Carrie Laven - Pretty Penniless

Reasons Why New York is Better than San Francisco
Not that long ago, I wrote a post for this very website which chronicled my experience as a sun-kissed, burrito-fed Californian living for three years in NYC. Soft of heart and fake blonder of hair, I bemoaned New York’s frigid winters, sleazy one-upping “networkers,” and lack of publicly-placed recycling bins.

Extreme Weather Relationship Therapy
Like millions of East Coasters, the recent Hurricane Sandy left me without power, heat, Internet, or phone reception for nearly a week. I also missed work during that time, which totally sucks because I get paid hourly, and the world knows that I am one seriously broke girl. Basically, I

100 Best Cheap Eats in the Bay Area
This list of great places to eat in the Bay Area will leave you smiling and probably drooling. All these joints are incredibly well priced, locally owned, delicious, and serving takeout in 2020. Check their links for store hours, menus, and ordering info, because things are always changing these days,

Zen and the Art of Greasy Hair Maintenance
I am the proud owner of a set of bangs. Like bang ambassador Zooey Deschanel, I have sported face-eating fringe for my entire life– try as I might, I have never been able to grow them out without feeling like my forehead looks a touch too “Teresa Guidice from Real

Broke-Ass Romantic Comedy Pitches
Listen up, I took a handful of Film classes in college, watch tons of foreign movies on my home projector, and could be seen as what some may call a “film snob” (actually that last part’s not true– unless citing my favorite flick as Home Alone 2: Lost in New

Being a Californian in New York City
I am a Californian living in New York City. I was born in the suburbs of Los Angeles, raised in the suburbs of San Diego, and went to college in the Bay Area, so I’d kind of consider myself somewhat of a semi-expert on Californianity. Living as a Broke-Ass-West-Coaster-Gone-East for

Get Cultured at Smithsonian’s National FREE Museum Day This Saturday
In my humble opinion, the best part about visiting This Nation’s Great Capital is all of the FREE Smithsonian museums that Washington, DC has going on. Would I like to learn about everything from airplanes to the decorative arts? Why yes, especially if I can do so for FREE! Because

Sashay Away to FREE Zumba Classes Every Wednesday in Williamsburg
I, like many others, love myself a little Latin flavor. I also– like many others– enjoy gyrating in a semi-slutty way, while wearing stretchy pants, and a ponytail, and sweating out all of my toxins in a roomful of other ladies doing the same thing. What I’m describing here is

Learn About Urban Chicken Keeping at a FREE Workshop in Bed-Stuy
The words “Chickens in Bed-Stuy” may conjure up images of an awesome muppet remake of a Spike Lee joint, but don’t get too excited just yet– when we talk about hens in Central Brooklyn on this website, we’re talking about urban chicken keeping. Intrigued? Then attend a FREE workshop on