About Us Looking for inexpensive or free things to do in Denver/Boulder? Want to sample the area's restaurants, attractions, hotels and more without breaking the bank? Your guides Claire Walter and Laura Daily. show you how to get the best of the best for less. Know about a great deal, bargain or freebie?
Email us at info@milehighonthecheap.com
Subscribe By Email
Receive one email each day.
Disclaimer We post deals as we find them. But you know the drill: prices and promotions are subject to change at any time and without notice. It's always wise to call first to ensure a bargain is still available.
|
 So did you like the Oscars? Not many surprises but at least this year’s ceremony was entertaining, and no one wore a dress shaped like a swan. Barnes & Noble.com has a new deal on DVDs where you can save 30% on Oscar winners and nominees (Barnes & Noble loyalty members save even more). They include Best Picture winner The Hurt Locker, The Blind Side (with Sandra Bullock), Precious, Up, and Inglorious Basterds. Nominated films include Julie & Julia and Up in the Air (that’s the one with George Clooney). FYI — We’re linked you directly to Barnes & Noble’s ordering page using our affiliate link. Translation: MHOTC gets credit for telling you about the deal. We are upfront because a) our site’s rules require it and b) the FTC requires it. If you want to order on your own go to barnesandnoble.com.
 Laura dropped by the new Goodwill Outlet Store in Aurora over the weekend and it is indeed different from a typical Goodwill (or any other thrift shop). More than 50,000 square feet is filled with giant blue bins each piled high with items that have not sold at regular Goodwill stores. Basically you have to dig through clothes, toys, knick-knacks and more. Books are in separate bins and there is a smattering of furniture as well. Surprisingly not all the stuff is total junk. We saw a lot of new toys and fairly decent items that for one reason or another just didn’t sell within Goodwill’s normal 30-day window. The big difference from other thrift shops is Outlet World sells by the pound. Yep you actually push your shopping cart onto a scale. Under 19 pounds of stuff you pay $1.49 per pound, 19 to 49 pounds you pay 99¢ and so forth. Books are 49¢ each and glassware is sold for 59¢ per pound. Furniture, televisions and some electronics are still priced per piece. The other good news is there’s a ton of free parking. Open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 13600 E. Mississippi Ave. (just west of I-225).
 Both the Residence Inn City Center and TownePlace Suites by Marriott are taking rates to the mat and scoring a big win by supporting Colorado’s state high school wrestling tournament at Pepsi Center and all the event’s cheering fans. Discounts are for the nights of Feb. 18, 19 & 20. TownePlace Suites by Marriott rates start at $79 per night (plus tax) and Residence Inn City Center rates start at $99 per night (plus tax). Both hotels offer FREE breakfast and FREE parking. Those staying at the Residence Inn can even access Light Rail to get to nearby Pepsi Center. The easiest way to book is online using the two “rates” links above or call Jill Luere at 303-563-1928.
 The first 150 people visiting the new “My Market” exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Denver opening today, Mar. 9, at 11 a.m., receive a FREE reusable Whole Foods bag filled with wholesome treats for the family. Even if you’re #151 or beyond, plan on the opening ceremony featuringa six-foot challah bread roll and assorted Whole Foods snacks. The interactive My Market exhibit focuses on nutritional education and shows children the importance of making smart and healthy eating choices. And that’s priceless. Museum admission: under 1, FREE; age 1 year, $5.50; ages 2 – 59, $7.50; 60+, $5.50; museum members, FREE of course. 2121 Children’s Museum Dr. (Central Platte Valley, just east of I-25), Denver; 303-433-7444.
 Eldora Mountain Resort is the first out of the blocks with a bargain 2010-11 season pass good for the remainder of the 2009-2010 season and every day of the 2010-2011 season with no restrictions or blackout dates. Prices through Apr. 30are $359 for a renewal adult pass, $249 for ages 13-17, $169 for ages 6-12 and $39 for age 5 and under. Seniors 65 -74 ski all season for $219 midweek and $89 on weekends only; 75+ ski for $89 all season long. New passes are $10 more. The route to Eldora avoids I-70, and RTD buses go directly to the parking lot from Boulder’s Walnut Street Station. These season passes can be purchased online, by phone (303-440-8700) or in person at the ski area’s season pass office or at Eldora Mountain Sports, 2775 Canyon Blvd., Boulder.
 And the winners are: Sonia, Lori, Wendy, Shanti, Amanda, Jenny, Kathleen, Bruce, Meghan, and Jen. Congrats!
Barbie stars as Merliah, a surfing champion from Malibu. One minute she’s a normal teenager and the next she learns a shocking family secret: she’s a mermaid in Barbie in A Mermaid Tale. Merliah and her dolphin friend Zuma set off on an undersea adventure to rescue her mother, the queen of Oceana. While the DVD goes on sale March 9, you can win one of 10 copies MHOTC has to give away. With help from her new mermaid friends, Merliah™ saves the ocean kingdom. In the end, she discovers what makes you different can also be your greatest strength. To enter, simply leave a comment telling us about your own adventure or mis-adventure with Barbie. (Laura admits she cut the bangs of Barbie’s cousin, Francie and was shocked to discover they didn’t grow back!) Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 7. Well randomly draw the names on Monday morning. The comment period is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. Stay tuned.
 Panda Express has a coupon on its Facebook fan page good for a FREE single serving of Honey Walnut Shrimp, which makes its full-blown menu debut this week. The deal is good only on Wednesday, March 10 but this is one gimme that totally FREE, no additional purchase required. Honey Walnut Shrimp is the latest creation from Panda Express. The dish includes tempura shrimp wok-tossed in honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts. The small print on the coupon indicates that the offer is valid only “while supplies last.” There are a dozen-plus Panda Expresses in the metro area.
 Apparently Crown Publishing’s Read It Forward program was a little too popular. In the beginning readers could request copies of any of three soon-to-be-published new books each month for FREE, read the book when it comes (via mail) and then generate some buzz for the title by passing it on to a friend or chatting about it online. Now comes word that the first-come, first-served system is out and you have to enter to win a copy of each month’s three books. This month’s offerings are The California Roll by John Vorhous, Fragile Beasts by Tawni O’Dell and I Am Nujood: Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali. To enter for your FREE galley (that’s publishing lingo for a preview copy) you simply click on each book image (one entry per book) and fill out a short form with your address and email. No purchase is necessary. Quantities are limited. Random House has a similar “giveaway” while supplies last of Romancing Miss Bronte by Juliet Gael. Again you fill out a form to get the advance copy.
 “School House Rock,” based on an Emmy Award-winning Saturday morning cartoon series from the 1970s, cleverly teaches youngsters that learning about history, grammar, math, science and politics can be fun. It comes to the musical stage at the Arvada Center through May 15. The story line involves a first-time school teacher realizes he can win his pupils over with imagination and music. Tickets are $8 on weekdsays and $10 on weekends. Click here for a full schedule and online ticket purchase. 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada; 720-898-7200
 While music-school opera is not sung by current stars, audiences might hear a futue sensation without spending a lot. CU Presents puts on staged performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni on Friday, Mar. 12 and Saturday, Mar. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Mar. 14 at 2 p.m. at Macky Auditorium on the Boulder campus. Enhance your enjoyment with a half-hour, pre-curtain talk by Steve Seifert, former executive director of Opera Colorado, in Loge 1 before each performance. Tickets are $12-$36 for performances and are available online. (Just as a price comparison, Opera Colorado tickets are $30-$160 each). A FREE Brown Bag Preview of the production on Wednesday, Mar. 10 at 12 noon in the Imig Music Building provides an opportunity to join the cast for selections from Don Giovanni.
 REI’s online outlet site is giving an additional 20% off its already reduced prices on the highest-priced qualifying item for orders placed through Mar. 11. Included are apparel and footwear for men and women, camping and hiking gear, climbing gear, paddling gear, travel items and kids’ stuff. Also, click on the Deal of the Day button at the bottom left of the page. At this writing, it is for a Swiss Army Champion-Plus knife for $34.93 (regularly $78). The Deal of the Day lasts for 24 hours or until they run out, so you might find a different one when you click.
 The snow is melting and anglers are thinking about fishing. Here are some upcoming FREE clinics and workshops.
- Bass Pro Shops: “Get Hooked on Fly Tying” with Alan Reyes (beginners; reservations required), Tuesday, Mar. 9, 6:30 p.m.; Rocky Mountain trout fishing, Wednesday, Mar. 10, 6 p.m.; how to use fish finders, also Wednesday, Mar. 10; fishing for walleye, Thursday, Mar. 11, 6 p.m. Spring Fish Classic, Saturday, Mar. 13, 10 a.m. in the fishing theater. Some programs are limited to 10 participants. Click here for a complete calendar of upcoming events. 9790 Northfield Blvd. (north of I -70, east of I-270); 720-385-3600.
- Charlie’s FlyBox. Tying demontrations, all on Saturdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Luke Bever’s tying “Worm Show,” Mar. 13; Rob Kalanda’s tying demo, Mar. 20, and Rick Takahashi, Mar. 27. 7513 Grandview Ave., Olde Town Arvada, 303-403-8880.
- Orvis. Eric Atha on fishing on the Green River, Saturday, Mar. 13, 11 a.m. 2701 E. First AVe. (Cherry Creek North), Denver; 303-355-4554.
|
|
