Houston On The Cheap

Contest: Win a Whole Foods Market Grilling Package to Kick Off Grills Just Want to Have Fun Event

Vicki Powers — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:15:55 +0000

With summer around the corner, it’s a great time to start thinking about grilling. Whole Foods Market is kicking off its special event, Grills Just Want to Have Fun, this weekend to help you get in the mood! The event will be chock full of grill-inspired foods throughout the store. Learn how to grill, season, and enjoy all things grilling 12-5pm each day! Friday is all about the Backyard Barbecue, Saturday features Great Outdoor Grilling and Sunday challenges your charcoal with a taste of Alternative Grilling.

This special grill promotion will be at all Houston and Sugar Land Whole Foods Market locations: 701 Waugh, 2955 Kirby, 4004 Bellaire, 6401 Woodway, 11145 Westheimer, and 15900 Southwest Freeway.

And now to the contest! Whole Foods wants to help you get inspired by giving away a grilling gift bag filled with sauces, rubs, grilling supplies plus an 8.8 lb. bag of real hardwood charcoal ($35 value). Simply leave a comment on this post to enter to win. Contest will be open through Saturday, May 19, 5 pm CST. One entry per person. Extra entries will be deleted.

Winner will need to pick up the grilling prize at the Montrose Whole Foods Market at 701 Waugh. If that’s not possible, please don’t enter the contest. Winner will be randomly selected by my blog app, And the Winner Is. Winner will be sent an email and announced on this site Monday.

Whole Foods Market graciously donated this prize for one Houston on the Cheap reader. I did not receive any product or compensation in return.

Free Organizing Class at Microsoft Store May 19

Vicki Powers — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:04:29 +0000

Are you overwhelmed by email, like me? Or have a difficult time tracking meeting dates for work or family activities? My organizer friend, Ellen Delap, is hosting a free session this Saturday, May 19, at the Houston Galleria Microsoft Store called Get Organized with Microsoft Outlook. Attendees will learn tips and tricks such as setting up your calendar to be your most productive, categorizing and color coding to prioritize, setting up your view in Outlook, and system integration with your slate, phone and laptop.

Folks are encouraged to bring their laptop, slate or Windows phone and play along. The class begins at 2 pm May 19 at Houston Galleria’s Microsoft Store.

photo: flickr/Yandle

Market Square Park Outdoor Flick May 16: Airplane

Vicki Powers — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:38:13 +0000

Take a mid-week break to catch a movie under the stars! Market Square Park is hosting the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow tonight, May 16, featuring the classic 1980 comedy, Airplane. The outdoor movie begins at 8 pm. Blankets, picnics, and lawn chairs are welcome. Market Square Park is located downtown at 301 Milam.

photo: Katya Horner

2012 Discounts to Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Vicki Powers — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:29:50 +0000

Did you know Six Flags Over Texas is open daily starting today, May 16? If you’re heading to a Six Flags theme park this summer, you might consider saving big with the season pass and online daily pass. Season passes to Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) and Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington) are lowest price of the season. Here are some ways to save on your trips to these theme parks:

2012 Season Passes are $69.99 per individual or $59.99 when you buy four or more. This pass includes unlimited visits to any Six Flags park, free tickets for friends on special dates, and $300 in coupons for the park. This is a great deal considering a one-day pass is $56.99 for adults. NEW: you can purchase this in six payments.

2012 Play Passes are $56.99 per individual. This basic season pass includes unlimited visits to any Six Flags park. This is a great deal considering a one-day pass for adults is the same price!

Combo Season Pass, $99, for Six Flags Over Texas. This provides all the benefits of a Season Pass plus unlimited visits to nearby Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Arlington water park. Buy four Combo Passes and get one free Season Parking pass ($55 value).

$39.99 daily tickets online: Everyone pays kids price with this deal! Tickets purchased online are valid from opening day March 3, 2012, to September 16.

Season Parking pass at Fiesta Texas only, $55. Parking is $15 a day, so this can be a good deal if you go to the park often.

Save 5% on season passes and tickets online and at the park when you use your Discover card. Also save on park food and merchandise.

Purchase your season passes for Six Flags Over Texas Arlington here. Season passes for Six Flags Fiesta Texas can be purchased online here. Season passes can be used at any park, but some of the options are available for only one location.

Six Flags is a partner with Houston on the Cheap. I get a little something for sharing these great deals with my readers.

8 Free Country Music Downloads (iTunes Required)

Vicki Powers — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:29:15 +0000

If you love country music, you’ll enjoy this new mix of songs on the People Magazine Country Special playlist. Download songs from these American Country Music nominees for free on iTunes through the end of May. Here is the playlist:

The Band Perry, All Your Life

Scotty McCreery, Walk in the Country

Chris Young, I Can Take It From There

Eli Young Band, Even If It Breaks Your Heart

Montgomery Gentry, Damn Baby

Love and Theft, Angel Eyes

Brantley Gilbert, Country Must Be Country Wide

Hunter Hayes, Wanted

The promo code will load automatically if iTunes is already installed on your computer. Go online here for your download link. Code expires May 31, 2012.

Thanks to Cities on the Cheap for this tip!

Houston Daily Deals May 16: Heights Plant Farm, Toga Fun Run, Fitness 101, Permanent Make-up, Jimmy Loyd Photography Class at Zoo, Peli Peli, Heights Spa, Chocolate-Making Class, and more

Vicki Powers — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:55:13 +0000

Enjoy the latest daily deals in Houston. Save 50% or more on Houston restaurants, entertainment, and beauty. It’s a great way to experience Houston on the cheap!

Heights Plant Farm (Living Social) — $15 for $30 to spend on plants and gardening supplies at Heights Plant Farm. Located at 1422 Yale Street.

Toga Fun Run 2012 (VOICE Daily Deals) – $12 for registration for the Toga Fun Run 2012($25 value). Located in Clear Lake Park in Seabrook.

Jimmy Loyd Photography class at Houston Zoo (Groupon) — $49 for a 2.5-hour photography class for children 9-14 or adults aged 15 and older at the Houston Zoo (up to a $150 value). Kids classes are generally Tuesday – Thursday and adult classes are generally Friday – Sunday, with a few Mondays (May 26-August 12). Includes all-day admission to Houston Zoo.

Fitness 101 (Living Social) — $33 for one month of unlimited boot camp classes from Fitness 101 ($199 value). Located at 19106 Stuebner Airline in Spring inside NW Personal Training Center.

Little Bitty Burger Barn (VOICE Daily Deal) — $7 for $15 at Little Bitty Burger Barn. Located at 5503 Pinemont.

Peli Peli (Groupon) — $20 for $40 of South African cuisine at Peli Peli. Located in Vintage Park.

Permetika Cosmetic Specialties (Groupon) — $79 for permanent eyeliner on upper or lower lids ($295 value), $119 for permanent eyeliner on upper and lower lids ($495 value) and $119 for permanent eyebrow shading ($495 value). Located at 3355 W. Alabama.

Heights Spa (CrowdSavings) — $39 for Dermaglow microdermabrasion or collagen facial at Heights Spa ($99 value). Located at 440 W. 19th Street.

3 Sisters Quilt Shop Class (Living Social) – $20 for a 3-hour, Introduction to Quilt Making class at historic Rosenberg building plus ice cream sundae. ($45 value). Grab an ice cream sundae after class next door at Another Time Soda Fountain. Located at 801 2nd St. in Rosenberg.

Gatti’s Pizza (Living Social) — $13 for one large two-topping pizza, a two-liter soda, two small salads, and a medium order of breadsticks ($26 value). Three locations: 6882 Stuebner Airline, 415 Rayford Road and 12155 Jones.

Nail Mogul (Bloomspot) — $10 for manicure ($19 value), $19 for a spa manicure ($35 value), and $25 for CND shellac manicure ($35 value), and $149 for in-home nail party for up to six people ($349 value). Located at 6009 Richmond.

Chocolate-Making Class (Groupon) — $39 for a one-hour chocolate-making class for 2 at the Transformation Studio ($80 value). Guests create designer truffles, bonbons, candies, and bark. Located in Sugar Land at 3425 Hwy. 6.

Eye Institute of Houston (Living Social) — $100 for $1,200 to put toward Lasik treatment. Located at 6802 Mapleridge in Bellaire.

I am an affiliate partner with several of the daily deal sites — meaning they thank me with credit/compensation for sending folks to their sites.

Family Space Day May 19 at George Observatory

Vicki Powers — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:48:15 +0000

Here’s a unique experience for science lovers! Kids and adults can fly a simulated space flight to the Moon, Saturday, May 19. Wannabe astronauts will love Family Space Day for the chance to be on mini-Challenger missions aboard the Space Station Observer. NASA volunteers run the missions in this rare experience.

Missions times are 3 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm. Kids ages 7-9 will need an adult chaperone in the activity.

Purchase tickets online for $10 for adults and kids ages 7 and up. To purchase tickets, find the time you want to attend on the full calendar page and select it for purchase. The George Observatory is located about an hour south of downtown Houston at 21901 FM 762 in Needville.

100 Free Car Washes May 15 by Tidy Cat & PU Patrol

Vicki Powers — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:29:01 +0000

Tidy Cats and the PU Patrol will be helping Houstonian’s commute today by offering free car washes. With an average commute time of nearly 30 minutes and few public transportation options, Houstonians spend a lot of time in their cars. Dirt and grime can wreak havoc on your vehicle, and that really stinks.

Tidy Cats and the PU Patrol will help spruce up Houstonians’ rides by giving away 100 free car washes Tuesday, May 15, at a local car wash. The selected location will be announced on Twitter at noon CT May 15 by @PUpatrolMeg. Car washes will take place at 3 pm. Follow them on Twitter for this freebie dubbed #lifestinks! They also will surprise folks by giving away free gas cards at various locations during their Houston visit… Look for the big yellow truck!