The scene at Magnolia Bakery, May 29th at 5 p.m.

The “Sex and the City” movie opens nationwide this weekend. So, we got to thinking… “What would Cheapo Bradshaw* do?” 

Sweet stop 

Carrie would wait in line for 45 minutes to indulge her sweet tooth with a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery in the West Village.

Cheapo Bradshaw would bypass the c-r-a-z-y line around the corner and go to Billy’s Bakery—started by a former Magnolia employee—where we swear the cakes taste the same, if not better. A cupcake here will cost you $2, which is 25 cents less than what Magnolia charges. Hey, you’ll have a quarter to call someone who cares. Us!

A bit of shopping

Carrie would drop upwards of $600 at the Jimmy Choo shoe salon.

Cheapo Bradshaw would take the nearest subway train—probably wearing flats—downtown to Battery Park City, where the Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) is almost never packed and the shoes are sold at deeply discounted prices.

A quick cocktail 

Carrie would wax poetic while sipping on designer Cosmopolitans at Onieal’s Speakeasy, which was called “Scout” on the show. The “Perfect Peach Manhattan” here costs $12, not including the tip.

Cheapo Bradshaw would head to any number of fun, campy bars in the West Village, where 2-for-1 drink specials abound. Top shelf? Boots & Saddle (76 Christopher Street), a self-proclaimed “kitchsy cowboy bar,” where there’s a buy-one-get-one-free Cosmo drink special almost every night. For even more savings, print out a “free drink” coupon from the bar’s website. These “Boots” were made for sippin’!

Out on the town 

Carrie would visit the swanky Soho House, the members-only club where entertainment and literary types meet, eat lavishly (a sandwich costs $16), and enjoy looking at the rooftop pool.

Cheapo Bradshaw would browse the shelves at The Strand, the used bookstore that boasts “8 miles of books” and hosts lots of free signings, readings, and other events.

A hotel for fun 

Just because she can, Carrie would rest that gorgeous head of hair on a 6,000-count pillowcase at the Hotel Gansevoort, where room rates run from $425 to $725.

Cheapo Bradshaw would choose to stay at the Gershwin, where there’s never a shortage of characters at the bar, and the rooms are designed with flair. (In fact, they resemble what Carrie’s apartment might have been sans the HBO set designers…)

Got a tip for Cheapo Bradshaw? Leave a comment here. Then, find out how you can get your big apple break!

*About Cheapo Bradshaw: Cheapo Bradshaw adores her boyfriend “Mr. Medium” (an actual Mr. Big would be way too much of an investment) and her new eco-friendly tote bag. She scours vintage and secondhand store racks. Her gal pals are frugal and they meet once a month for book group, where they drink wine that was bought in bulk.  When CB has extra cash, she travels. 

Popularity: 18% [?]

“Sex and the City” fan(atic)s might think that New York is the apex of martini culture, but the New York Times reports that these $10+ potions may actually be considered a bit weak.

According to the article, even Manhattan bartenders have begrudgingly admitted that their London counter-parts are now mixing up some of the world’s greatest concoctions.

Why London? Wasn’t that pub territory? Over the past ten years, bars across London have begun mixing it up more and more with top shelf liquors that were once found exclusively at swankier establishments. Some of the thirstiest bars have hundreds of varieties in storage.

The expert bartenders splash them together, throw in some freshly-squeezed juice, pure mineral-water ice, speared green olives…

Thirsty? Choose from this list. We’ll meet you at the bar.

Popularity: 4% [?]