My Town Marked Down is the official blog for Postabon, a community of deal-finders. This blog shares our experiences in finding a good value in New York City - whether it is a designer dress 70 percent off, free entrance to a museum or an incredible brunch special. Read about our adventures and some of our community members' favorite deals in the Big Apple.
My parents were in town on Wednesday, and when we found ourselves with an hour to kill before dinner, we figured the best place to hang out was at a bar. And when you work for a deal site like Postabon, clearly I had to find a place for drinks that wouldn’t break the bank.
The Deal: Postabon member Mookman shared that Uncle Jack’s Steakhouses offer a free wine tasting from 5-7 pm on Wednesdays at their Manhattan locations, with complimentary cheese and fruit pairings. This deal is valid only at the bar. If you are in Queens, you can check out this deal in Bayside from 6-8 pm.
Is It Truly a Deal?: In a span of 45 minutes, my parents and I received 3 glasses of Shiraz and 3 glasses of Chardonnay, plus a fruit and cheese platter. At a steakhouse, you figure glasses of wine would have been at least $10 each, plus $10 for the food, so we got $70 worth of food and drinks for free. Of course, we tipped $20, so it was a savings of at least $50.
Pros: The drinks were flowing the moment we sat at the bar, and as soon as one glass of vino was finished, another glass was immediately poured. The bartender also brought out our snacks without us even asking. There was plenty of food too, with a selection of granny smith apples, dried cranberries, walnuts, olives, goat cheese and muenster cheese. This platter was perfect for 3 people and went nicely with the wine selection.
Cons: Uncle Jack’s advertises this deal on the website, but no where outside the restaurant or even inside at the bar did it mention this deal. In fact, when I walked in, I verified with the maitre’d that this deal did exist. So keep in mind, you have to be comfortable asking for your freebies or no one will offer the deal to you. Looking around at the bar, no one was drinking wine, so it was clear this deal is a bit of a hidden gem.
Our 2 Cents: Wine Wednesday at Uncle Jack’s is worth checking out, especially if you are in the neighborhood. As long as you are comfortable asking for the deal, head in from 5-7 and get ready for a few drinks and snacks. Some promotions are changing at the restaurant, as they just ended their “Ladies and Gents night”, so we recommend you check the website before heading over.
One of the most talked about deals here in the Postabon office is flip night at Flight 151. The deal was actually one of the first deals that Postabon co-founder Swall1 and Postabon community manager Laura tried together.
Is It Truly A Deal?: Beers at Flight 151 run about $4 and with tip, about $5. If you guess heads or tails accurately, your drink is free. The bartenders however will remind you to tip, so you’ll be spending about $1 a drink. If you guess right repeatedly though, you can easily walk away spending $5 or so on 5 beers.
Pros: Flight 151 is completely open about this deal. Literally at 7pm, you’ll start hearing the bartenders shaking coins in a cup, as patrons order drinks. There isn’t anything secret you have to say or any paperwork you need to print to take advantage of the deal. In addition, this deal lasts all night, so you don’t have to worry about making it to the bar by a certain time to “try your luck.”
Cons: This deal is only available at the bar, and it usually is extremely crowded at the bar especially after Happy Hour, so it may be tough to get a seat in front of the action. If you decide to get a table and eat, you’ll have to head to the bar every time you want a drink if you want to play the game, rather than ask your server for a drink.
Our 2 Cents: Flight 151 is a great spot to check out and can be a great value if you guess heads or tails right throughout the night. For the losers though, this bar just seems like any other bar. Our advice though is to stick with either heads or tails, and call that coin throughout the night, so you don’t beat yourself up. We will admit that the gambling aspect does make it fun, and you can’t help but ask your friends after they get a new drink if they in fact got it for free.
If you want to guarantee some money in your pocket by the end of night, head to Flight 151 before 7pm to take advantage of Happy Hour prices - and let’s be honest, $1.50 drafts are really a win for everyone. Have a few drinks, and then start gambling. If you are on a losing streak, you can then walk away - and still have a pretty good buzz, thanks to the Happy Hour drafts.
So, it’s Friday night and chances are you are exhausted from the grueling work week. That means the only thing on your mind is gathering up your best buds and going out for a couple of drinks.
Since you worked so hard during the week, it wouldn’t make sense to go spend all of your hard-earned cash at some over-priced bar where you have to give an arm and a leg just to get a taste of your favorite drink. Here are some places where you can start your weekend off right and make the wise decision of not spending a ton of money before inebriation clouds your judgment.
Fourth of July weekend means drinking, drinking and more drinking. Turtle Bay in Midtown East is offering a $20 open bar on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from 10pm - 1am. When the open bar is over, Turtle Bay will be offering $3 Coors lights for the rest of the night, according to Postabon member BBBBQ.
If you’re on a budget and want to drink for free, hit up an open bar at Crash Mansion on the Lower East Side. Postabon member pkieferp says be sure to RSVP to RSVP@newyorkunderbelly.com to snag as many free flowing drinks as you can from 9-10pm! We bet you’ll be double-fisting.
Looking for a casual Happy Hour? Head over to the Tribeca Tavern to enjoy $3 well drinks, house wine, domestic beer, and pints of PBR and Yuengling from 4-7pm. Thanks to Postabon member cmonohan for sharing this deal!
Now hurry and pick one, a few, or all of these places to guarantee a happy, yet economical, night. If you come across any other great drink deals, share them with Postabon!
Whether you hate ‘em, love ‘em or can’t get enough of ‘em, sometimes us girls just need to take a break from those testosterone-filled boys. Girls’ night outs are often super fun and well-deserved. There’s nothing better than throwing on a cute dress and heels, and hitting the town with your best gal pals. Here at Postabon, we’ve picked some of our favorite ideas for a girls’ night out, that are not only fun, but affordable!
Catch up with your ladies mid-week during a classy evening at Azya Wine and Chocolate Bar. If you make a reservation for Tuesday night online, you’ll receive a complimentary chocolate shot and a chocolate-covered strawberry.
Grab your girls and head over to Sing Sing Karaoke on a Monday night. At Sing Sing, you can rent karaoke rooms, and on Mondays, ladies get 50% off everything, according to Postabon member Streetforce1. Get ready to sing your favorite Britney and Lady Gaga songs.
Who doesn’t like free cocktails and free giftbags? Come party with your friends and mingle with sexy, hot singles at Cosmo’s Summer Splash (yes, Cosmo the magazine!) next Wednesday, June 23, at Nikki Beach. Enjoy complimentary cocktails, astrology readings, mini massages, a free gift bag and more! Keep in mind, you must RSVP. Thanks to Postabon member evienyc for sharing this with us!
And speaking of cosmos…what girl doesn’t love a cosmopolitan? Wednesday nights from 8-9 ladies get can drink for free at Tonic East. There’s no limits on what you can consume during this hour, so drink up with your girls!
If you and your girlfriends prefer to get together on the weekend, then get your crew together and trek over to Duke’s on a Saturday night. All evening, ladies enjoy half-priced drinks! Thanks to Postabon member QuePasaNYC for passing along this deal (she also has her own blog!).
Now there should be no excuses for skipping out on quality time with the girls! Have a suggestion for girls’ night out? Share it with us at Postabon!
We can barely contain ourselves over here at Postabon because in just a few short hours, we’ll be heading to the Mets/Phillies game with about 20 Postabon members. We’re looking forward to meeting everyone, taking in some Shake Shack at Citifield and most importantly, watching the Mets dominate the Phillies…again.
Whether you root for the Yankees or the Mets, we all can agree that New York is home to the best baseball in the American and National League. And as a result, many establishments offer great deals for fans of these teams.
Next time you are on the way home from a baseball game in the Bronx or Queens, take the 4/5 to 86th St and head over to Manny’s on Second. According to Postabon member caryndonohue (and blogger of 89th and Broke), simply show your ticket stub from that day’s home game, and you’ll receive free drinks. If the Mets or Yankees lose, you’ll get one free drink. If they win however, you’ll score two free drinks -you can get soda, a well drink, glass of wine, or light draft beer. Keep in mind this is only good for the day printed on your ticket.
Public House also offers free drinks if you show your ticket stub. Unlike Manny’s, you can show your ticket before as well as after a Mets or Yankees game to get a free Bud or Bud Light draft. Located near Grand Central, Public House is conveniently on the way up to the Bronx, as well as right near the 7 train to Citifield. Thanks to KPM for sharing this with us.
If you prefer to watch the game at a classier restaurant, rather than a sports bar, consider heading to Pranna for the game. According to mmccooey, Pranna offers $5 draft beers during any Mets or Yankees game.
Even if the Yankees are away, it is always fun to get the experience of Yankee Stadium. During away games, Hard Rock Cafe in Yankee Stadium offers select $5 appetizers, drink specials and door prizes, according to Postabon member lolograham. These special events start one hour before the game starts and last throughout the game. These specials are only valid on games that start before 8:10 pm.
Know of any other great venues offering deals during baseball games? Comment below or share them with us at Postabon!
With the weekend in sight, chances are you are counting down the hours until 5pm on Friday. While you may be ready to fast forward to the weekend, whatever you do, don’t overlook Thursday night. There are plenty of activities going on this evening that shouldn’t be missed. Here are just a sampling of deals we have for tonight on Postabon:
For those looking to relieve their college days: Every Thursday, Duke’soffers $2 bud light drafts and $10 pitchers. While this may be a far cry from your college bar’s nickel night, Duke’s has one of your favorite activities from your glory days - beer pong (deal via quepasanyc).
For those crossing NYC museums off their list: If you want to see every museum in New York while you live in the city, visit the New Museum tonight. This LES museum features American and international artists and is typically $12 to enter, but on Thursday nights from 7-9 pm it is completely free (deal via ducklamp500).
For those more sports-minded: Like bowling but hate spending a fortune here in the city? Leisure Time Bowl near Port Authority offers a $39 bowling package that includes two hours of bowling and a beer tower for your lane. Simply use the code TIMEOUT between now and May 31 to save $10 per person. (deal via colantoni).
For those keeping it classy: Sometimes the best way to try new wines is by pairing them with appropriate dishes. Philip Marie offers a 4-course meal and each dish is paired with an appropriate wine. This event is held on Thursday nights for only $25 (deal via smalley).
Know of anything else fun and inexpensive to do on a Thursday night? Share it with Postabon!
Cinco de Mayo is here! As a result, at Postabon, there are three things on our agenda today - Coronas, margaritas and guacamole.
Many bars and restaurants are offering specials tonight in honor of the holiday, but there are a few deals we’ve found that are easy on your wallet.
Free Coronas: The Deck at the Empire Hotel Rooftop has a fabulous view of the Hudson, per Postabon user colantoni. Know what else it has? Free Coronas. From 5-6pm today, sip on free beer and enjoy the view. In order to attend the party, you must RSVP by 2pm. After the party is over, there will be $6 well drinks all night (gimlet anyone?). (44 W. 63rd between Broadway and Central Park West).
Free Margaritas: If craving a margarita tonight, swing by Public House. You’ll receive a free margarita sample when you walk in the door. If you decide to stick around the whole night, enjoy $3 Dos Equis, $3 Coronas and $5 frozen margaritas. What’s great about Public House is that it is conveniently located right near Grand Central - so your Stamford and Westchester friends have no excuses but to grab a drink with you right after work. (140 E 41st St between Lexington and 3rd).
Free Chips and Salsa: Free margaritas are great, but pair that with free chips and salsa and you have yourself a very happy customer. West 3rd Common is offering free chips, salsa and margaritas from 6-7pm tonight. To take advantage of the deal, log on to their Facebook page, “like it” and then register for Facebook promos. After 7pm, margaritas will be available for $5. (1 West 3rd St between Broadway and Mercer).
Margarita Deals All Year Long: Have other plans tonight? Reading this post on Thursday and realized you missed Cinco de Mayo? Don’t worry, Blockheads offers margaritas at Cinco de Mayo prices all year long, according to Postabon member mmccooey. With 7 locations around the city, you are bound to find a restaurant near you where you can sip on a $3 frozen margarita. This price isn’t just for Happy Hour but instead for all. night. long. (multiple locations).
Know of any other great Cinco de Mayo specials? Share them with us at Postabon!
Like most young professionals, I enjoy going out for (cheap) drinks on Thursday night after work.More often than not though, due to time and wallet constraints, I often skip supper for a liquid dinner and end up having a miserable Friday morning.
That’s why I’m a proud supporter of bars that provide free food with drinks.Whether it’s a hot dog or some tater tots, chances are that by consuming these snacks, I won’t wake up at 3am on my couch then with a piece of late-night pizza in hand.
Here’s some of our favorite spots if you are looking for a free meal tonight when drinking:
Trash Bar: This Williamsburg hangout offers a great drinking AND free food deal. Every day from 8-9 pm, enjoy all you can drink PBR, well drinks and your elementary school cafeteria favorite, tater tots. Spend $6 to take advantage of this deal Sunday - Thursday, and $7 on Friday and Saturday. (256 Grand St, between Roebling and Driggs).
Port 41: Who doesn’t like a free hot dog? According to Postabon member jbombm, every time you order a drink at Port 41, you’ll get a free dog. Not much of a meat eater? Then snack on free popcorn. While your there, enjoy darts and pool. (355 W. 41st St, between 8th and 9th).
Rudy’s: If Port 41 isn’t your scene but you are still craving a hot dog real bad, head down the street to Rudy’s. User lolograham tells us they advertise “free hot dogs - always!” so get fed while sipping on some pops. Pitchers start at just $7. (627 9th Ave between 44th and 45th).
Fontana’s: Test your trivia knowledge at Fontana’s on the Lower East Side every Thursday night from 7-9pm, according to Postabon member smalley. While showing off to your friends that you totally know who wrote the Babysitter’s Club (Ann M. Martin), snack on free pizza and sip on $3 beers until 8pm. (105 Eldridge St, between Broome and Grand).
Have any other favorite drink and free food deals?Add them to Postabon!Now as my colleague Wells would say, let’s party.
While doing your taxes can be a bit of a pain, here at Postabon we are loving all of the promotions on tax day. Still, with so many going on, we can get a little crazed trying to hit up every place in town just to save a few bucks. Here are our top three favorites:
Let’s face it – there is a Starbucks on every corner, so any promotion at Starbucks is convenient for everyone. Today, in an effort to help the environment, Starbucks is offering free coffee to any patron who brings in a reusable travel mug, according to user brittcally. Pass it over to your favorite barista, and you’ll be sipping on some free brewed coffee. We’re all starting to take bets in our office on how often Josh, one of our tech guys, visits the Starbucks next door today.
Any place that offers a free lunch guarantees a long line – and guarantees we’ll all take a long lunch just to save a few bucks. Similar to previous years, user jboyaval tell us that Energy Kitchen is offering free lunch wraps to New Yorkers who purchase a beverage. Choose from a Bison Cheesesteak Wrap, California Wrap or a Buffalo Chicken Burger. In addition to the free food, brand ambassadors from glacéau vitaminwater zero, Pirate’s Booty® and GETfit by FITTERWITH will be at each location, giving away prizes and free samples.
Now that you’ve gotten your morning coffee and lunch for free, how about a dinner, priced at a discount? Cozy up at the bar at McCormick and Schmick’s for $10.40 drink and dinner specials. If that’s not enough of a reason to go, the restaurant will be handing out $10.40 gift certificates to use during a future visit – while supplies last. Have a friend who is a tax preparer that can’t make it? Encourage him or her to visit the Midtown restaurant tomorrow, April 16. Any tax preparers with a business card receive a complimentary dessert with purchase of an entrée, as well as a $10.40 gift certificate. Thanks to community member 89thandbroke for this deal!
Shiraz and 3 glasses of Chardonnay, plus a fruit and cheese platter. At a steakhouse, you figure glasses of wine would have been at least $10 each, plus $10 for the food, so we got $70 worth of food and drinks for free. Of course, we tipped $20, so it was a savings of at least $50.
you guess heads or tails accurately, your drink is free. The bartenders however will remind you to tip, so you’ll be spending about $1 a drink. If you guess right repeatedly though, you can easily walk away spending $5 or so on 5 beers.
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offers $2 bud light drafts and $10 pitchers. While this may be a far cry from your college bar’s nickel night, Duke’s has one of your favorite activities from your glory days - 
For those keeping it classy: Sometimes the best way to try new wines is by pairing them with appropriate dishes. Philip Marie offers a 
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Any place that offers a free lunch guarantees a long line – and guarantees we’ll all take a long lunch just to save a few bucks. Similar to previous years, user jboyaval tell us that Energy Kitchen is offering 