Dollar Deals

The other night while I was trying to catch some zzzzs, my mind started wandering and I began thinking about all the places in the Lower East Side where you can get things for a dollar -- good things. And I decided to make a list. They say you can't get anything for a dollar, but check out this haul.

1. Dumplings. You can get the most kick ass dumplings for $1 at Vanessa's on Eldridge between Grand and Broome. Everyone knows about Vanessa's, but ever been to Northside Dumplings? It's on Essex just south of Hester and you get 5 dumplings for $1, that's one more than Vanessa's. It's hard to say whose are better, the service and ambiance are better at Vanessa's but when you're paying one lousy dollar, does it matter?

2. Sparkling (seltzer) water. At the giant Pathmark at the very south end of Allen / Pike St. you can get liter and sometimes 2 liter bottles of Vintage sparkling water for usually .40 to .60 cents in about half a dozen flavors such as lemon, orange, raspberry, plain and cherry. You can also get big potato knishes at the deli for .60 each. The only catch is that the place is sometimes full of food stampers who have 2 and 3 carts full of frozen pizzas and ice cream so choose your check out line wisely.

3. At Malaysian Skyway on Allen / Canal, you can get a lunch special for $4, including soup and tea or bottled water. I usually opt for the Young Tofu soup which is enough food for 2 people. If you only have $1, you can get an order of coconut rice which is tres delicious. I prefer to order out but it's a nice cheap place to bring your tourist friends and has a huge good luck dollar wall, which is incidentally, another dollar bargain, if you believe in that kind of thing, which I do.

4. New 99 cent BJ at Allen and Grand. No, you can not get what you might think the name suggests for .99, or who knows, maybe you can, I haven't ever asked, because I don't have a penis. But you can get 3 CD mailers for $1. Beat that, Staples.

5. Hot chocolate, $1 at the little deli on the SE corner of Delancey and Ludlow. They call you "my friend" if you go in a few times, after they start to recognize your face. So for a buck, you get a hot chocolate and a friend. Beat that, Starbucks.

I had so many others but I didn't write them down and now I can't remember. Anyway, enjoy these great dollar deals and check back here again for more bargains and steals, if that's your thing. Living in NYC, the most expensive city in the world, it's certainly mine.