Indy at the Library

Later this month, you can catch a couple of Indiana Jones flicks at the Plaza branch of the Kansas City Public Library - September 26th they are screening The Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade on October 3rd.

Mama Ray @ BB's

Not exactly Free, because you'll have to drinks some beers, and probably eat some BBQ, but there's no cover charge, and you'll have to eat (drink) some lunch anyway, right? BB's Lawnside BBQ hosts Mama Ray's Blues Jam every Saturday from 2-5:30pm. Definitely Fun.

This Weekend in Free Fun

As usual, it's 2nd Saturday up in Weston, MO - Shopping and tastings 'til 8pm, dining and entertainment 'til midnight. And it's a nice late-afternoon or evening drive up to Weston. A lovely little town, it is.

It's 2nd Saturday in KCK, too. They have an Artwalk.

More free fun in KCK - the Strawberry Hill Festival. Click the picture of their poster below for details:
The 30th annual Art Westport is this weekend, as well. Not that exciting to me. But it is all local Kansas City area artists. And it's free - unless you stop for cocktails. Which probably makes it a

LOT more fun, but a lot less free. (This is the problem with a lot of free fun, I am finding. Free stuff is more fun if it involves alcohol, but the alcohol portion of the fun is generally not free.)

Also, there is the usual wine tasting at CVS at 75th & Wornall, in Waldo. Gomer's South has their usual tasting @ 3pm on Saturday, as well as a witbier tasting on Monday evening. Gomer's Lee's Summit has a Friday night wine tasting.

By the way, the Case Man and I drove past the Gomer's in Parkville on our little road trip north. It's really really nice looking. We didn't go in, but it looked pretty cool- like a giant wine barrel and they had grapevines growing outside the building and a nice looking patio, too, I think. They have a beer tasting at the Parkville location this evening from 4-7, and a wine tasting tomorrow afternoon from 12-4.

Camping in the back yard....

Is a LOT of fun. Just ask Neighbor Fran how much the Case Man and I were laughing. She'll tell ya.

Also...

It's First Friday in the Crossroads, people! Go have some free wine or beer and look at some local art!

Camping for Free

Yes - in the backyard. I know Neighbor Shane and Neighbor Fran will be perplexed when they see our tent set up in the backyard on Sunday evening, so now they'll know.

The Case Man and I really wanted to go camping this holiday weekend, but there is just too much going on - pool parties, planting new grass, blah blah blah. Plus, even though it's really cheap to pay for a campground at a state park or whatever, you still have to pay for it. And the bathrooms aren't as comfortable as they are at home. And we have a fenced yard at home so Libby won't have to be tethered. And all we would have to pay for are the S'mores and the beer. It's basically free. So we are going camping in the backyard this weekend.

Although, and I'll have to run this past the Case Man, but I think we should have some backyard camping ground rules. Like you can only go in the house to go the bathroom, or if you need medical attention. I think we should actually camp - just in the yard, right? We'll have to establish these rules this weekend, and then I'll post them later for reference.

Road Trip!

So last Saturday, after a nice morning at the City Market, the Case Man and I went on a free fun road trip. It was a beautiful day to just drive around and site see, so we journeyed north of Kansas City through Parkville on our way to Weston. We tried to take as many country roads and stay as parallel to the Missouri River as possible for the most scenic drive possible. Weston is so charming - lovely old (several antebellum) homes and charming little shops and cafes - couldn't really go inside any because we had the dog with us (Libby loves a good road trip) but we enjoyed walking around town and through the historic neighborhood.

Then we continued north up to Atchison, KS, where we saw a really cool Victorian house with gargoyles!

There is also a road called Riverview in Atchison that runs above the Missouri River. All these neat houses are along it and they have a beautiful view of the river and the fields and stuff on the other side, which is actually in Missouri.

And we saw a couple of foxes! I had never seen a fox before. I didn't get a photo but they were really pretty.

Our way back into the city took us through Leavenworth, past the Penitentiary, and back down through Parkville. It was a really nice way to spend about five hours, and the only money we spent was on lunch - and we could have packed a picnic lunch (we will next time) and saved ten bucks. So it was really pretty much free fun!

Free Movies! Parks! And Libraries!

Well, I have to say I'm disappointed that I didn't go down the the Central Library last Friday to watch Donnie Darko on the rooftop terrace. Instead, Casey and I went and spent money at a bar. The Well, specifically, which has a rooftop terrace, but it was too packed to hang out up there. So we sat on the lower patio, off the main dining room. We had fun. We got a hefty bar tab. We should have just gone to the free fun and seen a movie I know I love anyway on a rooftop terrace that I know wouldn't have been too crowded. So, here are some more free movies for your enjoyment.




Rocky Horror screening at dusk, City Market Park at 3rd & Main. Pack a picnic, wear a sweater and enjoy the city skyline!

Some sci-fi movie called Sunshine is showing at the Central Library, Downtown, on Saturday at 1:30. It's part of their Cinema Across the Universe film series, held in the Stanley H. Durwood Film Vault. I have never heard of this movie, but it stars the super creepy Cillian Murphy and the kickass Michelle Yeoh, and involves scientists trying to reignite the sun? Okay.

Grand Hotel will be showing, also at the Central Library, on Saturday, September 5th. I love this movie!

Humphrey Bogart as private detective Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep at First Fridays Film Classics at the Waldo Branch on Friday, September 4th at 2pm.

Movies in the Park 2009 is still going on, too! In addition to tonight's screening of Rocky Horror at City Market Park, you can also see Hotel for Dogs Saturday night at Roanoke Park; Beetlejuice at Tower Park (75th & Holmes) on Friday, September 4th; Ghostbusters at 12th & Paseo on September 6th; Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D (!) at Migliazzo Park, Minor Drive & Pennsylvania; and Wall-E at 26th & Jarboe on September 18th.

Have I mentioned how cool libraries are? And that they are free?

Check out the events claendar for the Kansas Ctiy Public Libraries and I know you will find a good way to spend an afternoon or eveing (or Saturday morning watching classic cartoons.)
So much Free Fun to be had at the library!

P.S. - I apologize for the wonky spacing of this post. I don't know what Blogger's deal is today, but it certainly wasn't cooperating. Humph.

Free Wine Tasting @ Cellar Rat

Enjoy a free wine tasting tonight at Cellar Rat Wine Merchants (named KC Magazine's Best Wine Merchant in 2008 & 2009) in the Crossroads at 17th & Baltimore. Featured guest is Lucio Mastroberardino of Terradoro Winery in Campania, Italy. They will also have an Italian cheese plate.

Hotestly, I have not yet made it down to Cellar Rat, but I get their weekly email newsletter and I really need to pay them a visit. Their store looks fantastic, and it looks like they have some fun tasting classes (that aren't all free, but relatively cheap - Happy Hour is $15 per person, lasts one hour - includes 6 wines plus plus cheese & charcuterie plates for the table) and a couple of free tastings each month.

Movies at the Library

Yeah, just like when I was a kid and we would see Strawberry Shortcake cartoons at the Westport Branch. Only it's for grown-ups! Tonight is Donnie Darko at the Central Library on the rooftop terrace. Awesome!

And Saturday, just like when I was a kid, the Westport Branch will be screening classic cartoons.

Check out the website to R.S.V.P for tonight's screening and a full list of movies, times, and locations.

Alrighty...and now, for some Free Fun!

I'm back! Went on vacation, work as been crazy, blah blah blah.

So here's what's goin' on this weekend, kiddo's!

We've got lots of Free Music Fun:

Friday Night Live in the Power & Light - the Zero's are performing. Free admission, but the alcohol will cost if you aren't the DD. And being the DD is not only Free Fun, but DUI's are definitely NOT Free Fun. Far from it, in fact.

Eddie Money is playing at Crown Center for the Free Friday Night Concert Series. I bet he plays this song. And hey - you can even take the Metro to Crown Center. It's especially convenient if you live in my neck of the woods - there's a Park & Ride right near 75th & Wornall. The Metro isn't free, but it is very cheap! And you don't have to drive. And.....Eddie Money plays the saxaphone. Coo-ol!

Parkville Riverfest is back! And it's Free! Bring a lawnchair or blanket, it's gonna be a fabulous weekend for an outdoor event like this. No outside beverages are allowed, but they will have beer & wine vendors in the park.

If you will be at the Overland Park Farmers Market on Saturday morning, a band called The Brew will be playing there at 10:30. I have never heard of them / cannot vouch for their quality, but you can watch this video and judge for yourself. Hmmm. Should be pretty kid-friendly, I think.

The CaseMan and I, however, will be at the Farmers Market in the River Market Downtown. I doubt it will be Free Fun, because I know we will buy stuff, but it's stuff I won't have to purchase at the grocery store. And maybe I'll happen past the Shatto Milk booth!

Also, it's Ford Free Fridays at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. I can't find anything on their website, and I haven't ever attended, so I don't know what this is, exactly, since the museum is always free. So if anyone knows anything about this, feel free to leave a comment.

One more - Gomers Lee's Summit has a wine tasting this evening. There is also the usual Friday night wine tasting at CVS, 75th & Wornall.

Ooohhh!

For all you kids who are sitting at home, this would be the perfect afternoon to play our favorite game!