green living, smart spending
This is a great time to be in NYC, for fall foliage in parks and gardens, the annual Corn Maize in Queens, ice skating rinks re-opening for the season, FREE Halloween events, FREE Archtober architectural events, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrives, the NYC Marathon, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and other holiday happenings begin
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The snow is already falling in the West, so get your skis or snowboards ready for what promises to be a great season, thanks to El Nino. These are the opening dates scheduled for Ikon Pass resorts. Some also are members of the Mountain Collective multi-destination pass. Opening dates are subject to change without notice.
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Rooms With a Boo: Stay in one of these historic hotels, where some “spirited” guests may have checked out, but never leave. From a former convent to hotels adjacent to battlegrounds and one that was once a morgue, many of these hotels report that former guests or former owners haunt the halls long after they have checked out, and that current guests have seen them.
We all know what recent new tariffs have done to prices, and what outsourcing and moving manufacturing overseas did to the US economy. Keep your holiday budget under control by shopping instead with these small businesses which sell only Made in USA holiday ornaments, decorations and other items for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.
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Celebrate the season by choosing your Halloween pumpkin at one of the many pumpkin patches in NYC and the Tri-State area. It’s a great weekend excursion, and you’ll also find fresh apple cider, hayrides for the kids and more. For many family-owned farms, the pick-your-own pumpkin season helps keep them in business, so you are doing good while having fun. That’s a two-fer.
Every year, Europe’s Christmas markets light up historic town squares and castle courtyards from Denmark south to Spain. The biggest and best are in Germany, where you’ll find traditional hand-made folk art crafts and home-baked goods, along with holiday performers in traditional handmade costumes, even Medieval dress, in every city, town and village. Some larger
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With so many freebies available online, there’s no need to spend a lot of money on Halloween this year. Each of these FREE sources has dozens of choices for everything from pumpkin carving stencils to DIY decorations and Halloween-themed recipes. It adds up to more than 1,000 ideas to help you enjoy Halloween on the cheap, plus be
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There are great meal deals and new menu items at national restaurant and fast food chains every week, to help you stretch your strained budget. Including – McDonald’s Monoply returns, Krispy Kreme Halloween donuts, Applebee’s expands its 2 for $25 appetizer/main menu, Burger King upgrades its chicken nuggets, new value meals at TGIFridays, Olive Garden
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The change in seasons is a good time to give your vehicle some care and attention to prepare for colder weather. These common sense car care tips can help prevent costly breakdowns and even accidents. Schedule a Check-Up Take your vehicle to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out. Oil
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The fall season brings many wonderful things, including technicolor leaves and cooler temperatures. But it also brings autumn driving hazards, including wet leaves, fog and frost. Here’s how to anticipate and keep you and your passengers safe in potentially dangerous fall driving situations, whether it’s your daily commute or shopping expedition, or a weekend getaway.