Categories: Shopping; Eat & Drink

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Spend that Economic Stimulus Check in New York!

By aliciak
updated 3 months ago

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Presently, it is your civic duty to help our economy. We may be entering into a recession, so it's up to you to save all of us! By going shopping, eating out, and not doing anything silly like depositing money into a savings account or IRA. (Tongue-in-cheek, my friends) As I heard a woman say on TV, "I've been wanting to go on a shopping spree...er...for the good of the economy, you know?" Um, right, you martyr, you! Let's get stimulatin'!

What does $300 get you?

Not a whole lot in New York when you really think about it, unless you are from abroad and taking advantage of our weak dollar.  Grrr.  This guide will show you how to drop $300 in one day, not by purchasing one Prada accessory or visiting the $250/plate Per Se, but how to have fun for an entire day, eating, drinking, and shopping in New York. 

Buy a One-day $7 Subway card

Consumer society

The lonely shopping cart wants you take it for a spin and fill it with happiness.

Bring on the Breakfast

You wake up and remembered that today is the day to blow $300!  The president told you to do it!  Which means a bowl of Cheerios or slice of toast won’t suffice.  That’s right, you’re going out to breakfast!  And I don’t mean the coffee and bagel truck guys (who fed me a $1 breakfast too many times to count).

Pick up the New York Times, grab a crossword-puzzle pencil, and prepare to begin the day therapeutically: with a $14 omelette and cafe au lait.

Bread Basket from Balthazar

Bread Basket from Balthazar

Balthazar Restaurant & Bakery

80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Brioche French toast with applewood smoked bacon will set you back $13 and a mimosa a whopping $10, but Balthazar is the perfect restaurant for breakfast because of few crowds (they come later on!)

Brioche French toast with applewood smoked bacon will set you back $13 and a mimosa a whopping $10, but Balthazar is the perfect restaurant for breakfast because of few crowds (they come later on!)

Good Enough to Eat

483 Amsterdam Ave At 83rd St., New York, NY 10024

Value-Shopping

If you frequent the popular shopping ‘hoods of Manhattan, such as Madison Avenue, Soho, 5th Avenue, and the West Village, your economic stimulus check will be eaten up in one foul swoop. So, if you want to further the income of just Marc Jacobs or Kate Spade, feel free, but the whole spending-the-Feds’-money-thing will be more fun if you do it in multiple places.

IMG_4786

This may look like hell to some (including myself). Century 21, my friends. I think they are having a sale?

Century 21 Dept Stores

22 Cortlandt St, New York, NY 10007

A mammoth discount department store…what else do you need to know?

A mammoth discount department store…what else do you need to know?

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American Apparel

181 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

If you’re going to give back to the economy, why not do it by shopping at sweat-shop free, hipster-cool American Apparel? Leotards, flashy spandex pants, and those form-less sack dresses.

If you’re going to give back to the economy, why not do it by shopping at sweat-shop free, hipster-cool American Apparel? Leotards, flashy spandex pants, and those form-less sack dresses.

American Apparel's site

 

Your Economic Stimulus Check Shopping and Eating Map

Grilled Veggie Panini

Grilled Veggie Panini

Lunch Time Baby!

You’re probably about down $100 by now, especially if Century 21 had those boots you wanted.  Go the $8 sandwich route for lunch so that your spending spree isn’t cut short!

PRET A Manager

205 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017

As far as prepackaged sandwiches go, Pret A Manger is superb. Sleek wrappers and restaurants provide a nice change from the oppressive yellow of Subway.

As far as prepackaged sandwiches go, Pret A Manger is superb. Sleek wrappers and restaurants provide a nice change from the oppressive yellow of Subway.

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches

150 E 2nd Street, New York, NY 10009

Halftime

Man you are unstoppable, saving our very American economy!  Look at you go!  There is still work to do, however.  You just ate, so it’s time for more shopping. 

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Crate & Barrel

611 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

I know, I know, we should be helping the planet, but have you already forgotten the sagging economy? Replace that perfectly good pillow at home with a new $34.95 one!

I know, I know, we should be helping the planet, but have you already forgotten the sagging economy? Replace that perfectly good pillow at home with a new $34.95 one!

Refuel Time

I tell ya, supporting the economy is hard work!  My feet are killing me and I’m just sitting here typing away.  I think it’s time to eat again!

Pepperoni Pizza

Dinner is around every Manhattan corner…

Cheap Ass Food

Cheap Ass Food is your bloggy Manhattan “Recession Specialist.” Because, honestly, you’re nearing the bottom of your money bag and that carbohydrate-heavy breakfast won’t quite carry you to the finish line.

Celebrate!

You did it!  George W. loves you for it, and I know you care about that!  Now it’s time to celebrate…with $1 PBRs at shithole Doc Holliday’s; face it, you’re poor again, weighed down by shopping bags, and you need a drink.

Pabst

Shiny Happy Pabst

Doc Hollidays

141 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

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