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!)

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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...

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.

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