Metro population: 19,069,796 (includes Long Island and Northern New Jersey)
Cost-of-living index: 218 (Manhattan), 179 (Brooklyn), 158 (Queens)
Median monthly rent: $1,025 (average is $819) Hmm.
Average annual wage: $50,784
Unemployment rate: 9.4%
Percentage of Gen Y residents: 21.9%

There's no place for recent graduates quite like the Big Apple: the job prospects are exceptional and the culture and nightlife are without parallel. Yes, it's tough to live here. The cost-of-living is the highest in the continental U.S. Conveniences most Americans take for granted don't exist here, like places to park a car. Fortunately, however, there are still areas of the city where young professionals can eke out a living: Brooklyn's Prospect Heights has recently come into vogue, Sunnyside and Long Island City in Queens are youth-friendly, and the money you save on rent in Hoboken will help ease the stigma of being a "B&Ter" (bridge-and-tunneler - someone who works and spends time in Manhattan, but actually lives elsewhere).

PROS: Incomparable job opportunities, an extensive mass transportation system that makes car-owning superfluous and allows young adults to live well outside the city.

CONS: Expensive, sometimes ridiculously so. But hey, if you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere.

Apparently Shake Shack is now everywhere and so are we. Well, NYC and Miami. And we're only temporarily in Miami.

Lincoln Road, if you don't know, is a long pedestrian mall a few blocks from the beach. It has all the regular Main Street USA stuff, and some lesser knowns as well (we mean that in a good way of course). And now it has Shake Shack.

So...Shake Shack Shake Shack. This new location is the best one to visit if you don't like 50+ person lines. A status that will likely change after the sweltery summer (NYers and tourists heart Fla). But is this the best burger in South Beach? Well, if we rated food we'd give that accolade to Burger & Beer Joint (1766 Bay Road, Miami Beach). That place rocks. They have 99 bottles of beer on menu, plus some on tap. Go there. And good luck finding it if you're driving yourself and you're not a local.

The second question we'll tackle first. We're told the book was originally entitled Men Who Hate Women, which makes sense (and which leads back to our first question, doesn't it?). So, if you're going to change a title of a book loaded with graphic atrocities against women, why not pick the tattoo most relevant to the character you've decided to feature? We're talking about Salander's wasp tattoo. Wouldn't The Girl With The Wasp Tattoo make more sense? Yes. Her dragon tattoo is only mentioned in passing. Her wasp tattoo is part of her identity. Sheesh.

 Though, really, this book is Blomkvist's story, so it should be called The Reporter Who Somehow Did Not Impregnante The Girl With The Wasp Tattoo Though The Writer Made A Point Of Mentioning The Lack Of Condom, which is like introducing a gun but not shooting it off. Anyhoo, we all know the title was manipulated so the book would sell to countless book clubs full of unsuspecting readers. How how how did this book become the #1 National Bestseller in a nation full of...you know...churchgoers and whatnot. 

Not sure what we're talking about? Check out this new app for World Cup Soccer bars+spectators.

Klimat
77 East 7th St. (First Ave.), Manhattan

My name is KT , I am emailing you regarding the [vehicle] that I have for sale. The car is in perfect condition , with no need for additional repairs, no scratches, dings, special marks whatsoever, never been involved in any accidents. The interior looks great (NO SMOKING). It has 60,000 miles , automatic transmission , 6 Cylinder , gasoline , 2 wheel drive , beige exterior and beige interior . I have a clear and clean title for it , no liens or loans ready to be signed and notarized on your name ...
I'm selling my son's car , who died in Iraq two months ago and I want to get rid of it asap because the sight of it makes me think of him often and often and the pain is too great . Put yourself in my shoes and you'll do the same (selling the car of your dead son, no offence) !!!
As you probably noticed , the final price that i want for this car is $2860 if you will buy it today or tomorrow .
Let me know where are you located and any other details you need about it.
Thank you,
K

Or this:

Hi,
The vehicle is still available for sale, price as stated in the ad $4,200. It's in perfect working order, no damages or scratches, it wasn't involved in any accidents. You will inspect the vehicle before the payment will be made. I temporarily moved in Chester, MT with my work and I have the vehicle with me. All shipping costs and insurance during transportation are included in the price because I won a promotion at DAS auto shippers (1 free shipping). You will also receive all necessary documents in order to finalize the purchase. I am selling the vehicle under market value because I need to pay the bank or they will take my house. Email me back if you're interested and have further questions.
Specs: 1 Owner // Clear Title // VIN: 1HGFA16836L149909 // Miles: 64,600 // Engine: 1.8L L4 MPI SOHC 16V // Transmission: Automatic // Ext &Int Color: Black with Tan // Air Conditioning // Sunroof // Non-Smoker // Garage kept.
Thanks,

Bungalow Restaurant & Bar
327 Beach 92nd St., Far Rockaway, Queens

First night (for us) of the season (summer, we mean) at Bungalow Bar so we're reposting for 2010. A bit windy for the loverly deck, and the enclosed outdoor area was a bit smokey, but the main bar was hopping, and baseball was on the tv's. If that's not summer we don't know what is. We can't wait to get back to the beach.

From 2009 but still true: Sundays are the night to hit Bungalow, another Jamaica Bay-side restaurant and bar (think: music, drinking, sunned AA's). But if you're looking for a post-beach beverage, or want to watch a sunset, any afternoon-evening here will do, and you'll be among peers, wondering how to get yourself a bungalow in this New York City beach 'hood. Bungalow Bar, btw, is not just a summer location. In the winter, Sunday Funday (their name) is all about football. And $2 drafts. And music.

More about the Rockaways.

Broadway Lounge
New York Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway (8th Ave.), Manhattan

Since childhood Sara has loved the glass elevators at the Marriott Marquis. But there's much more to see here. The Broadway Lounge doesn't rotate, but you can still get a seat overlooking Broadway, which is the best way to be near that uber-busy avenue. True it's more tourist-appropriate than age-appropriate but it's always appropriate to take a minute to remember how gorgeous are the lights and movements of the City.

City Hall Park
Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street, Manhattan

You know we love love this City, even though we (well, Sara) recently lost an entire toenail which has completely changed her perspective on everything. Lost meaning there is no longer a nail on the toe. Well, there is a freaky baby nail. Eew. Why doesn't her toe hurt now, but it did hurt in January? It's so confusing.

What's not confusing is this - New York City is the greatest place in the world, even if we (well, Sara) recently had $980 stolen from her checking account in some sort of ATM fraud. Stolen meaning someone followed her $20 transaction (needed a little something for the OTB for the Derby) with 2 balance checks,  a $800 withdrawal (luckily for them the day prior was payday), a $100 withdrawal, and 2 $40 withdrawals. Eew. Why not take it all at once? Who even knew you could get $800 from an ATM?

What's not confusing is this: if we could marry the City, flaws and all, at City Hall, in the newly redesigned muni court chapel, we would, even with the rampant number of InAppropriates. And another thing, we apologize for being too busy to post daily. If you're angry with us, consider the toe, and the fact that the $980 is still out of the aforementioned account, pending investigation.

Alice's Tea Cup
156 East 64th St. (Lexington Ave.), Manhattan

Not including the children (literal children, as in young offspring of relatively young adults) peppering the tables, Alice's Tea Cup is an Age Appropriate venue, and an unexpectedly good place for a happy hour - alcoholic or otherwise, though we don't recommended ODing on tea so late in the day, but that's your own risk. Caffeine + AA = Dangerous.

Whiskey Rebel
129 Lexington Ave. (29th St.), Manhattan

Somebunny turned even more Age Appropriate while stuffing herself with delicious bar popcorn and swilling some light beer at Whiskey Rebel, a perfectly reasonable AI bar.

Stone Street Tavern
52 Stone St., Manhattan

This bar could really be appealing if it wasn't in the middle of all these other bars. We get how that's appealing too, for some (read: AI), but we're just not feeling the 'quad' thing anymore. Gosh we're downers. Well, stay tuned, things are about to turn up.

Vintry Wine & Whiskey
57 Stone Street, Manhattan

You know what this picture means: Sara breaking her no liquor rule. Well, it was worth it. We had a Whiskey Sour and a Grapefruit Bellini and seats at the window seat. 

Inside this Stone Street bar the crowd is Age Appropriate and lively. We enjoyed observing the near-chaos of outside, but would have preferred bar seating; more social. As you would hope, this Wine & Whiskey venue has numerous wines by the glass, numerous whiskeys, plus small plates of beautiful-looking food. We did not eat. We have plans to go back. Waitress tells us weekends are as lively as happy hour. We'll have to see about that. She also says Stone Street becomes unwalkable as the weather warms. Eek. Stay inside if you're AA. 

As you likely already know, Ulysses' (58 Stone Street and/or 95 Pearl Street, Manhattan) attracts AI's with its beer buckets.

Thursday, 5:50pm

Adrienne's Pizza Bar
54 Stone Street, Manhattan

Open toMidnight, Adrienne's had one of the oldest crowds on Stone Street, which we attribute to the presence of food. Inside, at the bar, there were people actually born in the 60's. Ha. It's funny when we make it sound like that's old. There were some 50's-born too. Well, maybe two.