Free Albuquerque Yoga Classes

National Yoga Month heads to the mat in September 2010 with free Albuquerque yoga classes August 30 – September 4, and new students get a week of free yoga in September or October with the Yoga Month Card.

National Yoga Month aims to educate us to the benefits of yoga and inspire everyone to live healthier, happier lives. Can’t argue with that, can you? Especially when it’s all FREE!  I’m feeling happier already.

Here’s what we’ve got so far on National Yoga Month in Albuquerque, although other yoga studios may join in and play. We’ll update if we hear more.

Free Yoga Classes at Alignment Yoga NM

• Every class is free next week, August 30 – September 4, 2010.
• That includes beginning/intermediate classes, pre-natal, back care, and meditation
• Teacher Christine Stump leads these alignment and breath-based Hatha yoga classes (she’s also studied Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Anusara yoga)
• Alignment Yoga NM classes take place at Holistic Wellness Co-op, 1024 Eubank NE.

You’re saving $16 bucks a class, as that’s how much their classes usually cost at the drop-in rate. Although (another deal alert!) if you’re a new student, your first session is $16 and the second class is FREE! Monthly rate for unlimited classes is $80.

Free Week of Yoga Classes for New Students with the Yoga Month Card

The card for a free week of yoga is for NEW students only, to give you a chance to try out yoga at participating studios. Our understanding is that ‘new student’ means new to a particular studio – you don’t have to be a beginner. That’s the case with Alignment Yoga NM, but check in advance with other locations.

• Use the card for a week’s worth of free lessons between September 1 - October 31, 2010
• Register for the Free Yoga Month Card, choose a studio, then print out the card
• Check the small print for details. EG: one card per person, and when you print out the Yoga Month Card, it must include the URL at the top of the page to be valid
• Participating Albuquerque yoga studios (more may be added):  Yoga Now (Downtown), Nob Hill Yoga Center on Central, Alignment Yoga NM at Holistic Wellness Co-Op on Eubank NE.

Note that if you take an Alignment Yoga NM free yoga class next week, you can’t use the Yoga Month Card for more freebies later. Because, you know, you won’t be a new student there any more! So take your pick.

The luxury of freebie yoga choices is rather fab. And if you’re going to do a sun salutation, what better place to do it than sunny Albuquerque, New Mexico?

–Tania

Free Car Care Clinic & $50 Off Auto Service

A free car care clinic on August 28, 2010, is pitched to women (free child care too!) but blokes are just as welcome. And everyone saves with the $50 off Auto Service coupon… find the coupon link at the end of this post.

Nervous about jump-starting your flat battery? Car fluids a mystery to you? I consider myself quite car-savvy.
I check my dipstick more often than I check my lipstick, and I’m all over my tire pressures, because I don’t fancy the idea of a flat on my nearly 20-year-old Jeep. (Very big and heavy with humongous tires. Don’t want to change that on my own one dark night.) Still, I’m not 100% sure of what ALL the fluid levels in my motor mean, although I’m pretty sure that having a better grasp on my motor maintenance would save bucks in the long run. (Long drive?)

This free car care clinic by Maintence & More automotive specialists this Saturday August 28, covers how to change a tire, jump start a battery, check oil and fluid levels, and other car maintenance tasks, using 47 checks their own technicians follow.

The car clinic includes free lunch and child care too. They bill this as a Women’s Car Care Clinic but add “Husbands are, of course, welcome. No husband care will be provided though.” Love it!

Reserve the free car care clinic in advance and turn up in your mucky clothes as it’s a hands-on class.

• When: Saturday August 28, 2010
• Time: 11 am - 3 pm
• Where: Maintenance & More, 135 Wyoming Blvd NE
• Price: FREE, including lunch and child care

$50 Off Coupon for First Time Customers

New customers also save $50 on auto service with this Maintenance & More coupon. That includes oil changes, and a free mini detail with each service, and if the service is charged under $50 it’s totally free!
It’s only for first-time customers though. Print out the Maintenance & More $50 Off Coupon to get the discount. (Right click on the coupon and select Print Picture.)

Ready for a road trip, anyone?

–Tania

Free Dog Training & Behavior Seminar Aug 21 & Pet Deals

Boofy’s Best for Pets hosts a free dog training and behavior seminar on Saturday August 21, led by Angela Buckley of Positive Rewards Dog Training. Buckley is a certified dog trainer and certified veterinary assistant, and the seminar includes:

• How to keep your dog active and happy when you’re out
• Fun things to do with your pet
• Plants and foods that are poisonous to pets
• Your pet questions answered

• When: Saturday August 21, 2010
• Time: 11 am – 2 pm
• Where: Boofy’s Best for Pets, 8201 Golf Course RD NW (in Petroglyph Plaza at Golf Course & Paseo Del Norte)
• Price: Free!

If you want to sign up for a basic dog obedience class with Buckley, for pooches 5 months and older with no former training, those classes start September 16 and cost $100 for six weeks. Not a bad price compared to the cost of replacing the couch that Fido devoured. I wonder if she can answer my questions about husband training/behavior/obedience too?

We’ve mentioned these Boofy’s Best for Pets deals before, but as a reminder:

Yappy Hour and Doggie MeetUp
Dogs come out to play and meet their canine chums, play in the dog toy area, and enjoy some Yappetizers – that’s free dog treats! During Yappy Hour all purchases of treats for dogs OR cats get 10% off.

• When: Tuesdays ongoing
• Time:  6 pm – 8 pm
• Where: Boofy’s Best for Pets

Boofy’s Best for Pets coupons These coupons (via Valpak) save you:

• $5 off a $25 purchase
• $2 off a $10 purchase
• Get a free dog treat!

All coupons currently showing to expire September 1, 2010.  (Sometimes Valpak coupons roll expiration date back each day till the promo is finished.)  Coupons can’t be combined with other offers.

Here’s a map to Boofy’s Best for Pets

If you can’t make it out to Boofy’s for these events, but still need advice on any pets, see our earlier post on a local Free Pet Behavior Helpline.

–Tania

Food Freebies & Deals: August 13-20, 2010

Albuquerque restaurant and food deals this week: free cupcakes for kids on August 14, Arby’s free sandwiches, two Cold Stone Creamery ice creams for $5, and offers from IHOP, Barley Room Bar & Grill, Nestle Toll House Cafe, Church Street Cafe, and more…

Free Cupcakes at Walmart to celebrate Dora the Explora’s birthday this Saturday August 14, between 11 am and 4 pm. I guess this one is REALLY for the kids, and no, you can’t kneel down and pretend. The party includes giveaways and bring in a photo (either digital or hard copy) to make a free 5″x7″ photo card! According to the participating location search, these Walmarts are taking part:

• 301 San Mateo Blvd SE
• 2701 Carlisle Blvd NE
• 3500 Coors Blvd SW

Or click the Walmart Dora the Explorer Birthday Party button and plug in your zip code to find a participating Walmart near you.

Free Smoothie at Boston Market restaurants on Saturday August 14 – no purchase necessary! One free smoothie per visit as long as supplies last.

Free Boston Market dessert with the purchase of a $4.99 Slider Meal Deal with this coupon, expiring August 29.

Free Taco Bell Frutista Freeze when you buy any product. You have to print the coupon via Coupons.com (and download the coupon printer application – quick and free – if you don’t have it already).

Arby’s Free Sandwich - either Roast Beef or Beef ‘N’ Cheddar sandwich when you buy any combo, with the coupon courtesy of Premium Shopping Guide. You can use it for up to FOUR free sandwiches as long as you buy the same number of full priced combos. Other Arby’s coupons include $1 Double Cheese Melt, and all coupons are valid at participating Arby’s till September 30, 2010.

Eat free at Church Street Cafe on your birthday according to an announcement at Yelp. Just be sure to take your ID! (If you read this in some future time warp and the link isn’t working any more, best to call Church Street Cafe to see if they’re still running the birthday offer.)

$5 off Albuquerque Hopfest when you buy early bird tickets for the October festival by August 15 – all details in our earlier post at the link.

Nothing over $8 on the menu. The new Nob Hill joint Bailey’s on the Beach promises there’s nothing over $8 on the menu, and looking at the breakfast-to-dinner menu most of it is a lot cheaper. I’ve not been there yet. Have you? What’s it like? Tell us in the comments form below…

Cold Stone Creamery 2 Ice Creams for $5 with this coupon. You get two Like It sizes with ice cream and one mix-in for $5. It’s on their Facebook page but you don’t have to be a member of Facebook to get the ice cream coupon. (You do need to download the coupon printer application – quick and free – if you don’t have it already).

Barley Room Bar & Grill Free Meal on Wednesday Nights when you buy 1 meal and 2 drinks, using the coupon from Premium Shopping Guide. It’s not valid on Comedy Night, but othewise is good to September 30, 2010. Other Barley Room Bar & Grill coupons include 50% off an appetizer in Happy Hour (4-7pm) and 50% off lunch on weekdays when you buy 1 full priced lunch and 2 drinks.

50% off Nestle Toll House Cafe. Get $50 worth of certificates for half price at $25, via Clear Channel Albuquerque. Quantities are limited and selling fast so buy NOW if you’re interested, and read the small print (certificates come in $10 denominations and you can only use one per visit.) If you have a lot of self-control, you’ll be glad to know that certificates are valid until August 2011.

80% off Restaurant.com certificates and gift cards till August 16 with the promo code: BIG (Enter the code at checkout to see the discount). Buy by August 16, no expiration date on certificates. Participating Albuquerque restaurants currently include:

• Peppers Cantina, Asian Cafe, Sophia’s Place,  Casa Chaco, Cazuela’s Mexican Grill
• In Santa Fe: Ze French Bistro, Red Enchilada Restaurant, and Casablanca Fine Mediterranean Cuisine
• 80 cents for a $10 certificate
• $2 for a $25 certificate
• $4 for a $50 certificate
• $8 for a $100 certificate
• $8 for a $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card (redeem at 15,000 restaurants nationally/free shipping)

To get the 80% off, select your Restaurant.com certificates and enter the promo code BIG at the check out page. (The full 80% discount doesn’t show till then.) Check the small print for any restrictions.

Kids Eat Free at IHOP in August A child aged 12 and under gets a free meal from the Just for Kids menu, with the purchase of an adult entree, daily between 4pm and 10pm on dine-in only. It’s one freebie per adult entree. According to the location finder at the IHOP Kids Eat Free link, there are seven participating Albuquerque IHOPs.

Gecko’s Bar & Tapas specials after 6 pm:

• 20 cent wings on Mondays
• Three for two tapas on Tuesdays
• Half priced burgers on Wednesdays

Quiznos $2.99 Sub, Chips, Drink with this coupon valid to August 20.  A small sub, regular fountain drink, and of course the chips.

$39 for 10 Lunchtime Yoga Classes. Buy before midnight August 15.  This has only the loosest connection to food, but it happens at lunchtime, and I think it’s a brilliant deal…. oh, and you ALSO get a free protein bar after each class! Get 10 mixed-level lunchtime yoga classes at YogaNow (worth $120) with this Groupon deal available to purchase till midnight Sunday August 15. See details at the link for how/when to use the certificates, it’s this weekend’s side deal (right side of page) and they need a minimum 15 people to buy the Yoga Classes Groupon before the deal is on, otherwise your credit card isn’t charged.

Old Town Salsa Fiesta this Saturday August 14 – free salsa samples and $4 to judge the Best Homemade Salsa contest - all the details at our earlier post.

NOTE: Not all locations may be participating in all offers – call ahead if you want to be sure.
ADDED LATER: If you spotted my not-so-deliberate mistake in this post, enter to win a $25 restaurant gift certificate.  All the facts/info are correct, it’s just a writing blunder.

Thanks to our friends at Florida on the Cheap for tipping us off to a couple of these deals!

–Tania FYI: I’ve given you my Restaurant.com and Groupon.com affiliate links. If you feel like sending a little love this way to support the ABQ on the Cheap site, please use the links.

Old Town Salsa Fiesta 2010

There’ll be a hot time in the Old Town tonight… or rather this Saturday August 14, 2010, when the sixth annual Salsa Fiesta returns with salsa of both the dipping and the dancing varieties. It’s a free event – we’ve just spoken with the organizer and have the latest saucy scoop…

Celebrating all things salsa, the annual Old Town Salsa Fiesta kicks off at 1 pm on Saturday August 14, with salsa bands and dancers on the gazebo and throughout Old Town, kids’ activities, and of course (drum roll) the Best Homemade Salsa contest.

Competitors make their salsa on the spot in front of everyone, and we, the people, get to taste and cast our vote for the winners. This is the ONLY event with any charge – it’s $4 to buy a wrist band that allows you to taste all the salsas in the contest and then vote for your fave. According to the organizer there are 71 entries competing this year. Yes, 71. That’s a lot of hot.

There are also free salsa samples for all from commercial salsa producers including El Pinto and Gardunos.

The Salsa Fiesta schedule includes:

• 1 – 6 pm: Salsa Bands and dancers provide free entertainment throughout Old Town
• 1 – 6 pm: Kids’ arts and crafts activities, face painting and games in Plaza Don Luis
• 7 pm: Mayor Berry announces the Homemade Salsa winners

Live entertainment:

• 1 – 2 pm : Changui Son
• 2:15 – 3:30 pm: Latin Stars
• 3:30 – 5:15 pm:  Picoso
• 5:30 – 6:45 pm:  Salsa Dancers demonstration by Latin Dance Festival performers
• 7:15 – 8:15 pm:  Ivon Ulibarri & Café Mocha
• 8:30 – 9:30 pm: 8 y Mas Salsa Band

Some Old Town restaurants will also have specials on the menu and pairings with New Mexico wines.

The annual Albuquerque Salsa Fiesta is a free family-friendly event and it’s extremely popular, so be prepared for bustle and probably some waiting in line.  If you go, send us a photo!

Salsa Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque Old Town.

–Tania

Free Starbucks Music Mix to August 31

Ten Free Tunes to download courtesy of Starbucks until August 31, 2010.

Starbucks has produced what they call a Frappuccino music mix. But I guess you can enjoy it just as much if you’re drinking orange juice / a smoothie / a margarita / your Aunt Monica’s tropical punch that strips the enamel off your teeth.

The free Starbucks music download includes tunes by Frightened Rabbit, The Bamboos, Goldfrapp, and (my favorite) Macy Gray. Gotta love Macy.

Ten perfomers in all, and to get your free Frappuccino Beverage Music Mix you must have iTunes already installed, or download it for free. Either way, just follow directions at the link to redeem the code provided on that page where it says ‘Get iTunes Code’. (You are smart readers. You could have worked that out for yourself… but I like to be helpful.)

Get your groove on Cheapers…  the free music offer expires August 31, 2010.

–Tania

Food Freebies & Deals: July 30- Aug 6, 2010

Albuquerque restaurant deals this week include FREE Whataburger, $5 off Fox & Hound, Baskin Robbins BOGO free, half price YoYo Bliss frozen yogurt, Panda Express freebie with purchase, 80% off Casa Chaco and Cazuela’s Mexican Grill,  Landry’s deal and more.

Free Whataburger on August 3 from 5 pm to 8 pm when you wear orange! It’s their 60th birthday and they’re giving away a free Whataburger – but you must wear ORANGE to claim your freebie! Here are the Albuquerque Whataburger locations.

$5 off Fox & Hound Sports Bar – on any dine-in food purchase of $15. Coupon is valid to August 31, 2010.

Fox and Hound Albuquerque drink specials run daily, including $2 Tuesday on draft beers and Sunday $3 Bloody Mary.

Baskin Robbins Buy One Get One Free Coupon – Buy one regular soft serve cone and get one free at participating locations till August 8.

Whole Foods Market $45 worth of coupons – if you shop the lot, that’s how much you’ll save. Choices include $1 off Blue Diamond Almond Butter, $1 off any 2 Dream Frozen Desserts, $1 off Lundberg Risotto (I love that stuff when I’m too lazy to cook). Click the coupons you want and print out on one sheet – very simple. Once printed, they’re valid to October 31 – not sure how long they’ll be available online though.

50% off YoYo Bliss, the frozen yogurt mavens in ABQ Uptown, thanks to Good Day New Mexico’s Half Price Thursday. Buy $50 worth of certificates for $25, and use by July 31, 2011 – yeah, as if you’ll hold out till then! Certificates come in $10 denominations, shipping cost for the certificates is $3.75, and it’s best to buy soon – quantities are limited!

Free T.G.I. Friday’s $10 Gift Card with the purchase of two entrees from the new Caribbean-inspired summer menu. Offer is good at Albuquerque T.G.I. Friday’s till September 6.

Landry’s Seafood House distinctive dining deal saves you over 35% on a three course menu: get a salad bowl, choice of 3 entrees, and choice of 2 desserts for $19.99. Print the Landry’s Deal Menu and take it with you for the offer - valid Sunday through Thursday.

Panda Express Free Panda Bowl when you buy a two item combo and two medium drinks with this coupon via Valpak, valid to August 12.

80% off Restaurant.com certificates and gift cards is still running till July 31 with the promo code: PLATE (Enter the code at checkout to see the discount). Buy by July 31, no expiration date on certificates. Participating Albuquerque restaurants currently include:

• Peppers Cantina, Asian Cafe, Sophia’s Place,  Casa Chaco, Cazuela’s Mexican Grill
• In Santa Fe: Ze French Bistro, Red Enchilada Restaurant, and Casablanca Fine Mediterranean Cuisine
• 80 cents for a $10 certificate
• $2 for a $25 certificate
• $4 for a $50 certificate
• $8 for a $100 certificate
• $8 for a $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card (redeem at 15,000 restaurants nationally/free shipping)

To get the 80% off, select your Restaurant.com certificates and enter the promo code PLATE at the check out page. (The full 80% discount doesn’t show till then.) Check the small print for any restrictions.

Flying Star Cafe’s Burger ’n’ Shake special offer Buy a burger and get a milkshake for $2 (usually $4.99) – it’s a limited time summer deal, not sure when it ends, so slurp your shake soon!

Thinking of signing up for Netflix? Get a $10 Papa John’s Gift Card when you become a new subscriber. Papa John’s also has a limited time special for two large pizzas for $10 each.

Village Inn Pie Rush Wednesdays. They’re still serving up free pie from 10 am to 10 pm every Wednesday, get a free slice of pie with a dine-in purchase.  No coupon necessary but it can’t be combined with other specials (see the link). No expiration date in sight. But you know it can’t last…

NOTE: Not all locations may be participating in all offers – call ahead if you want to be sure.

Thanks to readers Rita and Barb for sending tips, and to our cheap chow chums at Fort Worth on the Cheap and  Florida Keys on the Cheap.

–Tania   FYI: I’ve given you my Restaurant.com affiliate link. If you feel like sending a little love this way to support the ABQ on the Cheap site, please use the link.

Free Lunch for Kids Program

The City of Albuquerque’s Summer Lunch Program dishes up free lunch (and sometimes breakfast) for youngsters aged 1 to 18 in area parks, community centers, and other venues.

We think this excellent Albuquerque summer lunch program is very well-known already - it’s certainly popular with parents we’ve spoken to. But just in CASE you haven’t heard the word, children and youths aged from one year to eighteen years can get a free lunch (and at some venues a free breakfast) just by turning up.

Meals are served on a first-come-first-served basis: 

• Map of participating free kids’ lunch venues so you can find a spot close to you
• List of free kids’ lunch and breakfast venues with times

The only restrictions are that youngsters can’t pick and choose – they take the entire meal – and they have to eat on site – it’s not a take-out deal. They must also clean up after themselves, and generally behave well – no food fights!

The program continues to August 6, 2010, although community centers (they’re marked on the list) will finish service on July 30, 2010.

See all the details and menus at the City of Albuquerque’s Free Summer Lunch Program page.

–Tania

Route 66 Days & Nights in Nob Hill & Summerfest: July 23-24

There’s nothing like a street festival to make the most of summer – and is there anywhere better for a street festival than old Route 66 herself? We think not. Join in the party this weekend, July 23-24, 2010, for free live entertainment, car cruise, and more…

This is the first annual Nob Hill Route 66 Days & Nights event, and it coincides with the last Summerfest of the season. There’s a lot going on:

Friday July 23 from 5 pm to midnight:

The Blast from the Past custom and classic car gathering descends on Route 66 near Kelly’s Brew Pub, Mayor Berry formally opens the event, and Nob Hill will play host to sidewalk entertainers, with shops and restaurants open late.

Saturday July 24:

Festivities start at 2 pm include three car shows (you have to pay/donate to participate in your motor), kids’ activities, an alternative arts and artisans’ market, tours of Nob Hill, and sidewalk sales. Some highlights:

• The 10th Annual Neon Cruise by the Old Route 66 Car Show Group parades Nob Hill around dusk
• Summerfest (in partnership with the New Mexico Jazz Festival) starts at 7 pm with four stages featuring free live music including Los Pleneros de la 21. See the full schedule of Summerfest bands and stage locations.
• The Nob Hill 5K race starts at 11 pm – good luck to ‘em all! I’m an avid running fan, especially when I can watch it with a beer in my hand.
• ABQ Trolley Co. hosts a special Route 66 Trolley Cruise at 5:30 pm – you can save $5 on tickets by buying online in advance for $15 (they’re $20 on board the trolley on the day).
• ABQ Trolley Co will also run as a shuttle along Central Avenue to save your aching feet, with an all-day ride pass for $5 available on board.

Check out all the Route 66 Days & Nights in Nob Hill events and times, plus parking suggestions.

If you really want to get into the spirit of the thing, I’d suggest dressing in a cute little Doris Day-type pedal pusher outfit or go rockabilly. (The Doris Day suggestion is meant for the gals, but there’s no judgment here.)

–Tania

Free Pet Behavior Helpline

Not to be indelicate, but…is your pooch peeing on the carpet suddenly? Has Fluffy the cat decided your new leather couch makes a great new scratching post? Or maybe Rover has become a real Houdini, laughing at your attempts to fence him in?

Do you know many pets wind up in shelters for these kind of reasons? Which is sad, because they are all solvable problems.

The key to a long, loving relationship with our pets is understanding how to deal with their behaviors in order to keep peace in the home. If you’re having problems with your pet’s behavior, FREE help is available from Animal Humane New Mexico.

Just call 505-938-7900 to speak to a trained coach who can help you solve pet behavior problems. This is an absolutely free service!

The Animal Humane Behavior free helpline can help you deal with issues including: 

• Destruction
• Barking
• Escaping
• Housetraining
• Digging
• Fearful Behavior
• Separation Anxiety
• Chasing
• Eating Disorders
• Puppy & Kitten Development
• Multiple Animal Households and introducing new pets

Now, if only they could provide free trained coaches to deal with teenage behavior problems, we’d be set.

By the way, the Artists for the Animals fundraiser on August 14, 2010, includes an art auction, hors d’oeuvres, raffle, and live music.  There will also be a cash bar. Tickets are $60, and the event is from 6 – 9 pm at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.  It’s a good cause to support and you get to dress up fancy – dress code is cocktail attire!

Pet owners: also see 10% discount on dog and cat treats plus Boofy’s Best for Pets coupons.

– Original post by Elizabeth Hanes, updated by Tania

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