French Sole
Until July 13, Mon. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun. 12 to 5 p.m. 976 Lexington Ave., btwn 71st and 72nd sts., 212-472-9200
The company that originated the ballet flat trend is selling its hand-made shoes for up to 70 percent off. Ballet flats are $105, half-off the original price. Leather sandals are on sale for $109, originally $200.

Halston
July 7 to 9, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 96 Spring St., btwn Broadway and Greene St., 2nd Fl., 212-282-1200
Dresses and accessories from the famous designer are 75 percent off. Long dresses that retail for $2,695 are now $695.

D.C. for $92/night: Hotel Helix, located in D.C.’s Dupont Circle, is offering Sunday night stays for $17.76. The “Party Like It’s 1776” package applies when you stay Friday and Saturday nights with rates for those nights beginning at $129/night. This brings the three-night total to $92/night – a 30 percent discount. Book by today for travel through July 31. 800-546-7866, hotelhelix.com, use promo code 1776.

Upstate, low prices: More than 250 upstate hotels, lodges, B&Bs, and cabins are jumping on the third-night free bandwagon. Additionally, Amtrak is offering a 20 percent discount on all New York state destinations. For more information visit SummerGetaways.ILoveNY.com
For the Amtrak discount, call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com, use code V122.

Most seasonally themed clothing is a big style no-no (think Santa-adorned sweaters), but that’s not the case with summer accessories. Sea creatures, hula dancers, colors that remind us of the beach — they’re all fair game for adding a little warm-weather flair to a summertime ensemble.

Emily Elizabeth Jewelry necklace, $55; at emilyelizabethjewelry.com
Emily Elizabeth calls this brass piece its “Saved by the Bell” necklace. We’re sure Zack, Kelly, Slater, Screech, Lisa and even Jessie would approve.

Komodokat earrings, $9; at girlzlyfe.com
A campfire favorite, s’mores make their way onto the earlobes of New Yorkers this summer. Tasty!

Mets catcher Omir Santos, front, watches Philadelphia Phillies' Paul Bako scores on a single by Shane Victorino on Saturday. (AP photo)

By Pete Catapano

It may be only the halfway point of the season, but Mets fans are fully frustrated.
The team entered the season with a shiny new ballpark and great expectations, but the Mets are coming apart with eight losses in the last 10 games, including a sweep to the rival Phillies over the weekend in which they Amazin’s scored just three runs.
How to save the season is anyone’s guess.

“They’re playing like a minor league team,” Luis Manuel Ortiz, 27, a Met fan from Harlem said after the team’s disheartening 2-0 loss to the Phillies yesterday.
And things probably won’t get easier soon for the Mets. Now a season-high three games below .500 at 39-42, the Mets start a three-game series with the league-best Dodgers tomorrow.

By Marlene Naanes

One thing about Michael Jackson’s mysterious public memorial service is clear: Scores of fans want to go but the vast majority won’t be able to.

While details on the event remain unclear, more than 1.6 million people registered for the ticket drawing for tomorrow’s public memorial service. About 8,750 people were notified yesterday that they received a pair of free tickets to attend the memorial tomorrow at the Staples Center in Los Angeles or watch it simulcast nearby.

The police are poised to handle a crush of non-ticket holders trying to get close to the service. They are employing an elaborate security detail, which includes closing the streets around the Staples Center and placing wristbands on ticket holders to prevent scalping.

Despite the hype, the family said no details on what exactly will transpire during the service will be released beforehand.

By Marlene Naanes

Jennifer Grumbach not only commutes three hours from her Long Island home to her job at the Upper East Side ASPCA, she does it in the dark.

Grumbach, 24, works the eight-hour night shift as a licensed veterinary technician, leaving her Ridge, N.Y., home at 8:30 p.m. to get to work in Yorkville just shy of midnight.

“My days get confused,” she said. “I never know what day it is because at the end of my workday, it’s another day.”

Grumbach began the extreme trek almost nine months ago when she landed a job at the ASPCA, where she said she’s wanted to work ever since seeing the organization featured on Animal Planet’s “Animal Precinct” shows. But the two horses she owns prevents her from moving closer to the city.

By Lonni Romirowsky
Special to amNewYork

Whether you’re looking for work, or trying to get out of a job you hate, there’s hope on the horizon.

Before applying for jobs, consider what your ideal career would look like. Career consultant and radio host Maggie Mistal said you need to do a bit of soul searching before you can start looking forward to Mondays.

Here are some tips for finding the right fit.

Passions
Make a list of your passions, both professionally and personally. Do you enjoy communicating with others? Working with children? Playing sports? Try to narrow your list down to your top five out-of-office passions.

Talents
While passions play a vital role in choosing a profession, it is important to realistically consider your talents, specifically those you enjoy. Perhaps you are a strong writer, or public speaking comes naturally. It is important to distinguish the strengths you wish to use in your career.

Monday, July 6
How to Start a Profitable Business
Location: Slate, 54 W. 21st St.
Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
To register: $10, contact Andrew Wong at andrew-rwong@aol.com or 317-603-7220

By Lucy Cohen Blatter

Sure, you want to wow interviewers with your expertise, charisma and charm, but you also need to have the right look.

Lina Henao, creative director at accessories company Bijoux Terner, offered simple tips for looking like a million bucks without spending a fortune.

Stay neutral, but accessorize with personal style
Henao suggested wearing traditional-style suits in classic colors to be on the safe side.

For men, she suggested neutral-color shirts as well.

“But, you don’t want to look boring,” she warned. “So you can have a plain black suit, but add some accessories. Look for accessories in colors you feel comfortable in that look good on you,” she said.

She recommended women wear silk scarves and tops to add color. “Those give an updated look and a touch of color.”

For men, she suggested a tie with color, so as not to look too somber.

Also, wear nice cuff links that match your tie — that shows attention to detail.

“Don’t fall prey to trends. You want things you feel comfortable in,” she said.

Enough with the Jackson stories
I’m sick of hearing about Michael Jackson, his various ex-wives, his various plastic surgeries and his drug cocktails. The country is in a recession and soldiers are being killed in Iraq, yet Michael Jackson’s death has been a headline for the past week. Only here can an accused pedophile and drug addict be worshipped like he’s the Messiah.
— Leonard Wilson, Jamaica

Can’t blame Palin for leaving job
How can you blame Sarah Palin for quitting? She can’t step out of her front door these days without being sued for conflict of interest. She’s done more as governor of Alaska than most politicians do in their entire careers. She’s certainly better than our governor.
— Michael Chimenti, Oakland Gardens

That’s America.

Minnesota has a new senator, just in time for his re-election campaign.

That’s America.

Mississippi is still the fattest, but Alabama’s closing the flab gap fast.

That’s America.

Mark Sanford is suffering from a dual addiction — one to other women and another to blabbing about it.

That’s America.

While most of us are aware of Hudson’s stature as an explorer, maybe we’ve forgotten (or never knew) the events that led to landmarks being christened with his name.

We spoke with James Nevius who, along with his wife, Michelle, leads walking tours of New York City, about why we’re celebrating Henry Hudson.

In basic terms, what was Hudson’s greatest achievement?
Discovering New York, which was an accident. He was looking for a Northeast Passage to the Orient.

How did he find it?
After two failed voyages in search of the passage he was hired by the Dutch East India Company. Against orders, he revised his course and sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean, into what’s now the New York Harbor.

By Alexis Korman
Special to amNewYork

Just in time for July Fourth, here’s a rundown of a few patriotic party spots to help you imbibe on Independence Day weekend and beyond. God bless America!

Harry’s at Water Taxi Beach
2-01 Borden Ave., Long Island City, 877-974-6998
“You don’t have to leave the city to have fun on July Fourth,” says Tom Fox, of Harbor Experience Cos., which owns this popular, bare-bones party spot.
“We’ve got hot dogs, burgers, sand, sun, music, beer, and tropical drinks.”
This year, $10 will get you into their Fourth of July extravaganza (free before 8 p.m.).

The Pony Bar
637 10th Ave., 212-586-2707
You might not want to be caught dead near Times Square, but this new spot may be worth the trip. Decorated with Neil Young photos and wooden barrels, the bar focuses on $5 U.S. craft brews — no foreign suds here.

By Anastasia Economides
Special to amNewYork

When Henry Hudson sailed into New York Harbor in 1609, he and his crew aboard the Half Moon could never have imagined the nation’s largest fireworks display would honor his trip 400 years later — or, for that matter, have conceived of the city that would grow around it.

The 33rd annual Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks are honoring Hudson’s arrival, which led to the establishment of New Amsterdam, which in 1664 would become New York.

“We are pleased by the celebration. It’s a symbol of Dutch-American relations, the arrival of the Dutch,” said Gajus Scheltema, consul general of the Netherlands in New York, who will attend Saturday’s show.

The evening’s spectacle will end with bursts of red, white and blue fireworks shaped like tulips — flowers that symbolize Dutch heritage.