Arts and Culture

SantaCon = Surreality
There’s something about being surrounded by thousands of people dressed up like Santa Claus in Washington Square at 3 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon that felt like I was in some weird movie. I saw red in every direction I looked for blocks and blocks. The setting sun gave a

See Art Collective “My Barbarian,” FREE at NYU This Thursday
I don’t know about you, but I like my social and political commentary with some rhinestones and jazz hands. For this reason, Los Angeles-based collective My Barbarian is totally awesome. Using theatrical performance and video installations to comment on historical dilemmas and current political crises, the trio– Malik Gaines, Jade

Win an Autographed Copy of Young, Broke and Beautiful and a Dirty Limerick!
I know you’ve heard a lot about my most recent book Young, Broke and Beautiful: Broke-Ass Stuart’s Guide to Living Cheaply. But maybe there are a few of you who (gasp!) haven’t gotten a copy yet. Well now is your chance! I’m giving out two autographed copies.

Spotlight on NoVa: the Painful Allure of Noe Valley
Padmapper, a nifty tool that’s basically a melding of Craigslist with Google Maps, comes in handy for those apartment searches with location, location in mind. And not only does it show you where your new home might be, it shows you where it sure isn’t. A vast, empty space

Share Your Story at The Moth StorySLAM at Housing Works on Tuesday
If your idea of a fun night is standing on stage while people judge you, then head to The Moth StorySLAM at Housing Works on Tuesday night. StorySLAM is like a poetry slam without all the verses, just plain old funny, tragic, ironic human stories. Here’s how it works: Anyone

FREE Rooftop Films: Occupy Wall Street Film Series Dec. 13th-16th
Rooftop Films has decided to support the Occupy Wall Street movement in one of the most awesome ways possible: FREE films! From Dec. 13-16, four films featuring issues that helped ignite the movement will be shown at various theaters throughout New York. According to the Rooftop Films’

Vagabond Indie Craft Fair
There’s no dearth in San Francisco of bicycle part jewelry, crocheted caps, or fingerless gloves that look somehow like pandas. While I personally own two of those three items, I recognize that they’re only a tiny and too-cutesy subsection of what’s actually a huge and worthwhile movement in San Francisco

Strad for Lunch Every Wednesday
Staying cultured in this city can seem daunting and expensive. Especially when you’re a classical music lover like myself. Which is why I was so excited to stumble on the W.M.P. Concert Hall inside the Gradoux-Matt Rare Violin shop. Every Wednesday at 12:30pm, owner Emmanuel Gradoux-Matt hosts Strad for Lunch, a