Wise Bread group write: Things to do for under $5

[Writer's Coin]

Name: Writer's Coin
City: Chicago, IL
Link: http://www.thewriterscoin.com/2008/0...o-for-under-5/

Sweet home Chicago!

[ichristine]

Christine
Cincinnati, Ohio

(1) Shakespeare in the Park (http://www.cincyshakes.com/shakespeare-in-the-park.html) -- Local Shakespeare company hosts productions of free plays in various area parks throughout the summer. Makes a great date if you bring a blanket and a picnic.

(2) Cincinnati Art Museum
With the exception of special exhibits, admittance to the museum is free everyday. The Cincinnati Art Museum has a great collection -- over sixty thousand pieces of art -- spanning thousands of years.

[khorrell]

The Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia does not charge admission on Wednesdays. In addition to their outstanding selection of art, Wednesday evenings showcase live jazz music and other special events. Donations accepted. Free parking, too! Use your $5 for a donation, a glass of wine, or a postcard in the gift shop.

[Liz K]

I realize that Amsterdam may be a bit out of the way for many Wise Bread readers, but in case you are passing through the lovely city I call home, there’s loads of fun to be had here for very little money. During the six years that I’ve lived here, my friends and I have become experts at having a great time on the cheap. Below are a few of my favorite tips.

Note: At the current exchange rate $5.00 currently equals €3.38. I have kept everything below this amount but please don’t hold me responsible for exchange rate fluctuations!

Take a Boat Ride
Behind Central Station there are FREE public ferries transporting passengers across the IJ river to various locations in Amsterdam Noord. My favorite ferry destination is the 15 minute ride to the NDSM Werf. The boat drops you off at the Werf (dock), a decaying former shipyard that has since been taken over by students, squatters, and aspiring artists. Walk around the old boats and peer into artist’s workshops. If you feel like splashing out, have a “koffie verkeerd” (latte) on the terrace of the IJ Kantine overlooking the water. The ferry departs from the dock behind central station every 15 minutes from 7 am to midnight weekdays, and every 30 minutes from 9:30 am to midnight on weekends.

Drink Beer in a Windmill
Warning: this suggestion is only for those that can limit themselves to one drink! On the east side of town, you can visit a historical windmill that is currently home to a microbrewery. Sample delicious organic, local beers for an average price of €1.90 per beer. It’s open every day from 3pm to 8pm. If you want to learn more about the history of this unique location, they offer FREE tours of the brewery every Friday afternoon at 4 pm. Just show up – no need to reserve!

Jazz on the Waterfront
The gorgeous new “Muziekgebouw” (concert hall) on the IJ river is a must-see for any architecture buffs. Located at Piet Heinkade 3, It features vast open spaces with exposed steel and concrete, yet still manages to pull off an intimate feel in the concert halls themselves. On Tuesdays, there are FREE jazz shows put on by students of the Amsterdam Conservatory at 10:30 pm. Even if you’re not a fan of jazz, it’s worth a visit for the view of Amsterdam at night, we serves as a backdrop to the performers.

The Best View in Town
In 2008, Amsterdam celebrated the opening of the largest library in the whole of the Netherlands. This new public library, located at Oosterdokskade 143, features 10 floors of free entertainment. Internet access is available on gleaming new Macs, and the library also offers an impressive selection of English-language books. On the top floor, check out the observation deck near the “La Place” self-serve restaurant for the best views of Amsterdam. You can admire the view without paying a cent, but the café has a nice selection of meals and snacks if you feel like treating yourself. The library is open every day from 10 am to 10 pm every day.

Picnic on the Roof
Another great place to rest your feet and get a panoramic view of the city is from the roof of NEMO, a children’s science and technology museum. Every July and August, the NEMO (Oosterdok 2) opens up the roof to visitors from 12:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Entrance to the rooftop is FREE – just bring your own drinks and snacks for a lazy summer picnic in a unique location.

Be One with Nature
Amsterdam is full of lovely parks, perfect for a picnic or an afternoon stroll, and always provide an excellent people-watching venue on a sunny day. Some of my favorites in the city include Westerpark, Vondelpark, and Sarphatipark. However, if you have kids, I’d recommend venturing out to the edge of the city and exploring either the Amstel Park or Amsterdamse Bos.

Amstel Park was originally created for the Floriade (a botanical garden fair) in 1972, and has preserved it’s creative landscaping and impressive array of flora. Some FREE highlights in the park include a small art gallery, a petting zoo, and the Rieker windmill, dating back to 1636 (actually not inside the park but across from the back entrance).

Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam forest) is indeed closer to a forest than a park. You can watch rowing teams paddle down the Bosbaan, hike the numerous trails, and visit the petting zoo, all for FREE. This petting zoo also functions as a working goat-milk farm, where they produce milk, cheese, and ice cream. During the summer months, the park also has two small pools for use by children up to 4 years old.

Art Exhibitions with a Twist
Every couple months artists in various neighborhoods open their doors to allow visitors a FREE glimpse into their studios. These “Open Atelier” weekends allow the public to interact with the artists and see their work. Often the studios are in the artist’s home, meaning the tour in also a great way to get insight into Dutch life in general. This website provides an overview of all the open studio weekends in Amsterdam and other cities in Holland.

Dance the Day Away
Especially during the summer and early autumn, Amsterdam plays host to a variety of top-notch music festivals. While some of the better-known acts may have an admission charge, there is always a wide variety of performers at the outdoor stages for FREE. Just be sure to pack an umbrella for the unpredictable Dutch weather.

The Roots Festival is a yearly celebration of international music which takes place in June at the Oosterpark. The shows seem to cover every imaginable geography and genre, so there is something for everyone.

The Grachtenfestival occurs yearly in August, and features more than a week of impressive classical performances. Even if you’re not a classical music fan, this festival is worth a visit if only for its unique location. Performers play literally on the canals in Amsterdam, on specially built floating platforms or boats.

The Uitmarkt is a 3-day festival held yearly at the end of August which serves as the grand opening of Amsterdam’s cultural season. This year it starts on August 29th and is located at the outdoor festival area on the Piet Heinkade. This year’s lineup includes pop, rock, soul, and classical. This is the one festival I make a point to attend every year!

[Rachel B.]

Hello,

I realize I'm past the deadline for replying, but since you've still got the Open Call invite for Things To Do listed on the top of the Wise Bread index page, I'm hoping you might still want my article.

Toronto The Good and Cheap

Love your site! Love the idea of this series of articles! Have bookmarked them all so far.

[Lynn]

Submitted by Amber:

www.bostoncommonfrogpond.org - Skate along Boston Common's Frog Pond. November - Mid March. Admission is $4 per person, and children under 13 are free. Skate rentals are $8 and $5 for children under 13.

http://www.mfa.org - Museum of Fine Arts: No general admission fee required every Wed night from 4 - 9:45 pm. Voluntary donations welcome. Special exhibitions ticketed separately.

http://www.limelightboston.com - Karaoke: at the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets. Cover charges are $5 before 10 p.m. (and $10 after 10 p.m. so get there early) 18+

http://wallyscafe.com - Live Music 365 Days A Year!! Warm up with great jazz tunes at Wally's Cafe on Massachusetts Avenue. As one of the oldest family-owned jazz clubs, (since 1947) Wally's features live music every day of the year. Since so many musical institutions surround the venue, most of the young, aspiring performers are considered among the best in the nation. For this reason, Wally's has been tagged the "Training Ground." There is no cover charge, but you must be 21 years old or older. (snippet from boston globe)

http://www.bu.edu/astronomy/opennight.html - The Public Open Night at the Observatory is a chance for people to come observe the night sky through telescopes and binoculars and see things they otherwise might not get to see, and learn some astronomy as well. The Open Nights are held most Wednesday evenings throughout the year, weather permitting. It is open to everyone. Starting times are 7:30pm during the Fall and Winter, and 8:30pm during the Spring and Summer. The program lasts about an hour.

http://www.harpoonbrewery.com - Harpoon Brewery hosts tastings Tuesday through Thursday at 4 p.m., Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturdays at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.

www.samueladams.com -Sam Adams brewery offers tours of the Jamaica Plain facility with discussion of how founder Jim Koch (pictured) brews the beer. Tours and tastings occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m., Fridays from noon to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., starting every half hour.

http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil - Tour the USS Constitution ("Old Iron Sides") - Charlestown

http://www.wbos.com - Watch a free concert at Copley Square - Boston. WBOS hosts free concerts during the summer time at Copley Square Outdoors!

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/castle.htm - Castle Island

[Lynn]

We got submissions from all over the world! Check out our ultimate $5 fun list. Is your city missing? Submit your post!

[kav122]

Hey, I know I'm late, but here is some additional information about the Minneapolis places:

The Walker Art Center: Free admission on the first Saturday of the month, and Thursday evenings after 5 p.m.
The Bell Museum of Natural History: Free admission on Sundays.
The Minnesota Children's Museum: Free admission on the third Sunday of the month.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is free all day Thursday in the winter, and free on Thursday evenings from 4.30 p.m. until 8 p.m. or sunset in the summer. Winter is November 1 until April 24. The Arboretum also has free family events and music on Thursday evenings in the summer.
The Minnesota Historical Society holds occasional open houses with free admission to it's historical sites in the Twin Cities. It also has free admission days on special days. For example, this year Fort Snelling was free to military personnel on Memorial Day, and the Mill City Museum was free to mothers on Mother's Day. Free events vary, and details of upcoming events can be found on the MNHS website.