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 The St. Louis Golf Expo kicks off tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 with a discount for those who are 50 years and older. They get $2 off the $11 admission ticket. Kids 12 and under are FREE.
The event takes place at the St. Charles Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza in St. Charles.
All attendees get foursomes to Oak Terrace Resort and Spa, House Springs Golf, Country Club of Sugar Creek and River Lakes Golf Course and a free round of golf to Sun Valley Golf Course. In addition, they get a free one-year subscription to Golf Digest or Golf World. Front door freebies are presented by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The first 300 in the door also receive a two-pack of Bridgestone golf balls.
Hours are:
Friday, Jan. 18: noon – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 19: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 220 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Activities include a Pro-Am golf shop and testing and fitting area, Bommarito Cadillac putting challenge, Waddell and Reed long-drive competition and Mississippi Tourism Short Game Central. Experts from Washington University Orthopedics and Barnes-Jewish Hospital will be on-hand all weekend for tips on how keeping healthy and staying in shape.
St. Louis Ram’s cheerleaders will sign autographs and pose for pictures from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
101 ESPN St. Louis Sports Station Main Stage will feature free seminars on golf instruction, fitness and more. The seminars include tips on adding distance to your drive, perfecting your putt and improving your short game.
Check out the PGA Instructors and Health Wellness presenters scheduled to appear.
 St. Charles’ Christmas Traditions, a free month-long celebration of Christmas past, is underway.
The Festival runs until Dec. 24. Hours are 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays and on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
The event features Santas, carolers, white lights and greenery along Historic Main Street.
Check the website for a complete schedule of activities.
 Is the glass half empty or half full? Will tomorrow be the Apocalypse or simply the Winter Solstice?
Either way Sonic is offering half-price shakes–and theirs are made with real ice cream!–all day tomorrow, Dec. 21, 2012. Sonic says it’s in celebration of the solstice so we know what side they’re on . . .
Here’s the fine print: The deal is available for a “limited time” only and is not good with any other offer. And, they do say you need to mention the offer to get the discount price.
Whether it’s the Apocalypse or the Solstice, this is a great deal–drink up!
There are many Sonics in the St. Louis area including Cool Valley, Overland, Jennings, St. Louis, Kirkwood, Florissant, St. Charles, Manchester and Fenton. Find the one near you by clicking on the “Find A Sonic” button at the top right of the company’s website.
 Looking for some cheap fun for the kids to do for Halloween?
Check out these cheap make-it take-it events this week at Michaels:
- Thursday, Oct. 25, 6-8 p.m., Halloween visor/mask
- Friday, 6-8 p.m., clay pot decorating
- Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., duck tape pail or tote.
Purchase of the visor, clay pot and pail or tote is required. The events are suitable for children age 2 and up.
In the St. Louis area, Michael’s stores are located in Ballwin, Brentwood, Chesterfield, Des Peres, Fenton, Florissant, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St. Louis and Wentzville.
Want to eat out and save some bread?
Use any of the following coupons and you can get a free item or a discounted price on the food you buy:
CHEVY’s–Now through Sunday save $5 on a $20 or more food purchase at Chevy’s Fresh Mex through Sunday, Sept. 30. In the St. Louis area there are Chevy’s in Olivette, Hazelwood and St. Charles, MO.
BURGER KING--Buy one chicken sandwich, get another free at Burger King from the company’s Facebook page.
BOSTON MARKET–Get a free family dessert with a family meal purchase at Boston Market through Oct. 17. In the St. Louis area, there are Boston Markets in Richmond Heights and Fairview Heights, Ill.
CHILI’S–Get free chips and Queso at Chili’s through Sunday when you join the restaurant’s email club. In the St. Louis area, there are Chili’s in Kirkwood, Florissant and St. Louis.
DENNY’S–Get 20 percent off your entire purchase at Denny’s through Sunday.
EINSTEIN BROTHERS BAGELS–Get a free bagel with beverage purchase or a Buy One Lunch Sandwich, Get One Free through Sunday.
HOULIHAN’S–Get $10 off a $30 or greater purchase at Houlihan’s through Sunday. In the St. Louis area there are Houlihan’s in Brentwood, Chesterfield and Creve Coeur.
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE–Get $5 off two entrees and buy one, get one free lunch entree through Oct. 25. (Facebook required) In the St. Louis area there are Outback Steakhouses in Hazelwood, St. Charles, South County, Ellisville, O’Fallon and Swansea, Ill.
SMOKEY BONES–Get $5 off a $15 purchase at Smokey Bones through Sunday. In the St. Louis area, there is a Smokey Bones in Fairview Heights, Ill.
WAFFLE HOUSE–Get a free waffle at Waffle House through Sunday.
WHITE CASTLE–Get a free 16-ounce coffee with any purchase at White Castle through Oct. 31, 2012.
 So many great things to do . . .so little time! That’s the story of life in the Lou.
There are so many free and cheap things to do this weekend in St. Louis, it’s an almost impossible task to narrow the best ones to just a few but here are our best bets this weekend:
Great Forest Park Balloon Race
Greentree Festival in Kirkwood
Moonlight Ramble through the streets of downtown St. Louis
Smash Band Opens Celebrate St. Peters
Missouri Mosaics Festival in St. Charles
Old Webster Jazz &Blues Festival in Webster Groves
 The Smash Bands opens Celebrate St. Peters, the city’s annual party at the lake from 7 to 11 p.m. tonight, Friday, Sept. 14. The weekend’s event happens at 370 Lakeside Park. Parking is free and shuttle buses will transport visitors to the site.
St. Peters is in St. Charles County just west of St. Louis.
The band’s appearance is sponsored by Mid Rivers News Magazine, KFAV and 100.7 FM.
On Saturday, KSHE radio will present country rock legends Poco and Pure Prairie League. Poco will take the Main Stage around 7:30 p.m. Around 9 p.m. there will then be brief intermission for fireworks around followed by Pure Prairie League’s performance.
A variety of music acts playing polka, country, rock and samba will appear on the Celebrate Stage while Joy Nack will bring her “Live Your Dreams” puppet show to the Community News Family Stage at noon. From 1 to 4 p.m. on the Community News Family Stage the Patt Holt singers will presentfamily entertainment with a Disney theme.
Carnival rides and inflatables have been added this year. Tickets or unlimited ride wristbands may be purchased.
Home Depot will offer a free kids workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids will make a project to take home.
Bass Pro Shops will hold a free kids fishing event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Bass Pro Shops will provide bait but kids are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles.
Enjoy some old-time crafts and free activities at the former Pink Plantation, a historic 1830s homestead in Wentzville, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15.
The event which is free, is sponsored by the St. Charles Parks Dept. It will feature demonstrations by blacksmith Ken Jensen of Butcher Creek Forge in Moscow Mills.
The homestead will be open for tours during the event.
 Historic St. Charles’ North Main Street is where you’ll find the 18th Annual MOSAICS Missouri Festival this weekend.
The event is free and happens 4-9 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 14; 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 15 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 16.
The festival is a family-friendly weekend event with art, entertainment and the opportunity for children to create their own artwork.
Here’s what you’ll find there:
- Nearly 120juried and invited artists from all over the country who will be exhibiting and selling their works. Paintings, sculptures, photography, glass, jewelry, metal and woodworking are some of the media represented.
- Musical and performing artists from across the region will perform.
- Kids can get hands-on art experience at the Children’s Village, located on the 300 block of North Main Street.
- Regional art teachers, students and school districts will be recoginized for their arts programming and their students and their teachers will exhibit their works at the Mentor Me Exhibition.
St. Charles is located across the Missouri River a short drive from St. Louis.
 No need to head out of town this Labor Day weekend!
You’ll find a ton of quality events happening right here in the Lou—and most of them are free for taking or cheap thrills that will cost you only a few bucks.
From a trip to Greece via the St. Nicholas Greek Festival to a celebration of International Vulture Awareness Day at the World Bird Sanctuary to a festival in Forest Park honoring our troops and veterans, you’ll find it a challenge to fit everything you’d like to do into just one weekend—even if it’s a three-day one.
Here’s a sampling of what to do this weekend for free in St. Louis this weekend:
And a few cheap deals:
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The St. Louis Golf Expo kicks off tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 with a discount for those who are 50 years and older. They get $2 off the $11 admission ticket. Kids 12 and under are FREE.
