RETAIL TREASURES

I cannot believe more people do not know about Mina NYC! Don’t think twice, go. Hundreds of beautiful designer clothes (Chloe, Alberta Ferretti) from this and the past few seasons all at up to 90% off retail.   Separates are mostly $200 or less and at about 70% off retail.  Coats, bags, and dresses are mostly 70-90% off, but still run around $400. According to their fashionable-but not pretentious- helpful, courteous staff the clothing is all new, so even though it is an offshoot of the Fashion Library, no worries mom! In addition, they hold “extra 20% off” everything in the store sales at least one weekend a month.  Save on savings!?! That is how we like to shop.
Have out of town guests with a few hundred dollars to spend on a quality piece? Why take them to 5th Avenue? Bring them to Mina NYC located by Cooper Union/St. Marks in the East Village where they will get to participate in a real New York shopping experience in this organized by color and category, stylish, fun, fashion forward haven with available/no-wait dressing rooms! Then take them to Soho, a hop away, where they will realize how much they saved and think you are a true New Yorker, so brilliant and well informed.
I sound like a commercial?  I know.  That is what this place needs!  I cannot believe more people don’t come here!  Beautiful clothing for the savvy bargain shopper, the one who knows quality, and the value of money. You are too busy to come by? No problem! I cannot stop sounding like a commercial.  It does get better, there is also a website that will tell you about the sourcing of the clothing, and has a some (only 40 or so) items from the store available on-line, www.minanyc.com.   I cannot wait for the next time I want to purchase a quality piece (my winter coat?).  This will be the place I look forward to going to.  It should be yours too.  Just try not to take anything embroidered please, or sequined or feathered…ok, ok, go ahead, I cannot lay claim on everything, even though I did tell you about it.

Long live the New York bargains!

By:Bargain Jenny

Note: We were not paid a dime to write this article.

There’s no question that food trucks are the hottest thing going right now. Scarcely a day goes by that the food blogs aren’t reporting a new truck selling haute grilled cheese sandwiches or artisanal ice cream or truck-cured bacon (okay, we made that last one up, but still). For the food truck novice, however, the world of mobile eats can be intimidating and, until someone invents an iPhone app that tells you when you’re near a food truck (that’s a free idea, tech-savvy entrepreneurs), it’s hard to know where to go to sample New York’s vehicular victuals.

Enter the stretch of Fifth Avenue between 14th and 23rd. This nine block stretch regularly houses at least five food trucks and (bonus!) the lines are never as long as they are in Midtown. On a recent stroll down the street, we spotted the Bistro Truck (home of some of the best merguez sausage baguettes this side of the Seine) Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream (don’t miss a scoop of the Earl Gray!), and the Treats Truck, which serves up killer brownies. Wafels and Dinges (where a BACON WAFFLE may be obtained) and the always fun Big Gay Ice Cream Truck are also regular presences. Think of it as your own personal mobile food court. Pretty sweet, even if you stick to the savory options.

– Leila Cohan-Miccio

vada SPA

Great for:

Website: www.vadaspa.com

Address: 387 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10014

Telephone: 212-206-1572

Hours:
Open 7 days a week : 10am-9pm

Treatments Like:
Acupuncture 45-60 minutes ($100)
Couples massages ($90 for two people)

Read Our Review!

Green Tea Spa

Great for:

Website: www.greenteabeautyspa.com

Address: 240  East  28  Street (Between 3 Avenueand 2 Avenue)

Telephone: 212-683-4048

Hours:
Open 7 days a week : 10.30am-10pm

Treatments Like:
15 minutes aromatherapy massage ($20)

Read Our Review!