Free Admission: Thunderbirds Exhibition Game
November 23, 2009 by Elizabeth
Filed under Charity Events, Events, Freebies, Sports
Here at Cheap Central, we love our local sports teams. And we’re psyched to tell you about this great holiday event!
On Wednesday, November 25 (2009) — that’s the day before Thanksgiving — you can enjoy a great NBA D-league matchup between our hometown T-Birds and the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00pm. Get FREE admission simply by donating a non-perishable food item! Or, pay $4 general admission at the gate.
All food items and half the gate proceeds will be donated to the Roadrunner Food Bank. How awesome is that?!
The L.A. D-Fenders are the Developmental League affiliates of the reigning NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. You truly get to see tomorrow’s NBA stars today at these D-league games. Plus, you can get tickets for as little as $4 a game. How cheap is that?! Season tickets and mini-plans are available, too. The regular season begins Friday, November 27th.
So, get out there and support our pro basketball team! And feel good knowing you’re supporting a great local charity, too.
The Albuquerque Thunderbirds play at Tingley Coliseum, located at EXPO New Mexico. Expect to pay a $4 parking fee.
–Elizabeth Hanes
Placitas Holiday Fine Arts & Crafts Sale
November 18, 2009 by Elizabeth
Filed under Arts, Charity Events, Events, Freebies, Holiday Events
Here’s a shout-out to our BFF, Michelle!
Mark your calendar for Saturday and Sunday, November 21 & 22 (2009), and head up to Placitas between 10:00am and 5:00pm for the 28th annual Placitas Holiday Sale! Free admission at three separate venues allows you to enjoy (and purchase) art made by over 80 artists from New Mexico and beyond.
But that’s not all.
You’ll also enjoy free samples of hot, mulled cranberry wine, cheese, and more. Plus, food will be available at every site, so you can nosh your way through this shopping extravaganza!
Most importantly, you can buy a $1 raffle ticket for a chance to win one of several fine art items donated by participating artists. All proceeds from this raffle benefit the Arts in the School program at Placitas Elementary School. In the past six years, the Placitas Holiday Sale has raised over $6,000 for the program through this raffle!
What a fun way to kick off the holiday shopping season: a beautiful drive to Placitas, hot mulled wine, and leisurely browsing of fine art.
To get to the Village of Placitas, take I-25 north to Exit 242 (Bernalillo/Placitas), and head east.
–Elizabeth Hanes
Free Sing-Along Classes: Cantando la Cultura
If you’re interested in Mexican and New Mexican music, here’s a fun, FREE event for the whole family!
Sundays during November (2009), join noted musicians at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to learn traditional songs of New Mexico and Mexico. Each week, participants will learn the history, melody, and lyrics of two or three of the instructor’s favorite songs. Then, everyone will reconvene on December 6 to sing all of the songs they’ve learned!
Here are the dates, times, and instructors:
- November 1, 3:00pm, with Roberto Mondragon
- November 8, 3:00pm, with Otilio Ruiz
- November 15, 3:00pm, with Leila Flores Dueñas and Carol Vigil
This event will be held each time in the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts Wells Fargo Auditorium.
The National Hispanic Cultural Center is located downtown at 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque.
–Elizabeth Hanes
Free Sing-Along Classes: Cantando la Cultura
If you’re interested in Mexican and New Mexican music, here’s a fun, FREE event for the whole family!
Sundays during November (2009), join noted musicians at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to learn traditional songs of New Mexico and Mexico. Each week, participants will learn the history, melody, and lyrics of two or three of the instructor’s favorite songs. Then, everyone will reconvene on December 6 to sing all of the songs they’ve learned!
Here are the dates, times, and instructors:
- November 1, 3:00pm, with Roberto Mondragon
- November 8, 3:00pm, with Otilio Ruiz
- November 15, 3:00pm, with Leila Flores Dueñas and Carol Vigil
This event will be held each time in the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts Wells Fargo Auditorium.
The National Hispanic Cultural Center is located downtown at 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque.
–Elizabeth Hanes
Free: Day of the Dead Art Reception & Green Chile Stew Cook-Off
This event seems to have it all — and it’s all FREE to the public! All ages welcome!
The Talking Fountain Gallery/Boutique is holding an art reception to celebrate the Day of the Dead with a show titled “Somos Los Dos” on Friday, November 6 (2009), from 5:00 – 10:00pm. Enjoy the art and also enjoy some fabulous green chile stew during the cook-off. Come on…what could be better on a fall Friday in the Q?
The Talking Fountain features all locally made art and goods, including custom clothing, jewelry, bags, accessories, posters, music, fine art, and much more! So get out and celebrate (and support) your local artists.
The Talking Fountain is open seven days a week from 10:00am – 6:00pm and is located in Nob Hill at 4207 Lead Ave SE, Albuquerque.
–Elizabeth Hanes
Free Sing-Along Classes: Cantando la Cultura
If you’re interested in Mexican and New Mexican music, here’s a fun, FREE event for the whole family!
Sundays during November (2009), join noted musicians at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to learn traditional songs of New Mexico and Mexico. Each week, participants will learn the history, melody, and lyrics of two or three of the instructor’s favorite songs. Then, everyone will reconvene on December 6 to sing all of the songs they’ve learned!
Here are the dates, times, and instructors:
- November 1, 3:00pm, with Roberto Mondragon
- November 8, 3:00pm, with Otilio Ruiz
- November 15, 3:00pm, with Leila Flores Dueñas and Carol Vigil
This event will be held each time in the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts Wells Fargo Auditorium.
The National Hispanic Cultural Center is located downtown at 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque.
–Elizabeth Hanes
Coupon: FREE Admission to Ski & Board Swap
October 28, 2009 by Elizabeth
Filed under Charity Events, Events, Freebies, Shopping
We know you’ve been waiting for this one!
Print this coupon for FREE admission to the 2009 Sandia Peak Ski Patrol Ski Swap and NMX Snow Show, Saturday, October 31 from 9:00am – 4:00pm, and Sunday, November 1 from 11:00am – 4:00pm at EXPO New Mexico! Regular admission is only a buck, anyway, so it’s still cheap to get in.
This 42nd annual event benefits the Sandia Peak Ski Patrol and boasts over 15,000 winter sports items for sale, including:
- Skis
- Snowboards
- Clothing
- Helmets
- Goggles
- Snowshoes
- …and much, much more!
Plus, there will be various contests and giveaways in which you can win free lift tickets and other great stuff. We recommend you follow NM Ski Swap on Twitter or Facebook for up-to-the-minute details on all the great stuff you could win.
If you want first dibs on all the best equipment (not to mention a beer and wine reception), print this VIP Invite and bring it, along with a $20 donation to NMX Sports Youth Organization, to the “First Tracks” VIP Gala on Friday night, October 30, from 7:30 – 9:00pm. Besides benefiting a great cause, you’ll be among the first to hear about area pass promos!
All events are held at the Manuel Lujan Complex at EXPO New Mexico. Enter the fairgrounds from San Pedro near Copper, and prepare to pay $4 for parking.
–Elizabeth Hanes
Free Admission: The ABQ Home & Lifestyle Expo
Via New Mexico MarketPlace comes this tidbit: there’s a positive bonanza of options for getting FREE or discounted admission to the Albuquerque Home & Lifestyle Expo! The event will be held Saturday, October 24 (2009), from 10:00am – 6:00pm, and Sunday, October 25, from 10:00am – 5:00pm, at EXPO New Mexico.
For FREE admission, either show up at the event between 10:00 – 11:00am either day OR pick up free tickets from any of the 37 Wendy’s locations in New Mexico (limited quantities; while supplies last).
For discounted admission, purchase your tickets online in advance to save a buck off all admission tiers.
Regular admission prices are $8 adults, $7 seniors, and $7 kids age 8 and older. Kids under age 8 are admitted free.
We love these events because we get to see everything that’s new in home improvement, design, gadgets, products, and more. Last time we attended such an event, there was even a group promoting urban chickens. How cool is that?!
The ABQ Home & Lifestyle Expo is held at EXPO New Mexico. Enter via the gate on San Pedro between Lomas and Central. Be prepared to pay a $4 parking fee.
–Elizabeth Hanes
Fundraiser: Heartsville Country Fair
September 28, 2009 by Elizabeth
Filed under Charity Events, Events
Here’s an event that puts the “fun” into fundraiser!
On Friday, October 2 (2009) from 10:00am – 9:00pm or Saturday, October 3, from 9:00am – 4:00pm, step back in time and enjoy the costumes, music, food, and entertainment you’ll find at an old-fashioned prairie town called “Heartsville.” Free admission gets you into the “town.” Once there, the first place you want to go is the Bank, where you can purchase $10 coupon books containing ten $1 coupons you can spend at any of Heartsville’s stores. The stores contain food and various types of goods handmade by members of the Young at Heart Choir. Every “dollar” you spend with them goes into their travel fund, enabling them to take their music on the road across America.
There will be plenty of free entertainment for the kids at Lulu’s Theater, including Buckey the Bear and Pedals the Clown. Plus, for every coupon book you buy, you can enter into a raffle for $500 worth of gasoline coupons! And there will be door prizes, too.
For an additional $10, you can purchase tickets (at the Bank) to hear the Bar-D Wranglers perform in concert on Friday at 7:00pm.
The Young at Heart Choir is a non-denominational gospel and Christian music group comprised of over 120 choir members and technical musicians. They travel the U.S. to give concerts throughout the year at retirement homes, hospitals, jails, and churches — all at their own expense.
We applaud the creativity of this fundraiser! It’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill silent auction or bake sale. Plus, you can probably get started on your holiday shopping by picking up some handmade craft items.
The 2009 Heartsville Country Fair will be held at Heights First Church of the Nazarene, 8401 Paseo del Norte, Albuquerque.
For more info about the event or to book the YAH Choir, contact Connie.
–Elizabeth Hanes
10,000 Free State Fair Admissions
September 11, 2009 by Elizabeth
Filed under Attractions, Events, Freebies, Parades
We received a press release yesterday that states 10,000 free admissions to the New Mexico State Fair will be distributed along the parade route tomorrow, September 12, 2009. The release doesn’t specify any other details, such as how the free admission coupons will be distributed, who’s doing it, etc.
So, if you plan to attend tomorrow’s State Fair Parade, be on the lookout for those free admissions! The parade starts at 8:45am at the corner of Louisiana and Central and move east along Central Ave for about 2.5 miles to Eubank Blvd. Stake out the best viewing points early!
–Elizabeth Hanes
