Want to join an exclusive club? Every month Close To My Heart offers you an exclusive My Acrylix^® D-size stamp set FREE or at a large discount. The stamp set is available to qualifying customers for that month only. It’s our way of saying thank you, and your way of getting fantastic deals on our amazing stamps!

Here’s how to get a fabulous deal on your very own Stamp of the Month! Email me at savingwithstefani@yahoo.com to place your order or to contact me. Have a GREAT Summer!

Museums that are FREE!....all summer long!!

Many museums in So. Cal. are open to the public without charge one Tuesday or specific day of the month. Here's a list of the FREE days: Make sure to bring 5-10.00 with you for parking, many are FREE, but many are not.  If you'd like to learn more, get directions, ect. you can click on the name of each event and it will take you to the website you're looking for to get more info. ENJOY!!

Also be sure to check out my page of Bank of America and Target FREE sponsored days.

I put them in order of the week of the month, so if it's the 2nd week of the month you can see what's open THAT week for free.

1st Tuesday of each month (FREE): Natural History Museum and permanent exhibitions at the nearby California Science Center, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Model Railroad Museum,  Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits  

2nd Tuesday (FREE): Museum of Photographic Arts, Historical Society Museum,  Los Angeles County Museum of Art- General admission to the permanent galleries and non-ticketed exhibitions is FREE to all. Also, After 5 PM, you may pay what you wish at the LACMA.

2nd Sunday (FREE): The New Children's Museum free admission on the second Sunday of each month, with extended Museum hours from 10am–4pm. Sponsored by Target, Every Target Free Second Sunday also includes a variety of special performances and activities for children. 

3rd Tuesday: Museum of Art, Museum of Man, Mingei International Museum, Japanese Friendship Garden, Museum of the Living Artist. In its La Jolla facility, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is free on the third Tuesday of each month; BUT the downtown facility is FREE daily.

3rd THURS. -The Orange County Museum of Art is FREE.

Once the fair opens you can visit on Thurs. at the OC fair are FREE for kids. 

4th Tuesday: Aerospace Museum, Automotive Museum, Hall of Champions Sports Museum

These Balboa Park attractions are always FREE:  If you're in the San Diego area you can enjoy The Botanical Building and Lily Pond http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/detail.php?OrgID=41, House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, Timken Museum of Art http://timkenmuseum.org/.  The Barona cultural Ctr and Museum at http://www.baronamuseum.org/.    There are four FREE tours of Balboa park park available, leaving from in front of the visitor center.

If you are in Old town San Diego here are a few places to check out FREE:  Seeley Stable Museum – Old Town State Historic Park  http://www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/history.html. La Casa de Estudillo – Old Town State Historic Park. http://www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/history.html  San Diego Union Museum – Old Town State Historic Park, San Diego County Sheriff’s Museum – Old Town San Diego.

The Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum – Miramar

The Marine Corps Recruit Depot Command Museum - Midway District

Omni San Diego Baseball Memorabilia – Downtown San Diego

Hard Rock San Diego – Downtown San Diego

The Philippine Library and Museum – Downtown San Diego

Rancho Guajome Adobe – Vista

San Diego Archaeological Center  – San Pasqual Valley

 

Gem and Mineral Society Museum - Fallbrook

Classic Rotors: The Rare & Vintage Rotorcraft Museum – Ramona

Here's a bonus to mark your calendar with too...Although it's a local best-kept secret, the San Diego Zoo is FREE to all on the first Monday of October (Founders Day), and children under 12 enter free every day during October.

Museums in San Diego that are FREE on select Tuesdays...and Thursdays.

A DAY AT THE MUSEUM

With many of San Diego’s finest museums offering free admission, there’s no better opportunity to see the best in artwork, history, sciences and more. Balboa Park allows free entrance for locals and active military to some of its major museums every Tuesday on a rotating monthly schedule. Also located in Balboa Park, The Timken Museum of Art, which houses masterpieces by European and American artists alike, offers free entry year-round. If contemporary art is your passion, visit the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s two locations on the third Thursday of every month. 

Reuben H. Fleet Center: free admission first Tuesday every month, 9:30-5. 1875 El Prado, 619-238-1233, rhfleet.org.

Natural History Museum: free admission first Tuesday every month, 10-7. 1788 El Prado, 619-232-3821, sdnhm.org.

Museum of Photographic Arts: free admission second Tuesday every month, 10-5. 1649 El Prado, 619-238-7559, mopa.org.

Museum of San Diego History: free admission second Tuesday every month, 10-5. 1649 El Prado, 619-232-6203, sandiegohistory.org.

San Diego Museum of Art: free admission third Tuesday every month, 10-5. 1450 El Prado, 619-232-7931, sdmart.org.

San Diego Museum of Man: free admission third Tuesday every month, 10-4:30. 1350 El Prado, 619-239-2001, museumofman.org.

San Diego Air & Space Museum: free admission fourth Tuesday every month, 10-4:30. 2001 Pan American Plaza, 619-234-8291, aerospacemuseum.org.

San Diego Automotive Museum: free admission fourth Tuesday every month, 10-4. 2080 Pan American Plaza, 619-231-2886, sdautomuseum.org.

San Diego Hall of Champions: free admission fourth Tuesday every month, 10-4:30. 2131 Pan American Plaza, 619-234-2544, sdhoc.com.

Timken Museum of Art: Tuesday–Saturday, 10-4:30; Sunday 1:30-4:30. 1500 El Prado, 619-239-5548, timkenmuseum.org.

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego: free admission third Thursday every month, 5-7. 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla, 858-454-3541. 1001 Kettner Boulevard, downtown, mcasd.org.

LONG BEACH -California Boricua Festival.

Aug.8, 2010- LONG BEACH -California Boricua Festival.  4th Annual Concert event includes Salsa, Reggaeton and cultural performances from Puerto Rico, New York and California. Puerto Rican food, cultural artwork and souvenirs being sold throughout the day, as the event explores the true meaning of "La Isla Del Encanto" The Island of Enchantment "Puerto Rico".

Location: Queen Mary Events Park 1126 Queens Highway Long Beach, CA 90802  Pre-sale tickets $20; Day of/ $25; Under 12 years FREE. Call: 1-888-506-5933.   fiestabuena.com

Free- Plein Air Artist Demonstration

Plein Air Artist Demonstration- Sat., July 31st, 2010

Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 /

Guests are invited to witness plein air artists demonstrate their painting techniques on the shores of Crystal Cove. The event is free and appropriate for all ages. Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. With its serene and semi-secluded coastline, Crystal Cove has long served as inspiration for local artists. The tradition of plein air painting – or painting in the open air – is still very much alive and embraced by the Crystal Cove Alliance as an irreplaceable aspect of the cove’s history and culture. More info: 949.494.3539.

Target Symphony in the Cities in Mission Viejo for FREE!!

Target Symphony in the Cities 

When: July 31, 2010 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Where: Village Green at Oso Viejo Park, Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA

Description: Community members are invited to grab their lawn chairs, blankets, family, friends and neighbors and attend the City's sixth annual Target Symphony in the Cities concert on the Village Green.

Led by Musical Director Carl St. Clair, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra will perform a musical repertoire ranging from patriotic medleys to Broadway show tunes.

Food vendors will be on hand along with a wine and beer garden. Parking and free shuttle service will be available at the Mission Viejo Civic Center as well as Newhart Middle School and the Thomas R. Potocki Conference Center.  Concert-goers are also invited to bring a canned or non-perishable food item to support the South County Outreach Food Bank.
For more information, call (949) 470-8440.

Schedule  
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM – Prelude in the Park: Art and music booths and other family entertainment.
5:30 PM - Musical Playground:  Children can participate in a conducting clinic with Maestro Carl St. Clair, and also learn about the many musical instruments which create the beautiful symphonic sounds of music.
6:00 PM - Pre-Concert Entertainment
7:00 PM - Pacific Symphony:  An outdoor concert by Music Director Carl St. Clair and the Pacific Symphony.  Seating is on the grass so bring your lawn chair.

Summer Concerts In The Park - The Raymies & Turn the Page - A Tribute to Bob Seger

Summer Concerts In The Park - The Raymies & Turn the Page - A Tribute to Bob Seger

Date: 8/1/2010  Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Cost: FREE

Location: Heritage Park: 34400 Old Golden Lantern Dana Point, California 92629

Your Fighting 5th Marines and members of the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group will be serviing food and drinks at this Summer Concert. So come hungry and buy some delicious food that will be sold at these concerts! All proceeds from food and drink sales will go to help our Fighting 5th Marines. Learn more at: http://www.danapoint5thmarines.com/node/82 

For a list of all Concerts In The Park, please follow the link to the flyer.  For more information, please call 949-248-3530.