It's the first weekend of the month and you're probably broke from paying rent. Your weekend plans consist of wearing your PJs while cooking up a variety of dishes involving ramen. Turn that frown upside down and make your way out to these cheap, fashionable events.   

1. For the price of free, you can compete with other video gamers and metal/rock heads at Guitar Hero every Tuesday at Pianos. You can finally debut that teased hair, torn jean, dirty T-shirt look.

2. Cathy Horyn is like the mack mamma of fashion journalism. Don't miss her Tuesday at Fashion Life Now, when she hosts a session on the cultural status of fashion at the Cooper-Hewitt.

3. Since it's winter again, it may be a good idea to stay indoors for a movie or two. Check out the movie festival on "it girl" fashionista Edie Sedgwick at the Museum of the Moving Image.

4. Tokyo T-shirt shop, Graniph has arrived in New York. We can now have cuter T-shirts, yippie! Check out the mini-store opening tonight at Reed Space, free booze included.

5. In case you wanna window shop or cash in your tax return, don't sleep on the Meatpacking business this weekend.

Can you believe its almost April? Things like the opening of Astroland, sale of air conditioning units, appearance of flip flops, are all reminders that we suffered through the winter for a reason. Feel the fever this weekend by hitting up these New York events.

1. Make sure you hit every ride at Astroland in Coney Island this year before the amusement park gets replaced by luxury condominiums in 2008. April 1st marks the opening day for the beloved amusement park.

2. Head up to L & M Art Gallery to see David Hammon's Fur What It's Worth. Hammon's fur coat installation leaves you deciding whether or not you are pro or anti-PETA.

3. Get a glimpse of swimwear fashion during the launch of Passport Magazine's swimwear issue tonight at Splash bar.

4. Break out your Adidas jumpsuit, gold chains and high tops; 3rd Ward is throwing a break-dancing party! The 1980s themed party, The Classic will offer dance and spray-can art battles. What else can you ask for?

5. Show some class after watching Blades of Glory and TNMT by catching the 14th Annual Underground Film Festival at The Anthology Film Archives.

(Photo Courtesy of Astroland)

You're probably wondering with Fashion Week and its supplemental after-parties approaching, who really has time to do anything else? With all the exciting events going on in the city this weekend, I think it's about time to dip into that reservoir of energy you've stashed away (thanks to the hibernation season) and get on out!

1. What's the perfect way to feel warm and experience fashion while contributing to a cultural institution? Well, Alec, "What is, visiting the Museum of Arts and Design and seeing Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting?" Can I just be excited about how cool this show is. If this doesn't fill your fashion hunger, stop off at newly opened Ohio Knitting Mills for a nicely crafted vintage sweater.

2. Can't think of a good way to re-gift that awful dolphin paper weight from Aunt Betty? Now's your chance to trade in your unused or unopened holiday gifts in exchange for a 40 percent discount at Crumpler Bags.

3. Since it's Sundance season and this movie will knock the jeans right off of ya, run out and tell everyone you know to go see China Blue playing at the Anthology Film Archives. The documentary, about Chinese denim factory workers, will have you conjuring up ways to recycle those unwanted pairs of Levis sitting in you closet.

4. This has nothing to do with fashion, unless you count wearing that racing outfit you've never worn, but please go out to Brooklyn this weekend and watch or even participate in the Idiotarod, a race with grocery carts. P.S. wearing spandex will disqualify you and your team--don't do it, for the love of Pete!

5. In case you are in dire need of a great sale or something to wear to any of these events, the EMG vintage sale is this Saturday at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. Check out more sales and deals.

(Photo Courtesy of Ohio Knitting Mills)

f

First stop, Tokio7, a funky consignment store that sells men's and women's designer goods for far less than they would sell new. Now you can buy that D&G coat, Miu Miu skirt or pair of Prada pumps with plenty of money left over for a large wedge of Brie at East Village Cheese.

To bring that quirky East Village charm to your apartment, stop by Exit 9. Tiki glasses, Nara postcards and kitschy refrigerator magnets are surefire way to give your pad a little color.

Also, don't forget to beef up your record collection with a visit to Etherea. The collection is an eclectic variety of electronica, indie rock, hip-hop and more--think Swedish duo The Knife next to Mission Of Burma next to RJD2.

Now that you're done shopping, it's time to get down to what the East Village is all about--boozin'. Stop by Ace Bar for the killer jukebox, stay for the skeeball. If you're a more cerebral drinker, try KGB bar, where you can imbibe both spirits and clever prose at the same time. Fiction, non-fiction and poetry readings are held almost nightly, and you can justify drinking for the fourth day in a row by telling yourself it's all in the name of gettin' edumacated.

Finally, end your day with a magical banh mi sandwich from Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches. Pate, ham, pork, cilantro, carrots and cucumber join forces on a crispy roll to satiate even the hungriest East Villager--all for under $4.