Weekend Picks

I'm not doing the weekend picks this week for a simple reason: ADAMS AVENUE STREET FAIR. It's going on both days and you get to hear tons of cool music for free. You can probably get some samples in the food area, and if you choose wisely, get a few bargain bites ($2 for 10 mini donuts? I'm so there). So please see the detailed link below to read up on the Fair and get out and go! Should be a beautiful weekend. 'Nuff said.

Check it out! Free museum day on Saturday. You just have to print out the Museum Card linked below. Enjoy!

Free Museum Admission : Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day

Enjoy free general admission to select Museums in San Diego and around the nation on Saturday, September 27, 2008, courtesy of Smithsonian Magazine.

You and a guest can enjoy free general admission to participating museums and cultural venues in San Diego and nationwide with the Museum Day Admission Card.

The following San Diego and area Museums and Cultural Venues are participating in the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day 2008 free admission event:

• Museum of San Diego History - Balboa Park, 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
• Mingei International Museum San Diego - Balboa Park, 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - 1100 & 1001 Kettner Boulevard
• San Diego Air & Space Museum - Balboa Park, 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101iego, CA 92101

• California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum - 340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido, CA 92025
• Mingei International Museum Escondido - 155 West Grand Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025
• Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla - 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
• Museum of Making Music - 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
• Quail Botanical Gardens - 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
• San Diego Archaeological Center - 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027
• San Dieguito Heritage Museum - 450 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92023
• The Adobe Chapel Museum - 3963 Conde Street, San Diego, CA 92110
• The Whaley House Museum - Old Town, 2482 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, CA 92110
• William Heath Davis House - 410 Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

Click here to download the Museum Day Admission card for free. The Museum Day Admission Card is also available in the September 2008 issue of Smithsonian Magazine.

Free general admission does not include admission to special exhibits, IMAX screenings or for use with other offers. Limit one Admission Card per household; each card is valid for up to 2 guests. Check the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day 2008 website for more information and details.

27th Annual Adams Avenue Street Fair

The Adams Avenue Street Fair is the biggest Free Two Day Street Fair in Southern California...talk about a niche market! Regardless of that bit of marketing ingenuity, AASF is totally awesome.

This year it will be held on Saturday, September 27th & Sunday, September 28th. Over 70 live performances will be spread between six stages from 32nd and 35th Streets in Normal Heights, over the course of the two day event.

Three beer gardens will appease the adults, while a multi ride carnival will keep the kids occupied. 300 food and merchandise vendors will line the streets to help you part ways with your pocket book!

For photographers, this event is a giant photo op. Proximity to the performers is as close as can be, and the folks in (ab)Normal Heights really make this a festival that highlights the local color.

We will definitely be taking and posting a ton of our photos online on our Flickr page.

Things We Did On The Cheap - Week ending 9/21/08

What we week we had!

Sunday 9/14
We rode the FREE Tram at Balboa Park with Felix for the first time. He absolutely loved it.
Took photos at Balboa Park.
Used a B1G1 coupon at Yog-art...saved $5.00

Monday 9/15
Used our CVS ECB card and a coupon to save $4.50 on diapers -- ended up paying $11 for 60 pack of diapers and a gallon of milk!

Tuesday 9/16
Went for a bike ride with family...FREE.
Used B1G1 coupon at Souplantation...saved about $8.00...Join Club-Veg for periodic great deals!

Wednesday 9/17
Attended Yelp's Beer Fest Pre-Party & San Diego Film Festival VIP Party for FREE.
Hangover the next day...priceless.

Thursday 9/18
Went to see The Dutchess (with Keira Knightly) and had desserts and tea from Heaven Sent Desserts for FREE.

Friday 9/19
Went to Bonita Sunnyside Library to pick up CDs and DVDs for the weekend viewing party, FREE.
Worked all day at Sunnyside with their FREE wi-fi.

Saturday 9/20
Went to Hidden Canyon Park in Carlsbad with Felix and his friend Zoe, FREE.
Went to San Diego Central Library and borrowed books and media for the week, FREE.



Sunday 9/21
Used our KPBS card and had a B1G1 breakfast at Hob Nob Hill.
Went and saw the Cat-ilacs (super lame!) play to a geriatic crowd at Seaport Village...at least it was FREE.
Went to Quizno's (5 meat sub, $5) and bought a Gargonzola and Pecan Salad, three bottles of water and a fruit juice box (about $4.50), for an impromptu picnic by the bay.

These are just a few of the creative ways that you can stretch your dollar in this economy in San Diego. When you become congnizant of how much you actually spend on junk and convenience, you realize that with some planning and foresight, you can really save -- while having fun!

Weekend Picks - Sunday 9/20

Okay here's what we've got for Sunday. No Chargers game until Monday so for us, that means a whole Sunday to ourselves without having to get somewhere in the middle of the day to watch football. Kind of a nice break.

There's going to be a free concert at Seaport Village on Sunday, and it looks like the weather is going to be great so you just might see me there. Enjoy live music in Seaport's East Gazebo. Performing this weekend is The Cat.illacs 619.235.4014 http://www.seaportvillage.com/ Time: 1pm-4pm Cost: Free

YUM YUM YUM! This one is a double edged sword. It's "free", but let's face it, we're going to want to buy some of these beef skewers. So beware! The House of China is having a Lawn Program, which is an annual celebration of Chinese culture including traditional lion dances, martial arts displays, barbeque beef skewers, rice, egg rolls, noodles, moon cakes, and bubble tea. 619.234.0739 http://www.sdhpr.org/ Time: Cottages open 12n-4pm; Lawn program 2pm Cost: Free

There's another event for the World Beat Center - Family African Drumming and Percussion Saidos Sylla teaches African drumming and percussion techniques to families.619.230.1190 http://www.worldbeatcenter.org/ Time: 1pm-2pm Cost: Free. This one is not for little ones, they ask that children be at least 5 years old.

Believe it or not, that's all I've got. BUT of course there are always the multitude of farmers markets you can go to for free samples (read Edwin's post about them), all of our gorgeous beaches that are free to walk along, or visit a lovely park like Kate Sessions to enjoy some typical San Diego weather.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great penny-wise weekend!

The Fru-GAL (Sara)

Weekend Picks - Saturday Sept 20

Hello all,

HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT

This is the inaugural post of the Weekend Picks features. I've got to say, summer is over, autumn is here and the picks are a bit slim. BUT I can still find fun, free, or afforable stuff for us to do all weekend! As I said before, my choices for the weekend involve ways to entertain my toddler, but I will let you know if the activities are totally kid focused. The events on this Saturday edition are open to all ages. Big thanks to gocitykids.parentsconnect.com for posting all these cool events this weekend.

Saturday 9/20
Pick of the Week: Central San Diego: This is a pretty cool evening event. Open to all ages. Twilight Walk Families can explore the park at twilight and search for creatures that squeak, hoot, and howl in the night. Meet at Kumeyaay Lake Campground Entry Station. Advance registration is required. 619.668.2748 http://www.mtrp.org 9/20/08 Time: 6pm-7:30pm Cost: Free

Another cool evening event, almost made my pick of the week! Enjoy the Old Town Art and Culture Night. I love it when places open up at night for special events. Celebrate the art and culture of Old Town with 14 galleries as they open their doors for free, with drawings and refreshments, the third Saturday of each month.619.692.4260 Time: 6pm-9pm Cost: Free

North County - Free Yoga class this weekend: Family YogaFamilies with children of all ages are invited for a free yoga class at the library. Bring a yoga mat or towel for each family member.858.538.8159 http://www.sandiegolibrary.org9/20/08Ages: All Ages Time: 10:30am Cost: Free

Balboa Park: This is a pretty cool free lesson being offered this weekend at the World Beat Center. Professor Dennis Newsome teaches capoeira, an art form that combines martial arts with acrobatics, music, and dance. The sessions are open to all ages. To register, call 619.518.7782.619.230.1190 http://www.worldbeatcenter.org/ Ages: 5-18Time: 11:15am-1:15pm Cost: Free

Farmers Markets in San Diego County and Beyond

Nearly every day of the week (except Mondays), there are a few certified farmers markets throughout the county. At these markets you will find some of the best values in fresh produce.

Here is a list of all of the certified farmers markets (as of 9/17/08)

TUESDAY

Chula Vista - Otay Ranch Town Center: 4-8 p.m., Along Main Street near Barnes & Noble. Coronado: 2:30-6 p.m., corner of First and B streets (Old Ferry Landing). Escondido: 2:30-6 p.m.(4 to 7 p.m. in Summer), Grand Ave between Broadway & Kalmia. UCSD/La Jolla: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.(September thru June), UCSD Certified Farmers Market at the Price Center near the bookstore near Lyman Lane and Library Walk.

WEDNESDAY

Carlsbad: 2-5 p.m., Roosevelt Street between Grand Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive. Ocean Beach: 4-7 p.m. (4 to 8 p.m. in Summer) 4900 block of Newport Avenue.

THURSDAY

Oceanside: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Pier View Way at Coast Highway. Oceanside: 4 to 8 p.m.Tremont and Pier View Way. Chula Vista: 3-7 p.m. (closes an hour earlier in winter) Third Avenue at Center Street. North Park: 3 p.m. - sunset, CVS Pharmacy parking lot at University and 32nd St. Horton Square/Downtown: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., from March to mid-October, 225 Broadway. Tierrasanta: 3 to 7 p.m. De Portola Middle School at 11010 Clairemont Mesa Blvd and Santo Rd.

FRIDAY

La Mesa Village: 3-6 p.m., Allison Street, east of Spring Street (at La Mesa Village).
Rancho Bernardo: 9 a.m.-noon, Bernardo Winery parking lot at 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte.
Borrego Springs: 7 a.m. to noon (Nov thru May) Christmas Circle Community Park at Christmas Circle and Palm Canyon Dr.

SATURDAY

Pacific Beach: 8 a.m.-noon, Mission Boulevard between Reed Avenue and Pacific Beach Boulevard (at Promenade Mall). Vista: 7:45-11 a.m., corner of Eucalyptus and Escondido avenues (City Hall parking lot). Poway: 8 - 11:30 a.m., corner of Midland Road and Temple Street (in Old Poway Park).
Del Mar: 1-4 p.m., corner of El Camino Del Mar and 10th Street (City Hall parking lot). Scripps Ranch: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ellen Browning Elementary School at 10380 Spring Canyon Carlsbad: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Roosevelt St between Grand Ave and Carlsbad Village Dr.

SUNDAY

Hillcrest: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., corner of Normal and Cleveland streets (DMV parking lot). Solana Beach: 2-5 p.m., 410 to 444 South Cedros Ave at Rosa St. La Jolla: 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Girard Avenue at Genter Street (La Jolla Elementary School). Downtown Third Avenue Market and Asian Bazaar: 9 to 1 400 block of Third Avenue between Island Ave and J Street. Leucadia/Encinitas: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Paul Ecke Elementary at Union St and Vulcan St.

We highly encourage patronizing these farmers market. Doing so spurs the local economy and keeps that money in San Diego. Besides the benefits of having great fresh produce that is locally grown, you also get great deals!