Freebies

Free Summer Saturdays at the Corcoran Gallery

Salon Dore
Salon Dore at the Corcoran Gallery

This summer may be your last opportunity to visit the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as it is slated to close in the fall.

The art museum offers free admission every Saturday from now until Labor Day weekend, as part of their free Summer Saturdays program, including gallery tours, workshops, demonstrations, and performances.

Admission is on other days is $10 per adult, $8 per student, and free for children under 12.

Below are a few highlights of the family programs:

Saturday, May 31:  Botanical Collages Workshop
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Inspired by Aaron Douglas’ painting Into Bondage, from the Corcoran’s collection, create your own tropical landscape.

Saturday, June 28:  Haiku Mistress

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Working with Haiku Mistress Caley Vickerman create haikus inspired by the works in the collection. Share your literary works of art in a collaborative sidewalk chalk display!

Saturday, July 19:  The Ultimate Urban Safari 

10 a.m.-12 noon
Join us for a wild summer day dedicated to the animal kingdom! Spurred on by the American Metal: The Art of Albert Paley exhibition, discover how creatures big and small can inspire through workshop activities, book readings, and a live performance.

Saturday, August 2:  Family Workshop: Animal Maquettes
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Inspired by Albert Paley’s maquettes, families work together to create their own animal displays.

You can find the complete schedule of tours, performances, and activities here:   www.corcoran.org/freesummersaturdays.

 

Free Preview to Marvel’s X-Men: Days of Future Past

Free Screening of X-Men
Free Screening of X-Men

United Mileage Plus Visa Signature cardholders in select cities may be invited to a free advance screening of X-Men: Days of Future Past, in 3-D.  It’s one of several discounts offered by Visa Signature in conjunction with Fandango.

The offer is for up to two tickets per cardholder, and two concession coupons for popcorn and soda. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, to those who receive an email invitation.

Synopsis of X-Men: Days of Future Past

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past.  The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class in an epic battle that must change the past — to save our future.

The cities where free screenings will be offered are:

  • Washington, D.CFree Screening of X-Men
  • Houston
  • Denver
  • McLean
  • Jacksonville
  • Virginia Beach
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • Chicago
  • Seattle
  • Fairbanks  

I received my invitation to the Washington, DC screening this morning.  Here’s the link to register for free tickets, in case you want to jump on this offer.

Did you get an email yet?

This post contains affiliate links.  Thanks if you choose to use them!

Travel to Eat? The World’s Best Street Food

Lonely Planet's The World's Best Street Food
Free on Amazon’s Kindle Store

Live to eat?  Me too!

Lonely Planet’s The World’s Best Street Food: Where to Find It & How to Make It is combination cookbook and travel guide –my two favorite genres.

This 225 page book, published in 2012 presents collection of  street food experiences from around the globe, including everything from classic hotdogs to exotic pastries.

Inside The World’s Best Street Food:

  • 100 authentic recipes from around the world
  • Brilliant images throughout
  • In-depth background of each dish, how it came about and what it’s like to eat
  • Savoury and Sweet sections

    Lonely Planet's the World's Best Street Food
    Lonely Planet’s the World’s Best Street Food
  • Glossary of exotic ingredients with easy-to-find alternatives
  • Where to find the best examples of each dish when you’re on the road
  • Written by food writers from around the world with an introduction by Tom Parker Bowles

The Kindle edition is currently free on Amazon (the paperback costs $14.50.)

Los Angeles Union Station 75th Anniversary Celebration

Union Station 74th Anniversary CelebrationHistoric Union Station in Los Angeles is hosting a 75th birthday celebration in honor of the iconic art deco train station, which has been restored as a multi-modal transit center.

If I lived in Los Angeles, I’d head over to Union Station on May 3, 2014, for this free family event!

The celebration, sponsored by Metro, in partnership with National Train Day, Amtrak and Metrolink will commemorate all things rail on Saturday, May 3, 10 am to 4 pm.

Los Angeles Union Station
Los Angeles Union Station

There will be dozens of exhibitors at the station, tours, entertainment on four stages, as well as free Metrolink rides, a guided bike tour, and discounts at museums, restaurants, and theaters in half a dozen nearby neighborhoods.

Events at Union Station

Events at the station will include:

  • Official ceremony to rededicate of the historic ticket concourse
  • Step aboard one-of-a-kind rail cars
  • Tour the Amtrak Exhibit Train
  • Self-guided architectural tours of Union Station’s architecture, embellishments and artworks
  • Watch model trains in action
  • Play in the Chuggington Kids Depot (a preschool television series)
Los Angeles Union Station
Los Angeles Union Station

Entertainment on Four Stages

There will be more than a dozen acts, from music to dance and children’s theater, performed on four stages throughout the station.  
Highlights include:

  • Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, an all-female mariachi ensemble
  • Las Cafeteras, Afro-Mexican Son Jarocho, Hip Hop, Folk and Native American sounds
  • Big Jay McNeely & The Hollywood Combo, a Rhythm & Blues band
  • The Ladd McIntosh Big Band plays Swing, Two-Beat, Latin, Funk
  • Dr. Pinch and the Pinchtones perform WWII-era swing music
  • Cava, sounds of Afro-Cuban Son, Cumbia, Ska, Salsa and Funk
  • East Wind Lion Dance Troupe performing a traditional Chinese lion dance
  • Choo Choo Bob, railroad-themed music
  • Los Angeles Muses, a cappella harmonies from groups like the Andrews Sisters
  • Vocalist Jennifer Keith leads a quintet in jazz, American roots and pop music

Free Metrolink Rides and Neighborhood Discounts

Step outside the station for fun-filled activities in all directions.  See the full listing of rides and discounts online.

 

The Most Family Fun You Can Have in Vegas for Under Ten Bucks

Pinball Hall of Fame in Las VegasI
Wall to Wall Pinball Machines at the
Pinball Hall of Fame, Las Vegas

The Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas houses the world’s largest pinball collection, with over 200 vintage games available for play.  

The games are from the 1950s to the 1990s, and have been meticously restored and maintained by pinball maven Tim Arnold.  

We met with Arnold when we were in Vegas in 2012, and he graciously  explained everything that goes into running such an enormous operation.

The Pinball Hall of Fame

There’s no admission charge, and all the older pinballs are set to 25 cents per play, with newer 1990s models set to 50 cents per play.

You and your family can have a lot of fun here for a roll of quarters!

The museum is a nonprofit, and all proceeds go to local charities, such as the Salvation Army.

Arnold says:

I like the Salvation Army a lot because they’re kinda like us. They’re downtown on the cheap side, and they put all their emphasis on the areas that need emphasis, and not a lot on hierarchy and organization.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is located about 2.4 miles east of the strip at:  1610 E Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV.  The museum is open every day from 11 am to 11 pm, except Friday and Saturday, when it stays open until midnight.

Fantasia at the Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas
Fantasia at the Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas
Photo by Joel Shprentz

The Neon Museum Family Activities

Another Las Vegas Institution well worth a visit is the Neon Museum and its boneyard of discarded signs from casinos from days gone by.

Our family greatly enjoyed our visit to the boneyard.

If you are looking for some family friendly activities in Las Vegas, the Neon Museum has expanded its educational programming to include a series of events for kids and families. 

Here are a couple of noteworthy events for kids coming up:

  • Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to noon – Orienteering in the Boneyard.  Families will use compasses to participate in a maze-version scavenger hunt in the famous Neon Boneyard.  Appropriate for people of all ages
  • Saturday, May 24, 2 to 4 p.m. – Drawing History in 3D.  Children will learn how to draw their own 3D/anaglyph sign based on historic signs in the Neon Museum’s collection and make their own 3D-viewing glasses.  Recommended for kindergartners through sixth graders.

Family drop-in events are free and open to the public.  All children must be accompanied by an adult. Register by sending an email to education@neonmuseum.org.

Sign Design: Past, Present and Future

On Tuesday, April 22, the Neon Museum will host its next PRISM Times of the Signs event, a panel discussion:  “Sign Design: Past, Present and Future.”

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Around The World in Eighty Minutes

2014 Around the World Embassy Tour
Embassy of Spain Open House

More than 50 embassies representing six continents open their doors to visitors on Saturday May 3, 2014 from 10 am to 4 pm for the annual Around the World Embassy Tour in Washington, DC.  

Participants can travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion, and music of different countries.

Last year, offerings included karate demonstrations, dance performances, sari wrapping lessons, and henna demonstrations.

These events are a not just an exhibit of diplomacy.  According to the Washington Post:

…the real reason everyone loves them so much is because if you play it right, the day is an all-you-can-eat buffet. With booze!

2014 Around the World Embassy Tour
Embassy of Malaysia Open House

This year, 54 embassies are participating:

Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea,  Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,  Venezuela,  Zambia, and League of Arab States.

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Europe on Less Than $5 a Day

European Embassies Open House 2014
Embassy of Finland Open House

One of the fun things about living in Washington, DC is access to the cultural offerings of the embassies:  concerts, art exhibits, films, and receptions.

On Saturday May 10, 2014, 28 embassies from European countries will open their doors to the public for the annual European Union (EU) Embassies’ Open House.

The free event, which runs from 10 am to 4 pm, is a day of family fun, food, and culture.  The open houses offer visitors a look inside the embassies and provide a unique opportunity to experience the cultural heritage and national traditions of the 28 member countries of the European Union.

2014 EU Embassy Open House
Embassy of the Netherlands Open House

A free shuttle bus runs between the embassies, allowing you to maximize your experience of traditional music, dance, food, film, and art.  

I’ve heard that you can tell which embassies are offering free food by how long the lines are!

This year, participating embassies include:  Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, France and the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Delegation of the European Union, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Republic of Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

Here are a few of the highlights that caught my eye:

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Free Guidebook: The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel

Free Lonely Planet Guide: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Free from the Lee County
Visitor & Convention Bureau

My first paid job in the environmental movement was an internship at the Conservation Foundation in Washington, DC.

I worked for ecologist John Clark, a pioneer in the conservation of wetlands and barrier islands.

He had just published a the seminal guide to ecologically-based land use planning:  The Sanibel Report:  Formulation of a Comprehensive Plan Based on Natural Systems.  The report is a case study of how to develop a land use plan consistent with the carrying capacity of natural systems.

I have always been curious about Sanibel Island in Florida — was the conservation plan able to keep development in check?

Today, much of the island is preserved as the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge.  Sanibel, and neighboring Captiva island are best known as a shell collector’s paradise.  Eco-tourism is the major industry.

The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau is promoting the area by distributing a free copy of Lonely Planet’s guidebook, Discover the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, published in July 2012.

This is a full color softcover, pocket-sized travel guide — 176 pages, plus a pull-out map. There are no ads.

This guide covers:

  • Beaches: Beautiful beaches of every style, including world-class shelling, secluded white sand and sunsets
  • Nature & eco travel: From pristine beaches to wetlands and wildlife refuges
  • History & culture: Meet the pioneers, from the Calusa Indians to the Koreshan, and lively artists colonies
  • Entertainment: Shopping or nightlife,  from jazz bars to dives and boutiques
  • Dining: Everything from bargain seafood joints overlooking the water to ethnic eats
  • Sport & activities: Get your hiking boots on, your kayak prepped, or hop on a bike
  • Accommodations:  Choose from historic cottages, vacation rentals or chain hotels

Sign up here to request a free hard copy of the Lonely Planet guidebook.

If you prefer a digital version, you can download the Kindle edition free of charge from Amazon.com.

2014 Fodor’s Travel Guides: Now Free on iTunes

Fodor's Rio City Guide App
Fodor’s Rio City Guide App

Fodor’s has updated its series of 22 free travel guides for iPhone and iPad and the 2014 editions are now available on iTunes.

Just in time for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, city guides for Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo have been added!

Each App features:

– Expert info:  Read about things to do and get expert tips
– Interactive Local Maps:  Discover what’s nearby
– Booking Tools:  Book hotels, tours, and more
– Planner:  Save favorites and create lists

Fodor’s local travel experts vet every recommendation.  You’ll find information on neighborhoods, cheap things to do, kid-friendly attractions, shopping, nightlife, performing arts, and more.  These are not your parent’s stuffy travel books!

Fodor's Apps Feature Interactive Maps
Fodor’s Apps Feature Interactive Maps

The interactive maps make it easy to find nearby hotels, sights, restaurants, bars, and clubs and to access reviews from the map.

Listings are searchable by destination, price range, or category of interest.  Look for properties designated “Fodor’s Choice,” representing the best of the best.

The Fodor’s apps were recognized as the “2013 Travel App of the Year” by the Society of American Travel Writers, and were featured in Wired Magazine’s 2012 App Guide as a Best Travel Reference App.

How can Fodor’s afford to give away its guidebooks for free?  The apps include the ability to book hotel rooms via Expedia, buy event tickets via Tickets Now, and make restaurant reservations via Open Table.  Fodor’s is likely earning a commission if you make purchases via the app.

Fodor's 2014 Travel Guides Free on iTunes
Fodor’s 2014 Travel Guides Free on iTunes

Here are links to the city travel guides:

Fodor’s U.S. City Guide Apps

Fodor’s International City Guide Apps

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Silent Clowns Film Series: Free at Lincoln Center; Discount Tickets in DC

Charlie Chaplin's Silent Films at the Alden Theater
Charlie Chaplin’s Silent Films at
The Alden Theater, McLean, VA

The Silent Clowns Film Series, is New York City’s free showcase for classic silent film comedy.

The series presents monthly showings of the silent movies of Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, Lloyd, and many others, with live musical accompaniment by renowned silent film accompanist Ben Model.

Every program features a spoken introduction and Q&A by film historians Bruce Lawton and Steve Massa.  The programs are presented on weekend afternoons, and are geared to classic film fans and families.

The Silent Clowns Film Series is held in the Bruno Walter Auditorium, located in the NY Library for the Performing Arts, at the back of Lincoln Center.

The next show is Saturday, April 12 at 2:30pm, and it features several Charlie Chaplin Films produced by the Mutual Film Corporation.  The show features these iconic Chaplin’s films:  The Count (1916), The Pawnshop (1916), The Immigrant (1917), and The Adventurer (1917).

Silent Clown Film Series Comes to Washington, DC

April 16, 2014 marks Charlie Chaplin’s 125th birthday.

Charlie Chaplin, aka The Little Tramp, is the most iconic and influential comedy star of the silent film era.  He starred in classic films including The Kid, The Gold Rush, City Lights and Modern Times.  

To celebrate Chaplin’s birthday, the Alden Theatre, outside Washington DC, is hosting a screening of Chaplin’s best movies, with commentary by film historian Bruce Lawton and live music by accompanist Ben Model.

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