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Brokelyn Junior, Shopping   Ditmas Park/ Midwood/ Flatbush

Have we mentioned how much we love Amazing Savings?

by Faye | 1.17.12 | 2 Comments
Amazing Savings mock antique kitchen tools.

Amazing Savings mock antique kitchen tools, $1.99.

Back when we started this blog way back yonder in 2009, one of our first posts was on the wonders of Midwood’s Amazing Savings, where you can get all kinds of books, toys, dishes, small appliances, crafting gear, gift wrap galore for super cheap. We just went back to the Avenue M location after a decent spell away, and it’s actually gotten better. Now that it’s in a bigger space, there’s more of the stuff we want (kids’ books, brand-name toys, fashion-fun shopping totes, adorable crockpots for one) and less of the stuff we don’t want (unrecognizable kosher dry goods; under-the-sink necessities.) How good are the prices? We did a comparison shop. 

News, Shopping  

Beyonce’s questionable $45 Obama shirt

by Tim Donnelly | 1.13.12 | Post a Comment

Yes we can ... put crazy crap all over a shirt.

Hey, it’s politics Friday at Brokelyn! Beyonce, the honorary first lady of Brooklyn, has designed this shirt to raise money to help Barack Obama keep his job when he goes up against that guy who likes to fire people. The design is … interesting. It looks kind of like it was made by the kids who signed my shirt at 5th grade field day (“Good luck this summer! K.I.T. Barry!”) But, whatever, she’s had The Most Important Baby of Our Time to gestate! Would you ever wear this thing? What if it were a Beyonce designed sweater vest instead?

News, Shopping  

Urban Outfitters loves spreading Santorum

by Tim Donnelly | 1.13.12 | 3 Comments

Richard Hayne, the man who dresses thousands of college students.

Corporations are in the business of making money, which means their styles may not be as authentically hip as they would have you believe, yadda yadda yadda, you know this drill. Hipster Walmart Urban Outfitters has been particularly stonewashed with controversy all year: accusations of stealing Etsy artisans’ work, getting busted jacking up prices for simple art, perpetuating the idea that a $70 T shirt is acceptable, among others. Now the company’s co-founder and chairman Richard Hayne is taking heat from Jezebel for giving donations to everyone’s favorite Google bomb, Rick Santorum, causing Miley Cyrus to tweet: ”every time you give them money you help finance a campaign against gay equality.” We don’t get political here at Brokelyn, but we just think you should know where your money is going. It’s not to keep these shirts on the shelves, fyi.

Services, Shopping  

‘Groupon for good’ saves more than $$

by Vanessa Londono | 1.12.12 | Post a Comment

A dollar here goes a long way there.

You could feel twice as good the next time you give in and purchase a group deal. The Mutual is the latest group-buying service joining the dozen already filling up your inbox. But this one has a charitable twist: Billing itself as the “Groupon for good,” The Mutual rewards philanthropic giving with sweet hookups on VIP events, early product releases, discounts and more. The Brooklyn-based start up is simple enough: You pay a monthly $10 fee for access to the perks. Of that, 80 percent is donated to an environmental charity, with the rest going back to The Mutual. Perks right now include a VIP Brooklyn Brewery party, a free Sustainable NYC totebag and steep discounts to Broadway shows, which means you might recover your monthly fee in just one use.

Services, Shopping  

The new form of retail therapy: selling your ex’s stuff

by Karina Briski | 1.5.12 | 1 Comment

Wait! You can resell that jerk's stuff!

A new startup has a solution for dealing with your relationship’s baggage and making a few bucks while you’re at it. Never Liked it Anyway is an online marketplace specializing in the treasures (trash?) of past loves. People sell no-longer-wanted gifts from relationships past at a steep discount. Whereas traditional methods of retail therapy only seem to toss a person from one romantic hole into another financial one, this site is intended to dig you out of both. It doubles as a support group for the recently dumped, with member-generated tips for moving on and a forum for ranting.

It’s like an anonymous therapy session, made even better by the chance to turn your spiteful memories into cold cash. But if these four items are an indication of things to come, I hope more happy relationships end in 2012.

Shopping  

The complete 2011 Brokelyn 25 under $25 gift guide

by Tim Donnelly | 12.24.11 | Post a Comment

Our holiday wish is for Kat Dennings to read Brokelyn.

My how the time flies when you’re scrambling for gift money. In case you missed it or still haven’t done your shopping yet (C’MON!), review our entire guide to great local gifts for less than $25. From ninja bread men and fancy simple syrups to bubble wrap calendars and chocolate bacon pancake mix, there’s something for everyone here. We’ll see you a bit next week and will be back in full after the New Year. So be good to each other and have a happy holidays from all of us here at Brokelyn and, of course, your new favorite Brooklynites, the 2 Broke Girls!

Outings, Shopping  

25 gifts under $25, No. 25: A Giants/Jets/bowling combo date

by Tim Donnelly | 12.24.11 | 2 Comments

Let's go big blue! Photo via BK Bowl.

OK, you’ve waited this long and what did you really expect? Spend the next 11 months thinking about how you should plan ahead next holiday so you’re not left short on Christmas eve. For that one last person on your list, here’s what you do: grab ‘em after brunch, throw on your preferred blues or greens and head over to Brooklyn Bowl to watch the high-stakes Giants/Jets matchup at 1pm (what the Post Daily News! called “EVE OF DESTRUCTION.”) Your $25 will get you each a two beers (maybe bring a few extra bucks for tip) or an eight piece pack of that famous fried chicken. And you can also bowl for free from 12-2 (with free shoes too)! Drinking + football + throwing a heavy ball at things = a great pre-holiday stress reliever.

Shopping   Red Hook

25 gifts under $25 No. 24: Soaps from Saipua

by Faye | 12.23.11 | Post a Comment

Saipua winter citrus soapScented soap may not seem like the very height of gift-giving originality, but it’s really nice to have a stack on hand as a hostess present or to give out to the ladies when you’re on the hook for a crowd. And the fragrances from the Red Hook soap and flower shop Saipua are just delish: beautifully packaged, bright, fresh, vibrant, yum. The $10 bars come in Lavender Oatmeal, Peppermint Pumice, Winter Citrus, Salt Water, Mango Butter, Coffee Mint and more. Saipua is open today until 6 and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon at 147 Van Dyke St., conveniently located for that last-minute Fairway Run. The squares are also on sale for $12 at A. Cheng at 152 Fifth Ave. in Park Slope, which is open until at least 5 on Christmas Eve.

Shopping   Brooklyn Heights/ DUMBO

25 gifts under $25 No. 23: Poster from Pop Chart Lab

by Faye | 12.23.11 | Post a Comment
Brokelyn: pop chart beer poster

This is $25, but that's not the best part.

Pop Chart Lab’s mission is simple: to render all of human experience in chart form. Don’t know why we haven’t heard of, or partied with, this book editor and graphic designer in DUMBO before, (or maybe we have) but their posters are smart, goodlooking and still able to be delivered to Brooklyn tomorrow. Choose from the Titanic Taxonomy of Wrestler Names, the Insanely Great History of Apple or the Periodic Table of Heavy Metals, (from AC/DC to Zyklon), all $25. Or go for “Very Many Varieties of Beer” because it comes with a chance to win 200 beers — one of every brew featured on the poster if you order by Dec. 31. Your only dilemma then will be to give them to the poster recipient or bogart them for yourself. (Your secret is safe with Brokelyn, as long as you invite us.) Order here. Beer giveaway details after the jump.

Shopping  

Last-minute shopping, last chance to shop local!

by Marti Zabell | 12.23.11 | Post a Comment

Ah crap, Christmas is THIS WEEKEND??

We’ve been giving you ample head’s up about all the great local markets and Brooklyn gift ideas this year, but if you’ve been procrastinating, your time is almost up! Just three markets will remain open tomorrow to let you pick-up a last minute item that’s more personal than a gift card. The Dekalb market is open the latest on Christmas eve, and also gives you get your photo with Santa (in a shipping container). Or you could swing by the greenmarket and grab an extra bottle of blueberry wine, along with some cheese for Christmas dinner, or visit Artists & Fleas to pick up some Swiss-inspired pillows to put under the tree.