I’m eager to switch careers after a recent layoff and have decided to take an unpaid internship to get some experience. I know I can’t work part-time and collect unemployment benefits, but can I be a[n unpaid] minion and still collect checks?—Heather Beale, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Hmm, you’re in a gray area, as even an unpaid internship can affect the couple hundred bucks you earn from the state. There are several criteria that can influence the decision of the New York State Department of Labor if you decide to file a request. “You have to be totally unemployed, and you have to be ready and available for work,” explains Joshua Speigel, a partner at Horzepa, Spiegel & Associates, P.C., which specializes in business and employment issues. “How can you be ready and available for work if you are involved in an internship?” Of course, there are always exceptions, Spiegel points out. You’ll need to prove during your hearing (conducted by a DOL referee) that you’re engaged in valuable career-related training. “They will look at the supply and demand of your new career, and they are more likely to approve things if the training is considered an upgrade of your existing skills,” says Speigel. Or (don’t tell Mr. Spiegel!) you could just not mention the internship at all when applying—since it’s unpaid and has almost no paper trail.—Alina Dizik

Costumers at last year's parade.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
You don’t have to be a frat dude or sorority dudette to enjoy the inexplicable and goofy antics featured on the popular CollegeHumor website. (A deep-seated love for beer pong and Bud Light, though, is a whole other thing.) Don’t believe us? Take your sweetie pie to CollegeHumor Live, where the hosts tend to dabble in everything from pie to puppets. Before the show, stop into F&B Güdtfood for dogs and fries done better than your college self could’ve imagined.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
The House of Yes is a tucked-away venue that deals in the quintessentially quirky: how-to classes, burlesque performances and acrobatic acts give a shout-out to pretty much every interest under the sun. Just in time for Halloween, the Haunted House of Yes is doing it big, as usual. Performances, installation and video artists, musicians and comedians are all part of the demented, no-holds-barred haunted house experience that’s so crazy, the folks at the door are asking for signed waivers. Gulp. If you and your beau experience sensory overload, skip out early and walk to Life Café Nine 83 where the kitchen is open until 1am and the atmosphere should be a little more soothing.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31
Catch the 36th annual Village Halloween Parade on Sixth Avenue from Spring to 21st Sts. Don your best Bert and Ernie or Barack and Michelle getups, and you and yours can hop into the action and join the parade! The procession of bands, dancers, puppets and other costumed New Yorkers begins at 7pm. Next, the Rescue! Zombie Invasion Dance Party at Sapphire Lounge promises all zombied-out attendees can “dance ’til your dead.” Hey, we’d throw correct grammar to the wind in a zombie invasion, too.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Halloween may have passed, but fret not, ghoul-loving twosome, there are still frightening options for today—like the Gotham City Ghost Tour, which includes stops at some haunted sites in Greenwich Village (the Edgar Allan Poe house, the burial ground at Washington Square, the cemetery at St. Mark’s church and more). When you’re nice and spooked, head to the Village’s renovated and reopened Minetta Tavern. Reservations are recommended so plan ahead—the Black Label burger is worth it.—Shayna Courtney

Hey there, lady lovers. Sorry to disappoint you but Stephen Bayley, known as “the second most intelligent man” has canceled his November 4 presentation of his latest book, Woman as Design, at the Museum of Sex. But that doesn’t mean you should cancel your plans to head to the sultry culture spot. Instead, catch the museum’s reopening and revision of their famed porn gallery, “Action, Sex, and the Moving Image”—a hodgepodge of 200 clips from the first kiss caught on camera to the evolution of porn censorship laws to today’s celebrity-obsessed amateur sex tapes.—David Yi

Turn off your iPods and grab hold of your wallets—fashion and rock & roll are merging for Rock-N-Shop, a three-day event in Nolita’s Openhouse Gallery. Twenty-five emerging apparel, jewelry and accessory lines will be featured in addition to pop-up performances by five up-and-coming indie rock groups, including Audio Fiction, A Fragile Tomorrow and PaperDoll. Sift through this season’s rocker-chic fashion and be prepared to break it down without a moment’s notice. Sat 24 and Sun 25 noon–7pm.—Anna Brand

Friday 23
Squeeze your boo till she/he screams (or cries) at Nightmare: Vampires (Noho Event Center, 623 Broadway at Houston St; hauntedhousenyc.com; 6–11pm, through Nov 7; $30–$60). Timothy Haskell’s gorefest starts off innocently—with a tour through a Museum of Vampyric Artifacts—but then something goes terribly wrong and you’re left to navigate a two-story haunted house. If you haven’t lost your appetite, bounce over to the garishly lit Gonzalez y Gonzalez (625 Broadway between Bleecker and W Houston Sts; 212-473-8787, arkrestaurants.com). It’s open till 4am, and happily hands out two-for-one lime margaritas to folks bearing Nightmare ticket stubs.

Saturday 24
The target demographic may be six and under, but eff it—we wanna play at the Central Park Pumpkin Festival too! Join costume-clad kiddies for a scarecrow design competition, a stroll through the pumpkin patch or a wagon-drawn hayride around the park (Central Park at E 72nd St and Fifth Ave, nycgovparks.org; noon–5pm, free). When the fest winds down, head to veg haven Candle Cafe (1307 Third Ave between 74th and 75th Sts; 212-472-0970, candlecafe.com) for more squashy action—like pumpkinseed-encrusted tofu topped with avocado salad.

Sunday 25
Grandma was right: The fastest way to our heart is through our stomach. Sign up for Myra Alperson’s three-hour Williamsburg Noshwalk (meet at 348 Roebling St between Division Ave and South 9th St, noshwalks.com; 1pm, $16–$45). The foodie guide will note interesting architectural and historical facts en route to the borough’s best kosher bakeries and Hasidic markets. L’chayim!—Shayna Courtney

“I’m certain that a prettier neighborhood doesn’t exist in all of Brooklyn,” brags TONY editorial coordinator Amy Plitt. “I lived in and around Prospect Heights for nearly four years, and loved nothing more than to wander around looking at all of the beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets. There’s also a great sense of community here. The neighborhood is pretty diverse, and while you see plenty of kids around, it doesn’t have the Stroller Mafia feel of Park Slope.”

Read about her favorite spots after the jump. Read more »

The landmark building on the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and 20th Street has been many things (a church, a few nightclubs, an empty money pit, a home to various sample sales) but it’s never been a shopping mall. Until now. You may have heard about the looming project, but we’re excited to announce that construction is official and the doors are set to open to the public in March. The three-story, 25,000-square-foot space will house 80 shops (including Hunter Boots, Caswell Massey and a J. Sisters salon) two restaurants and tons of food options (Cupcake Stop!). “It’s going to be an international entertainment destination,” promises the marketplace president Jack Menashe. Sounds lovely! Check out the work-in-progress photos below as well as some renderings of what the space will look like.

Four years ago Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner got into some hot water for noting that crime rates went down as abortion rates went up, in their first book, Freakonomics. Now, their follow-up book, Super Freakonomics, which isn’t yet in stores, is getting similar criticism surrounding the topic of global warming. Join Levitt and Dubner as they discuss the cooling planet, patriotic prostitutes and other weighty matters from their new book, on Wednesday, October 21, at Symphony Space, for $20. A Q&A period plus a book signing will follow. Go ahead, don’t be afraid to let your nerdy side shine through.

We had you at “free pizza,” didn’t we? Simply R.S.V.P. to Jen at jiwright@ecoincorporated.com and head to 1024 Amsterdam between 110th and 111th Sts on Monday, October 19, from 11:45am to 1:45pm. Why? The fine folks at Eco Incorporated, a local company, have a great nonedible project that they’d like to share with you: an innovative box made from recycled materials that breaks down into four serving plates, plus a storage container for leftover slices. It’s seriously genius. See how it works here. Or see how it works in person and get free pizza. Again, they’re giving away free pizza!

The ultimate sample-sale score could only be a designer wedding gown minus the designer price tag. Enter Housing Works, a community-based AIDS service organization, which will be selling just that at its Bride on a Buck event Wednesday 21. Gowns by fashion geniuses like Vera Wang, Marchesa, Angel Sanchez, Monique Lhuillier and Jenny Yoo will be on hand for at least 75% off. Additionally, designer Giovanni Ravello will be giving blushing brides free gown consultations. All event proceeds will help Housing Works provide health-care facilities and continue job training and placement programs for homeless and low-income HIV/AIDS patients, so “when you buy your dress you’re doing something infinitely more profound,” reminds Dan Moore, store manager.
As a bride-to-be, I scoped out the goods in search of my own wedding dress. Here, see ten that I tried on. See something you like? Get there early!—Melissa Ward

See all of our wedding coverage here.

Courtesy of Haunch of Venison New York

THURSDAY 15
Like National Geographic? Then you’ll love the The World in Black and White: Vintage Prints from the National Geographic Archive exhibit at the Steven Kasher Gallery. On display: more than a dozen photographers and upwards of 150 prints, many unpublished and never-before-seen (all of which are up for purchase), featuring exploration pics of China, Uganda, Machu Picchu, the South Pole and more. When you and your baby are through, Kat Jones, assistant director at the gallery, suggests swinging around the corner to Half King, where Doc’s Draft Cider is the essential beer full of appley fall goodness and the perfect way to wash down crispy calamari or the salmon–crab cake burger.

FRIDAY 16
Grab a falafel pita for lunch at Bread & Olive before heading three blocks north to Haunch of Venison New York, where Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is mixing up the traditional viewing experience with interactive digital installations that respond to the audience. Case in point: Transition States, includes Pulse Spiral, a chandelier of lightbulbs that records participants’ heartbeats and then transmits them through light pulses. (No more hiding how smitten you are with your honey bun.) Searching for lip-lock inspiration? Make Out is a motion-activated video-clip compilation of 2,400 couples facing each other. Steamy!

SATURDAY 17
Colder weather does have its pluses—more reasons to cuddle, gulp soup and down warm sake. Zuzu Ramen is the perfect place for all three (or maybe not cuddling if you’re anti-PDA). Try the Zuzu ramen with charshu and bamboo shoots in a smoky dashi broth or the green curry–miso ramen with slow-cooked egg and veggies. Next, party like it’s 1888 at Dances of Vice: The Importance of Being Wilde. The scandalous shindig is a birthday celebration for the “Godfather of Glam” Oscar Wilde. Pay homage by donning Victorian garb or ’70s glitterific attire and dance the night away to glam rock band Michael T & the Vanities. Victorian sketch comedy and serpent dancer Nikki le Villain add more decadence to the mix.

SUNDAY 18
The forecast looks grim but no worries, cute couple: The free, daylong 92Y Street Festival is happening rain or shine. Enjoy a variety of music and dance performances on two stages (from hip-hop to flamenco), enter raffles for 92Y event tickets or vacation packages and sign up for a fitness membership. Café Select is your late-brunch spot when you and yours have finished the festivities. Order heartily from the extensive menu. We suggest eggs any style with rösti, a buckwheat crêpe and Swiss hash browns.—Shayna Courtney

Courtesy of Omnimedia

The Queen of DIY shares her thoughts on two home design trends:

Wall stencils
“I have stenciled many walls with stencils that I cut myself. The style all depends on what kind of house you live in. I stenciled an 1805 farmhouse, so I copied old traditional patterns and they looked very good. You can do fabulous stencils in a modern apartment too, like arrows pointing one way. You can do all kinds of things. I don’t like wallpaper—especially not in a modern house.”

Futons
“I love futons. When I go to Japan I only stay in tatami rooms because they have futons. They’re big with me. But they’re not to be left out. The Japanese always put them away in a cupboard, and they’re taken out at night.”

Kate Spade and Jonathan Adler disagree. Find out why here. And get all our home design goodies here!

“I love Long Island City because it’s the perfect biking distance from my apartment,” says TONY account manger Noelle Stout. “The LIC boundaries technically extend to my address, although most people identify my ’hood as Astoria. Except me; when I travel in certain circles, I say I live in LIC and save myself the poorly masked looks of disdain that accompany mention of Queens. LIC is immune to that because people have heard it’s cool. Most people can’t say so from firsthand experience, making LIC’s best spots largely underpopulated—yet another reason I love it so much.”

Read about her favorite spots after the jump. Read more »

Liger Beat, the anonymous Brooklyn “magazine for ladies who love the d,” is having its mojo messed with…big time. It seems the name Liger Beat bears too great a resemblance to a teenybopper mag’s moniker, and now the publication’s legal team has been called in for cockblock duty. Read the cease-and-desist order in full at Liger Beat’s blog; you might be surprised to find that the letter threatens to reveal the identities of every staffer if their demands aren’t met! Don’t panic, though, dudette and dude readers. Liger Beat will remain your trusted fix for the male member, only with a different name. Help them pick one and send your suggestions to ligerbeat@gmail.com by Sunday 11. Our favorite possible title-to-be as of now? Baloney Pony.—Shayna Courtney

An Evening Without Monty Python

THURSDAY 8
No plans for tonight? No money either? Try Broke-Ass Stuart’s Fuck the Recession Party for a night of free beer, live music and circus acts (complete with clown burlesque performances, bouncy rides, tarot readings and a sex advice booth). Sign up here and pay just a $3 cover (it’s $5 at the door). After, head to BRGR to build your own sandwich or slurp an ice cream shake–with two straws, of course.

FRIDAY 9
Start the night with your snookums at Cafe con Leche and gaze into each other’s eyes over garlic bread, Cuban-inspired dishes and flavor-infused margaritas. Pop some breath mints and head to one of the coolest venues ever: The Museum of Natural History. The Fader magazine presents the latest edition of their One Step Beyond monthly series, a night of partying among planets and spaceships. The ticket price includes a showing of Journey to the Stars, Hayden Planetarium’s newest Space Show narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, and a pass for a free future Museum visit. Raven-haired songstress-slash-rapper Amanda Blank and DJs Devlin and Darko supply the beats.

SATURDAY 10
An Evening Without Monty Python may not include a performance from original Python Eric Idle, but he’s co-directing a handful of comedians as they revitalize classic skits and songs for the 40th anniversary of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Tonight’s performance marks your last chance to revisit the Lumberjack Song or the Ministry of Silly Walks so we strong suggest you go. Quote the show for the rest of the night at nearby O’Lunney’s Pub (145 W 45th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves; 212-840-6688) where the lively crowd is a mixture of regulars and Times Square tourists.

SUNDAY 11
Meet the artists behind the studios, galleries and new exhibitions that are part of  the growing Harlem scene at artHarlem’s 5th Annual Open Artist Studio Tour. You can check out almost 100 artists in their workspaces and have the opportunity to purchase their work. Midday, take a break at SpaHa Café for warm Jasmine tea or a fruit tart topped with mangoes, apples, raspberries and blackberries. Nearby Mount Morris Park, also known by its official moniker, Marcus Garvey Park, is a perfect spot to snack and stroll.—Shayna Courtney

“I’m not a resident,” admits Time Out Kids‘ Web editor Raven Snook. “But I wish I were! My mother-in-law lives right off the main 138th Street drag, and every time my husband and I visit, I scope out “For Sale” signs. It’s the one place in the city where we may actually be able to afford a historic home—but we’ll probably have to act fast.”
Read about her favorite places after the jump. Read more »

“I live peacefully in Park Slope among brownstone-lined streets and stroller-pushing parents,” says Amanda Waas, TONY’s brand solutions coordinator. “But when I want to feel cool, I hop on the F train and head to Dumbo, an awesome industrial on-the-water getaway.”

Read about her favorite places after the jump.

Read more »

I want to “live green” as much as the next person, but I also want to get home from the bar on a Saturday night without waiting 40 minutes for the F train. So, yes, I take cabs—often as a single passenger. In an attempt to be less wasteful, I tried out a new service called CabCorner, an online message board that allows users to sign up for free and post the details of their comings and goings. The program automatically matches you up with nearby cab-seekers so you can share the ride—and the cost. Recently, when I was flying out of La Guardia, I posted my date and time and waited for a match. The service had only about 500 registered users at that time and no one’s travel criteria met my needs. While the list of users is still growing, there’s upwards of 15 matched rides a week, and an iPhone app is in the works so riders can meet up for last-minute transportation. Get more information at cabcorner.com.

One of the best things about Fashion Week is the cool music that plays during the shows. (Thanks, Max Azria, for getting us hooked on Gossip!) However, Calvin Klein made us want to drill our eardrums out with the spike of our high heel. The soothing sounds that bounced off the large unadorned white walls quickly faded as the models pranced out to, no, not music, but static—like the unfortunate sound your TV makes when it’s acting up. The elegant white cotton and silk gowns were pretty and unique, but, man, that noise! This must be the pain our parents feel when they listen to Britney Spears! Argh. Maybe we’re too old for Fashion Week?—Anna Brand

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