Examples of Obama art.

This week it seems like there have been a lot of people walking around DC talking about teabagging and taxes. Want to hear something different? President Barack Obama will be speaking at a health care reform rally in College Park, MD on Thursday. Organizers are expecting him to take the stage around 12 noon but get there early to line up to get in. The stadium can hold up to 17,000 people. If CNN is counting, that number might get up to 30,000!

Now is your chance! This is your opportunity! With little to no investment, you can become a stuff collector. It’s easy. All you need to do is go to Craigslist free stuff listings. If you can arrange for pick up (Hellooo Zipcar!), on any given day you can collect anything and everything from free dirt to an antique upright piano.

Need furniture? It’s amazing how many people are more than too happy to get rid of their old Ikea shelves. And to think they spent time putting those things together.

When I checked the listings today, I also saw a free Bolt bus ticket to the Big Apple and….wait for it…. a free foosball table!!! Check it out, the owner is going to leave the thing out on some driveway in Germantown tomorrow!!

Garage sales used to be a rummager’s paradise. A truly dedicated garage saler would carefully scan the newspaper’s classifieds every Thursday or Friday, plan out a map and route of attack for the weekend’s yardsales, then get up early on Saturday to drive the station wagon from one junk shop to the next.

You, my lazy friend with the no attention span, need not go through this arduous process. The free world is at your fingertips.

I think it’s a great name for a store, too. As the New York Times, points out: ”[Frugalista] could become the nom de guerre of the “recession warrior.”

Most shirts are $5 to $7, as well as skirts, shorts, pants, and athletic wear. Dresses run in the double digit range, but don’t really seem to get much pricier than 22 bones.  The other day, I managed to pick up a cute, little summer strapless dress (in mint condition) from designer Ella Moss for $11 bucks (about a tenth of what the retail price would be). I couldn’t believe my luck, quickly paid, and left before they could throw it into the designer section. That rack is home to the big names with jeans from True Religion, Seven for All Mankind, and other trendy brands selling for around $25.

If you are willing to do your own digging, this small, unassuming shop may hold many treasures for you to find. Gentlemen, they have an extensive section for you, too.

Here are the details:

The doors open at 6:30 and the show starts shortly after 8 p.m. And of course, it don’t cost a thing.

Here are the event details:

Friday, August 21, 2009
12:00 noon
Location: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

The 75th Anniversary National Archives Expert Series features staff experts who will focus on archival treasures discovered among the holdings of the National Archives.

Today, Michael White, managing editor, Federal Register, discusses How a Bill Becomes a Public Law.

Event InformationLocation: Jefferson Room
Admission: Free
Reservations: Not required

General Information

National Archives and Records Administration
Hours: Daily 10 am - 5:30 pm
Hours are subject to change. Please visit www.archives.gov for the most up-to-date information on museum, exhibit, and event hours.
Admission: Free and open to the public
Address: On Constitution Avenue, NW between 7th and 9th streets
Metro: Archives-Navy Memorial (Yellow or Green line)
Phone: 202-501-5000
Email: reservations.nwe@nara.gov

This Saturday, August 15, you can catch the fine tunes these young ladies have put together at a daytime showcase at the 9:30 Club. Think School of Rock coming to you live.

Here are the details:

All are welcome to celebrate the 2nd Annual

Girls Rock! DC Camper Showcase!
Saturday, August 15th, 2009
Doors 10:30AM, Showcase 11AM-1PM
Located at the 9:30 Club
815 V Street NW, Washington DC

To get to Sugarloaf, you just take 270 to Comus Road. The journey takes 30-40 minutes from D.C. You will end up close to Frederick, MD passing through bucolic farmland. Nearby, you can also explore some of Maryland’s Civil War Trails.

Best of all, after a day of hiking you can head over to the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard (open 12 noon to 6 p.m. from Wednesdays through Sundays in the summer) for tastings.

Could you ask for a better day?

Free Russian Language course!

These people are having fun at Asylum. You could be them.

Featuring:
DJ Jackie O (KIDS, Sweatshop)
DJ Philip Goyette

Free all Night

“Whether it’s on the mic or behind the turntables, DJ Jackie O is ready to set the club scene on fire. With her punk stylings and hip-hop swagger, she’s rocked parties with Willy Joy (URB’s Next 100) in Chicago to Taxlo (voted best party in America - Blender Magazine) in Baltimore. From crunk hip-hop anthems to electro dancefloor stormers, DJ Jackie O is known to set crowds into frenzies. She’s already shared bills with heavy weights such as Scottie B, King Tut, Say Wut, Guns N Bombs, and Dave Nada. In dc Jackie O holds it down with a new monthly hit party(KIDS), and also brought back her other monthly ($weat$hop) with Trevor Martin. Recently she dropped a hard as nails mix (GRIND) which blogs have been fiending over.”

Washington’s very first suburb now has some of the city’s most striking historic architecture, but also reflects the area’s poverty and social problems. It seems appropriate that the Honfleur Gallery would choose the theme of “Beauty and the Beast” for their third annual East of the River Group Exhibit, showing works of artists from Wards 7 and 8. The exhibit opens this Saturday, August 1 (running through September 26) with a free reception at 7 p.m.

If you feel like heading over in the afternoon, before the reception, you can explore the wonders of Anacostia and its Community Museum on the free weekend shuttle offered by the Smithsonian, with pickups every hour from 10 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. at the Smithsonian Castle (1000 Jefferson Drive, SW).

Or, just jump on the Green Line to the Anacostia stop.