Casa Happiness

Update: The exhibit was mention in the Shepherd Express in July.

We went to the Portrait Gallery last night where our friend Joe Drinka's aunt had a showing of old Kodachrome slides from her 1957 honeymoon in Cuba. Free mojitos, plantains, and other Cuban-style food was served-free of course! :)

“Casa Happiness” a collection of printed Kodachrome slides of local attorney Judy Drinka’s 1957 honeymoon in Cuba. Ms. Drinka was 19 years old and had never been out of the country. Her new husband, Martin, was a camera buff who took many slides during their three-week trip.

There is such a thing as a free lunch...

UWM Alumni Association had a free lunch Wednesday sponsored by Beans and Barley-great healthy food at the right price. :) I went to a Summerfest release party that night and got a free ticket to opening day-who's going to spend $15 just to go and spend more money. :) Roger gets in for $3, but I'm not at his advanced age yet. ;) Friday night we went to an event for the Gathering (where Roger volunteers cooking once a month). They had sandwiches which I ate for a pre-dinner snack. Met my friend Dan and his son Doug at Sugar Maple and Dan bought some beers-thanks Dan! :) Dinner was at Transfer where we shared a pizza and a bottle of wine. Saturday was the Kentucky Derby which we watched at the Iron Horse Hotel. I got two free mint juleps ($10 each) because the service was so slow-I'll have to remember that trick. ;) Today, Mother's Day, I'm taking my mom to our friend Ned's house. Roger and Ned are cooking her favorite meal-spaghetti and meatballs. Knowing Ned & Roger it will be the haute cuisine version for sure!

Financial Literacy Party!

April was  Financial Literacy Month, so the party's over. :( WI is leading the coalition to financial literacy due to the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. Every Tuesday morning I listen to the Joy Cardin show on WPR. She and financial planner Kevin McKinley celebrated Financial Literacy Month last Tuesday. If I miss the show, I listen to her archives. He has great, common sense advice, and, most importantly-he's funny. Important to me, I guess! ;) I specially listen to advice on spending, planning for retirement, and budgeting.


Today I'm going to UWM to see a free Italian movie (with free parking and cheap popcorn), then over to our friend Ned's for a nutritious dinner. I won't tell you what I did Friday night since it involved spending too much money going out. Though we did split a meal at Emeror of China and did use a coupon yesterday for Indian food. I'm punishing myself this afternoon by staying home and blogging and doing schoolwork. I really should get out and exercise, but it's easier to sit inside and watch the cat sleep. ;)

Easter Weekend

Friday Roger went to a free wine tasting and didn't invite me! We got a free bone scan at Whole Foods before heading out-at least one thing not wrong with me, yet! We went for 2-for-1 drinks at a local bar where we know the bartender. Then out to dinner and used a Groupon. Saturday morning was a groupon for Brewed Awakenings on Brady Street-2 cappuccinos and a breakfast burrito. Saturday afternoon was a free tasting at Thief Wine in Shorewood. Brunch at Joannes' tomorrow. Not sure what else is in store. Hopefully the Easter bunny will bring us some goodies!

Another Gallery Night

Spring Gallery Night was a was washout-literally. It was pouring when Roger & I met up with our friend Ned at Blutstein Brondino Fine Art in the Marshall Building (Ned knows the owner). We had some free snacks while talking to the owners. No free artwork tho. :) We went back to the car-parking was free for the first hour at the covered lot in the public market. We drove over to Walker's Point Center for the Arts and met up with our friend Jeri-she knows the owner there. They had some great labor inspired block prints (an example below). After a quick dinner at MONA's-we know the bartender-we went back to the public market for a carafe of wine and then to the Art Museum for MAM After Dark-free for members. Our membership is much cheaper than paying each time since we go monthly-and it's tax deductible! UWM & MIAD art students were presenting their projects-very interesting work. Saturday was the free open house at the Peck School of the Arts-a once a year public open house. You get to see art students and faculty in their studios. At night we went to the UWM cinema for a low-cost Italian film (since we are staff) and then to the Pabst theatre where we saw Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) for free since Roger is one of the ushers there.

UWM Latin American Film Series

We went to the MKE LGBT Community Center monthly TGIF! party at BTW lounge and had some free appetizers and pizza before heading to UWM. BTW just opened recently in a great space in the Third Ward with high beamed ceilings like you'd expect. At UWM we parked for free in the Union-typically free Friday and Saturday nights and all day Sunday. The movie was the last in the free Latin American film series. Roger & I liked it, but a friend thought it was slow going. Of course, we had their cheap popcorn. $1.50 for a bag VS $5.50 at the Oriental-where I never get popcorn for the free movies I go to there. :) After the movie we went to the MKE Public Market for some wine and found we had credit so drank a carafe of Rioja for "free". Today I'm heading to Alterra and then hopefully West Allis Cheese Market's grand opening on Oakland-free samples, I'm sure! The WAC is having Super Saturday so will head over for freebies.

Bad Day to Go Fishing (Mal día para pescar)

Wine tasting, minor celebrities and more!

Friday night we went to the opening of Gold's Gym in Milwaukee. Free beer,  wine, and food from Sabor steakhouse in Milwaukee (I can't afford to pay to eat there). After our tour we got a goody bag (gym bag) with a towel, t-shirt, and a coupon for a free drink at Bar Louie. Also, as befits a grand opening, we saw some minor celebrities: Kato Kaelin of OJ fame, and American Idol contestant Stephanie Schimel sang.

After, we went to Waterford wine for a free wine maker tasting. Then on to another bar where we met up with friends and finally to Molly Cool's where I used a Groupon.

Saturday is free wine tasting at Thief Wine in Shorewood. After the tasting, we went to see Mauritius with our friend Ned at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre . We got rush tickets, which are half off. The play ended and we went to a friend's for a free dinner, and, of course, more wine!

Monday night was another meal at a friend's house-he wanted to use up leftover quiche, veggies and wine. Tuesday I met my friend Jeri at the public market. We shared a pita at Aladdin's and sampled freebies at the different vendors. Parking is free, of course. ;)