How to start the weekend? Why not cheap beer? Sources tell Bwog that Pourhouse has 300 40s left over from Tuesday’s celebrations, and will sell them for $4 until they run out. After all, today is the real 40 days until graduation (celebrations were moved to Tuesday because of Passover), and starting the night with cheap beer means things can only get better. 

Afterwards, Bwog recommends bouncing on over to La Negrita, which is commemorating its last weekend with a “Drink Us Dry” special.

Classes are tough, the economy is bad, life is hard. But drinking is always good. Unfortunately in recent times, we’ve have seen our drinking habits suffer due to Columbia’s war on fun and the economy’s war on our wallets.   When a bar tab on any given night out easily runs upwards of $25, the simple solution is to buy in bulk.  That’s right, skip the bar and go straight to the liquor store for a handle.  Think how many drinks you can make and how much money you can save by purchasing a huge fifth of Jack Daniels instead of seven watered-down cocktails.  

Like bars, however, all liquor stores are not created equal.  Today Bwog on a Budget brings you a rundown of the most affordable and most expensive liquor stores in the area.  To determine the valor of each liquor store, Bwog compared the prices charged for a fifth of Jack Daniels, 750 ML size of Smirnoff vodka, a bottle of Yellow Tail chardonnay and a magnum of Robert Mondavi merlot.  Admittedly Bwog is no enologist; the wines were selected because they are prevalent and relatively potable.

 

International Wines and Liquor

Broadway between 113th and 114th Sts

Sure, International is convenient and user-friendly but the prices are high. To make matters worse, their ID policy is unpredictable.

Smirnoff: $19

Jack Daniels: $25

Yellow Tail: $9

Robert Mondavi: $16

Uptown

Ramon A. Jimenez

3139 Broadway at 123rd St

Ramon’s got a pretty decent selection of cheap wine, but no Mondavi and no magnums.  His pre-chilled wine selection is not terribly extensive. Also it’s a bit of a walk.

Smirnoff: $15.99

Jack Daniels: $24.99

Yellow Tail: $7.99

Read more…

Bwog on a Budget, your wallet-friendly guide to living in the city returns this week, with a fall shopping guide for discount points of destination in and around the city.

Discount Department Stores

Don’t let the promises of Dolce and Gabana and Manolos fool you.  Invariably, you will search through piles of strewn polyester before you find any of the aforementioned treasures. Caveat emptor: low ceilings, dim lighting, and checkered linoleum floors induce migraines.

• Century 21 On a good day you might find some Betsey Johnson or Diane Von Furstenberg styles from last season for cheap.  Any other day you’ll just find very long lines and very small communal dressing rooms.  22 Cortland St. at Broadway Read more…

This weekend, America is turning 232, making it just slightly older than the Columbia College website. Traditionally, Americans celebrate their country’s birthday by cooking meat on grills outdoors and then watching fireworks. For this week’s Guide to the Weekend, we’ve consolidated a few events that will give you the opportunity to do just that.

Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular; 9PM

Prime Viewing Spots: Manhattan: East River Park, South Street Seaport, FDR Drive between 14th and 42nd Streets; Brooklyn: Greenpoint, Empire Fulton Derry State Park (in DUMBO), Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Brooklyn Independence Day Parade; Between 66th and 86th Streets on 13th Ave in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

Head to 66th Street in Dyker Height’s for the 103rd Annual Independence Day Parade! Who knew Brooklyn had a 66th Street?  Featuring classic parade staples like floats and veteran marching bands.

Read more…

In which Bwogger Armin Rosen shows first-years how to break out of Morningside without breaking the bank.

New York’s expensive, but the cheap bastards among you are in luck. Yes, New York’s notorious cigarette taxes mean that smokers will have to do a little pinching—or, better still, quit smoking altogether. And although $6.50 might seem a little steep for a sandwich, the tenth punch of a Ham Del Gold Card and its attendant free hero drops the price to a slightly more reasonable $5.90 something. Even then, it’s possible to subsist off of club pizza, the Wednesday night vegetarian potluck, various Hillel events, and post-conference wine and cheese receptions (IAB 15 is a goldmine, by the way…).

But what if subsistence just isn’t enough for you? As freshmen will soon discover, a night away from campus does wonders for your mental health. And luckily, New York is one city where parsimony needn’t keep you in. What follows are a few suggestions for how to have a good time even if you’re not dropping Franklins.

Read more…

Bwog’s Jessica Cohen guest hosts this week’s almost all-free guide.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Bryant Park Monday Movie

5:00pm (FREE)

All The King’s Men (1949) is on tonight.  Don’t confuse it with this one, please.

Whole Foods Market – Salami Tasting, Gourmand Conversation

7:00pm ($15)

You’re secretly or not-obsessed with salami and want moral support.  For real – the people at this Whole Foods know what they’re talking about.  Also, an alternative dating locale?

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Reading and Discussion at The Strand Bookstore

7:00-8:30pm (FREE)

Wrap your head around the Dover, PA trial on teaching intelligent design in schools with Gordy Slack, Matthew Chapman and Laurie Goodstein.  It’s another Summer for the Gods.

Read more…

Now that you’ve (hopefully) emerged from the Deathly Hallows, here are our picks of the week to keep you entertained, courtesy of Bwog scheduler Stephanie Quan.

IT IS RESTAURANT WEEK!!!!

Monday, July 23rd

* Boyz II Men – does anybody remember On Bended Knee? and I’ll Make Love to You?  Wingate Field, 7:30pm

* Lawn Party – the less pretentious version of Princeton’s famous spring flings. Rockefeller Center, 11am

* Ghostface Killah – free, seriously. Highline Ballroom, 10pm



Tuesday July 24^th

* Odette Magritte – something to brighten your day. Clinton Cove at 55th Street, 6pm

True Stories Tuesdays with Master Lee – safe space to perform and tell stories, for 8 minutes. Mug Lounge, 8pm, $3

The Nightshade Family/Alice in War/Blueprint/Minor Gods – Wonderland never looked so good. For decent prices, come watch plays that range in topic from student/teacher relationships to secret worlds on the other side of the basement wall, part of SPF 2007, these shows will run all week. See here for locations, times, and prices.

The One-Hour Armchair Walking Tour – James Kaplan talks about the high points of his four hour ramble through historic Lower Manhattan (aka. The All-Night Walking Tour on July 4^th), Fraunces Tavern Museum , 12:30, free with museum admission

Also – the Plain White T’s visit TODAY studios, if you want, you could be one of those fans pressed up against the glass for free, Rockefeller Plaza 7am Read more…

Bwog scheduler Stephanie Quan is back with your agenda for the week. As usual, * denotes free.

Monday, July 16^th

The Decemberists, Grizzly Bear, Land of Talk – Green screen challenge anyone? This Central Park Summerstage concert is not free. However, it is free to sit outside the concert area and listen while picnicking. Central Park Summerstage, 6:30pm, $35

Ben Jelen- His version of wicked little town is wicked good. Bowery Ballroom, 7pm, $15

*Makoto Nakura – touring the world with his Marimba. Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University, 7:30pm

*Lap Swimming – to promote adult swim, the city department of parks and recreation is opening up pools for free. Bonus: if you swim 25+ miles by the end of the summer, you get a t-shirt. Locations, M-F 7-8:30am 7-8:30pm

Tuesday, July 17^th

*NY Philharmonic Concert in the Parks: Central Park- This time they’re bringing fireworks! Be sure to get there early. Great Lawn, 8pm.

*Marc Ribot: Musical Portraits- the three sides of this guitar virtuoso. World Financial Center Plaza, 7pm

*Breakdancing- free classes with Harlem One Stop. Highbridge Recreation Center, 6pm

*Beatrix Ost and Robert Thurman discussion- “Beatrix Ost will discuss her first book, My Father’s House: A Childhood in Wartime Bavaria with her friend Robert Thurman, President of Tibet House, Professor at Columbia University”
The Strand, 7pm Read more…

Summer is slipping by much too fast. Stephanie Quan continues to give you a list of things to make your time pass even faster.

UPDATED 3:55 PM EST

Monday, July 9

*MC Hammer, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, MC Lyte- So close, you can touch him. Do dododo da dum da dum. Wingate Field, 7:30pm  

*Wait Until Dark- One of Audrey’s lesser known films. She plays a “blind heroine-in-distress terrorized by thugs in her Greenwich Village apartment”. Bryant Park, 8pm

*Dancing Under the Stars- Free dance lessons, if you’re willing to travel to Queens after work. Wallenberg Square, 6pm 

Tuesday, July 10

*Manhattan School of Music Presents Classic Kids- Watch young virtuosi outdo you in every instrument you thought you were good at. Bryant Park, 12:30pm

*Word for Word Poetry- The Academy of American Poets presents up and coming poets and their work. Bryant Park, 6:30pm

*Concerts in the Parks- The NY Philharmonic begins its New York series in Brooklyn this night. Pieces include Berlioz: Le Corsaire Overture Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique.” Prospect Park, 8pm. Read more…

Stephanie Quan sets your agenda with the best of New York City.  This is Monday stuff, the rest of the week will come sometime today.  NOW UPDATED!

Monday, July 2nd

* Paper Moon- free movie at Bryant Park. part of the HBO movie fest. this 1973 classic involves acting father daughter pair Ryan and Tatum O’neal. There’s a sucker born every minute. Bryant park, 8pm

* Sheldon Forrest – another Bryant Park event that’s free. Listen the the sounds of this pianist on your lunch break. Fountain terrace, Bryant Park, 1:45pm.

* Sex writing has gotten smarter – nerve.com sponsors this event with four of its most provacative writers. Mcnally Robinson Booksellers, 6:30pm Monday night jam session- grab your instruments and head over to Smoke at 106th and Broadway. 9pm $5

Tuesday, July 3rd

* Summer on the Hudson: Pilates on the Hudson- relax after work with this free workshop. South waterfront, west side 6:30pm

* Quilting Class- learn traditional quilting. Bartow-Pell Mansion 10am.

Pre-register by calling (914) 738-2525.

* Boston Brass performing Piazzolla, Bernstein, Liszt, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and more–we’ve heard about this one from a few sites online, but we can’t seem to find the venue, so good luck.7:30pm



Wednesday, July 4th

Places to watch fireworks:

FDR expressway, South St. Seaport, Gantry Plaza Queens, Rooftop of Mudd

Stars and Stripes – New York philharmonic gets patriotic. See http://nyphil.org . 3pm



Thursday, July 5th

* Wave Hill Garden Walk- free tour. Obscure-ish park where you can write in your moleskine. Wave hill (675 W 252^nd St.) 2pm

* Barefoot Dancing–dance like those crazy hippie folk on glass-free grass. Van Cortlandt House Museum lawn, 7pm

Moscow on the Hudson – New York philharmonic presents its summertime classics series. See http://www.nyphil.org . 7:30pm Read more…