A Bit of Daily Life in NYC

by Katy on July 17, 2015 · 18 comments

Katz's Deli

Sorry to have left the blog dormant the past two days. I try not to let that happen too often, but daily life gets in the way and there’s simply no way I’m going to sit down at the computer to blog when I see my sister working to put a meal on the table and then work to get it cleaned up afterwards.

Can’t be that type of houseguest.

Here’s what you’ve missed:

  • I used my friend Jeff’s corporate pass to attend The Whitney Museum with my old pal Pam.
  • I found $25 on the ground yesterday. I also found two pennies and a quarter as the day went on.
  • Pam and I then walked down to Avenue C in the East Village to eat at a wonderful (and frugal) Puerto Rican restaurant.
  • My 17-year-old-son and his 10-year-old cousin have been going to the beach every day to catch hermit crabs, which they then incorporate into elaborate sunken sand castles.
  • My sister and I have been readying for tomorrow’s garage sale, although I admit that I haven’t been as helpful as I could be. (Sleeping on an inflatable mattress is exactly as restful as one would think.)

Today we hit up The Tenement Museum, where we’ll do a “Hard Times” tour which includes an extra discussion. (My idea of hot times in the city!)

Thanks for your patience with my spotty blogging schedule. As I tell my kids, “I’m doing my best, but sometimes my best is less than perfect.”

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

Diane July 17, 2015 at 5:15 am

Goodness…none of us is perfect. No need to apologize. And I know the pain of sleeping on an inflatable bed. I had slept on one for several months once and never had a good night’s rest.

Take good care and go easy on yourself.

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Carol Maskus July 17, 2015 at 5:43 am

I used to live in NYC, and $25 is about the cost of a drink these days. Good for you that you found it…you could stretch it a lot further.

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Katy July 17, 2015 at 5:48 am

I used it to pay for my lunch, but I will put $25 in cash in my “found change challenge” at when I get back to Portland.

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Kim from Philadelphia July 17, 2015 at 5:54 am

Katie, I LOVE the Tenement Museum!!! It’s a hidden gem! You are doing all my favorite NYC things ( including Puerto Rican food)

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Kim from Philadelphia July 17, 2015 at 5:56 am

Plus I can’t believe you found $25 on the ground!!!!!!!

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Rachel H July 17, 2015 at 6:02 am

I’m amazed at your ability to find money on the ground! Has your sister ever seen the movie City Island? Stars Andy Garcia and very funny!

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Katy July 17, 2015 at 6:31 am

We started to watch a library copy of it last night, but I was nodding off. Nothing against the movie, I was just really tired.

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Bethany July 17, 2015 at 6:05 am

For those of us who have never been to NYC and had no idea such a wonderful thing as the Tenement Museum existed would love love love to hear about it in an upcoming post? That will need to be one of my stops when I visit some day. History and frugality? Swoon!

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Katy July 17, 2015 at 6:30 am

My first choice would be the “Sweatshop Workers” tour, but I wanted to do one with a discussion.

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Maureen July 17, 2015 at 4:25 pm

I did the sweatshop tour and it incorporated the Jewish people that helped create “sweatshops”. It was amazing to learn all about it. The term sweatshop came from the apartment rooms having no air circulating and having 10-12 people working and sweating while cutting and sewing fabric. Then a courier would bring the material (shlep) to the factor for finishing.

Awesome museum and tour. I highly recommend it. And get tickets in advance on line if you plan on going. It’s that good and tour groups are small so it is crowded!

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Christopher Cassels July 17, 2015 at 6:22 pm

One very frugal aspect of the Tenement Museum is that the movie/documentary reel in the little theater off the gift shop is free (the tours cost money, but are very much worth it). Browsing the books in the gift shop (which is MOSTLY books) is dangerously tempting, but I’ve made notes of titles and authors and then found the same books at the library or used book stores later; books that were so perfect, but I would have had no idea they existed. Just walking that neighborhood is fantastic.

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K D July 17, 2015 at 7:32 am

You’re on vacation. I think your blogging rate has been amazing, given the circumstances. I think it is common for bloggers to post previously written content when they are away or have guest posters; you are doing a fantastic job (I love seeing snippets of your frugal travel).

Enjoy the rest of your trip (and family time).

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Jill July 17, 2015 at 7:37 am

Sounds like you are having a fantastic time – the Tenement Musuem, the Whitney and Puerto Rican food – I’m envious! Everyone needs to visit with family and a change of scenery every now and then. Enjoy!

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Betty Winslow July 17, 2015 at 1:07 pm

Enjoy your time away, we’re perfectly capable of entertaining each other while you’re gone….

NCA wins this week:
A small batch of cookies from a friend’s son (Admiral Ack-bars, from The Star Wars Cookbook)
Finished all but 2 of the hours I needed to work before July 29, the last two will be on the 27th, then off until school starts (and a nice check coming up!)
A discount coffee on Wed. from my favorite coffeeshop.
A great sale at Meijer, where I scored a couple of shirts for hubby, a shirt for me, and a pair of black capris, cheaper than I could have gotten them at GW!
A nice pair of dark purple jeans at a garage sale for $2.
A loaner yoga mat from a friend, while I figure out if it’s something I want to do.

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Pattilou July 17, 2015 at 5:32 pm

Yes, thanks for writing while you are on vacation! I love hearing about your time in New York. The Tenement Museum is on my to do list for my next trip to New York. My last trip there I only had time to do one thing and I had to choose between that and the 9/11 Memorial. I chose the Memorial Museum, which literally took my breath away. It is incredibly moving.

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Mrs. LC@LooseChangeLiving July 18, 2015 at 5:47 am

$25 plus loose change. Great job! We watch the ground whenever we are out and about. It’s amazing how many coins you can find – paper money not so much. Spend it well!

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Dale Emanuel July 18, 2015 at 12:10 pm

I am so happy to know you and family are enjoying just being. In the end I think we always wish for more time with our tribe – not more stuff. You got it right Katy! Hug, laugh, explore, repeat.

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Linda in Mass July 20, 2015 at 4:54 am

Saturday I found $20 on the floor in the lady’s room. However a young girl had just come out of the stall. I asked her if she dropped some money and how it was arranged. She said $20 and all folded up…so yup, it was hers. Then her companion, came back into the lady’s room and looked in the waste basket. She had dropped money in there when she threw her paper towel away!! I told them to be careful with their money!

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