Irish Hunger Memorial – Corner of Vesey St. and North End Ave.

This is one of my favorite off-beat NYC locations just because of its sheer randomness. While walking to Battery Park, you passing hundreds of commercial buildings. All of the sudden, you see this memorial! The memorial sits on half an acre of land, signifying typical property size of crop crowing families during the Potato Famine in Ireland.

If it looks familiar to you, maybe you saw my favorite chick flick, P.S. I Love You. The memorial was used as a unique date spot!

Visit the memorial and you can walk through a roofless cottage brought directly from Ireland. The site also contains stones from all 32 Irish counties. My favorite part? The land is decorated with over 60 varieties of plants and flowers naturally grown in Ireland – you’ll really feel like you’re in the Irish country.

The exterior of the memorial is covered by almost 2 miles of text ranging from Irish poems to famine quotes, and an audio track narrates the famine struggle as you walk through. This memorial is free to visit and provides a break from the hectic city environment and instead gives you a peaceful walk through true green.

Economy Candy- 108 Rivington Street

I had to mention this place as a unique store I found! If you like candy (and who doesn’t?) you need to check this place out. A true diamond in the rough – a rather plain storefront advertises bulk candy, but walk inside and you’ll be stunned. The room is piled to the ceiling with every kind of candy ever made….ever. They have throwbacks to nostalgia candies I’ve heard my parents reference from their childhood in the 50’s. They sell bulk candy, gifts, and candy by the pound. This place was also featured on Food Network’s “Good Eats”.

I actually came here looking for jawbreakers – the solid colored, individually wrapped, primary colored ones I remembered loving when I was young. Here at economy candy, I found the exact kind I was looking for at a great price! I was also sorely tempted by the giant gummy bears, chocolates, pez dispensers, and gummy coke bottles. Bring your sweet tooth and stock up – it’d make a great trip around the holidays since any of their candies would make great gifts.

So why do I consider this a budget saver? I find myself spending money on overpriced, boring, grocery store candy bars. I’d rather buy candy by the pound where I can mix and match, and – let’s be honest – pick my favorite colors out so I don’t waste anything I buy!