Blue Star Museums: free entry for active-duty military & families from today through Labor Day

Starting today, Memorial Day, active-duty military and their families can use the Blue Star Museum program to access many museums across the nation for FREE! Check out the site for more details. 

There are several museums offering the program in the Puget Sound area. If you're reading this on Memorial Day, the Burke Museum, Museum of History and Industry and Museum of Flight are all part of the program and open today. See the site for the full list of other Washington museums that are participating and open on other days throughout the summer!

Thanks to all who serve!

Free Seattle Mother's Day 2012 events

I say this every year: if anyone deserves a splurge, it's Mom. But the reality is you might be on a budget, or maybe you're planning a pricey meal, so here are some budget event options for the rest of your special day with Mom.

Here's a calendar of events, and I'll continue to add to it through the week!

Click to read more ...

Freeattle turns three! The year in pictures

It was three years ago today that I wrote my first post for Freeattle. For Freeattle’s past two birthdays, I’ve put up a list of what I did for free in the previous year.

As this birthday rolled around, I wasn’t so sure I would bother. It feels like I’ve had so little time for this site in the past year, with how busy I am at work, and I was in Arizona for two months. Had I even really done that much Freeattley stuff?

But per usual, once I started taking a stroll back through my photos for the past year, I realized there were a gazillion free things that I’d done. Well, maybe not a gazillion, but over fifty. 

Click to read more ...

Free stuff on sister sites

Check out some of these posts on sister sites Fresh-Picked Seattle and Seattle Natural Selection that might be of interest to Seattle Natural Selection readers.

• Free kids' book talks this week: "Leopard & Silkie: One Boy's Quest to Save the Seal Pups"
• Free wild food events this week
• The Freeno Report: this week's free wine tasting schedule

Two free events on reducing your environmental impact

Image via Flickr user Eric SanchezLooking to minimize your environmental impact? Here are a couple free events this week to help you get started. Tonight, the Alderwood REI will get you "Moving Towards Zero Waste." And on Thursday, head to the Woodmont Library to learn how you can reduce your home's energy usage and costs.

Tue, Apr 24, 7-8pm: Moving Towards Zero Waste! at Alderwood REI. “Become a day-to-day Earth Steward as you are inspired and challenged to Move Towards Zero Waste! Learn steps to reduce, reuse, and recycle - and share your own ideas as well, as Denise Mannino shares her journey of 'being the change we want to see in the world.'”

Thu, April 26, 7pm: Take Control of Your Home Energy Costs! at the Woodmont Library. “Worried about rising energy costs? Confused about what you can do to keep them down besides lowering the thermostat? Join energy efficiency expert Pam Worner for a lively discussion of what's really driving up your energy bills and simple, low-cost steps you can take now to save money!  Pam Worner founded Green Dog Enterprises in early 2006, after 10 years' management experience with construction associations convinced her that builders could use help finding practical, affordable ways to build green, energy-efficient homes. As a third-party verifier, she's worked with more than 50 builders to help them certify over 200 projects throughout the Puget Sound to Built Green® and other certification programs.”