Today, celebrate our fair city's Dutch heritage (New York City was formerly the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam) on Amsterdam Avenue with drink specials and giveaways courtesy of Dutch-brewed Amstel Light.

Starting at 2PM, Amstel Light is giving away 150 free bicycles on Amsterdam Avenue between 73rd & 74th Streets. Then stop by participating pubs along Amsterdam Avenue between 5 and 8PM for 2-for-1 Dutch Treat drink specials and the chance to win a trip to Amsterdam or a unique 10-person Beer Bike. Beer Bikes, which are big tourist attractions in Amsterdam, feature a central bar mounted on a bike and allow 8-10 people to pedal at one time. Good luck storing that in your Manhattan apartment.

Pass on the overpriced deli lunch or unhealthy fast food today and donate the money you would have spent to City Harvest to help feed hungry kids in New York City. During City Harvest’s 6th annual Skip Lunch, Fight Hunger initiative on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008, New Yorkers will donate what they would normally spend on lunch to buy food for kids who need it.

With rising food prices adding to the financial burden of many families, 1 in 5 New York City kids don’t have enough to eat. Donating the cost of just one lunch can make a big difference: $5 can provide four children with lunch for a week, $10 can provide two children with lunch for a month, and $25 can provide two children with lunch for the whole summer.

Volunteers teams at companies across the city will be competing today to see who can raise the most money for City Harvest. Last year, the Skip Lunch, Fight Hunger initiative raised enough in one day to feed 28,000 kids for the whole summer.

If you company isn't participating, you can still help make a difference. Donate online or sign up to volunteer with City Harvest.

Today I am thrilled to announce the official release of my new book, Escape from Corporate America: A Practical Guide to Creating the Career of Your Dreams.

It's a book for anyone who has ever fantasized about jumping off the corporate ladder, for anyone who feels stuck in a corporate job that doesn't inspire them anymore. I wrote it because I spent twelve years climbing the corporate ladder only to discover that I was trapped in the wrong career and didn't know how to make a change without going broke (after all, it's not cheap to live in New York City as you all well know).

Once I figured it out, I felt compelled to share what I learned with other people in the same situation. I also spent years interviewing more than 70 other corporate escapees -- including famous entrepreneurs, successful freelancers, teachers, filmmakers, nonprofit leaders, a celebrity blogger, a sitcom star, a spa owner, and a recording artist (just to name a few).

Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say about Escape from Corporate America:
"With insight and humor, Skillings enumerates the stages of “Corporate Disillusionment” and the features of the “toxic workplace”...A multitude of questionnaires, exercises and worksheets helps readers determine their dream job, assess expenses and assets, and plot an escape plan to break free of corporate life without going bankrupt....Vignettes of successful fugitives from the corporate world populate the book and an extremely useful “Escape Tool Kit” supplies information on where and how to find career coaches, health insurance, job listings and a wealth of other much needed resources when embarking on career change. Comprehensive, informative and witty, this book will be indispensable to those looking to start new careers with concrete plans and well-defined goals."

Looking to get buzzed on a budget? Jason Feirman searched the far corners of Manhattan to find New York's cheapest drink specials (he's still recovering). He found 25-cent pitchers, 50-cent beers, and even free well drinks at fine New York establishments.

You can drink cheap any night of the week. Tonight, check out $1 mugs of Bud and Bud Light at Third and Long or stop by the Village Pourhouse to play some Wii and enjoy $2 pints (the pints are $1 from 12PM-5PM if you want to get started early).

What better way to tighten your budget until the economy shapes up?

It's Mother's Day weekend! The rain, rain is supposed to go away by Sunday so you'll have a nice 70-degree day to spend with Mom. There are plenty of fun events all weekend long that you can enjoy with or without the woman who gave you life.

Here are our top event picks for the weekend of May 9-11, 2008:

• NYC Street Fairs and Festivals -- There are plenty of street fairs and festivals scheduled for this weekend -- from Wall Street to Mulberry Street to Amsterdam Avenue.



• Chelsea Hotel Through the Eyes of Photographers -- If you share my fascination with the legendary Chelsea Hotel, you'll love this weekend's photography exhibit celebrating the Chelsea's 125th anniversary. Visit the Chelsea Hotel (222 West 23rd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues) to check out work by 60+ photographers and shots of famous Chelsea residents like Patti Smith and Dee Dee Ramone. Exhibit hours are Noon-6PM through Sunday. And for more Chelsea Hotel scoop, check out Ed Hamilton's fascinating book, Legends of the Chelsea Hotel.



• Continental International Restaurant Week -- Through Sunday, enjoy special deals from twelve New York City restaurants, each specially selected to represent the unique culinary style of a particular country -- from Tabla representing India to Megu representing Japan. Special offerings for International Restaurant Week include behind-the-scenes kitchen tours, unique menus, complimentary tastings and take home treats. Sounds like a great way to make Mother's Day dinner a special one.



• Children's Book Week Kick-Off -- Visit the Bryant Park Reading Room on Saturday afternoon for readings and signings featuring your kids' favorite authors and illustrators. It's the beginning of Children's Book Week in New York City, which will include seven days of fun events to encourage New York kids' love of reading.



• Self Magazine Workout in the Park -- Get out and play at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park (enter the park at Fifith Avenue and 69th Street) on Saturday with the exercise gurus from Self Magazine. See demos of the latest fitness trends, get beauty tips, and pick up lots of freebies. Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser will also be there to help kick your butt into shape. Admission is $25 ($20 in advance) and proceeds benefit women's health organizations.



• Mother's Day in New York City -- Check out our ideas for last-minute Mother's Day outings in our fair city. Take Mom out for a fabulous meal, a little pampering, a bit of culture, or just a lovely day exploring New York with the apple of her eye (that would be you).

Be among the first to visit the nation's first museum honoring all sports, which is opening today in Lower Manhattan. The Sports Museum of America has partnered with more than 50 sports Hall of Fames and other athletic organizations to assemble a collection of inspiring exhibits, memorabilia and hero tributes -- including more than 600 artifacts, 1,100 photos, and 20 original films within 19 galleries.

Among the sights to see are the first women's sports hall of fame, the legendary Heisman Trophy in its new permanent home, and an interactive "Stadium of the Future" exhibit. Visitors can also try out more than 2 dozen mechanical and computer interactive exhibits that provide first-hand sports experience - feeling the sensation of an incoming, 120mph slapshot from the hockey goalie's perspective, stepping onto a simulated NASCAR racetrack with cars screaming by on floor-to-ceiling screens, and comparing the weights of the baseball bats used by Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Ichiro Suzuki.

The Sports Museum of America

• Location: 26 Broadway (corner of Broadway and Beaver Street).
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 9AM-7PM (last ticket sold at 5:30PM). Saturday and Sunday, 9AM-9PM (last ticket sold at 7:30PM)
• Admission: $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and student with ID, $20 for kids 4-14, and free for kids under 4.
• Directions: 4,5 to Bowling Green; 1,R,W to Rector Street
• More information about the Sports Museum of America

Raise a toast in remembrance of one of the greatest battles in Mexican history on Cinco de Mayo.

Today marks an important day in Mexican history and a fantastic excuse for a Mexican feast or a cerveza or two. You might also want to check out these Cinco de Mayo events in New York City:

• Celebrate Mexico during International Restaurant Week -- This week, enjoy special offers from restaurants representing the best cuisine from 12 different countries. Toloache is representing Mexico with a unique tasting menu, a margarita sampling, and a take-home goodie bag of Chef Julian Medina's signature chips and salsa.



• Cinco de Mayo Bullriding Fiesta at Johnny Utah's -- Come on, urban cowboys (and cowgirls). See if you have what it takes to ride the mechanical bull at Johnny Utah's at their Cinco de Mayo festival. Sombreros and tequila specials will help get you in the mood.

It's a weekend jam-packed with outdoor activities -- including street festivals, a walk to raise money to fight cancer, an outdoor powwow, a five-borough bike ride, and a day of community gardening. Here are our top event picks for the weekend of May 2-4, 2008:

• New York City Revlon Run/Walk for Women -- On Saturday, join more than 40,000 New Yorkers in Times Square for a 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk through Midtown and Central Park to support research and treatment for cancers that afflict women and their loved ones every day.



• Tribeca Family Festival and ESPN/Tribeca Sport Day -- Kids and sports fans alike will find plenty to do on the streets of Tribeca this Saturday. At the Tribeca Family Festival, you'll find kid-friendly entertainment and screenings of family films. At Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, you can meet NYC sports stars and show off your own athletic skills.



• NYC Street Fairs and Festivals -- There are also plenty of other street fairs and festivals scheduled for this weekend, including the Cinco de Mayo Parade on Central Park West.



• Drums Along the Hudson -- Celebrate the spirit of the drum and the culture of the Native American people in Inwood Park on Saturday. The open-air powwow will feature world dance and drumming performances, international foods and Native American arts and crafts.



• New York City Five Boro Bike Tour -- Cruise through every borough in New York City on your trusty bike this Sunday, then enjoy live music, food and drink, and massages at the after-party.



• KidsCreate Workshop -- Spend Sunday afternoon at the Children's Museum of Manhattan with the amazing 14 year-old scientist and inventor Russell Moore. Moore will showcase two of his inventions. His “Waterworks Building Toy” lets kids create their own interactive water displays. “Soak Tag” is a vest that adds a wet new element to the game of tag. Participants will have the opportunity to use plastic tubes, colorful tape and their imagination to design a toy. Workshops will take place at 3pm and 4pm and are free with museum admission.



• Green Around Downtown Community Planting Day -- Join the Downtown Alliance for a Sunday of gardening in Wall Street Park (Wall Street between Front and South Streets). Gardening tools, flowers, and free snacks will be provided.

Most women have been coerced into wearing an ugly bridesmaid dress or two over the years (there's a royal blue satin number with puffed sleeves that still haunts my dreams). But I think you'll agree that it would be hard to compete, in terms of sheer ugliness, with the frock in this photo.

What evil bride actually subjected her friends to this horrible, horrible dress? This isn't just garden-variety bad taste. Not only is the dress hideous, but the parasol and straw hat add insult to injury. Clearly, that's a bride who either hates her bridesmaids with a passion or needs medical attention.

But at least Brooke Kaiser was able to make some lemonade out of this lemon-yellow monstrosity of a bridesmaid dress. Read more...

Call 311 before midnight on Thursday, May 1st and get free nicotine patches and gum to help you quit smoking. More than 15,000 New Yorkers have already participated in the giveaway.

According to the Health Department, nicotine replacement doubles the chances of quitting for good. As extra incentive to quit, keep in mind that the price of a pack of most cigarettes is set to rise to about $8.50 in June because of an increase in the state tax. Oh yeah, and quitting smoking now can also save your life.

• Find out more about New York City's nicotine patch and gum giveaway program.



• Get additional information and support to help you quit smoking.