Back in the Saddle

So this Freevoliter has been traipsing about, attempting to find some work to pay the bills. Well, since that's not working out, I've got plenty of time to write about the life and times of the under-employed. I used to be an "fellow" (read: under paid research assistant) and now I have a more flexible schedule in San Francisco (read: not often contracted contractor). What I'm saying is: I KNOW HOW TO BE BROKE. So read up, kids, I've got life lessons for you right here, every week.

Freevolity: a Top Ten List of Amusements for

10. Have a potluck. Friends will always bring too much out of guilt and leave you with enough dips, chips, and salad for a week.

9. Go to the farmers market. Eat lots of samples, and pick up wealthy foodie sugar mommas and daddies who love local food.

8. Don't schedule anything on second Tuesdays and first saturdays. I swear to God, every museum in the City is free on that day.

...stay tuned! More amazing practical tips to weathering this down economy and your own laziness to follow...

Tour the World

Ever wondered where the Benin embassy is? Or what the inside of the Saudi Arabian embassy looks like? Now is your chance to find out!

May 2nd (and the encompassing week) is Passport DC. 30 embassies are opening their doors for an open house from 10 am-4 pm. There will be food, tours, dancing, and other performances - all for free! Since the embassies are spread out, a shuttle will operate between the different locations all day also. Check out the links above for schedules and other information (including the other events that week).

Cooking Tips and Life's Wisdom Served Here

Brenda Rhodes Miller, author of The Church Ladies’ Divine Desserts: Heavenly Recipes and Sweet Recollections and The Church Ladies’ Celestial Suppers and Sensible Advice will be signing books at the Anacostia Community Museum from 11am to 1pm on Saturday.

You can go for some friendly advice on life and swap recipes for free, but you need to make a reservation! For reservations, call (202) 633-4875 or email jctolson@si.edu.

National Museum of American History is Reopened!

I'm so glad this museum reopened. Those Smithsonian dudes totally know what's up.

There is something here for everyone:

• Cars trains and automobiles (exhibit sponsored by GM before the bailout, presumably.)
• First Ladies and their gowns (Michelle O is in there already!)
• Oscar the Grouch and Kermit the Frog (the real green guys!)
• An inventions exhibit where you can read about cool design (I know I know nerd alert)
• And for all you foodies: JULIA CHILD'S KITCHEN! For real.
  

Nowruz Madness! Persian New Year Celebration is Here Again

I know, it seems like we just had the New Year's Eve celebration. We did, then we had the lunar celebration with the Chinese, and now it's time for the Persian New Year: Nowruz.

The Freer and Sackler Galleries is hosting a full day of Persian New Year exhibits, music, storytelling, crafts, and food! My friend's aunt is cooking this Saturday and we get to jump over the fire (or at least some fire if we show up between 10am-12pm). You can go to my favorite DC garden after the festivities!

So get your flame-retardant shoes on and get ready to ring in the New Year...again...this Saturday from 10:30am-6pm.

Food and Friends: You Aren't the Only One Who's Hungry!

This Thursday, you can eat dinner out at one of 145 restaurants in DC, VA, and MD and they will donate 25%-100% of your tab to Food and Friends."Simply by dining out, you will ensure that thousands of individuals facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses, will receive the daily, nutritious meals so vital to their care." That's what the website says. Pretty cool. That's even better than drinking beer for a cause, because you get more vitamins! And you don't have to be over 21.

So Sorry! I'm back to give you the best of DC's Free Social Scene!

I'm so sorry! I've been neglecting my fans. (Okay, so about three of you read this, but at least two thirds of you complained that I was not keeping up my end of the bargain.)

So I'm back, to bring you the best of what's free and fun in the DC area. In fact, it will include films, exhibits, foodie events, openings, parks, gardens, and general "beers for a cause" events!

Hope you'll tune in and check back!

Cheers,
First Freevoliter in Charge

Cupcakes are the new black

You'd think unemployment would mean this blog would blow up, but sadly the holidays/traveling put a damper on that plan. To make it up to you, we bring you the the newest cupcake place in town (it's at least the second place to open this year)! They are giving out free cupcakes to the first 500 customers on Thursday (January 15th) starting at 11am. It's called Red Velvet and is on the corner of 7th and E Streets NW (next to the newest Tangy Sweet). Enjoy!

Sunsets, Monuments, and Swimmers

Enjoy masterpieces of district's best chefs and photographers.

It's Foto Week in DC. Oh and Restaurant Stimulous week. These are great date ideas: Get on it!

Ice Cream and November just go together

...I didn't really mean that to rhyme, oh well.

Ben and Jerry's is giving away free ice cream to anyone who votes on November 4th (from 5-8PM). They accept an "I Voted" sticker as proof, but I'd really like to see what they think the "I Voted Dance" looks like.

As if you didn't need more motivation to vote, Qi Spa is also running a special promotion. Send them an email as a "vote", and you can win various discounts.

UPDATE: More free stuff on election day for voters -

Krispy Kreme - get a free donut for showing you voted.

Starbucks - get a free tall cup of coffee.

All the Green that fits in the Convention Center

A mere 4 days after free ice cream, the Green Festival is taking over the Convention Center (a.k.a my neighbor). Films, yoga classes, exhibitors, speakers, green building, and everything else green you want to know or celebrate (including organic beer!).

(It isn't free, but there are discounts for seniors, college students, bikers, public transit users, and union members. Who wants to compete to see who can fit the most categories?)

Green Hump Day

So Bethesda is out of the District technically, but it's still on the Metro. So ride over to the launch of Bethesda Green, a new environmental non-profit.

Check out this swanky little networking opp at the Hyatt Regency Wed September 24th! There's going to be sweet jams from 94.7 the Globe (the self-proclaimed green radio station of DC) who plays some kickin' classic rock. There will also be some free nibbles from Organic to Go and a cash bar (come on that doesn't need a link!).

Make your humps green and get to Bethesda.

U-Street Shenanigans

According to random sources and fliers, every third Thursday selected U-street neighborhood shops hold a "Shopper Social". Now, while I don't encourage shopping or generally buying things you don't need, I do encourage socializing.

So go meet some vendors, check out their wares and eat their free hors d'ouerves this Thursday, September 18th. Or any other third Thursday for that matter!

A Kick in the Arts

You thought summer festivals were over? No way.

The Arts on Foot is having an outdoor festival in Chinatown and it's sponsored by Wines of Argentina. How exciting is that? So there will be wine and restaurant sampling, music, arts, and crafts. If you have kids, I guess you could bring them, but keep them away from the "World Market Wine Area", k?

All over Penn Quarter there will be all kinds of exhibits from film screenings to museum open houses.

So while this freevoliter is on crutches, will some of you PLEASE take advantage fleeting late summer weather?

Acquired Tastes

Well, I'm glad to see you all enjoyed Screen on the Green with lots of Cheese and Wine. The Thao show was rockin' though not as much as usual. Someone want to tell me why DCists don't dance? It's a sickness I think.

It's time to move on to something more refined than wine and cheese in the grass and indie bluegrass. I know a lot of you are foodies, so I thought I'd start throwing in some free tasty tidbits from around DC. These are not your typical Pentagon City Costco samples!

Coffee Cupping in Adams Morgan
Counter Culture puts on these steamy trainings and tastings weekly. If you ask nicely they will tell you about their policies on fair trade and organic too!

Farmer's Markets all over DC
Mmmm, just go there and nibble on juicy samples of this season's peaches and tomatoes. I hear that the 14th and U street market has Argentine gelato these days. The Dupont one's always hopping, and last week in Mt. P they were cooking up Indian food on the stage.

Bon Apetit and let me know when there are free French lessons!

Restaurant Week!

Twice a year, the dining community gets together to celebrate friends and abuse the great chefs of DC. That's right, it's time for Restaurant Week! Between August 11-17, certain restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe meals. It's a great excuse to check out that expensive place you've been dying to try but can't afford.


Follow the link for participating restaurants and menus. They unfortunately increased the cost of dinner to $35.08, but lunch is still $20.08. The more popular places will fill up quick so definitely make reservations if you can.

Bon appetit!

Free Slurpees Tomorrow!

TGIFFS! Thank Goodness for Friday and Free Slurpees at 7-11! It's July 11 (7-11) tomorrow so go sugar yourself up, sugar.

Thank You, Jessica for this invaluable piece of information that will keep us all much happier on this hot DC summer day! See you all at Jazz in the Garden with your Slurpees in hand.

(If you're Dumb or Dumber and buy a Big Gulp instead tomorrow...Welp, see ya later).

Backyard Gourmet

Summer in the City is all about the food, the shirtless runners, and the sundresses for me. The extensive network of farms in this region does nothing short of rock my socks. I've met some farmers here: they are innovative, progressive, fun-loving and very attractive. Now it seems like the farming frenzy has hit the city and everyone wants a piece of the action.

Check out Liz and Susan's 7th Street Garden down in the Shaw neighborhood.
They are always having workshops, volunteer days, and events all over the city. Everyone has a right to delicious, nutritious, and locally grown food, right? Yeah, I thought so. and have you seen their sexy Metro-Tees?

Tomorrow night you might want to wash the dirt off your hands and put on your seer-sucker for the Garden Party at Poste Moderne Brasserie courtyard. The event will feature food grown on-site and prepared by Executive Chef Robert Weland. The coolest part about this is that the $10 cover gets you two cocktails, nibbles, and benefits the Trust for Public Land .

Do you guys love DC? I do and I'm hungry.

Fun. Free. Friday. TGIF!

1) Start your day with frozen yogurt at Tangy Sweet's grand opening.
-->2029 P st in Dupont, 11am-2am = free froyo

2) End your day with your toes in the fountain at Jazz in the Sculpture garden
-->near the Archives Metro, starts at 5:30pm

3) Start your night with more frozen yogurt and an accordion concert
-->Natural History Museum (10th and Constitution), starts at 7:30pm