Archive for August, 2010
Groupon: It’s like having an extra $25 to spend at Lucinda’s
It’s like the whole store is half-off or like someone handed you an extra $25 to spend while you’re in there. Lucinda’s is in Old Town near the Warren Theater and carries upscale clothing, jewelry, shoes, and gifts.
Spend only $25 for $50 worth of shopping at Lucindas. The Groupon is good for a whole year.
Also, you can buy multiple as gifts. Having $50 to spend at Lucinda’s? I don’t think you can do better for a girlfriend gift. For those Type A folks who plan ahead, this Groupon doesn’t expire until well after Christmas!
The above are affiliate links.
Give: American Red Cross Gives Back
Most of us don’t really require an incentive to give, but this month the American Red Cross wants to give back to anyone who is willing to help save lives by donating blood.
The Red Cross is saying “thank you” in a variety of ways. First of all, you know that sticker you usually get that says “I gave blood?” Well this is way better: Everyone who shows up to donate will receive one of the nifty camo hats like the one being worn here by our handsome model.
MORE REASONS TO GIVE:
$1000 GAS CARD
All presenting blood donors at Red Cross blood drives or donor centers between Thursday, September 2 and Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6 are automatically entered to win a $1000 gas card. One winner will be chosen in a random drawing.NASCAR TICKETS:
Anyone who presents to give blood at the Wichita Donor Center or Northwest Donor Center from Sept. 2 to Sept. 6 and fills out an entry slip will have a chance to win four tickets to an entire weekend of premier NASCAR races at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. on Oct. 2-3, 2010.$100 GAS CARDS:
Anyone who presents to give blood at a Red Cross blood drive or donor center Aug. 1 – Sept. 15 is automatically entered to win a $100 gasoline card. One lucky winner from Central Plains each day.A NEW FORD FIESTA:
Thanks to a generous donation by the Ford Motor Company, the American Red Cross and Red Cross Racing are giving away a 2011 Ford Fiesta to one lucky winner. It’s our way of saying thank you to our committed blood donors. Register online at redcrossracing.com for a chance to win. Visit the website for official rules. The sweepstakes ends Nov. 1, 2010.
For more information or to schedule a blood donation appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org.
SPECIAL HOURS IN WICHTA:
The Wichita Blood Donation Center and the Northwest Blood Donation Center will be open special hours over the Labor Day Weekend:
Wichita Blood Donation Center – 707 N. Main
Thursday, Sept. 2 – 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 3 – 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 4 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 5 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 6 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Northwest Blood Donation Center – 8414 W. 13th St. North (13th & Tyler by the Dollar Tree)
Saturday, Sept. 4 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 5 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 6 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
What’s cheap to do this weekend? Whew! Let me tell you…
Friday, August 27
The Blacktop Nationals is already underway downtown. There’s a lot to see and do for very little or no money. Cruise down to the Douglas and McLean area or Century II and you’ll find yourself in the middle of it all. At 7 p.m., walk a few blocks over to the WaterWalk Commons and enjoy a free concert with The Grateful Not to be Dead. Or head west to cheer on the Wingnuts as they make a play for the finals. General admission tickets are only $5.
If the noise of roaring engines and squealing tires gets to be too much, get some peace and quiet (and a few laughs) at the Scottish Rite Center on First Street. They’re showing a free silent movie at 7 p.m. A $5 hot dog supper is available when the doors open at 6.
If you’d rather not fuss with finding a parking place, park your car at the Starlite Drive-In, which has triple-features on both screens for only $10 per carload and some pretty good movies. Choose from the kid-and-parent favorites on Screen 1 or the buddies-night-out features on Screen 2.
Saturday, August 28
The Starlite deal is also available on Saturday, and the Blacktop Nationals, as are a whole host of other fun family activities–more than you can shake a stick at, that’s for sure. I don’t think it’s humanly possible to do them all, so you’re going to have some tough choices to make.
Free public skating at the Wichita Ice Center goes from 12:15-3:15 p.m.
The free “Art on Speed” Family Fun Day at the Ulrich Museum of Art begins at 1 p.m. If you want to go early, the movie Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs, which only costs $ .50 for kids and just a bit more for adults, starts at 11 a.m. (The movie is free for WSU students.)
Of course, I think the Summer Jam Battle of the Bands competition should be heating up about now, so you might want to catch that for free anytime between 2-6 p.m. It’s held under the awning at the Stevens Scooter Store on East Kellogg.
And then the Derby Summerfest with fireworks begins at 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome to this events, even if they don’t live in Derby (I asked). To me, these community festivals are Goldilocks-sized get-togethers: there will be enough going on to keep it interesting, but you’ll still be able to find a place to park your car. This year’s Summerfest will include the Derby fireworks show that had to be canceled because of rain on July 4th.
And speaking of fireworks, the Wichita Wingnuts will explode a few of their own on Saturday night inside Lawrence-Dumont Stadium after the game. It should be good weather for it, without a cloud in the sky if the Google weather widget in my sidebar is right.
Sunday, August 29
The big news for Sunday is that you can get rid of your old phone books and get a discount at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Each phone book gets you a $2 admission price between 8:30 a.m – 5 p.m.
The Blacktop Nationals continue on Sunday, and the Wichita Wingnuts have planned their Fan Appreciation Day for that day, too. I have it on good authority that the Wingnuts will be giving away LOADS of merchandise and bats and balls and other fun stuff. The game starts at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday.
T.G.I. Fridays Buy One, Get One 1/2-Off Coupon
Thinking about dining out this weekend? (With all the free and cheap things going on, who has time to cook?) Here’s a coupon for Buy One Entree Get One Half-Off at T.G.I. Fridays. Valid until September 1st.
Blacktop Nationals
The Blacktop Nationals take over the downtown area this weekend with cruising, drifting, dragging, and otherwise showing off very cool cars and bikes. Most events are free and open to the public on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Be sure to check out the schedule of events at the Blacktop Nationals website for times and locations. (Also–and this is pretty cool–tune your radio to 99.7 fm to hear the latest updates and news from the Blacktop Nationals.)
Most of the action will center around Century II with vendors and exhibitors both indoors and out, and it looks like the car show will be near Douglas and McLean. But the AutoCross challenge (from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Friday and Saturday) is in the north parking lot of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, and the DriftCup Team competition (from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday) is located just west of the Mid-American All Indian Center near Exploration Place (click for map).
The Drag Racing will be held at Kansas International Dragway. According to the website, there will be a charge to watch those. (Click the link for pricing and other information.)
Without a doubt, there will be events and shows from morning to evening with something to see or do all weekend long until the show wraps on Sunday at about 5 p.m. It looks like Rusty Eck Ford is doing something called Mustang Hot Laps:
Starlite Drive-In $10 Carload on Both Screen this Weekend
The Starlite Drive-In is always a good deal if you don’t mind staying up way past your bedtime, but this weekend it’s offering triple features on both screens with a $10 admission price for either one. Find out how many people you can squeeze in your car and enjoy these first-run movies at a fraction of what it costs to go to the theater. 
Friday and Saturday nights.
Screen 1 is showing Despicable Me, The Last Airbender, and Toy Story 3. Screen 2 will feature Dinner for Schmucks, The Expendables, and The Other Guys. For more information visit starlitefun.com.
Wichita on the Cheap is brought to you by freelance writer Carolyn Erickson, who has called Wichita her home since the 90s (and she’s been a cheapskate longer than that). Although 