Need Some New Shirts for Spring?

Want some new threads but can't afford to spend $20 on a plain white tee from American Apparel? No worries: I know a website where you can get a new shirt for less than the cost of a Chipotle burrito (my standard unit of measurement). 

Intrigued? Go to Sixdollarshirts.com, where the shirts come in a variety of colors and sizes, but they're all sold for the same price: six bucks. (Duh.) Or, you can stock up on witty apparel for the summer and get the recession special of 10 tees for fifty dollars. 

The t-shirts range from television topical

to political

to downright artsy

And I studied abroad last semester in Prague so I will definitely be adding this shirt to my shopping cart: 

Also, all the shirts are made right in the U.S. of A., so it's a great way to support the economy and look fashionable at the same time. Happy shopping!

Prince Offers New Three Disk Album for $11.98, Exclusively at Target

Prince's new albums, "LOtUSFLOW3R" and "MPLSoUND," as well as a third bonus album dubbed "Elixir," will be bundled together and sold exlusively at Target for the low, low, price of $11.98.

The albums, which drop March 29th, will also be available online through a new, subscription website. For $77, subscribers will be able to access the entire site, as well as download the disks and view "a robust selection of exclusive videos, behind the scenes action, news and concert info." The site will be ready for subscribers on March 24th.

I think this is a smart move- mostly.  With iTunes selling albums for around $10 a pop, it's hard to justify going to Virgin for the hard copy- even though I prefer it. (My car still takes CDs.) It's a great way for Prince to stay competitive in both markets- the digital world and the hard copy.

But $77 for a subscription? Prince has been successful in the past with subscription websites (he's one of the few artists that were) but that was pre-recession. I guess the stakes aren't too high- fans will buy his CDs in one form or another.

Apple Unveils Awesome New iPod for $79

Gotta love those folks over at Apple. They've just released the latest ipod shuffle- half as big as the original, with double the capacity. And at $79, it's affordable for pretty much anyone who wants an iPod.

The new shuffle in comparison to the older model- almost half the size.

The shuffle is equipped with a stainless steel clip bearing the apple logo.

The shuffle can play over a thousand songs and has a funky new feature: voiceover. But rather than explain it myself, I think I'll let Hannah, an Apple employee, do the job for me: 

See, this is why their stock is going up. Awesome.

Drink Cheap!

There's nothing I hate more than shelling out $6 dollars for a Bud Light in a bar on the West Village.  Unfortunately, in NY, high drink prices are hard to avoid- especially when you've got a questionable ID. Now that I'm 21, it's a lot easier to get into those places that have great prices- whether during a happy hour special or all day long.  Here's a couple of my favorite places:

1. 123 Burger Shot Beer

The name is pretty explanatory- $1 burgers, $2 shots, $3 beers. But don't go expecting a double decker and a jigger of Jack Daniels- these burgers are definitely more of the White Castle variety. Still, they're great drunk munchie food, and at $1 apiece, they won't cut into your budget.

With names ranging from "Jolly Rancher" to "Screaming Orgasm," the shots are more sugar than alcohol- but hey, what did you expect for two dollars?  And you're always safe with the beer, which goes above and beyond the typical happy hour priced Natty Ice- Newcastle, Sam Adams, even Stella goes for just $3 a pop.

2. Blockheads

With six locations in the NYC area, Mexican restaurant blockheads is a drinker's delight, with frozen margaritas starting at three dollars (add a variety of fruity flavors for just a dollar more). Unlike the ones at Burger Shot, these margaritas pack a punch, so make sure to complement your drink with some of their cheap, but delicious, Mexican fare. (Try the guacamole.)

Also, be sure to try their speciality, the Mexican Bulldog: a frozen margarita topped with a full sized Corona and an extra shot of tequila, all for just $7. (Just don't have more than one.)

3. Rudy's

Immediately recognizable by the famed oversized pig statue at the entrance, Rudy's Bar and Grill in Hell's Kitchen is a great place to pound brewskies. Bottled beer ranges from $2.50 for a Stegmier to $5, but if you're going with a big group, it's probably better to invest in pitchers. Seven bucks will get you a pitcher of "Rudy's Blonde," the house special, which goes down easy. If you're getting hungry after a few pitchers, you can always go up to the bar and get a hot dog or two- they're free, anytime of the week.

Side Note: This bar has a zero tolerance policy on fake IDs, which they confiscate and proudly display in a collage above the bar- which, for many college students, is a lost $50+ investment. Since they card at the door on weekends, it's probably not a good idea to risk it. 

4. Horus Cafe

Like hookah but hate spending $25 with a two drink minimum? Come to Horus Cafe on Avenue B and 10th.  Prices start at just $15 for a hookah with a one drink minimum, with prices ranging from $4 for a shirley temple to $8 for a bellini. The place is always packed on a weekend, yet the staff is very attentive. Definitely worth checking out.

They have belly dancers in every Friday and Saturday night, and karaoke on Sundays- although it's gotta be hard to sing with all that smoke circling.

5. The Pour House

A staple in the East Village, The Pour House has never been high on my list- until I took a look at their weeklong specials.  Every night has a different deal- from Monday's 25 cent wings and $1.95 natty ice's (served in a brown bag) to Fridays, where ladies drink half price cocktails from 10 pm to close. And it's not just the drinks: Tuesdays are Rock Band and Wii night, and Saturdays boast an 80's dance party. 

Happy drinking!

High Dining For Low Prices

I've always been a fan of expensive culinary fare. Although I have had the opportunity to dine at some of New  York finest restaurants- Balthazar's, Ben & Jack's, The Ocean Grill  - it's always been with a longfaced parent or boyfriend in tow. 

Now single, and with parents who, after four years of visiting in New York, are less inclined to dine at Daniel's, I have been increasingly forced of late to- gasp!- supply my own culinary adventures. Naturally, I'm much more inclined to look for deals, especially in light of the current economic climate.

And while looking for bargains in fine restaurants, I've been pleasantly surprised at how many places are offering terrific deals. (And I'm not just talking about the monthlong restaurant week.) Not only that, but there are several restaurants offering delicious meals for less than you'd spend at lunch at Chipotle. Here's what I've been able to come up with thus far:

1. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

Okay, okay, I know it's a chain. But Ruth's Chris has a history of delivering when it comes to steak, but at an average of $30-40 for the filet alone, few of us can afford to splurge very often.  But just recently, the steakhouse made a smart move, introducing a pre-fix menu dubbed Ruth's Classics. For just under $40, patrons get a full three course meal with their choice of side. Selections include filet topped with shrimp with a fresh cream chocolate mousse for dessert- how can you go wrong?

2. Mary's Fish Camp

While sitting on stools hardly qualifies as fine dining, I had to include Mary's anyway. The restaurant has gotten rave reviews since opening in 2000, and you certainly can't beat the prices- everything on the menu is under $25, and the vast majority of selections under $15. Be sure to try their famous lobster roll, but be prepared to wait for it.  Oh, and beware the pricey wine list. 

3. Artichoke

In a city where you can get a slice of pizza for a buck at anytime, anywhere, it may seem extreme to spend $4.00 on a slice after waiting on line for 30 minutes- but do it.  Artichoke, a closet sized pizzeria which opened on 14th st and 1st in late 2008,  may have the best damn slice of margarita in the city, if not in the whole damn country. 

The menu is short and succinct- crab pizza, margarita, and finally, their namesake artichoke- a thick crusted piece of heaven covered in cheese, artichokes, spinach, butter and wine.  The settings may be less than gourmet- the restaurant is lit by a lamp in the shape of a woman's leg (to scale)- but none of that matters when you take that first perfect bite. Plus, the place is open until 4 am on weekends, so it's the perfect way to soak up a shot or two after a night out.

Bon Appetit! 

7-Day Cruise for $499? (Shiver me timbers!)

Always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise? Now may just be the perfect time.  Today's New York Times included an excellent article on reduced rates for international cruises.

...if only I had seen this before I made spring break plans. 

Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a relaxing, post graduation vacation!

Lily Allen Offers New Album for $3.99 On Amazon.com

Say what you like about Lily Allen (I'm talking to you, Perez) but the singer/songwriter knows how to work it in a financial crunch.  To promote her sophomore album, the already critically acclaimed "It's Not Me, It's You," the singer has teamed up with Amazon to offer the album for the low, low price of $3.99- at least for the first week of sales.

The promotion, which was supposed to end on February 16th, offers an MP3 of the hit album that downloads directly to your iTunes (once you've installed the Amazon MP3 downloader- both Mac and PC compatible).  Although the deal was supposed to end yesterday, a quick glance on Amazon showed the album still being sold at the bargain price, so do yourself a favor and buy it while the going's good. I know, it's $3.99 more than a pirated version- but come on. Guaranteed perfect quality and no chances of being rickrolled. 

Personally, I think it's a great idea.  It's pretty hard to shell out $10 for an album on iTunes and even harder to drop $20 on a hard copy at Virgin, leading even the most morally upright of us to BitTorrent and Limewire for our musical needs and wants.  But at just under 4 bucks, Allen's making it a lot easier for college students to say yes to legal music- even if it's just for a week at a time.

That's not the only way Lily's been promoting her album- she also had a free show at the Bowery Ballroom on February 10th.  If you missed it, she's also playing for free in Tokyo and London later this month... let me know how it was.

To listen to more of Lily's music, check out her myspace or the official music video to her hit single "The Fear" on youtube.