, enjoy the scenery at your own pace and get a little exercise all at the same time.  You can bike fairly easily, there is usually not that much traffic during the day.

FREE Things To Do

• There are a number of parks on the island to visit.
• NOTE - A public restroom can be found at the Lighthouse Park and by the Tram station.  Important for families with younger kids!  I mention this because we left early due to lack knowledge of these amenities during one visit to the island.
• Green Market - buy your healthy foods here.
• Summer time outdoor movies - Can't beat a free movie!
• Playgrounds - young kids will enjoy
• Cozy Library  - Not much foot traffic from what I see.  I enjoy just sitting down and reading some magazines.
• Waterfront walks - I mentioned earlier I enjoy walking.  Nothing better than walking by the river!
• Picnic - There are not too many restaurants on the island.  Bring your own food and have a picnic.
  

More Roosevelt Island via Blogs and Websites


You can find out more about Roosevelt Island from the below sites and blogs. You can find additional ideas and find the latest happenings on the island using the following resources.

• Roosevelt Island Historical Society
  
• The Roosevelt Island Blog
• Roosevelt Islander - one of two bloggers I know about writing about life on Roosevelt Island (@rooseveltisland)
• Roosevelt Island 360 - Another blogger, also on Twitter.  Great blog with helpful info about the island.
• Roosevelt Island Operating Corp - Runs and manages many of the services on the Island, including the 25cent shuttle.
• Wikipedia's Entry of Roosevelt Island
• Roosevelt Live - 15 weeks of FREE performances at Riverwalk Commons at Roosevelt Island.
• Roosevelt Islander blog posted some web links related to Roosevelt island

If you don't have any weekend plans or are looking for a Frugal Getaway, visit Roosevelt Island.  I hear the weather should be nice.  Share your thoughts and tips about Roosevelt Island 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.

Photo by Designatednaphour

Beginner Photography Book

If you have an interest in Photography, as nearly everyone seems to these days, a great beginner photography book I recommend is The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials.  It is an amazing introduction into photography in a small bundle.  It gives you many tips that you will continue to use as you progress in your hobby in photography.

In chapter 10 of the book, the author says "If you are interested in really learning how to use lighting, then still lifes offer a unique learning experience that you will be able to apply to all of your photography.", which sounds like great advice.  It's tips like this that make me want to pick up the book again and again.  Combine that with the instant feedback of digital photography, the reason photography has bloomed so fast, nearly any "idiot" can learn lighting properly.  I'm really just a beginner when it comes to photography, and I find this book very helpful.  The book gets some great ratings on Amazon.com.

There are numerous great tips in this book that can be used by beginners like myself and advanced photo enthusiasts who have been in photography for some time.  This book is geared toward enthusiasts who want to learn how to control and get the most from their DSLR.  Many of the concepts are applicable to any camera you use of course, that's why it's an "Essentials" book.  If you'd like to see what I've shot, take a look at my other blog - VGA Photos, be warned, I'm a beginner!  They are all raw shots with no post edits or touch-ups.  If you know of a great book or other resource on how to do touch-ups for beginners, I'd be very happy if you let me know.

One of the main reasons I am interested in digital photography is because it does not cost much financially.  It is a Frugal hobby for me.  New York City offers a great canvas to paint your photo skills on.  We no longer have to spend thousands of dollars on equipment just to get started in photography.  Learning the basics is what I'm currently doing and you can only do that by "doing".  To learn anything properly, you need to DO that thing daily.  I take shots daily, which is why I started the VGA Photos blog.

Have you read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials? If so, what did you think of it?  If you have not, I think it is a great read and a good reference, pick it up!  What other beginner photography books or resources do you recommend?

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90% Discount Textbooks From Amazon

It's back to school for all, from elementary to college students.  For the college bound, you may have hit sticker shock when you checked out how much your texts will cost you.  Well, here is a way to save!

Everyone knows that Amazon is a great place to buy books.  Did you know that you can now get 30% to 90% off Textbooks at Amazon.com?  If you have gift certificates or other store credit at Amazon.com, this is a great time to put that to use.  If you are in college or know of someone in college, this is a great way to save.  I remember each text book used to cost between $70 to upwards of nearly $200 when I went to school.  Books are some of the most expensive items when you attend school.

Aside from buying books, you can even sell your old text books back to Amazon, not a bad deal. Have you bought your textbooks from Amazon before?  Would you be willing to?  We'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Don't forget to take a break and catch a Free Broadway show, courtesy of FrugalNYC and Season of Savings!

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.

Great DVD Player, Great Price

We recently bought a Coby DVD-224 Compact DVD Player and have been very happy with the product.  I bought this to replace an old, semi functioning DVD player that was twice its size.  The old player used to play everything we threw at it, but in the recent months, it has started skipping and not reading certain disks.
We always try and fix what we can, but due to the age and original cost of the previous player, it was not worth fixing.

I'm a big fan of Amazon, so I figured I check Amazon to see if I could find something low cost.  Since we have kids who tend to put all kinds of disks in the machine, we did not want to buy anything too fancy.






The ratings and reviews on Amazon for the Coby DVD-224 Compact DVD Player were very good. I also saw comments about using this to play DVDs from all regions.  So I bought one.  I've been happy with the purchase since.  If you are looking for a low cost and yet a great product, I definitely recommend this Coby DVD player.  The only down side I have seen is the remote.  The fast forward and rewind buttons could have been done a little better.  They should have added a 2x speed button instead of making you hold the fast forward button.

This product has the following great features:

• Compact size and weight 2.5 lbs
• Plays all disks, including DVD, DVD R/RW, CD, CD R/RW, and JPEG Disks
• PAL and NTSC compatible
• Parental Lock
• Progressive Scan
• 110/240V Can work in any country - so if you go on a trip and want to bring it along, it will work
• Region free.  I have not tried this, but if it works, it will play any overseas DVDs you have!

If you bought a DVD player recently, what did you buy and why?  Do you own the Coby DVD-224 Compact DVD Player? Why did you buy it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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FrugalNYC Broadway Ticket Giveaway!

Welcome back to another FrugalNYC Giveaway! If you're a fan of Broadway shows and musicals, this will be one of the best giveaways you'll find yet!

NYC is full of free events in the summer. Coming on September 13, 2009, you can catch Broadway on Broadway starting at 11:30 AM.  These are free performances by stars of many broadway shows and musicals held in the streets of Times Square, NYC.  There is nothing more entertaining or frugal than catching a great show free of charge.  That is until you actually get money to attend one!

THE PRIZE



Thanks to Season of Savings, a discount Broadway Theatre goer's resource to save on Broadway, we are giving away a pair of tickets to Phantom Of The Opera (for September 29th, 2009) AND a $100 gift certificate to Tony's DiNapoli to a lucky FrugalNYC reader!  You get a free show and dine on the house!  I sent a tweet via FrugalNYC last week to find out if FrugalNYC follower's would rather see Phantom Of The Opera or another show and this was the pick.  You pick it, we give it away! :)

Season of Savings feature deals for shows, hotels and attractions, including:
The 39 Steps, Burn the Floor, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Fela!, Finian’s Rainbow, HAIR, In the Heights, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Next to Normal, Phantom of the Opera, Rock of Ages, Shrek the Musical, South Pacific, Superior Donuts, and Wishful Drinking.

You will find some great deals, saving from 40-60% off ticket prices.  So even if you don't win, you can still get discount tickets!

I'll repeat the prize again, the winner will receive:

• A pair of Phantom Of The Opera tickets

AND

• a $100 gift certificate to Tony's DiNapoli

Tell your friends, fellow New Yorkers and Countrymen to enter this giveaway!  And don't forget to save he date September 29th, 2009 for the show!

RULES

You must enter by midnight on Friday September 18th, 2009.  The lucky winner will be announced no later than Monday September 21, 2009 on this post and via Twitter.  There are just two simple steps to win:

1. Please leave a comment on this post telling us what you love about Broadway and how FrugalNYC has helped you since you started reading this blog.  If you are new to FrugalNYC, just mention you are new to FrugalNYC and what you would like to see more of here.
2. Important: Send an email to FrugalNYC at gmail dot com so we have your contact information, Name and Email, so prizes can be sent to you.  We do this for your own privacy, we don't want your contact information out in the open in the comments section. Your information is only used for this giveaway.  Once the winner is announced, we will contact you using this information so the prizes can be sent to you.

We would definitely appreciate your help in spreading the news about FrugalNYC and this Giveaway.  Here is a link to help Tweet about FrugalNYC Broadway Ticket giveaway.

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Cut Back Sweet Heart!

When it comes to getting their lumps of sugar, Americans are overdoing it, says the American Heart Association. Americans are swallowing 22 teaspoons of sugar each day, and it's time to cut way back.

Most of that added sugar comes from soft drinks and candy - a whopping 355 calories. That's the equivalent of drinking two cans of soda and eating a nice chewy chocolate bar. Most women should be getting no more than 6 teaspoons a day, or 100 calories, of added sugar. For men - no more than 9 teaspoons, or 150 calories.

The guidelines do not apply to naturally occurring sugars like those found in fruit, vegetables or dairy products. So eat to your hearts content! I love fruits myself and try to eat at least two to three servings daily. Afterall, it pays to stay healthy, especially for those with a frugal lifestyle!

What about you? How much added sugar do you get on a daily basis?

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.

Photo by suneko

Unforgettable NYC Experiences

Whether you are a first time visitor or a full time resident of NYC, if you have not been to the the list that follows, you have not seen the best of NYC.

Sailing to the Statue of Liberty. If you have never been to the Statue of Liberty, you should make an appointment with yourself to do so very soon. Now that the crown is open by appointment, perhaps make an appointment to check it out. Chances are, if you tell someone you've been to NYC, they will most likely ask if you've been to the Statue of Liberty. Aside from that, it is the ultimate symbol of New York, it is full of rich history and it is the personification of the city's vast diversity.

Empire State Building Observatory at Dusk. Like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building defines New York like no other landmark. If you have seen the observatory during the day, you need to go back during dusk. The best time of day for photography is also the best time of day to see the true skyline of NYC from the top of the Empire State Building. You will get to enjoy the best of natural and artificial lighting like no other.

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge. I have lived in NYC for over two decades, and only recently have I walked the Brooklyn Bridge. It is truly an experience to behold. Engineers going through college, read about the building of this great and magnificent bridge. You will no doubt be joined by many tourists walking the bridge at any time of day. Just don't take the offer if anyone tries to sell the bridge to you.

Sunday Morning in New York. I'm always amazed when I head into Manhattan, "The City", when I do so early in the day, before the businesses start buzzing and cars start honking. During the predawn hours, the city is a sight to behold that most people have never seen. During Sunday mornings, it is truly unforgettable. The quietness during this time of day in the city that never sleeps is an experience you will never forget. So if you are visiting NYC, before leaving, get up really early on Sunday morning and just take a stroll.

The Central Park Reservoir. Walking or jogging around the Central Park Reservoir, aka the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis reservoir, is an experience like no other in NYC. There are many opportunities for photos, just don't get in the way of the early morning joggers.

I hope you have enjoyed this list. What else do you think belongs on this list? Share your experiences 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.