Guide to New York City's Best Parties

If the holes in your pockets have holes in their pockets, and you come up with lint when you reach for your money, here's your chance to find booze, food and fun on the cheap.

For girls, Shecky's Girl's Night Out www.sheckys.com/ has been combining the best of all worlds: free booze, beauty and beau coup bargains for the last several years. Recently, I attended their Hoboken pre-party bash. The warm-up to the real party included tasty Bacardi Raspberry Mojitos, regular Bacardi Mojitos for the traditionalists, goody bags packed with Ghirardelli Raspberry Chocolate Bars, Bath Junkie shower gel and more, gratis.

As always, Shecky's offers a full-range of beauty services completely free of charge. The Hoboken line-up included free manicures, hair styling and make-up. Between gorging yourself on the free mini-cupcakes and spring rolls, imbibing the delicious cocktails and dolling yourself up, it's hard to believe that there's time for shopping, but indeed there is. The Hoboken affair included some tasty little frocks and eye-catching bling, but they haven't begun to party yet. The main event for New York will be the Fall affair in the Puck Building on October 19-23rd, 2009 .

If last Fall's affair is any guide, the line-up will include a full array of the best from independent designers and artisans. Tickets are going fast, but fear not, Shecky's has a full calendar including shows in nearby Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, DC. Book for the New York Show right now, but if you miss out, fear not. The Chinatown bus leaves for those other cities every hour. No sacrifice is too great to make for real party fun.

Andy F. Troy, AndyfTroy@aol.com 917-754-4329 is a New York City based impresario who really knows how to get a joint jumping. His latest party on September 25th at Taj, 48 West 21st Street, between 5th and 6th ave. is called "A Feast For all Five Senses" and promises to be just that, with musical performances, belly dancing, chair massages, Veniero's Pastries, and catered appetizers. Admission is free. Take a few sheckles for your liquid refreshment, and you're good to go.

Alas, you're new in town, don't have a friend in the world and are storm-tossed and adrift. If you could just get your bearings... Let Going newyork.going.com/ set you straight. Just sign up and they will deliver a fresh menu of parties and hot happenings straight to your email every week. Going includes the best for the recession stressed including recession-busters, free concert tickets and more. If you can't find something to do, you deserve to be lonely.

Yes, yes, some of us would go to the opening of an envelope. Fortunately, for those of us of a more discriminating bent, professional help is available. Two choices:
Sign up with Joonbug Productions, joonbug.com. Joonbug presents the best new night clubs, bars and dance clubs in New York. And if that still isn't enough, sign up for Thrilllist www.thrillist.com/list/New+York . Their motto? "Enabling informed laziness since 2005. Thrillist fearlessly sifts through the crap every day to uncover your city's finest new food, drinks, gear, travel, and entertainment." That's a mission statement we can all get behind.

There you have it. And if you have any complaints, don't call me. I'll be out at the clubs, having a life.

If you like this article, you may also like:

Tales of the Bars of Irish New York
www.associatedcontent.com/article/2080783/tales_of_the_bars_of_irish_new_york.html

Play the Game, a Movie Review
www.associatedcontent.com/article/2077237/play_the_game_a_movie_review.html

Seeing New York When You are Young and Penniless
www.associatedcontent.com/article/2085059/seeing_the_new_york_sights_when_you.html

Here is the list of all of my stories:

www.associatedcontent.com/user/583548/mary_finn.html