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Articles Tagged ‘art’

Enjoy free attractions in Charlotte

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

Charlotte hotels
Find a cheap airfare to Charlotte and explore this Southern gem. Charlotte, the largest city between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, is a mix of urban energy and Southern charm. Charlotte hotels offer some new, luxury rooms, and the bustling downtown boasts new skyscrapers and restaurants. The Queen City also is home to historic mansions, charming neighborhoods and a vibrant art scene.

Travel to Charlotte can be even cheaper when you take advantage of the city’s free events. Here’s a sample:

Free art: The Mint Museum of Art offers free admission Tuesday evenings from 5-9.

One art gallery district: Hit NoDa, Charlotte’s Historic Arts District, on the first and third Fridays of the month for the neighborhood’s Gallery Crawl. The many art galleries welcome visitors from 6-9:30 p.m. The restaurants, wine bar, live music venues and boutiques make this a fun place to stroll. NoDa is centered at North Davidson and 36th Street.

Another art gallery district: Charlotte’s Historic South End neighborhood hosts a free Gallery Crawl on the first Friday of the month. Enjoy the shows at the neighborhood galleries from 6-8 p.m.; then visit one of the many restaurants.

Live jazz: The Mint Museum of Craft + Design is the place to be on the third Thursday of the month. The museum offers free admission from 5-8 p.m. and free jazz music from 6:30-7:30.

Charlotte has plenty to offer visitors of all ages. If you’re a sports fan, the city is home to pro sports teams, many golf courses and NASCAR. The city also has plenty of family-friendly attractions and museums.

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Check out Portland’s art scene for free

Friday, August 8th, 2008

Portlandblog
Portland
is a popular travel destination because of Mt. Hood,the city’s mild climate and eco-friendly reputation. But Portland also has a big art scene. And you can enjoy it for free.

There are at least four FREE monthly art walks throughout the city, where galleries stay open into the evening — some offering free wine, hors d’oeuvres or music, some featuring appearances by artists — so people can see new art in a relaxed and informal way. Plan your Portland travel accordingly.

Downtown First Thursdays: About eight art galleries in the southwest part of the city near Pioneer Place. Easily accessible by MAX light rail. Close to downtown Portland hotels, restaurants and businesses. Typically from 6-9 p.m.

First Thursdays in the Pearl: Perhaps the newest, hippest neighborhood in Portland, featuring new condos, hot restaurants, brewpubs and shops. It’s also an easy walk from downtown hotels. If you travel to Portland, make the Pearl District a stop. About a dozen galleries participate. From 5:30 until 8 p.m. or so.

First Fridays: In the southeast part of the city; sponsored by the Central Eastside Arts District. Participants include more than 15 galleries and studios, plus other businesses that display art for the event. 6 – 9 p.m.

Last Thursdays: Along Alberta Street in northeast Portland, between NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and NE 33rd Ave. A handful of art galleries and studios, plus restaurants and shops, make this a lively stretch. 5 – 9:30 p.m.

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Cheap theater, nightlife at Philly Fringe

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Phillyfringeblog
Philly Fringe
takes over Philadelphia August 29 – September 13.

This celebration of theater, comedy, dance and art is the "unfiltered" companion to the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. The 16-day Philly Fringe includes performances by 176 new and established artists at sites across Philadelphia.

Philly Fringe tickets are really cheap. Most shows cost $10-$15, and several shows, including "24 Hour Comedy Marathon," "Chick," How Old Are You?," "Killer Bass" and "Media Addicts" are just $5.

And if you plan to see a lot of shows– either at Live Arts or Fringe, you can save even more. There’s a 20 percent discount when you buy tickets to two or three shows and a 25 percent discount on four or more shows.

And for some post-show nightlife, you can head to the Festival Bar at the southwest corner of 5th and Fairmount. With media projections on the walls, creative activities by local artists and music, it may feel like another Fringe show — and, there’s no cover.

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