Let's Talk "Sips"

Summer is that time of year college students live for: the late nights, beach trips, sunshine/heatwaves, shorts, and of course, no responsibilities. Unless you happen to be one of those students who finds themselves slaving away in a 9-5 job that locks them indoors until prime-time sunning hours are over.  Well, have no fear my fellow employed friends, Philadelphia Center City Sips is here to save the day!

Sponsored by Leblon Cachaça, every Wednesday from June 1st- August 31, 5-7 pm, select bars are offering $4 cocktails, $3 wine, $2 beers, and HALF-PRICE APPETIZERS.  Some establishments even offer a 15% discount on dinner if you stay after 7:00.  

The middle of the work week now truly has a light at the end of the tunnel!  Mondays and Tuesday will still drag (sorry, can't help on those), but a nice happy hour with co-workers and friends on a Wednesday night are sure to make Thursday and Friday a little bit easier.  Plus, the bars and restaurants are located all over! University City, Center City, Olde City - it doesn't matter where you are, you can bet there's a participating establishment nearby.

So, cheers to your future Wednesday nights!  See yah out there!

Your Body is a Temple.

One of the things us college girls pride ourselves on is our confidence.  We are strong, beautiful, independent women.  We make sure we have fun.  We make sure we look good.  And above all we make sure we’re healthy.  With so many temptations around us (tons of restaurants and bars), we have to make sure we take care of our bodies.  You can only consume so many Cosmo’s and cheesesteaks before they start affecting you.  This post will discuss a few ways you can keep your body in check just as much as you do your bank account. 

The easiest and most inexpensive option would be your school’s gym.  If you’re a full time student, you can go anytime for free.  Drexel University offers a TON of awesome classes for its students: Zumba, Yoga, and Spinning being some of the most popular.  Drexel recently started offering Zumba classes (FYI: they’re popular and with limited space in the class, so get there early to make sure you get in!).  I’m personally a huge fan.  Dancing around to some great tunes makes it feel like anything but a workout!  And it’s even better if you do it with friends.  The extra laughs provide a lil’ something extra for your abs. 

Yoga is also another great way to tone and strengthen not only your body but even your breathing.  Drexel offers classes, but if you’re interested in more of a challenge for a cheap price (or if you’re located closer to Center City than University City) check out The Yoga Loft at 1611 Walnut Street.  It offers 5 introductory classes for only $25 with a college ID.  The instructors are so nice, and they really do a great job of guiding you through the different poses.  You walk out feeling amazing and refreshed.

Remember:  you can look good and feel great for free.  We can save as much money as we want, but if we aren’t healthy it won’t mean much.  So let’s get out there and give our bodies the respect it deserves!

Namaste.

Get Your Nails Did.

Someone once told me, "A person can tell a lot about you by looking at how you take care of your nails".  Okay, so maybe no one actually said that.  Maybe I read it in a copy of Allure or Vogue; either way.   Somewhere it’s stressed that we should keep our digits looking magnificent.  Of course, we all have bad habits: biting our nails down to stumps during finals week, ripping the cuticles off, or chewing off our black nail polish to the point where you can find pieces stuck between your incisors.  With job interviews, dates, or any other general setting, let’s try and keep our nails looking pretty or at least healthy.

At Chestnut Nails, located at 2015 Chestnut Street, you can do all of this and more for an amazingly cheap price.  For a mere $25, you can get both a pedicure AND a manicure.  That’s right.  I said a pedicure AND manicure for $25.  The chairs during the pedicures are massage chairs that you can control which is absolutely necessary after a stressful week of classes.  Another perk?  They don't judge you during the pumice stone scraping part if you constantly giggle because it tickles.  (I know from experience).  Their manicures last pretty long as well.   Make sure you’re completely dry before you leave.  You’re supposed to use the dryer twice, so do it once more for good measure.  They also do the usual acrylic nails along with the usual airbrush designs, in case that’s more your thing.   While you’re there you can also get your eyebrows and other facial regions waxed for about $10.

So, let’s head out and have ourselves a bit of a stress relief.  What more could you ask for than a nice massage chair while you’re toes and fingers are being pampered?  And for such a cheap price?  Not much.  See you at Chestnut Nails.

Bring Your Own.

Going out to dinner isn't cheap.  When you want to have a couple drinks along with your appetizer or entree that can nearly double the bill.  Why would you want to pay anywhere from $8 - $12 a drink? It's absurd, and frankly, we can't afford that.  That’s why some genius introduced the idea of a BYO (or BYOB). Is there anything really better than walking into a restaurant for a good meal while holding your own bottle of wine?  Not that I know of. And thankfully, Philadelphia has got plenty of them.

Two in particular seem to be favorites amoung the college crowd:  La Viola located at 253 S. 16^th Street and La Fontana della Citta at 1701 Spruce Street. These two restaurants are located in the same general vicinity and offer the same types of fare.  La Viola has great food and friendly service for very reasonable prices.  For under $40, you can have an excellent three course meal while enjoying every last morsel.  Even better?  You can bring your own drinks. Score.  Just a word of advice:  it's cash only.  But no worries!  They have an ATM outside, just in case you forget!

La Fontana della Citta is a great spot for going with a group of friends or on a date night.  The staff here are unbelievably friendly and helpful (with a bit of a heavy accent).  With menu options ranging in price, there's nothing more expensive than $30 on the menu.  They're also a BYO.  (I've gone with the classiest of jugs of wine on multiple occasions).  It can be crowded, so if you make a reservation, you still could wait a bit.  But I promise it'll be worth it.

So, if you're looking for some great Italian food, and a few places to sit back and sip on some of your favorite wine, head to one of these two great locations.  You won't be disappointed Buon Appetito!

Put It On the Ritz.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge fan of movies.  There’s nothing better than sitting back in a dark theater to catch a flick you’ve been dying to see.  Unfortunately, some theaters in the area can cost you up to $12.00 for just one ticket alone.  You want popcorn?  Add another $4.00-$5.00.  Maybe something to wash it down with: water or a soda? Nope, sorry.  You can’t afford it. 

Then there are the Ritz theaters (three of them to be exact).  There’s the Ritz East (125 S. 2^nd Street), the Ritz 5 (214 Walnut Street), and the Ritz at the Bourse (400 Ranstead Street).  Despite the different locations, they all have one thing in common: a STUDENT DISCOUNT.  Sunday-Friday, students pay only $6.75 all day, for any movie (make sure you have your college ID!). Now if you’re looking to check out the latest blockbuster film, you’re going to have to stick to paying the $12 bucks.  But the Ritz’s show a ton of great independent films and Oscar contenders. (I saw Slumdog Millionaire about 3 times at the Ritz East).  For them, it’s a film’s content rather than it’s bank ability that they rely on.  If one of the Ritz's isn’t playing a film you want to see, one of the others is sure too.

They have super comfy seats, usually no crowds, and an extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff.  Also, their snack bars are AMAZING and affordable.  From fresh popcorn to coffee and teas to organic chocolates and snacks, they have something to please everyone’s pallet.  Even another perk?  They’re all located in great areas close to tons of restaurants and bars.  With all the money you’re saving on the movie, you can totally grab a bite to eat beforehand or a drink afterward.  Hello, date spot?  I think so.

So if you want to pay $12 and see the latest Transformers, go right ahead.  If you want to pay half that for a film that’s actually good, head to one of the Ritz theaters.  You won’t be disappointed. 

Bye-Bye City of Brotherly Love

Day after day, night after night, you've walked the streets of Philadelphia.  You’ve gone to class, your room, a few restaurants, a few more bars; maybe you’ve even stopped in at the library to visit a friend once.  After weeks of walking past signs proclaiming Market, Chestnut, and Walnut streets and seeing the Comcast building looming in the distance, it might be time for a change of scenery.  Sure, you could go home, but if you’re in a 50-mile radius (or from Jersey), you probably could use a bigger change.  

You could head to 30^th Street Station and hop on Amtrak for an obscene amount of money and head to a plethora of places.  You could hope on the NJ Transit or Regional Rail, but they aren’t really going to get you anywhere (unless you’re an expert at those lines which I don’t happen to be).  Then, of course, there’s my way to travel. 

It’s called the Bolt Bus, and it’s cheap.  They pick you up at JFK and N. 30^th Street and can take you to a whole bunch of awesome places!  Want to head to New York, New York, the City that Never Sleeps?  No problem.  How about a little historic trip to Washington, DC?  They can do that too.  Boston? Baltimore? Done and done.  Ticket prices range from anywhere between $1.00 and $15.00.  Just an FYI: the farther in advance you book, the cheaper the ticket.  They also have this awesome rewards program.  If you ride 8 times, you’re eligible for a FREE one-way ticket.  Yet another perk?  FREE WI-FI.  You can sit back, catch up on the all the latest Facebook gossip, and let Bolt's friendly drivers do the rest.

So, if you’re looking to make a quick get-a-way from Philadelphia, go ahead: Bolt.

"Let's Bowl. Let's Bowl. Let's Rock-n-Roll."

You’ve actually finished your homework early (for once).  You decide you want to head out and do something fun to celebrate.  But, what?  The bouncers at all the local bars know your name, so a change of scenery seems to be in order.  It’s then that one of your brilliant friends throws out the idea of heading to a bowling alley.  It’s something different, drinks are still involved, and overall sounds like it could be a great time.  You have some hesitations, however.  But do not fret, my pet.  Honestly, you probably haven’t bowled since some lame birthday party your freshman year of high school, but don’t let lack of skill (or funds) stop you from having what could be an awesome evening.

There are a few local bowling alleys to check out, but none will have the deals and the drinks quite like North Bowl.  Located at 909 N. Second Street, North Bowl is THE hot spot for young college kids looking to score (a strike or a spare, silly).  Any night of the week you can find masses of fellow students flocking to these lanes.  There’s an awesome menu with everything from Eggplant Parm Bites to Portabella Fries and a bar with specialty drinks like the “Pickle Back” (a shot of Jameson followed by a pickle juice chaser…Snooki’s dream come true?). They even have their own bowling leagues (for you avid bowlers out there)! 

With all this, you’d think this one trip alone would break your budget for the week…but you’d be very wrong.  Being open till 2:00 am EVERYDAY, North Bowl has amazingly cheap prices and specials:

Happy Hour Bowling
Monday-Friday 5:00pm-7:00pm
$3.95/person/game $3 Shoe Rentals

Monday-Thursday 7:00pm-1:00am
$4.95/person/game $3 Shoe Rentals
Friday 7:00pm-1:00am
$5.95/person/game $3 Shoe Rentals

Saturday and Sunday
$5.95/game/game $3 Shoe Rentals

Just an FYI, if you are under 21 you can only stay till 9:00 pm (whomp, whomp), but you’d still have an amazing time and capitalize on the deals North Bowl offers. 

So in the words of an excellent Grease 2 song (if you haven’t seen this feat of cinematic genius, please see the link attached), “Come on everybody, gather round. I'm gonna show you how to knock 'em down.  When I'm on the ball, I'm the number one.  And I'm gonna show you how it's done.  Let's bowl, let's bowl, let's rock-'n-roll.  Hey, come on, let's get this show on the road”...and head to North Bowl!

Hairless without Hair-Raising Prices

Just because the weather has changed and forced your short shorts into hibernation for a few months, does not mean you still shouldn't have silky smooth legs (or any other silky smooth body parts for that matter).   But who wants to spend an extra 20 minutes in the shower shaving?  Not me.  Although, any excuse to stand in the hot water any longer than normal is totally fine by me.  If, however, you’d rather do a once and done and be soft as a baby’s bottom for longer than a day, I’ve got the place you NEED to visit: International Salon.

Located at 1714 Sansom Street, International Salon is one of the most highly recognized and recommended places to get waxed.  So accredited, Allure Magazine named it the #1 place to get waxed in Philadelphia.  But be warned.  If you’re looking for the lounge chairs, glass of juice, soothing music, and friendly employees kind of experience, completely disregard this post and head to one of those glitzy salons in Rittenhouse Square.  If you want a quick, cheap, no frills sort of wax then International Salon is the place to be.

They just make it so easy for you.  You walk in, tell them what you want done, and they do it.  Then you pay and walk out. That’s it. Bing, Bang, Boom, you’re done.  And don’t even worry about the cost.  Eyebrows will set you back only $10 bucks while a Brazilian (if you need more specifics about what exactly this is, Google it) is only $35.  Yes, that’s right, only $35.  That’s half the price (with even better quality) than some other salons in the area.  Better quality for less?  It’s almost unheard of. 

So if you’re looking for a wax whose price won’t make your hair stand on end, head to International Salon.  

Mikeys: The "It" Spot for In-Between Classes

So, you’ve got a break in between classes.  You contemplate heading back to your dorm room, but you realize by the time you get there and sit down to do anything you’re probably just going to have to turn right around and come back.  Not gonna happen.  You could go to the library and get some work done, but that doesn’t sound like too much fun either.  You realize that your stomach is screaming at you because you have been ignoring it since you’ve been in class for the majority of the day.  Time to eat.  But where?  Taco Bell?  Uh, no, I don’t think so.

The better (and probably much healthier) option is to head to Mikey’s American Grill and Sports Bar on 32^nd and Chestnut.  It’s University City’s newest addition. “Mikey’s provides an unparalleled atmosphere featuring an elaborate menu, untraditional for a typical sports bar.  Mikey’s is a fun place to hang out, enjoy a great meal, meet new people, or bring a date” (or spend time between classes?).  They have everything from salads and sandwiches to burgers and pizza, so everyone can find something they’ll enjoy.  And it gets even better.

If you are currently a Drexel University student (or teacher), the deals you can get are AMAZING!  If you stop in between 11-2 you can 20% off everything on the menu!  But wait! If you go between 2-4, it’s 50%.  50%!  That’s half off of everything on the menu!  There’s nothing better than 50% off a meal just for being a student.

So next time you’ve got some time to kill and don’t feel like trekking back to your dorm room to suck down another pack of Ramen, head to Mikey’s American Grill and Sports Bar for a bit better fare at an even more amazing price!

The Costume Challenge

It’s that time of year again.  Pumpkins sitting on every stoop, horror movies flooding the airwaves, little kiddies rotting their teeth with too much candy, and everyone disguised as someone (or something) else.  But on a college girl’s budget, can you really afford to head out and buy a $60 costume if you’re only going to wear it for one night? If you can rationalize it to yourself, go ahead and go for it!  If you’d rather have groceries for the week, then lets take a look at another alternative that can have you strutting your stuff on Halloween just like everyone else but for much less.

Let’s head to South Street: home to tons of restaurants, bars, boutiques, and thrift shops.  Here you can get anything from a tattoo, to a renowned cheesesteak, to that’s right, a Halloween costume.  There are still those shops that will charge you an arm and a leg for a piece of fabric barely bigger than a dishtowel, but if you make your way to 536 South Street you’ll find a little gem called Retrospect.

More high-end than a Salvation Army but cheaper than your average department store, Retrospect offers vintage clothes at bargain prices.   They’re self-described as, “a magnet for the fashion-forward, budget minded folk who like to shop outside the box”.  Sounds like us, right?  Retrospect stocks everything.  Furs, dresses, shoes, books, men’s clothes, and the best collection of sunglasses I’ve ever seen.  If you need to find something for that amazing costume idea you’ve come up with, Retrospect will have it.  Trying to be a Golden Girl? You bet you can find some sick sequenced tunics there.  Trying to be an Olsen twin?  Just go in and throw on everything from one rack and voila!  You’ll walk out of there with your own unique and original costume for less than the three girls next to you wearing the identical slutty nurse outfits each paid.

So throw on your costume thinking caps and head straight to Retrospect’s on South Street.  You’ll save some cash AND look great on Halloween.  What more could you ask for?

Welcome!

You’re in college.  You’ve just paid tens of thousands of dollars in tuition alone.  Then of course you need to pay your rent.  There goes a few more hundred.  Oh, and don’t forget about those books.  Now, you’re officially a broke student.  Great…

But college isn’t all about libraries and lab reports.  It’s about the sights and sounds of the city.  The things you can’t do from your couch at home.  It’s about getting out there and experiencing something new.  But how can you do that with the few bucks you’ve got left?

That’s where I come in.  I’m here to help you navigate the inner workings of Philadelphia.  Each week I’ll be going over different things to do around our great city that won’t break your piggy bank.  Deals on restaurants, happy hours, and student discounts on local retailers, if there’s something cheap and fun to do or see, you’ll hear about it here. 

So, grab your pennies and let’s hit the streets because you’re about to learn what to do with your time on a college girl’s dime. 

:)