This story category covers movies, live performances, sporting events, museums, galleries, toys, games, hobbies, books, courses and general workshops.

Netflix Logo 2

Is It Smart To Sign Up For Netflix Or Not?

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Streaming free movies for a month is good thing, but what about paying for the service after that?

Netflix Logo 2SPEND SMART | Last Wednesday Bob Kronbauer over at Vancouver Is Awesome (a great website about everything that makes Vancouver the wonderful place it is) told me that Netflix had just launched in Canada and that anyone could instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed to their computers for free the first month and then just $7.99 a month after that. I was pretty jazzed. “That feels like a Frugalbits story,” I told him. “I thought you might like to know,” he replied.

So I signed up immediately. And then straight away stopped to think. I know lots of teens and twentysomethings who think nothing of watching movies on their computers, but I stare a computer screen all day anyway, and even if I didn’t I wouldn’t want to watch movies on one when I have a decent-size television in my family room. Read more

The Museum Of Vancouver Administrative Team

Truck & Moo With MOV’s Culture Crew

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Where to bike, truck, cheep and moo—from the Museum of Vancouver’s innovative culture crew.

The Museum Of Vancouver Administrative TeamThe most vibrant and exciting cultural institution in our city right now is one that’s old as the hills: the Museum of Vancouver, a.k.a. MOV, which has been around since 1894. Over the past few years, the team pictured here has transformed MOV into a local light by celebrating what is original about our town, with exhibitions covering everything from our very own rock stars of footwear to barbecue duels fought local Iron Chef style. This year, MOV’s innovation led to a Canadian Museums Association award for  “Re-Envisioning.”

Nancy Noble, CEO (pictured right), is a longtime museum professional and the driving force behind the recent changes at MOV. Joan Seidl, Director of Collections and Exhibitions (pictured left), has worked in museums since she was 14 years old and has curated dozens of exhibits. Amanda Gibbs, Director of Audience Engagement (pictured in the middle), is a specialist in branding, community engagement and new forms of storytelling.

Nancy, Amanda and Joan’s 5 free, cheap or worth it things to see, do or buy in Vancouver (and beyond). Read more

Fresh Air Movie Night in Vancouver

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Going to a Fresh Air Cinema event (or two) should be on everyone’s “Must Do” list for the summer.

Fresh Air Cinema screenFREE IS GOOD | In the 1950s, when cars and families were big but budgets were small, drive-in movies were the perfect inexpensive way to spend a night out. Now there’s Fresh Air Cinema, which is not just frugal, it’s absolutely free. Read more

The Cheaper Show Has Art Worth Every Penny

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The place to be this Saturday night is The Cheaper Show, the coolest, most egalitarian and original art-buying event in the city.

Collage by Erica Larsen, The Cheaper Show No.9

 

CHEAPER DOES IT | Do you have $200 burning a hole in your pocket? If so, there are plenty of fun ways you could spend it: mani-pedis at Holt Renfrew for you and your BFF; gourmet hot dogs (and then some) for a group of your nearest and dearest at Japa Dog’s new restaurant-style eatery on Robson Street. Or you could buy something that isn’t disposable at all, something your family and friends will also be able to enjoy for years to come: a great piece of original art. Read more

So Hot Out Of The Box: DVDs Cheap As Chips

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DVD collections from this online company are about as cheap as they come.

Stacked boxes of DVDsCHEAP + GOOD | Shopping online is such big business that it feels pretty safe. Still it’s a leap of faith to buy from companies you’ve never heard of that do not have a gargantuan brick and mortar setup like Staples or a solid online presence like Shopbop.com.

My friend Debbi admits to having felt slight misgivings when she ordered all five seasons (60 episodes) of The Wire from DVD Collects, an online company she had never heard of with DVD prices that were cheap as chips. Read more

Rememberance Day Poppies

Remembering

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Remembrance Day is the string around my finger that reminds me to meditate on all of the people—here and gone—that I love.

Rememberance Day Poppies

WHAT NOT TO MISS | What’s your favourite holiday? Christmas, Easter, Halloween? Mine’s Remembrance Day. I love it because it’s a plain day with nothing to buy and no baggage like costumes, candy, cards, parties or gifts. I love that it’s a cultural unifier, and about honour and sacrifice and all sorts of other things that are so much bigger than me. Read more