Week of Dec 28th. Free/Cheap things to do with yourself

This is a list of things that are going on this week in Philadelphia for extremely cheap or free. (Things are free unless a price is listed)

I will be updating this list as the week goes on, so keep checking back.

MONDAY:

The Hangover Movie showing: (21 and up) The event starts at 6:30 and the show starts at 8. Show up before 7pm and get a free beer and a bag of popcorn. Otherwise $3 to get in which goes towards a drink. At the Trocadero on Arch St. between 11th and 10th.

Philly Rising Open Mic Night- World Cafe Live. 7:00 Most people go there and order food and watch the music. Broke people get free water and watch the music. WARNING: Anyone can sign up for this, so on occasion I've seen people playing and reppin dirty jerz bra! Located on 3025 Walnut St.

I Don't Watch the Internet Group Gallery at Fleisher/Ollman: Open Monday through Wed. this week. Installation pieces. (For more information http://www.grossmccleaf.com/ )

TUESDAY:

I Don't Watch the Internet Group Gallery at Fleisher/Ollman: Open Monday through Wed. this week. Installation pieces. (For more information http://www.grossmccleaf.com/ )

WEDNESSDAY:

I Don't Watch the Internet Group Gallery at Fleisher/Ollman: Open Monday through Wed. this week. Installation pieces. (For more information http://www.grossmccleaf.com/ )


THURSDAY:
Penn's Landing Fireworks: New this year there are 2 shows one at 6pm and one at midnight. Fireworks are at Penn's Landing (duh)

FRIDAY:

Make a mark on the Resolution Wall: 10 am. Free at the Kimmell Center (on Broad St.) There will also be music performances, and cake for everyone who has January 1st birthdays. I'm not sure what this means, but I hope it doesn't mean that it's only for people have birthdays on January 1st, because that's just mean. But this is not all there, oh no you actually can write your very own resolution on the resolution wall!! (I can't help but wonder if this sounds as skippable to you as it does to me, especially after being up all night for New Years, but hey just in case)

The Mummers Parade on Broad St.- South Philly bro dudes in skirts. Sweet man.

Steve Messenger gallery reception: Steve Messenger is an artist who does portraits of horses. They look pretty neat, big colorful and realistic. From 5-8:30 there will be a reception at the Muse Gallery (on 52 N. Second St.) for his new gallery. (For more information call 215-627-5310) To the left is a picture from The Muse Gallery website.

The Afterparty of drunken Mummers: Go to 4th street late at night, and you will see everybody drinking in the street and going crazy. You will also see lots of South Philly bro dudes still wearing skirts, except now they've been drunk for almost 2 days, which makes it excellent. This is an event that should not be missed.

The Hoppin John Orchestra: They describe themselves as a post modern 8 piece brass band. Free show at the Kimmel Center (broad st) at 1:30. (For more information visit hoppinjohn.net)

OPEN (ALMOST) ALL WEEK)

Chris Burnside gallery exhibit: Chris Burnside sculpts plywood and does lots of work with cutting into wood. It's very "modern art" and I'm not sure it's totally enjoyable by the average person. But it does look interesting to me. And at the same time Adrienne Eichelburg has an exhibit up in the same place. Located at 127 South 16th St. (For more informatin go to http://www.grossmccleaf.com/)

This gallery will be closed January 1st and on Sundays. Other than that it is open from 10am to 5 pm.

sLowlife- The Chemical Heritage Foundation 315 Chestnut St. Monday- Friday 10am - 4pm. Ever wanted to watch pictures of plants growing in fast motion. Don't get too excited now. It actually sounds pretty cool. On the website it is described as follows "Many of us think of and treat plants as inanimate objects. But a plant grows, reacts to changes in its environment, reproduces, responds to disease and injury, and undergoes a slow decline into old age and death—a saga that sounds hauntingly familiar." (For more information go to http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/usbg/toc.htm)

Peter Pan: At the Arden theatre in Old City. It's a play meant for little kids, but from what I've heard it sounds pretty bad ass, lots of talent and steam punk theme. Plus it has great reviews. Not convinced yet, it's one of Philly's best theatres (in my opinion) and with any kind of student id you can go there for only $5. (Not open on Mondays. On Tuesday there is a show at 12 and one at 4, on Wed. there is a show at 12 and one at 4, On Thursday there is a show at noon, on Friday there is a show at 2pm, and on Saturday and Sunday there are shows at 12 and at 4)

Dance with Camera: 36th and Sansom. The institute of contemporary art. Part of the University of Pennsylvania. A study of artists who want to make choreography for the camera. Features film, video, and still photography. Looks neat to me. Not open on Monday or Tuesday (For more information http://www.icaphila.org/exhibitions/dance.php)

I'm sorry I'm too broke to take you out to a bar and get you drunk there.

I recently turned 21, and so did my boyfriend. It has brought on a lot of conversation about how we should get out of the house and go to that bar down the corner. If you're over 21 I'm sure you're in the same boat, either with the person you're dating or your friends who you want to hang out with.

My very broke solution:
Pizza and PBR (or Mickeys if you really aren't trying to impress anyone)
At a bar I'll easily throw down $40 to get two people through the night, more than that if I want to have a really good time. On Mickeys or PBR I'll throw down about $6 for myself and be as jolly as santa.
Now pizza, sure you can order it, but if you're stuck at your house you may as well try to impress your friends somehow. After all, it's very important to remind your friends that you are as cool and fun as you know you are.
At Trader Joe's (on Market st.) you can get pizza dough for ninety-nine cents. This is exciting, I'm fully aware. You can also buy a can of tomato puree for sixty cents just about anywhere. These two ingredients are all you need to make breadsticks. Now before you yell at me for how lame breadsticks are, don't forget about that Mickeys and PBR you have, the fact that you have friends, and the fact that you are awesome. Think about all the shapes you can make and then eat. It actually sounds kinda fun right?
So I know the next time my friends wanna go to a bar I'm gonna pay about $8 instead and have some shitty beer and breadsticks.


Or if you're really stuck on that pizza idea you can pick up a block of cheese (or soy cheese for those of you that know what's up) and shred it yourself (it's cheaper this way). Another idea, if you don't have any seasonings to put on the tomato puree you may be better off just getting a tomato, and cutting it into pieces on the crust, and then just putting the cheese on top of that.

Oh, and while you're at Trader Joe's did you know you're allowed to sample anything there? The employees are allowed to open any box and let you try it all you have to do is ask. This is an excellent way to get free lunch. Just ask to try a few things, I mean you never know when you'll need spicy soy and flax tortilla chips right?

Hey everyone, I'm sorry I won't be able to make a list of shit to do this week, but the holidays are being all crazy on me. Next week i will be back with lots of free shit (which is after all the best kind of shit, the free kind I mean) to do next week.

I'm sorry I'm too broke to go to your dumb christmas party.

Oh yes, it's that time of year. When we're all afraid to go to our friend's parties because all of a sudden we're expected to have both cooking skills and money (please note this is not an or, this is an and. You need both).

So next time you hear those dreaded words, "just cook something to bring over" think of this recipe for chocolate soda cake. For the record this will not taste like soda.

You will Need:

10 oz. of coke or pepsi (think a can of soda that you took 2 sips from)- 75 cents

1 chocolate cake mix (the store brand one will do)- about $2

Add the soda to the cake mix. Mix really well. Bake just a little longer then directed on the box.

Voila! Impress your friends with a cake you made for $2.75. You can also buy frosting, but usually I just throw some powdered sugar on the top if I have some.

Free/Cheap things for the week of Dec. 12th

Some ideas for a very broke week in Philadelphia this week. By following this little list for free you can be doing something every night this week.

Monday (December 14th):

Unsilent Night- go caroling through Center City. A limited number of boom-boxes will be handed out to carol with and it will be great fun for all involved. (for more information- http://www.relache.org/)

Philly Rising Open Mic Night- World Cafe Live. 7:00 Most people go there and order food and watch the music. Broke people get free water and watch the music. WARNING: Anyone can sign up for this, so on occasion I've seen people playing and reppin dirty jerz bra! Located on 3025 Walnut St.

Tuesday:

(Every Tuesday) Open mic night at the Helium Comedy Club on South Street. Free admission, but you do have to purchase 2 things (food) when you get there. So if you were gonna go out to eat, you may as well get in some laughs for free.

The Bacon Show- Mew Gallery 906 Christian St. An exhibit curated by Mike Geno. Do you love bacon? I don't but he sure does. (Yes, that is a mona lisa made from bacon) A collection of different art all centering around Bacon. Open until December 17th. Open from 12-7.

Friday:

Temple University Horns and Trombones- The Kimmel Center. 5:30. For free. An arrangement of Holiday songs ranging for vocal pieces to jazz pieces. For more information (http://kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?id=3606)

Saturday:

Bach- Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra in Chestnut hill. Admission is open door, first come first serve for free seats. (for more information- http://www.tempestadimare.org/Series.html#December)

Art and Architectural Tour of the Kimmel Center- At the Kimmel Center (In case you're stupid) at 10:30 am.

Tuba Christmas- Ever wanted to hear over 100 tubas playing christmas carols. Well this just might be your chance. 12 pm at the Kimmel Center. (For more information- http://kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?id=3565)

Sunday:

Bach- Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra 3:30 pm Open doors, first come first serve for free seats. At the Old St. Joe Church 4th and Walnut (for more information- http://www.tempestadimare.org/Series.html#December)

Craft Show- Tattooed mom's on South Street. 1-6 pm.

Open (Almost) All Week:

The Rabbit Hole (A play)- At the Arden. Stops running the 20th. But here's the catch if you have a student id of any kind you can go see it for $5. Supposed to be a downer of a play, but funny as well. Just show up right before the play starts with your id, and if they have any tickets leftover (which they usually do) they'll sell them to you. (For more information go to the Arden's website-http://www.ardentheatre.org/2010/rabbit.html)

Dance with Camera: 36th and Sansom. The institute of contemporary art. Part of the University of Pennsylvania. A study of artists who want to make choreography for the camera. Features film, video, and still photography. Looks neat to me. Not open on Monday or Tuesday (For more information http://www.icaphila.org/exhibitions/dance.php)

sLowlife- The Chemical Heritage Foundation 315 Chestnut St. Monday- Friday 10am - 4pm. Ever wanted to watch pictures of plants growing in fast motion. Don't get too excited now. It actually sounds pretty cool. On the website it is described as follows "Many of us think of and treat plants as inanimate objects. But a plant grows, reacts to changes in its environment, reproduces, responds to disease and injury, and undergoes a slow decline into old age and death—a saga that sounds hauntingly familiar." (For more information go to http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/usbg/toc.htm) (Sneak Preview-Sunflower Dance >)