If You Hate Beacons Closet, Sell Your Used Clothes To Two Lovers Instead

Q: Which is worse: an STD or attempting to sell your gently used, designer, tags still on clothing to the buyers at Beacon's Closet? 

A: I WOULD RATHER HAVE A PELVIC EXAM EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR, than ever, ever, ever have to deal with the mean girl, no taste chicks that make buying decisions at BC.

Which is why I was so excited and thrilled to find out that vintage store Two Lovers, on 5th Ave between President and Carroll, will also happily buy your used clothing...and with way the hell less attitude.

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No More Sales Tax on Clothing in NYC (let's go shopping!)

I'm from Texas, and once a year, the state offers a weekend of tax-free purchases on clothing and school supplies. On such days, I have witnessed parking-related brawls and a near eye-gouging over a pair of BCBG white jeans. It's kind of like NYC on any culturally-significant parade day (I love you Puerto Ricans, but your parade makes me want to move to the suburbs). Years ago I vowed to never step foot into a retail establishment on sales tax-free days. 

Well once again, New York has trumped Texas and has therefore validated my trek across this fair country to the land of impossibly high rent and hot dogs with toppings like kimchi and organic placenta (OK, maybe not placenta). NY state has spent years going back and forth on the existence of sales tax on clothing items and finally, once again, they've removed sales tax on clothing and shoes costing less than $110 bucks. This is good news people. 

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Prospect Heights Beats Park Slope For "Most Stylish Nabe"

Photo: Refinery29.com

Despite having Bird, Goldy + Mac, and plenty of vintage shops in the neighborhood, Park Slope has lost the war on style. According to Cole Haan (maker of insanely comfortable heels), NYC’s Most Stylish 'Hood is Prospect Heights.

Refinery29 says the Heights has all the money, architecture, young, stylish professionals, outdoor entertainment, connected citizens, and shops, shops, shops required to hit the top of the list. But I call bullshit. Park Slope is home to A.Cheng, The Clay Pot, and, up until recently, J.Crew's Jenna Lyons, for fuck's sake (Ed Note: I've also seen Steve Booshems walking around this nabe with some pretty stylish eyeglasses.)

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[My Favorite Park Slope]: Place To Be A Cheap Ass

Some people take naps, watch TV, or cook a meal to relax and unwind... I like to peruse discount stores.

Now, I don't mean like, Woodbury Commons or anything. More like...the Dollar General. So, when I need to take myself down a few pegs, after a mildly tough workout at the 9th St. NYSC, I head toward 5th avenue's DII:Deals and Discounts to embark on a cheapskate's fantasy. 

Not everything is a dollar up in this joint, but things are pretty damn cheap and the selection of goods is nice and random, as they should be in such an establishment. I'm on board with buying tacky neon lace curtains, irregular off-brand tampons, and reject men's v-neck Hanes t-shirts ALL AT THE SAME CENTRAL LOCATION. 

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Saturday's Shopping shuttle a bust?

If you didn't blow your paycheck on Friday's Black Deals, there was a "Small Business Saturday" here in the Slope.

All afternoon, a school bus ran along 5th Avenue shuttling shoppers between 18th Street and Dean Street. The free transportation, courtesy of the Fifth Avenue BID, didn't look very busy. Did anyone else know this was going on? If so, did you take advantage?