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.
Deals on Foursquare in my experience have been a bit of an urban legend. I’ve yet to experience free drinks for mayors (maybe because my mayorship history involves the M34 bus), but when one of our Postabon members, Yaelleah, told me about how you can get a free $75 bottle of cologne when you check-in on Foursquare, I may have screamed, “Pump the brakes.” She explained the deal was at the Coach Men’s Store on Bleecker, and I decided I had to see it to believe it.
Before heading over to the Coach Men’s Store, I decided to look it up on Foursquare to see if this deal was still going on. In the top right hand corner on Foursquare, it said there was a special here, and once I clicked on this message, it said to show it to a sales associate to receive an exclusive gift.
We headed over to the store, checked in and asked the sales associates for our gift. We were handed a short questionnaire to fill out, where we provided our names, email addresses and mailing addresses and then we received a 3.4 Fl Oz bottle of Coach for Men fragrance. We asked how long the promo is going on, and they said it depends when Coach takes it off Foursquare. Our advice - check your phone before you head over to see if the special offer box is in the top right hand corner.
Know of any other great Foursquare promotions? Share them with us on Postabon!
New York is one of the most bustling cities, which means for many, the simple task of finding time to head to the gym can be as difficult as Lindsay Lohan staying away from alcohol. While many get away with calling the walk to the subway a high intensity workout, chances are you can benefit from a real workout.
If you are worried that a gym membership will do some serious damage to your bank account, don’t worry - we have found some amazing ways for you to get fit for free!
Trying to get in shape quickly for that wedding this summer? Hit the treadmill and the elliptical for free, with this 7-day pass to Crunch Gym! Thanks to Postabon member BBBBQ for passing this deal along.
After your one week at YogaWorks, you may be hooked! But don’t fret - you can still get your yoga fix for free at the Laughing Lotus every week day from 2:30-3:45 pm. While there is a suggested donation of $5.50, pay whatever your pocket allows - or nothing at all, according to Postabon member FreddyT.
These awesome deals will get you in tip-top shape in a flash, just in time to slip into that new bathing suit before the summer months melt into fall. How do you save on fitness classes? Tell us about it at Postabon!
After walking only two blocks yesterday and saw everyone, including myself, dripping from head to toe, I realized there had to be some affordable way to stay cool during this heatwave that didn’t involve me simply blasting my AC.
While the heat advisory may be lifted this evening, let’s face it - the temperature will be in the 90s the rest of the week and that is certainly hot! Here are some ways you can cool down - besides cracking open that fire hydrant.
Often, all it takes is a cool drink to cool your body temperature. According to Postabon member Jrubes77, Jamba Juice is offering a great promotion for you and a friend to take a break from the summer heat. Now through July 13, you can buy one smoothie, get one free with this coupon. With the weather this hot, you better take advantage of this deal!
If you are walking around Times Square this week, most likely you’ll be breaking a sweat. Rather than picking up a bottle of water at a street cart, why not sip on free orange juice? According to Postabon member Lilys189, you can snag free juice from Simply Orange Juice. They’ll have a booth in Times Square until the 11th, and recently were spotted in front of Broadway and 42nd Street.
Sometimes there is nothing like a good frozen tasty treat on a warm summer day. If you want a great sundae at an even better price, stop by Sweet Melissa’s in Brooklyn tonight, says Postabon member JudyA. On Wednesdays, you’ll get two for one sundaes - a great way to cool off during this heatwave. Just make sure to eat your ice cream before it melts!
If you need more than a cool drink or dessert to cool you down, then check out one of NYC’s 54 free outdoor pools. As the ultimate cool-down, this is a great way to spend the day with friends and family. Postabon member Pear724 says general hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Click on NYC’s free outdoor pools to find a pool near you.
How do you cool off without spending a ton of money? Share it with us at Postabon!
One of the best parts of being in New York during the summer time is free movies. These free screenings are the perfect free treat for everyone. Whether you use the free screenings as a date night excuse with your significant other, a place to entertain your children or just a reason for your friends to get together, there are plenty of movies to choose from over the next few weeks.
The Hangover: Last summer’s hit movie is back! Enjoy watching one of the wildest nights in Vegas for free on Wednesday, July 7. The movie will start around dusk (8:30 pm) at Hudson River Park, but we recommend getting there early to get a great spot. Free popcorn will be available and other snacks and beverages can be purchased. Remember The Hangover is rated R, so while this may be a great place to gather for a relaxing night with friends, you may want to leave the little ones at home.
Bolt: This July 15th event sounds more like a seven-year-old’s birthday party rather than a movie screening! Grab your children or nieces and nephews, head to Brooklyn’s East River State Park and start off the night with free arts and crafts at 6 pm, presented by the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. The night continues with a live performance by the “Click Clack Boom”. Once sunset comes around, the big screen turns on and John Travolta and Miley Cyrus take over with the screening of Bolt at dusk.
Dream Girls: For all the ladies out there (or those who love musicals), this one goes out to you. Come watch your favorite divas from Dream Girls (for free!) at the Brooklyn Bridge Park on August 12th. There will be a DJ spinning from 6 till sunset, and then the movie will start. So put on your boogie shoes, come dance and then relax and watch a great movie.
Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs: River Flicks for kids presents Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs on August 13th. Grab the little ones, head to this free screening and explain how this screening reminds you of something from your childhood - drive-in movies! Screening begins around 8:30 pm at the Hudson River Park.
The Proposal: A romantic comedy is great for two groups of people. Ladies, grab your girlfriends and head to Hudson River Park on July 21 for this free screening of The Proposal. Guys, this is an inexpensive date night activity, so ask your leading lady if she’d like to go. You may want to bring some tissues in case those romantic scenes tear at the heartstrings.
For more free screenings this summer or to post some movie deals of your own, visit Postabon!
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!
Newsflash: Father’s Day is this Sunday. Still searching for a last minute gift idea for dad or something to do together on this special day? The team at Postabon has compiled a couple gift ideas that will leave dad happy - and your wallet still full with cash.
Ice Cream for Dad: Treat your dad to some ice cream in honor of his special day - but shhhh, he doesn’t need to know it’s FREE. Tasti D-Lite is offering free ice cream for fathers on Sunday. So take your old man out for a small cone or cup, and make him smile when you graciously offer to pick up the bill.
Dinner Fit for a King: Everyone’s dad thinks he is the king of the household, and rightfully so. Take your father out for a Father’s Day feast for just $27. Fuse is doing a Father’s Day 3 courseprix-fixe. A variety of appetizers are available and choices of entrees include lamb, duck, sirloin, snapper and more. If you are celebrating Father’s Day with dad on Saturday, don’t worry - this is available both Saturday and Sunday.
Another Tie?: Going with the standard tie for dad this Father’s Day? Buy him something nice at Macy’s. Head to the store though before 1 pm on Saturday and take advantage of this special promotion - $10 off $25 with this printable coupon.
Meals with a View: Think out of the box when taking your father out for brunch or dinner. Instead of a traditional restaurant, why not try a cruise around NYC? Thrillist, a newsletter geared towards guys, is offering 10% off Father’s Day Cruises when you use the code THRILLIST. Sit back on the World Yacht and enjoy beer, a buffet, and a live pianist while touring the Hudson River and gazing out at the greatest city in the world.
Have some Father’s Day gift suggestions? Share them with us at Postabon!
Tonight is the Museum Mile Festival. If you haven’t been before, basically the 9 museums along 5th Avenue between 82nd and 105th Street are offering free admission from 6-9pm. While walking 5th Avenue, you’ll also experience art work and music on the street (thanks to Postabon member yaelleah for sharing this deal with us!).
If you can’t make it tonight or can’t even think about waiting in line to get in the Guggenheim, don’t worry - many of these museums offer deals at a later date. Below you’ll find a list of tonight’s participating museums, as well as alternate times you can check them out to beat the crowds and still get a good deal!
El Museo del Barrio (at 104th Street): According to Postabon member Carrcavender, El Museo del Barrio has free admission on the third Saturday every month. Pencil a visit in to this museum on June 19. Keep in mind this museum has a “suggested” admission price of $6, so if you want to pay less than that year-round, feel free.
Jewish Museum (at 92nd Street): If you can’t make it to the Jewish Museum during the Museum Mile Festival, check it out on Saturdays. According to Postabon member Samshrate, admission is free from 11am - 5:45pm. Typically, admission is $12.
Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design (at 91st Street): The Cooper-Hewitt only offers free admission tonight. If you are going to Museum Mile, put this first on your priority list. Otherwise, admission is $15.
National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts (at 89th Street): Similar to Cooper-Hewitt, tonight is the night to get into the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts for free. If you visit any other time, expect to pay $10.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (at 88th Street): Admission to the Guggenheim can be pricey at $18 a ticket, but visit on Saturdays from 5:45 - 7:45pm and pay-what-you-wish, according to Postabon member edog.
Neue Galerie (at 86th Street): This museum, dedicated to German and Austrian art, offers free admission from 6-8 pm on the first Friday of every month. We’ll see you there on July 2.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (at 82nd to 86th Streets): Postabon member Knox reminds us that the Met offers suggested admission. So as long as you don’t feel too guilty, don’t pay the suggested $20 admission price, and pay whatever you’d like instead.
Goethe House German Cultural Center (at 82nd Street): This gallery is across the street from the Met and is always free, so if you are heading to Museum Mile, you may want to skip this attraction.
Are you planning on checking out Museum Mile tonight?
Memorial Day is approaching and that means between now and Labor Day, the Postabon team will find any excuse to drink outside and take advantage of this warm weather. I don’t know what it is about drinking outdoors, but we all feel significantly cooler when sipping a Bud Light on a rooftop as opposed to in a dive bar.
In typical Postabon fashion, we don’t like to spend a ton of money when drinking - and we’re pretty confident you enjoy complimentary open bars and cheap drinks too. Here’s some suggestions on where you can enjoy the NYC city skyline while keeping cash in your bank account.
First, let’s take a look at some of the complimentary parties where you can drink for free. Ready for Thirsty Thursday? Head over to the West Side tonight to enjoy free Mekhong cocktails and delicious Thai bites from Bluechili, according to Postabon member DanaG. The party goes from 8-11 and you must RSVP.
If you’d prefer to wait until Friday to start the party, consider swinging by Hudson Terrace tomorrow night. Overtime Group is throwing a complimentary Pyrat rum open bar from 6:30 - 7:30 pm on Friday, May 28. This open bar is free for ladies and $10 for guys and you must RSVP, otherwise it is more expensive at the door ($10 for girls, $20 for guys).
Sticking around this Memorial Day weekend? Head to the Empire Hotel Rooftop on Monday in the afternoon for a barbecue. You can even sip on complimentary vodka drinks from 5-6 pm.
Boozy boat cruises around NYC can be expensive, but one of our favorite bars combines the boat experience and drinking, without necessarily the motion (and the dollar bills). The Frying Pan is a bar that is on a boat docked in the Hudson. The bar offers a bucket of Coronas for $30 (6 beers). While this isn’t the cheapest beer in Manhattan, this bar allows you to be out on the water, socializing with young professionals, without motion sickness.
Where are some of your favorite places to drink outdoors? Share them 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!
It is that time of year when I stop eating a ton of carbs and start going to the gym daily in hopes to get what I like to call, “beach-body ready.” And sadly, these few weeks are probably the only time of year when my gym membership feels like it is actually worth the money because let’s face it, gym memberships especially in NYC are expensive. Initiation fees, monthly dues and god forbid the dreaded cancellation fee can make anyone want to pop in an old Tae-Bo VHS before emptying a bank account to purchase a gym membership.
Fortunately, a few gyms are offering some great membership deals right now so you can get fit for summer without worrying that you won’t have any money left for a beach weekend.
New York Sports Club: NYSC is the granddaddy of gyms here in New York, with 109 locations in the tri-state area. If you ever thought about signing up, now is the time to do it, thanks to this deal from therauck. Depending on the location you decide to join, initiation fee is $10 or $19 for a 1 or 2 year membership commitment. Only in the city for a few months? If you prefer a month-to-month membership, your initiation fee ranges from $29 to $39 dollars. The faster you sign up, the better - your monthly dues won’t kick in until June 1, so you’ll be able to hit the gym for free these next few weeks. (multiple locations).
Reebok Sports Club: Ever wanted to try Reebok Sports Club? Score a free three-day complimentary pass for you and a friend - you’ll just need to activate it by May 26. Reebok has a phenomenal rooftop deck, so our recommendation is to activate the pass when the weather is beautiful. While you are trying out the gym, keep your eyes peeled for celebrities. With its close proximity to ABC, celebs like Regis are frequent visitors. If you wish to join Reebok after your trial, there are special perks as well, such as a $0 initiation fee for the health gold membership, two complimentary training sessions and more. Thanks to edog for passing this along. (166 Columbus Ave between 67th and 68th).
YogaWorks: Before signing up for a month of yoga, wouldn’t you like to know if you actually enjoyed it? According to Postabon member ellekross, Yogaworks offers a free 90 minute orientation class for new students. This class allows users to become comfortable with the mat and positions before committing to yoga. (multiple locations).
To get additional savings, check with your employer or health insurance company to see if they offer any health club membership discounts. Some employers provide you with a monthly credit towards your membership, while some insurance companies reward you with cash if you go to the gym a certain amount of times per year.
Know of any other fitness savings? Share them with us at Postabon!
Before heading over to the Coach Men’s Store, I decided to look it up on Foursquare to see if this deal was still going on. In the top right hand corner on Foursquare, it said there was a special here, and once I clicked on this message, it said to show it to a sales associate to receive an exclusive gift. 
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In typical Postabon fashion, we don’t like to spend a ton of money when drinking - and we’re pretty confident you enjoy complimentary open bars and cheap drinks too. Here’s some suggestions on where you can enjoy the NYC city skyline while keeping cash in your bank account.
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YogaWorks: Before signing up for a month of yoga, wouldn’t you like to know if you actually enjoyed it? According to Postabon member 