Free & Cheap Fashion, Craft, & Dance Events

Free or $1 events this weekend to dance, create, or have fun with fashion. Take your pick of bargain events from the Women & Creativity 2010 celebration organized by the National Hispanic Cultural Center, or try your hand at beading and painting at Michaels stores.

JOIN WOMEN & CREATIVITY 2010 on SATURDAY MARCH 13 FOR:

Baile $1 Dance Workshop – Creative Dance
When: Saturday, March 13, from 2 – 4 pm
Where: PNM Rehearsal Hall, NHCC

Fashion for Fieldtrips - Fashion Sale - $1 entry 
Find new, gently-used, and vintage threads at the fashion mercado sponsored by Diva D’Luxe, as a benefit for NHCC.
When: Saturday March 13, from 9 am – 3 pm.
Where: Domenici Education Center, NHCC
        Note – the master program says it runs till 3 pm, NHCC events page says 4 pm. This could be one     
        time when it’s NOT fashionable to be late…

La Parada Mercantile Free Artist Reception & T-Shirt Workshop
Meet mosaic tile artist Susanne Baca, and join a T-shirt transformation workshop with Antonia Montoya to spangle up either a t-shirt you bring, or one you buy on the day. Free refreshments, and store discounts.
When: Saturday March 13, from 1 – 3pm
Where: La Parada Mercantile, 8917 4th Street NW

Here’s the complete list of events for Women & Creativity 2010.

TWO CRAFTY EVENTS AT MICHAELS THS WEEKEND AT BOTH ALBUQUERQUE LOCATIONS

Free Fun With Beads Event
Saturday March 13 from 1 – 5 pm
Ideas for beading and techniques to show you how to do it , working on different make-it and take-it projects each hour over the afternoon, from jewelry to cards – while supplies last.
 
Lady Bug Clay Pot Make-It and Take-It
Sunday March 14 from 1 – 3pm
Wth the $1 purchase of a 3-inch clay pot and saucer, Michaels provides the brushes and DecoArt paint to create a lady bug pot.

Get the detailed schedule and info for:

Free Events at Michaels, Montgomery Plaza Shopping Center, 4410 Wyoming NE

Free Events at Michaels, Cottonwood Corners, 3731 Ellison Drive NW

– Tania

Free Performance & Events: Women & Creativity 2010

There’s a bunch of great free and cheap stuff going on throughout March as part of the Women & Creativity 2010 event organized by the National Hispanic Cultural Center. We’ll keep you posted on highlights, but check out the complete list of events so you know the options! Upcoming events include:

Free performance  of Ellen McLaughlin’s “Penelope”
When: Saturday, March 6, from 6–8 pm
Where: Salón Ortega, NHCC

Baile $1 Dance Workshop – Ladies Salsa Styling
When: Saturday, March 6: 2–4 pm
Where: PNM Rehearsal Hall, NHCC

Free Personal Safety & Self-Defense Presentation
When: Monday, March 8 at noon
Where: UNM Student Union Building, Lobo A, UNM Main Campus
Organized by UNM Women’s Resource Center.

Free Panel Discussion on Women & Craft
With Julia Barello, Beth Rekow and Joan Weissman,moderated by Megan Kamerick
When: Saturday, March 6 at 2 pm.
Where: 516 Arts
      
            Followed by:

Free Creative Women Networking Reception
Presented by 516 Arts and AlbuquerqueArts
When: Saturday, March 6 at 3:30 pm
Where: 516 Arts

–Tania

Free Fire Extinguisher Annual Maintenance

A free annual fire extinguisher inspection EXCLUSIVE to ABQ on the Cheap readers through March 31, 2010.

This is a good time of year to check that all your fixtures and fittings are working properly. That’s really between you and your doctor. But when it comes to home safety, the nice people at Safety Flare Inc are offering ABQ on the Cheap readers free annual maintenance until March 31 on any brand of fire extinguisher. No hidden fees – if the fire extinguisher is serviceable and needs an annual inspection, bring it in.

You must mention ABQ on the Cheap to get your free inspection. Limit to one per person/business.

Contact Kat at Safety Flare Inc for info.

–Tania

Free Firecracker Chicken at Panda Express

Continue to celebrate Chinese New Year in firecracking style through February 25 with a coupon for a free serving of Firecracker Chicken at Panda Express.

Buy a two or three entree plate and get a free entree serving of Firecracker Chicken at participating locations with this Panda Express Coupon. One coupon per person per purchase, and it expires February 25, 2010. 

If you’re feeling spicy, find Panda Express locations .

Remember: not all locations may be participating in this offer. Call ahead if you want to be sure!

–Tania

Jubilation Wine, Beer, and Spirit Tastings

Fancy a taste of Pama Pomegranate Liqueur? Or Sangre de Frambuesa (Raspberry Belgian) beer from Santa Fe Brewing Co? Free beer, wine, and spirit tastings at Jubilation Wine & Spirits this Friday 5 and Saturday 6 February let you try before you buy.

A good a place as any to start your Valentine’s Day celebrations (or commiserations if this year isn’t so sweet to you in the love stakes), Jubilation hosts two days of free tasting events:

Friday Feb 5 from 4 to 6 pm:
Santa Fe Brewery Beer Tasting and Valentine’s Day Spirit Tasting
Beer tasting of Santa Fe Brewing Co. 20th anniversary hand-numbered 750ml bomber series (price now dropped to $6.99), with a bod from the brewery to talk about all the stuff that ale-fans talk about. PLUS tasting of Pama Pomegranate Liqueur and Hypnotiq Vodka and Cognac Liqueur, and find out about cocktail recipes for Valentine’s Day.

Saturday Feb 6th from 2 to 4 pm:
Valentine’s Day Spirit and Wine Tasting
Jubilation’s first wine tasting of the year, PLUS sample Pama Pomegranate Liqueur and Hypnotiq Vodka and Cognac Liqueur, and hear about cocktail recipes for Valentine’s Day.

Jubilation Wine & Spirits is located at 3512 Lomas Boulevard NE, at the junction of Lomas,  Carlisle, and Monte Vista.

–Tania

Free Yoga Classes & Events for January 23 Yoga Day USA

Assume your positions for Downward Facing Dog, with a day of free yoga events on January 23, thanks to Yoga Day USA. It’s perfectly timed to destress after hectic hols, or start getting into shape after festive feasts – and all at the bliss-out price of zero bucks.

Free Albuquerque area yoga classes and related events will be held at the following venues on Saturday January 23 – check out individual links for schedule info and other details:

Southwest Sports Institute has a full day packed with events, including free yoga workshops, talks, and chanting. Bring your own yoga mat. (5910 Midway Park Blvd. NE, 87109)

Ripple Effect offers a free Intro to Yoga Workshop: for Beginners & Beginners Mind between 1:00 and 3:00 pm. (1024 Eubank NE, 87123)  This workshop is now full – see comment below.

A Time To Relax Yoga Studio hosts a free Yoga for Women’s Reproductive Health class from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. (11603 Menaul Blvd. NE)

YogaCrossroads in Placitas has a day of free hatha yoga classes for all levels, although for this one you’re asked to bring a donation of five non-perishable food items for Casa Rosa Food Bank. They tell you the kind of stuff they need at the link – all pretty basic and easy. Feed the hungry at the same time you feed your soul – excellent idea, huh? (1 Anatoly Court, Placitas, 87043)

Yoga Day USA comes courtesty of the non-profit Yoga Alliance.

OK Yogis, let’s stretch our bodies, not our budgets…

–Tania

Taco Time! Free Taco Bell

Thanks to reader Kenny for giving us the heads-up on this one!

Popping this offer up pronto as Taco Bell only has one million free tacos to give away – which sounds like a lot, but if we apply ourselves diligently we can probably mop up a good percentage of those in Burque alone.

Here’s the Taco Bell coupon for a free Fresco Taco, good for one free taco per person from participating locations. It’s valid for seven days from download, or until the million free tacos are snapped up.  Once the million coupons are redeemed, a note to that effect will be at the Taco Bell coupon page. So don’t hang around to print and eat. Well, don’t eat the coupon, although that’s one way to keep your fiber intake up. You know what we mean – go claim your taco! At time of posting, the deal is still sitting there, glistening away in a very tempting manner.

Remember: not all locations may be participating in this offer. Be sure to call ahead before attempting to redeem your coupon! Once you’ve noshed your taco, feel free to comment here on which location you used, so others know which ones are definitely good to head for.

 – Tania

Free Community Messiah Sing-In Concert

Here’s a very cool event. Even if you don’t sing, it might be fun to go and enjoy the free concert!

The Albuquerque community is invited to sing in the chorus during a performance of several selections from Handel’s Messiah. The concert will be held on Sunday, December 13 (2009), at 7:00pm and is expected to last about 90 minutes. In addition to community participants in the chorus, the concert will feature 8 soloists, 3 conductors, 4 accompanist, 1 trumpeter, 1 harpist and 5 organists from throughout Albuquerque.

If you plan to sing, you’ll need to bring your own score for the Messiah. There won’t be any formal rehearsals for the chorus.

This free holiday concert will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints chapel, 4500 Seven Bar Loop NW, Albuquerque.

–Elizabeth Hanes

Friday Food Freebies & Deals for 11/27/09

We’re thankful that Thanksgiving is over and we can now return to our office diet of Chee-tohs and Milk Duds.

• Say the Secret Word: Go into P.F. Chang’s on Friday, November 27, or Saturday, November 28, between 10:00am and noon and say “Lettuce Wrap Your Gifts” to receive a FREE Lettuce Wrap starter with the purchase of any entrée! Seriously.
• FREE Dining Certificates: Restaurant.com brings back “Feed It Forward” for the 2009 holidays. Give a FREE $10 restaurant certificate to anyone of your choosing. It’s free to give and free to receive. Feel free to have a Feed It Forward lovefest with us.
• Half Off Dinner: Boston Market is offering busy shoppers an alternative to cooking this weekend. Use this coupon for 50% off your purchase of any Family Meal or Market Feast! Friday through Monday only (November 27-29).
• Free Strange Breakfast Item: Use this coupon to score FREE Peppermint Pancake Puppies through December 11, 2009, from Denny’s. We’re sure they’re great. But strange. Very, very strange.
• Venezuelan Dining: We’ve heard great things about Café Choroní, which specializes in arepas. What’s an arepa? Use this Valpak coupon for buy one get one half price and find out for yourself! This new café is open for lunch and dinner. Located near San Mateo and Candelaria.
• Mediterranean Savings: Charcoal Mediterranean Grill offers several Valpak coupons, good for BOGO wraps, $5 off $25 purchase, or half off beer or wine. Shish kabob, shawerma, falafel. Yum! Valid through 12/10/09.

BONUS! Gift Card Roundup

If you’re planning to give restaurant gift cards this holiday season, you might as well take advantage of some of the great deals currently circulating:

• Landry’s Seafood House: Get a free $10 Reward Card for every $50 in Gift Cards you buy.
• Outback Steakhouse: Get a free $20 Bonus Card for every $100 in Gift Cards you buy.
• Denny’s: Get a free $5 card for each $25 gift card you purchase.

If you know of any other gift card deals, please list them in the comments thread!

–Elizabeth Hanes

Free $10 Gift Card with Coinstar Transaction

Many thanks to our buddy Dan, at DaddyODeals.com, for sending us this complex, yet highly rewarding, offer!

Between now and December 6 (2009), when you take $40 in coins to a Coinstar machine and convert them to a certificate, you can get an additional $10 gift card FREE!

Here’s how it works:

• Take $40 in coins to a “participating” Coinstar machine by 12/6/09
• Dump the coinage into the machine
• Convert the transaction into a gift card or eCertificate (which costs you nothing)
• Complete the claim form at the end of your Coinstar receipt
• Submit the claim form per the instructions
• Make sure it’s postmarked by 1/6/10
  
• Receive your FREE $10 gift card in 6-8 weeks!

Coinstar partners with major retailers, so you can convert your cash into eCertificates or gift cards to places like Amazon, Lowe’s, iTunes, and many others.

You may be aware that Coinstar charges a fee if you convert your coins to cash. However, it costs you nothing to convert your coins to an eCertificate or gift card. As Dan says, if you want to convert your coins to paper money, simply visit your bank; they’ll do it for free. Other advice from Dan:

• The offer is only valid for single transactions of $40, so if you don’t have (or don’t know if you have) $40 in change, get $40 in quarters from your bank or a retailer and then convert that to a gift card in order to get the free $10 card.
• Make sure the machine you’re using is participating in the program. However, we can’t tell from reading the rules and combing the website how to tell if any particular machine is “participating.” Maybe it’s posted on the machine itself? We encourage you to use the comments thread to report machines that ARE participating.

PLEASE be sure to read all the fine print in the Official Rules. We cannot stress this enough! Basic restrictions apply: limit one offer per person, address, or household; void where prohibited; etc.

There are approximately a bazillion Coinstar locations in the greater Albuquerque area. Good luck!

–Elizabeth Hanes

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