Wichita Weekend on the Cheap (5/20 – 5/22)

05/20/2011 By Leave a Comment

Here are a few of the good deals and cheap things to do in Wichita this weekend. I’ll add more as I see them, but if I’ve missed any, please feel free to share!

Citywide and Neighborhood Garage Sales
Farmers Markets in and near Wichita
Friends of the Wichita Public Library Spring Used Book Sale at Bookaholic

Saturday
Clean up and Canoe on the Little Arkansas River 9 a.m. – noon (see more info below)
Papa John’s Customer Appreciation Day Large 1-topping for $5.99
Free Admission to the Society of Decorative Painters Expo at Century II
O.K. Kids Day at OJ Watson Park
Old Navy Flip-Flops for $1 Sale

Sunday
Flea Market at the Kansas Coliseum

***
Clean Up & Canoe on the Little Arkansas

The Clean Up and Canoe on the Little Arkansas River is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Volunteers should meet at 12th & Bitting Street bridge for check-in, gloves and bags.

Canoeist and kayakers should bring their own boats. Additional boats will not be provided. Volunteers should wear clothing that can get dirty – preferably long pants and not shorts – and sturdy shoes.

Sponsors will provide gloves and trash bags for volunteers as well as a packer truck to collect debris.

The clean-up is registered with American Rivers as part of the “National River Cleanup” initiative. Many organizations will participate including the Wichita Paddlers, Arkansas River Coalition, Kansas Canoe & Kayak Association, and the River City WRAPS program. The event is organized by the City of Wichita.

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Moms Get in Free at Sedgwick County Zoo on Mother’s Day

04/30/2011 By Leave a Comment

Moms get free admission to the Sedgwick County Zoo when accompanied by a paying child on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, 2011.

For more information, visit the Sedgwick County Zoo calendar.

Sedgwick County Zoo
5555 Zoo Blvd.
316-266-8386

Mother’s Day hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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Free Hydromassage through April 18, 2011

04/15/2011 By 1 Comment

Here’s a great way to celebrate after filing your taxes again this year. Get a Free Hydromassage at participating locations in Wichita, KS until Monday, April 18th. (It’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure a business is participating.)

More Tax Day Freebies and Deals

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Buy 4, Get 1 Free Tickets to Shopportunity 2011

02/10/2011 By 1 Comment

shopportunity 2011UPDATE: Don’t miss the comment below about how to win two tickets to Shopportunity! “B-98 FM graciously gave Red Cross Blood Services a pair of tickets to giveaway this month. All presenting donors have the opportunity to win two tickets to Shopportunity and dinner for two. Make an appointment to donate at http://www.redcrossblood.org.” Thanks, Jennifer!

Shopportunity is an annual fundraiser at New Market Square that benefits the Independent Living Resource Center, which serves people with disabilities.

Shopportunity 2011 will be Thursday, April 28th from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Each participant receives a cute Shopportunity tote filled with coupons and goodies from participating New Market Square merchants. There will also be prizes, activities, and a limousine and party bus to take you to and from the stores and restaurants in style!

Only 750 Shopportunity tickets will be sold this year. Last year, the event sold out, and that’s the goal again for this year. Tickets are surprisingly affordable at $25 per person, but there’s a discount that makes it an even better deal: Buy 4 tickets to Shopportunity 2011 and get 1 FREE.

You can purchase your Shopportunity tickets by phone at 942-6300, extension 271, in person at 3033 West 2nd St. North in Wichita, or online at ilrcks.org

For more information, visit the Shopportunity Facebook page!

Participating merchants include:
Intrust Bank, Massage Envy, Maurices, On The Border, Panera, Pei Wei, Personally Yours, Picture Perfect, Portrait Innovations, Powell Jewelry, Shoe Carnival, Specs, Sports Authority, Sports Time Fan Shop, Starbucks, TFI Friday’s, Under the Cork, Walgreens, Wind Heaven, Yankee Candle, Alter Ego Fashions, Amy’s Hallmark, Applebee’s, Avivo, Bath & Body Works, Beau Monde Spa, Beautyfirst, Best Buy, Borders, Chipotle, Claire’s, Doc Green’s, DressBarn, Dustee’s, Eddie Bauer Outlet, Eric Fisher, Great Clips

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Free Admission to National Parks Aug. 14-15, 2010

08/06/2010 By Leave a Comment

August 14th and 15th is another of the National Parks fee-free weekends.

Many of the national parks in Kansas, like the Tallgrass Prairie Nature Preserve, are always free. After searching the National Park Service website, I found only one–Fort Scott — that normally charges a small $3 entrance fee for people age 16 and older. (There may be others that I just didn’t find.)

And speaking of the Tallgrass Prairie Nature Preserve, I was surprised to learn that FREE 90-minute guided bus tours are available every day at 11 a.m. through the last Sunday in October. Another surprise: “Ranching Weekends,” held on the 1st and 3rd weekend of the month until October 17, let you experience what life was like on a working ranch. This is also free and features living history interpreters as well as participation in activities that would have been all in a day’s work on the ranch.

Go to the National Parks Service website to find a park in Kansas, or take advantage of the free weekend at other national parks around the country.

Thanks to Teresa Mears at MSN’s Smart Spending blog for sharing the tip about the national parks fee-free weekends.

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First Friday Music Crawl

06/04/2010 By Leave a Comment

Wow! It’s First Friday again? Where did the month go?

Nevertheless, you won’t want to miss the First Friday Music Crawl tonight in Old Town. “Crawl” through various establishments in Old Town to experience a sampling of bands.

For a complete list of the bands and performance locations, visit the FirstFriday.com website.

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Wichita Wingnuts Free Magnet Schedule to 1st 5000 Fans

05/18/2010 By Leave a Comment

Pitch #1: Tuesday night, May 18, 2010 the first home game for the Wichita Wingnuts begins at 7:05 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Come early to cheer them on as they use their home-field advantage against Sioux Falls. The first 5000 fans will receive a free Wingnuts magnet schedule. And of course, after the game there will be the traditional opening night fireworks.

Pitch #2 Wednesday night is a guaranteed rain-out night. I had to ask for this to be explained to me twice, but I think I get the gist:
Buy a ticket to see the Wingnuts play Wednesday night against Sioux Falls, and whether they play or not, you’ll get a ticket for Thursday night’s game. If Wednesday night’s game is called because of rain, Thursday night will be a double-header. If it doesn’t rain and they play Wednesday, you’ll have two nights of baseball-watching fun for the price of one.

Got that? I hope so, because I don’t think I can explain it twice. :) That deal’s almost as complicated as football.

Pitch #3 Wednesdays are also Wienie Wednesdays, so if you’re a wienie, you get all-beef hot dogs for only $2. Or something like that.

Pitch #4 Friday night, the Wingnuts play again against St. Paul. The first 5000 fans get a commemorative 2010 Wingnuts schedule poster. Yeah, Wingnuts–let’s show St. Paul what we’ve got to commemorate. (I have no idea what I’m talking about…I always skip the sportscast. But I’m under the impression that we need to show St. Paul a thing or two. Is that right?)

Let’s just hope I can keep everything straight all the way through baseball season. At least there aren’t any “downs” to keep track of in baseball.

Meanwhile…

GO NUTS!

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Opera on the Lake

05/13/2010 By 2 Comments

I LOVE Bradley Fair’s summer jazz concert series. Spread out a blanket and let the kids watch the ducks while the grown-ups chat and live jazz music floats across the lake to become the perfect background music. (Some of my friends actually like to listen to the jazz; I like to take pictures and chat and enjoy some relaxing time outdoors with music in the background.)Opera on the Lake at Bradley Fair

If you’re like me, you’re already looking forward to the summer concerts, which don’t start until June. But you don’t have to wait: On May 22nd, 2010, Bradley Fair shopping center is hosting Opera on the Lake, a Wichita Grand Opera gala performance. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., WGO will perform highlights from famous operas.

General admission for the public is free. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets.

Reserved seating for Dinner on the Plaza Patio is only $150 or $750 for a table of six. :)

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(Not Exactly) Fencing Lessons

05/11/2010 By Leave a Comment


Learn how to get the deck of your dreams from this free seminar. At Star Lumber’s “Pizza with the Pros” the expert advice is free and so is the pizza.

Need a fence? Join the pros at Star Lumber for a free seminar (and free pizza!) about building fences. You’ll learn what you need to know about installing a fence or hiring someone to do it–whether you want the privacy of cedar or the ornamentation of wrought iron. If you need a referral, Star Lumber can help match you up with a qualified professional.

Those who register by the Friday before each event will be entered into a drawing to win a free $100 Visa Gift Card. (So if you’re a west-sider, that date has already passed. But there’s still time to register for the drawing at the east location fence seminar on May 20.)

Event dates & locations:
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at Star Lumber West (Maple and West Street)
Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Star Lumber on Greenwich (Greenwich at K-96)
Both events begin at 6 p.m.

Space is limited. Register by calling 946-1571, or at the link given above.

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Moms Are Free at Sedgwick County Zoo

05/07/2010 By 1 Comment

And they also get free admission on Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010, when they’re accompanied by a paying child! :D

For more information, visit the Sedgwick County Zoo calendar.

Sedgwick County Zoo
5555 Zoo Blvd.
316-266-8386

Mother’s Day hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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