Festivals and Festivals and Festivals

Beginning this weekend, NYC embraces its artsy self with festivals devoted to music, dance, and books.

First up, the Brooklyn Book Festival where you can go ogle famous authors, get acquainted with small presses, quote Proust, and pretend that you've already finished Jonathan Franzen's latest novel (but if you have, can I borrow?). I've been to the BBF before. It's fun and apparently it's gotten bigger in the past five years. Hello Salman Rushdie! (Sept. 10 to 12. at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, B-town, NYC)
PS. this morning I read and an interview with this BBF author who said Manhattan is the new Brooklyn. Huh? Someone please explain this to me.


Bryant Park Fall Festival (Sept. 13 to 20) When Fashion Week's Tents left for Lincoln Center they had to do something with Bryant Park. Find eight jazz, funk, opera and classical music, ballet and modern dance performances during the week that the likes of models, celebs, and designers once tread. 6 to 7:30 p.m. FREE (except for the whiskey hot chocolate you might need during the chilly evenings.)

NY City Center's Fall for Dance Festival (Sept. 28 to Oct. 9 tickets go on sale Sept. 12 at 11 a.m.) Tickets are a stunningly reasonable $10. And sure, it would be wonderful to partake in this international celebration of dance by renowned dance companies and choreographers. But you can also do it FREE. And though you might have to see the dancers via screen--a DJ, bar, and pretty damn artsy cool people will be your recompense. Read more about the Festival Lounge.

NY City Center: West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th avenues). All performances are at 8 p.m., except for the Sunday, October 3 performance, which is a 3 p.m. matinee.

Hey Mr. Tax Man

My short history: I have debts to clear. Student loans, some to the IRS, and a little more to credit cards. How I got here is boring. But how I get out of this will not be. With faith and resilience and a lot of creativity, I know that I can overcome my debts and find the financial and emotional freedom that I'm looking for.

I get wrapped up in paralyzing fear sometimes. Money and I are not the best of friends. In fact, when money tries to talk to me I usually turn away. You don't have to be Suze Orman or Dave Ramsey to know that this needs to change.

So there I was on the eve of the unholiest of American days, April 15. I alternated between wanting to get it over with and putting it off some more. Sure I could've filed an extension but that wouldn't have helped my need to face my finances head on. I need to get rid of these things that dangle around me all the time to use the mental space for more creative projects. I managed to take a deep breath and then go to IRS.gov. And there I saw the link to free file. The program was a little clunky and outdated but I had done my own taxes enough on TurboTax and H&R Block to know how to fill in the forms. What's more, I only paid $10 for the state portion while in the past I've paid $30. And last year, I also waited til the last minute and ended up having to pay $30 to file my federal.

Cost: federal=FREE, state=$10 Savings (over last year): $50 Payoff: a HUGE sense of relief for getting things done