Faye Penn — Founder & Publisher
Twitter • Email: faye@brokelyn.com
From: Framingham, Mass., an utterly unrivaled mall town.
Cheap BK Activity: Riding back and forth on the Ikea ferry with contraband; walking around Ditmas Park squinting and pretending I’m in the Catskills.
When not Brokelyning, I… Creative direct startups, write freelance stories for InStyle, Marie Claire, Real Simple and [your magazine here]; write copy for design/fashion clients.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: I buy Target brand baby formula. There’s way more than one splurge but I’m gonna go with highlights by Borja Cau. She’s a genius and fully worth the mortgage payments.
Contact me: To buy ads on Brokelyn
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Tim Donnelly — Managing editor
Website. Twitter. Email: tim@brokelyn.com
From: Beachwood, N.J. Please don’t call it the Jersey Shore.
Cheap BK Activity: The Rev. Vince Anderson’s weekly free show at Union Pool; terrifying levels of Simpler Times consumption.
When not Brokelyning, I… Write freelance stories for anyone who will have me; lounge about coffee shops; burn calories working at Trader Joe’s and replace them with vegetable-based sustenance.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: I graduated college years ago. Turns out, my college ID doesn’t have an expiration date, and therefore neither does my student discount eligibility. I’m not cheap about: buying a beer for friends in need, because I’ve been there before, and will be there again.
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From: Brokelyn, NY
Cheap BK activity: Running down the hill in Prospect Park (running up the hill is a close second).
When not Brokelyning, I… represent CAMBA in the non-profit realm of the interwebs, play the viola much less than I used to.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Cook. Splurge: Occasionally, buy fancy ingredients to cook with.
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Anna Jacobson — Staff writer
Website. Email: anna@jacobson.net
From: raised in Duluth, Georgia
Cheap BK activity: subway tour
When not Brokelyning, I… belly/fire dance, write and sing with my band (Helixentric), edit videos.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: How to travel for less than staying in one place. Splurges: garbage bags, eye makeup, Metrocards.
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Meghan Doherty — Staff writer
Website. Twitter. Email: mdoherty04@gmail.com
From: Saratoga, NY. The land of horses, hippies, suburbanites, awkward dancing and Jell-o shots.
Cheap BK Activity: Biking everywhere I can, Myopenbar hopping and daydreaming of more outlets for Brian Williams to be funny.
When not Brokelyning, I… am at the dog park with my pup, Polly. Job searching. Thinking up Kickstarter ideas. Cursing at stupid Facebook updates, while threatening to close my account. Catching up on music.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Scored cheaper rent for repainting and fixing up an apartment. Drinking wise: hitting up Rope’s $1 Beer Night. If you are not 21, please don’t go. You ruined it for everyone last time. Splurge: My daily addiction to Bedford Hill‘s amazing large americano. But you buy ten and get one free, so….
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Caroline Shadood — Staff writer
Website Twitter Email: cshadood@gmail.com, caroline@broadist.com
From: The garden-y part of the Garden State.
Cheap BK Activity: Potlucks, swaps, free shows, farmers markets, and guest lists.
When not Brokelyning, I… go to concerts, co-run a personal style blog, Broadist, and do little else. In addition to freelance writing, I work for Blue Flower Arts and Brooklyn Bowl.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Not-so-Secret: offensively cheap rent + a back yard? Score one for Bushwick. Splurge: I always get spendy when faced with coffee, books, and shoes. That MiniMarket/Verb Café/Spoonbill & Sugartown corner (N. 5th and Bedford) is my Bermuda triangle.
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Sue Smith
Website. Twitter. Email: sue.smith@me.com
From: Warren, PA, where haircuts are still $13 and V&J’s serves $0.25 Rum & Cokes on Saturdays.
Cheap BK Activity: Riding my bike to Coney Island
When Not Brokelyning, I… do stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy throughout the city and at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade (http://www.ucbtheatre.com/). I also teach yoga (http://suesmithyoga.com/)
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Cancel your cable! All the shows you want are available online. Also, for a home/beginning yoga practice, you can download some great free podcasts online. Splurge: Shoes! Warm winter boots and cute ballet flats. Yum.
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Sarah Bibi
Website. Blog. Twitter. Email: sarahbibiable@gmail.com
From: Manhattan, by way of Central PA and London
Cheap BK Activity: I’m a sucker for second-hand and vintage clothing stores (see below).
When not Brokelyning, I… am a regular at the Park Slope Beacon’s Closet, particularly in the boot department. (Seriously. I get embarrassed walking in now). Scoping out vegan food in Brooklyn, taking photos, freelance photo editing, trolling Craigslist for dream apartments and chuckling over missed connections; and attending/shooting lots of concerts.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: My cheap secret? Being a lightweight and only requiring one or two drinks for the evening. My splurge is most definitely the flat whites at Milk Bar Brooklyn. Worth every sip!
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Meredith Olson
Website. E-mail: mcolson09@gmail.com
From: Westchester, The Bestchester (County), NY … what we call “outside the city”
Cheap BK activity: Free/cheap fun: parks, promenades, picnics, concerts, open bars and most of all free samples.
When Not Brokelyning, I: Intern in exchange for a beefier resume, watch captivating nature shows on Nat Geo, add to my list of books I probably should read, revel in the fact that I finally have internet, scour Craigslist’s “Free” section for the next great find of the century, laugh at awkward people and occasionally myself.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: This probably isn’t a secret but VO5 shampoo costs 78 cents. 78 cents!! Also, C-Town is unbelievably awesomely cheap that it never fails to amaze me. Splurge: non-boxed Malbec and good steak. Noms!
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Thomas Sullivan
Twitter Email: versayce@gmail.com
From: Brielle, NJ. Close to the beach and not much else.
Cheap BK Activity: Spending way too much time on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
When not Brokelyning, I…: Study Cinema Studies and Journalism at NYU, cry over impending student loans, eat way too much White Castle, review movies for Buzzine, and chronicle my food adventures with crappy pictures and poor attempts at humor on my blog Tom Blogs Food.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Secret: Taking the bus one way, and the subway the other for short errands so I only use one swipe, though I suppose this isn’t really a secret. Splurge: Pizza at Motorino. Get in my mouth. Oh, and expanding my way-too-big-as-it-is DVD collection.
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Andrew Linderman
Twitter. Email: andrew.linderman@gmail.com
From: San Francisco, CA.
Cheap BK Activity: Buying socks at the dollar store. I’m also a fan of the free classes at the Brooklyn Wine Exchange.
When not Brokelyning, I…produce radio pieces, write comedy, stock frozen food and eat samples at Trader Joe’s, and gaze wistfully out my bedroom window at passersby.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Bike to work. You save boatloads of money. Literally, enough money to buy a boat and fill it with money. Splurge: Classes and drinking. I’m addicted to headaches.
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Kelly Murphy
Website. Twitter. Email: kmurphy5190@gmail.com
From: Bloomsburg, PA, just 15 miles from the ghost town of Centralia.
Cheap BK Activity: Basking in Ira Glass’s glory at The Talent Show. Also, The Bushwick Book Club.
When not Brokelyning, I … work in digital at Penguin Books, volunteer for things like 826NYC, and go to every free lecture with “sexuality” in the title.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Secret: Asking for discounts at retail stores for merch that’s defective but salvageable. Splurge: A gym with a pool and towel service.
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Eric Silver
Website. Twitter. Email: eric.silvs@gmail.com
From: Canarsie (what happens when you fall asleep on the L), then Oceanside, NY (what happens when you fall asleep on the Belt Parkway)
Cheap BK Activity: Bocce at Union Hall. It’s only expensive if you’re a lush. So maybe this isn’t my cheap activity…
When not Brokelyning, I … write humor and sketch comedy, perform improv, host trivia nights, perform bhangra solos at gigantic Indian weddings, frequent K-Town for my karaoke/galbi fix, and recreate the last meal requests of Death Row prisoners. Currently trying to turn my backyard into a garden/outdoor theater.
Cheapest Secret, One Splurge: If you want to enhance your free Brooklyn Bridge Park movie with a pizza from Grimaldi’s, call and order for pickup and bypass the perennially long line. Give up alcohol in the month of February: No major holidays, and it’s still cold, so you have an excuse to stay in more. You’ll lose weight, get smarter, and save tons of money (true story). Splurge: Maker’s Mark. Also, anything that’s guaranteed FUN.
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Karina Briski
Website. Twitter. Email: kbrisk10@gmail.com
From: Hibbing, MN via Seattle
Cheap BK Activity: Rolling out of bed and working from my fire escape in my jammies: no pricey commutes, $2 cups of joe, makeup or even clothes needed. Also, strolling markets and antique furniture stores and planning my “someday” purchases. Saves time, and time=money!
When not Brokelyning, I… Searching for my soul-mutt on Petfinder, tweeting and Facebooking for nonprofits, getting crafty with maps, writing nonsense and some-sense stories.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Eyeglasses from Warby Parker! they have a buy one, give one program that makes you feel like Bill Gates, i.e. rich. Splurge: A good cup of coffee and a nice glass of beer. Money can’t buy you happiness until you have a $4 pint.
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Alison Pels
Twitter. Email: alison.pels@gmail.com
From: Sydney, Australia
Cheap BK Activity: Running through an open fire hydrant in the Summer.
When not Brokelyning, I… Direct tourists to various bathrooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Don’t waste your time and money marinating in other people’s sweaty juices on the subway, bike everywhere instead! I love to splurge on excellent produce at the Prospect Park Farmers Market, usually on payday.
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Aulistar Mark
Twitter. Email: aulistar@gmail.com
From: Hartford, CT
Cheap BK activity: Inline Skating, going to a skatepark or hitting street skating spots is free (as long as you avoid the cops).
When not Brokelyning, I… : Work as a Audiovisual Technician, and a freelance videographer/video editor.
Cheapest Secret, one splurge: Producing professional-quality videos on an extremely low budget. Splurge… My video game habit.
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Rachel Eve Stein
Twitter. Email: rachel.eve.stein@gmail.com
From: New York, NY (concrete jungle where dreams are made of, etc.)
Cheap BK activity: Free dancing nights at Union Hall and the Bell House.
When not Brokelyning, I… : am trying to make the world a better place through government/political work.
Cheapest Secret, one splurge: Used CDs for $1-2 at Housing Works Thrift Shop; vegetarian soul “chicken” at Vegetarian Palate on Flatbush (they’re a good deal, but still more expensive than anything I make at home!).
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David Colon
Twitter. Email: puuuuuuuuuuuuuulp@gmail.com.
From: Long Beach, NY. It’s an, ah, long beach.
Cheap BK activity: Eating free wings on Mondays at the Brazen Head to avoid bringing dinner to work with me. Listening to my neighbors argue. Also the Sol and tequila special at The Narrows has been known to cause feelings of invincibility. At least, it does for me.
When not Brokelyning, I: stock various flavors of hummus, deliver bread by bicycle, publish a literary magazine called Stretch, and endlessly complicate my life.
Cheapest secret, one splurge: Writing for Brokelyn means free breakfasts on Thursdays. Splurge: Metrocards. I don’t care if it is public transportation, the subway is for rich people.
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