Not free, but it's all the beer you can taste for only $25!

KC Beer Fest is back! At the Legends this weekend from 1-5pm on Saturday, October 17th. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. The list of participating breweries is about a mile long and you get a commemorative tasting glass for as many 4 oz. samples of the over 300 craft and import brews as you like. Also, it's for a good cause! The event benefits the Kansas City Free Health Clinic and AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City. So get out there, drink some beer and do some good! (Also, you designated driver gets in for only $10. That's practically free!)

More Free Wine Tastings...

Cellar Rat Wine Merchants in the Crossroads hosts a couple of free tastings each month. Following are their Free Fun October tastings:

• Saturday, October 17th, 4-7pm: Green Dirt & Inland Sea. I am assuming "Green Dirt" is referring to Green Dirt Farm, and may be featuring their sheep's milk cheeses? Inland Sea is a local "Urban Winery" that I didn't even know existed. Cool!
• Tuesday, October 21st, 5:30-7:30pm: Staff Picks Tasting
• Thursday, October 29th, 5:30-7:30pm: Owen Roe Winery tasting. I appreciate that Owen Roe's vinyards are in the Pacific Northwest.

They are all free! I may seriously check out the Green Dirt Farm/Inland Sea tasting this Saturday. I have a lot going on, so we'll see, but it sounds pretty interesting.

Check out Cellar Rat's calendar - they have a lot of other tasting events each month that involve a mininal charge.

Tour of Austrailia @ Gomer's South

Gomer's South will behosting a (Free) wine tasting on Monday, October 19th, from 6-8pm. They will be featuring wines from Old Bridge Cellars Imports, including:

Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir

Chambers Muscat

D'Arenberg Stump Jump Shiraz

D'Arenberg Custodian Grenache

Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet

Plantagenet Hazard Hill Savignon Black Semillon

Leeuwin Estates Sibling Shiraz

Seating is limited to 32 people, so R.S.V.P. to 816-942-6200 if you are interested.

Free Fun with Wild Bill

At least for my friends and neighbors. 'Cause it definitley wasn't free for me. But it is fun. Neighbor Shane and the Case Man have already planned a trip to Costco this evening to get some meat. Which is not free fun. However, we have put this bad boy to use twice already since bringing Wild Bill home last Saturday. It's an investment. An investment in the longterm success of my marriage.

And it's pretty freakin' awesome, if I do say so.

SNL is free fun....

And Ryan Reynolds is hot and funny.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Free Fun for Saturday, October 3rd

Mama Ray's Jazz Meets Blues Jam is rockin' BB's Lawnside BBQ on Saturday, as per usual. No cover charge.

The Weston Applefest is this weekend (preceding next weekend's Weston Irishfest - which is definitely fun, and definitely not free) and it's free if you don't buy anything. I could go and not buy any merchandise, because it sounds like it will be very crafty, but the apple butter cooked over an open fire and apple dumplings would be harder to resist. Jim "Stinky Feet" Cosgrove will perform on Saturday, and Bob Reeder on Sunday, among others. Weston has a lot of "fests."

The U.S. Air Force Band will be playing at the Liberty Memorial begining at 4pm on the southeast lawn. Should be a beautiful evening, clear but cool, so bring a blanket.

It's First Friday Again

Head down to the Crossroads. Have a free beer or glass of wine. Check out some art. Be worldly and sophisticated. Give made-up, non-sensical faux-critiques of paintings and sculptures you don't understand.

Cellar Rat Wine Merchants @ 17th & Baltimore will have a tasting tonight, also. It's all about the Malbec from Argentina. They will have cheese and charcuterie plates. (I know, I had to google charcuterie 'cause I'm not as spohisticated as I pretend to be. You were fooled by my impressive art critiques, weren't you? I sure as hell know what a "cheese plate" is, though!)

If you would rather hang with the plebes, there is always the tasting tonight at CVS in Waldo. Gomer's South has the usual wine tasting on Saturday from 12-3pm.

Free Theater!

October 15th is a Free Night of Theater 2009 in over 120 cities across the country! Check out their website to find yours and support local live theater! And it's Free!

For those of us in KC, the KC Rep is our participating theater. It looks like they will begin taking reservations for this free fun event on October 8th.

Brewery Tours are Free Fun!

So that last post about the ZON got me thinking about Boulevard. And what kindof Free Fun could be had involving Boulevard. Duh - they give free tours at the brewery! There aren't many spaces left in 2009, and it looks like they don't have the schedule for 2010 posted yet. A lot of people are taking advantage of this free fun, which includes samples. (Yes!)

Luckily, Schlafly in STL also gives tours - and they are also free! Yeah, I know. Driving to St. Louis is not free, and if you're there to check out Schlafly you'll probably have to eat and drink at one of their two brewpubs, which means you probably shouldn't drive the four hours back to KC and will probably also have to spring for a hotel room, unless you have friends or family to offer a free bed for the night. But the tour is free! Unlike that other brewery in STL *cough*Anheuser-Busch*cough*InBev*cough* who charges twenty-five bucks for the Beermaster Tour. What a bunch of BS that is, huh? Like they don't have billions and billions of dollars. Plus, Boulevard Pilsner kicks Bud's ass any day of the week. Schlafly has a pilsner, too, that I haven't tried, but am also certain is better than Budweiser.

I guess ZON is a winner....

I never really cared much for Boulevard's summer seasonal, ZON. But after not touching it for a couple of years, I tried it again this summer. The Case Man and I were stocking the beer & meat fridge with the Boulevard sampler packs from Costco, so we ended up with the ZON by default. So I tried it again, and to my surprise, I kinda liked it. Actually, I really liked it. It was nice and refreshing and citrusy on a warm summer day. I guess my palate has matured and developed a little in the last couple of years. Must have something to do with turning 30.

Anyway, after re-discovering ZON this summer, I was surprized and excited to read today that it was a gold medal winner at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival in the Belgian-style Witbier category. Yay Boulevard!

Blogging is free fun...

I had some free fun here and changed around the looky loo I had goin' on the ol' blog. I like it! New colors for winter. Let me know what you think. Well, I know Neighbor Shane will, because he's the only one who ever comments.

Where's (Free Fun In) Waldo?

Waldo Fall Festival 2009 is this weekend! There will be the usual festival festivities - police cars and firetrucks and clowns and whatnot. You know. Family fun for all! Those of us in the neighborhood can just walk there and then walk and have an afternoon beer at Lews or on the roof at the Well and then walk home! See - it's all in the area and Saturday should be a beautiful day, weather-wise. However, I will be enjoying some free fun at the pool for the last swim Saturday of the season.
Also, this Saturday is the Falldo Waldo Crawldo! Not free. Tix are five bucks in advance, ten at the event, and it's a pub crawl, so you have to buy beers. And, if you are smart, cab fare home. Or just walk home - that would be the free fun portion of the evening, I suppose. This year is bigger and better than ever - fourteen neighborhood drinking esatablishements are participating! Since Kennedy's has re-opened in the last year, and The Well opened recently, that adds two new spots on the roster. And The Well is a pretty sweet addition to the neighborhood, I have to say. Swagger is also a new on the list. I hear they have some pretty serious bar food, and some serious beer on tap. Although the Case Man and I have yet to make it up there for a meal and a brew.

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!

Mad Men Me

I know, I know. Ugh.

My fellow Mad Men fans should have some free fun by checking out this nifty new feature at AMC.com. It's awesome!

This is me in my natural habitat:

I know it's been a while...

It's been crazy at the office, kids. Sorry I haven't been posting lately, but I haven't had as much time over my lunch breaks and stuff as I normally get. I'll be back soon with more free fun. Promise!

Going to Grandma's...

So, Grandma Jean lives in an assisted living apartment. I know a lot of people are like "I would never put my mom/dad/grandma/grandpa/old person in a rest home. That's so mean and they will be mistreated" but I have seen a couple of those really sad pitiful depressing "rest homes" and Jean doesn't live at one of those. It's really a pretty sweet set up for her. They aren't mean to her, and she'll actually ask them for help with stuff because she is paying them to help her. And pretty much everything is taken care of - you get your meals, entertainment, drugs, everything - even cocktail parties. Yeah! With actual cocktails and beer and live music and everything! And they've got some fancy buffet's too y'all! And those cute little half sized soda cans. (When we were there for the St. Patrick's Day party, there was an old lady hoarding the little soda cans in her walker to take back to her room. A whole bunch of them. And she wasn't being very covert, either. Like they wouldn't bring her a baby soda if she asked for it.) The only thing is that Grandma Jean never invites us over for these things! She must be embarrassed of us. I think I may have to just start inviting myself. I'll make note of the next party - and just haul Grandma's butt down for a snack and a beer. It's free fun! If you have a relative who is staying in a retirement apartment (as Grandpa calls his place) go have some free fun at their happy hour. Most places have these parties a couple times a month, and they have adult beverages if you are lucky. Plus I guess it gives me an excuse to visit Grandma, too.

I forgot this one.

I was on the community farmers market kick and I totally forgot to post about the Troost Community Market. Ugh. Midtown! Restore the Core! It's awesome that they have this at all! Unfortunately, I have not been able to go to any of the area farmer's markets as of late. But I have every intention. I want to see the baby cow at the Shatto Milk stall. (It's at the City Market, not at the Troost Market, just so there is no confusion.) I should just make a day of it and visit a bunch of them on a Saturday or something.

Free Fun in the Village

Villagefest 2009 is free! Well, you can pay five bucks for a plate of Chris Cakes for breakfast. And they will probably have other things there will cost money, refreshments and whatnot. But they will have Jim "Stinky Feet" Cosgrove and Funky Mama! Pony rides! Petting zoo! Public safety and firearms demo! I don't even have kids and I want to go! I love Jim Cosgrove!

But, the awesomest of all, is the Chinook helicopter landing. Yeah, that thing in the photo. Wow. Now that is worth the price of admission. But there's no admission, is there? Cool! Also, they will have firetrucks, I'm sure. So if you don't have plans for Saturday, and you have kids, or you just like awesome army helicopters and Chris Cakes, you can have free fun in Prairie Village.

Also, I don't see any fireworks on the schedule, but how much can we ask for in a free event, really?

Fireworks!

It's nearly that time of year! The 4th of July is never complete without fireworks - whether you are watching a huge, professional display, or just shooting them off in the street in front of your house (which very well may be illegal, depending on where you live.) In the spirit of free fun, the Case Man and I don't usually go out and spend a bunch of money on fireworks (and we certainly will not be doing so this year) as there are plenty of free displays (or at least cheaper and safer than buying some fireworks to put on your own show) to check out around town. In fact, I had no idea there were so many to choose from around Kansas City until I started researching for this post. So, I have compiled a (hopefully comprehensive) list of the ones I could find, but let me know if I have missed any that should be included.

• KC Riverfest at Berkley Park on the Riverfront. Admission to the festival is $5 for adults (purchased in advance online) and kids 5 and under are free. Events are ongoing the afternoons of the 3rd and 4th, and it looks like they have fireworks starting at 10:05 both nights, too.
• Parkville has their 4th of July celebration at English Landing Park, with fireworks over the Missouri River starting at about 9:30pm. A shuttle will run from 6pm-midnight to and from Park Hill South High School and Park University, which might not be a bad idea, since parking in Parkville is tough to begin with.
• Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular has lots of country music, a live remote with Q104, a "show band" (I don't know what that means) and the Kansas National Guard Band. As far as I can tell, this is free fun unless you want to make a donation to the OP Rotary. Fireworks start at 9:30pm, and as big as Corporate Woods is, I would imagine this would involve a lot of walking, especially if you're going late for just the fireworks.
• Worlds of Fun still has their fireworks display, I think. I remember parking along I-435 (along with a bunch of other people) to watch it once or twice when I was a little kid, which isn't very safe, but it was free. I didn't find anything on their website specifically about the 4th, but they have lots of other stuff going on in July - none of it's free, though.
• The City of Independence has a fireworks display at the Mormon Visitors Center (the big spiral.) Also, there will be a kids 4th of July parade in old Downtown Independence, and the kids can decorate their bikes and scooters and stuff. Now that sounds like free fun!
• Powell Gardens Booms and Blooms festival is actually on the 3rd of July, but sounds lovely with live orchestral music, homemade ice cream, and of course fireworks. Festival admission ranges from $5-$10.
• The Smithville Marina will have a display shot off of the Smithville dam, but the calendar on the Clay County website wasn't working, so I can't verify this.
• Weston has the Jaycees fireworks show at the West Platte High School athletic field.
• The City of Olathe will have their 4th annual fireworks display begining at about 9:30pm at the Great Mall of the Great Plains
• The Royals will be playing the Chicago White Sox at The K on Thursday, Friday and Saturday over 4th of July weekend. Fireworks on Friday, as usual, and Saturday for the 4th, too. Saturday's give-away freebie is an old school ringer tee for the dudes and an old school halter for the ladies. Sweet!

One fireworks show that I thought for sure would be listed online somewhere is the Shawnee Mission Park display - it's kind of an old standby for people who don't have big plans, you can just mosey on over and check it out if you feel like it. I did finally find on the JoCo Parks and Rec site that they won't have it this year due to budget cuts. Bummer. I was also hoping to find a listing for a display at the Liberty Memorial, but found nothing there. Let me know if anyone knows anything about that - we were hoping to watch it from the Case Man's aunt's house. Perhaps we'll still be able to see the one's at the Riverfront? We'll see.

UPDATE: Neighbor Shane says there is also a display in Fairway - and there is! At Bishop Miege High School, 5041 Reinhardt Drive, at 9:30pm. Thanks Shane!

Kansas City Area Farmers Markets

The whole Urban Farm tour thing has farmer's markets on my brain. Maybe it's the craving I've had for salads lately. Of course you have the City Market, downtown, every weekend. Go check it out! Also, the Farmers Community Market at Brookside at 63rd & Wornall, Saturdays from 8am - 1pm! Their "Flower Festival" is this Saturday, June 27th. Farmer's markets are free fun if you can resist the urge to buy anthing. But I already have a grocery budget, so it doesn't really count, right? I know what I'm doing on Saturday morning. I hope Shatto Milk Company has a baby cow at their booth at City Market.

KC Urban Farms and Gardens Tour

So this one isn't completely free, but it's only $5 per person, or $12 per family. This Sunday, June 28th, you can take a self-guided tour of 30 Kansas City area community gardens and urban farms. Visit their website to purchase tickets online, download a map of the tour stops, and check out pre-tour events for this week leading up to the main event on Sunday. Some of the tour stops will even feature storytellers, scavenger hunts and other kids activities, and even cooking demonstrations and live music! Sounds like a bargain for five bucks!

More free fun in KCK

I guess they know what's goin' on with the free fun over in Kansas City, KS. They always have free street festivals! This weekend is the KCK Street Blues Festival. It's free - you can bring chairs and a cooler over to 13th & State, and they will have some food vendors, it sounds like. And this year's Festival Queen is none other than the legendary Mama Ray! Other featured artists include Lee McBee & the Confessors, Millage Gilbert Downhome Blues Band, Levee Town with Sue Stubbs, Little Eva and Samantha Fish, PMS Blues Band, Doghouse Daddies, Luqman Hamza and Lucky Wesley, Bill Carter and Ron Teamer.

Kansas City has a world class art museum. And it's FREE!

Yes! Free! Every day! Take a guided tour. Pack a picnic and enjoy the gorgeous south lawn and sculpture garden. If you can, donate a couple of dollars for admission.

Plaza Live! Concerts

Free fun can be had on the Plaza every weekend. Window shop ('cause who can afford to regular shop - especially down there) and enjoy free music from 2-5pm at the Penguin Courtyard (on Nichols Rd. between J.Crew and Scandia Down,) Mermaid Courtyard (at Nichols Rd. and Broadway by Eddie Bauer) and Neptune Courtyard (on 47th St. by Houston's) on Saturdays and Sundays. This Saturday Stan Kessler & the Sons of Brasil will be playing the Mermaid Courtyard, and Roland Allen will be playing the Penguin Courtyard. Sunday will feature Lonesome Hank & the Heartaches at the Mermaid Courtyard, and Bayley Kate & The Bluegills at the Neptune Courtyard. So grab a seat near a cooling fountain, catch some free tunes, and splurge and spend a couple of bucks on an ice cream cone or an iced latte, since it's so stinkin' hot out.
Libby also has a suggestion for some free fun for your canine friend to have on the Plaza. She says that if you take your dog for a walk on the Plaza to be sure to stop in at the Three Dog Bakery. It's the original store! The first one ever. They don't charge anything for your doggie to sniff the yummy treats in their store, and they even hand out free samples!

Free Will

The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival is back! The Merry Wives of Windsor began its run at Southmoreland Park (just east of the Plaza, across Oak Street to the west of the Nelson-Atkins) this past Tuesday and runs through July 5th. Performances are nightly at 8pm (except Monday, June 22nd, and Saturday, July 4th) and it's free! Although there are Shakespearian people at the gate that will give you a Free Will sticker if you make a small donation. Even if it's just 50 cents. Just bring your own blanket or lawn chairs, and you can purchase refreshments there or pack your own picnic. The Case Man and I like to pack a picnic and a bottle of wine. If only it weren't so hot outside...

Dave Stevens!

Some of you know about Dave Stevens. Some of you do not. Those of you who know about Dave and his swing band know he is fantastic, entertaining and adorable. Once again, I wish I could have this fun that requires no exchange of currency (Francie) but, alas, I have previous obligations. The Dave Stevens Band will be playing at Zona Rosa for their summer concert series that costs no money on Saturday, June 20th, from 6-9pm. Thanks to M.B. for the tip! And they have some good bands playing up there at Zona Rosa this summer - The Elders are scheduled for July 17th, and Ida McBeth will be playing Jazz on Town Square (which is also a weekly event) on September 24th. And once again, these events involve no monetary expenditure!

Shatto Family Day!!!

Holy cow, this would be so much fun! If only I didn't have the Case Man's birthday to celebrate. Shatto Milk Company is having their open house Family Day at the Farm on June 20th. You can schedule a tour of the farm anytime of the year, Tuesday thru Saturday, but it's by appointment only and it's normally $5 per person (kids age 2 and under are free.) Family Day is free! I have been wanting to visit the Shatto Farm forever. I guess we'll have to wait for their next event to have some free fun at the dairy farm. And I love their milk. It's so yummy! It says so on their charming glass bottle! Try the rootbeer flavor - it's like a creamy rootbeer float in liquid form. Good stuff, Maynard!

This cow is so cute. I want to meet her!

UPDATE: You can also meet Shatto Milk at the City Market on Saturday's. And I hear they may even hand out free samples!

So I really like Left Hand Beer. Turned out the tasting at Gomers's SoKC wasn't quite free, because we did buy a sixer of their Polestar Pilsner - it's a good summer porch drinkin' kinda beer. And the Case Man purchased a case of PBR, but all in all, free fun could have been had by all. Damn beer, tastin' good and crap, makin' me buy some. I didn't think to take a picture until after I drank three and one-third beers (on Annie's porch) and since you aren't reading the KC Beer Blog, we aren't expecting that kind of attention to detail around here. So here ya go.

Free Tastings...Yum!

Check out CVS in Waldo at 75th & Wornall on Friday evenings. They have free wine tastings in their liquor department! Plus, if you purchase a "six-pack" of wine, you get a nice discount - 10% I think.

Gomer's also has free wine tastings and events at their stores. I'll try to keep up with them on my blog, but you should call and check your favorite location each week. In my neck of the woods, at the South Kansas City location, tonight there is a meet & greet with Left Hand Brewery (and their brewmaster) from 4-6pm. I have not tried their beer yet - I will as soon as I get out of the office this afternoon - but I already like them. They dig chicks who dig beer. They even have a girls-only club. Cool! Too bad I'd have to go all the way to Colorado to attend a meeting. Also, on Saturday from 12-3pm, SoKC Gomer's is having a wine tasting.

Downtown KCK has free fun.

This weekend is the KCK Arts Network Street Fest. Guess what? It's free! The Street Fest is in conjuction with Downtown KCK's Second Fridays. Second Fridays are, evidently, a lot like First Fridays in the Crossroads. And, yes, there are galleries outside of the Crossroads. (I am just discovering a lot of this stuff, because it is only recently that I have been enlightened as to exactly how FREE fun can really be. It's making me a much more well-rounded person.) This whole Street Fest thing sounds pretty cool, though. Live music (afro-beat/funk, swing, and a jazz trio - I like all of the above) and a puppet show and battling break dance crews? Awesome! Food and drinks are availble for purchase, so it might not be totally free if you buy stuff. I may have to check out Second Fridays sometime. I wonder if they have free adult beverages like some of the galleries on First Fridays.

Too bad it's a school night...

Free beer at the Riot Room in Westport? That is some free fun I can definitely endorse. There is a CD release party tonight for a band called the Also Rans. I know nothing about them, except that they have free beer at their party, and any money collected at the door goes towards more free beer. I just might have to become a fan.

UPDATE: After checking out their myspace, the Also Rans could be kinda cool. Garage Rock. Probably a lot more fun live (and drinking free beer) than sitting at my desk with the volume down so as not to annoy others.

Katie Horner is Free Fun...?

Yes. Yes she is. Who knew? Some dude named Adam. He had the genius to make up a Katie Horner drinking game. So now, instead of getting pissed AT Katie Horner when she interrupts programming to tell us the same stuff over and over for two hours, we can get pissed while Katie Horner interrupts an important story on 60 minutes to tell us to get our survival kits and find our safe place because she saw lightning. Even if I'm not watching 60 Minutes, Grandma will call me and have me look up the phone number for KCTV 5 so she can call them and complain. So either way, it effects me. Grandma didn't even say hi.

Here are the rules:

The Katie Horner Drinking Game

If Katie's wearing jeans, it's clearly casual day. All players must be in their underwear.

If Katie mentions a watch or a warning of any type, hold tight to your drink and sip nervously.

If Katie tells you it's hailing in you area, run outside to freshen the ice in your cup.

If Katie speaks directly to your children, give them a heavy dose of cough syrup. (If you don't have kids, drink it yourself.)

If Katie says "Tonganoxie," everyone passes their drink to the person on the right and chugs.

If Katie says "Take cover," top off your drink. It's gonna be a long night.

If Katie talks about being scared for your life, chug.

If Katie asks the audience to e-mail her rainfall totals or storm damage reports, take a crazy party pic and send it to her.

If Katie references Newschopper 5, take 5 gulps.

If Katie announces a tornado warning, fire up the blender and make some pina coladas.

If Katie talks about Doppler coupling, make out with the person to your left.

If Katie walks off screen, take a long, steady chug until she returns.

If Katie talks about peace of mind, drink.

If Katie tells you you're in the clear, the game ends.

If a tornado actually hits your house, move the party to KCTV5 and get Katie drunk with you!

Legos are fun.

Legos are awesome. Crown Center has an exhibit this summer that is all stuff built from Legos. The Art of the Brick will be on display until September 7th on the 1st floor of the Crown Center Shops. And it's FREE!

Also happening at Crown Center - they have a lot of Free Fun at Crown Center - Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival on June 19th & 20th. According to their website "Artists start with empty squares of asphalt and by the end of the weekend, these squares will be transformed into magnificent pieces of artwork." Sidewalk chalk on steroids? Sounds cool! Also, it's free!

Legos and sidewalk chalk are fun. But you can't eat them. Well...I guess you could, but why would you when you can have free fun with food? Food prepared by chefs like Debbie Gold, one of America's greatest female chefs? Check out Crown Center again for more free fun with The Chef's Taste of Summer Series, first featuring Martin Heuser of the Westin on Friday, June 19th. Frank Majowicz of the Hyatt Regency is scheduled for July 17th, and Debbie Gold of the American Restaurant on August 21st. It's FREE, but it starts at noon, so I'll be at the office eating a lunch I had to pay for and probably had to thaw from a frozen block and heat into a pile of mush. Not free and not very fun.

Welcome to Free Fun!

Okay. So times are tough. Money is tight. I think most of my friends and family know that I am all about FREE FUN in 2009. And there was a lot of free fun to be had this past weekend! It was First Friday's in the Crossroads, there was the Gay Pride Festival, the Nathan's regional hot dog eating contest, and "Kansas City's Premier U2 Cover Band" played at the Power & Light District. All things a person could potentially do with out spending any money at all. I don't want anyone missing out any free fun. So this weekend, while I was buzzin' on wine (free!) at the galleries down in the Crossroads (free!) I decided to start a blog. 'Cause blogging is free fun, too! And who doesn't like free fun, right? It's free. It's fun. It's free fun!

Hence, I will be compiling all of the free, fun (or at least super super cheap) stuff I find to do in Kansas City here on my new blog. I'll probably throw in some good happy hour deals and cheap eats or whatever. I prefer free, but as long as it's easy on the pocketbook, that's cool.

Here is some free fun for those if us who live in the Waldo area - Movie Night at Tower Park!
Sponsored by the Tower Homes Association and South-Broadland Presbyterian Church.
June 13th at sundown they will be screening Ghostbusters (and if that ain't a fun movie, I don't know what is!) and it's FREE! (I hope people are catching on to exactly what this blog is about by now.) Bring your own chair or blanket, and your own refreshments. I believe (according to the sign on the register at Soil Service, but not posted on the THA website) there will be some concessions for sale, too, if you want to splurge.
http://www.towerhomesassociation.org/news/1-latest-news/131-movie-night.html

Another note about the P&L District - I generally don't hang out there very often unless I am looking for some fun that is not so free (and generally that means drinking beer that costs money at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, which is only the best selection of yummy yummy beer in the whole city, so I'm willing to pay for that kind of fun from time to time), but they do have free concerts every Friday at KC Live. Some I don't care/know so much about, but The Zero's are a pretty cool 80's cover band, and Rattle & Hum is the aforementioned U2 cover band. Admission is free, but if you're drinkin', that's not free. So it's kinda free fun, especially if you are the designated driver. Depending on your perspective. Here's a link to the concert calendar:
http://www.powerandlightdistrict.com/index.cfm?page=events-calendar&date=06/12/2009&event=358