Frugal fun around town

In today's Observer column, I reveal the winner of my cheap-things-to-do-in-Charlotte contest. A big shout out to Chris Keener, a Gastonia native who moved to Charlotte eight years ago.

A few week ago, in my column, I asked for five suggestions – each less than $10 a person – for exploring the city. More than two dozen people responded.

Here are some of the best recommendations and who submitted them. Thanks for playing.

From Crystal Skillman:
1. Visit the Mint Museum of Art on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., when it’s free.
2. Enjoy a day of people watching at Freedom Park.
3. Take free yoga classes at the Yoga Center on the second Sunday of each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
4. Visit the Charlotte Museum of History for free Family Day on Sundays.
5. Listen to chamber music at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church uptown. Free concerts are at 12:10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month.

From Elizabeth Cook:
1. Visit Julia’s Coffee on a Saturday afternoon for a wonderful cup of coffee and free live music by local artists. (This made the winner’s list too.)
2. Visit RiRa Irish Pub uptown on Tuesday nights for the pub quiz and a Guinness.
3. Go to an early afternoon showing the Manor Theatre (an art house theater now called the Regal Manor Twin).
4. Go to South Park mall... and window shop.
5. Visit two of the most interesting and unique places in Charlotte: The Levine Museum of the New South or the Raptor Center. Adult admission is under $10.00 per person at each place.

From Joyce Hannon:
1. Go to Latta Plantation.
2. Go to the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
3. Go to the Raptor Center.
4. Go to Freedom Park.
5. Go to McDowell Park.

From Jessica Houseman:
1. Dean & Deluca in Phillips Place - Free! They have free samples sitting out of their various goodies. Sometimes they have guest chefs there that give you free recipes.
2. Canine Cafe on South Tryon - a must for any dog lover and it’s also Free! They have a cute bakery display of muffins for your pooch! My dog loves their $0.99 Pumpkin Daquiries - a cute frozen treat. Visit on Saturdays from 2-4 (Yappy Hour) and the dogs get free treats when they come in. Kids and animal lovers also will love the dog-themed merchandise.
3. Freedom Park - Free! One of the best places to take your family/pets for an afternoon. Usually, there are some great local musicians practicing in the park and they have lots of clean, grassy areas for a picnic. Also - it’s has one of the few lakes that still contain water, even in the height of the drought.
4. Schiele Museum in Gastonia - $2 to $9. For the kid in all of us - has a science museum, planetarium and rotating featured exhibits.
5. Free/Cheap Live Music during the summer: Charlotte Symphony does Pops in the Park on Sundays in South Park,
Ballantyne Village has free music on weekends.
For the 20-somethings there is Thursdays in uptown, which has music at the square in front of Mimosa (Wachovia Building)

From Harold Keener:
1. Discovery Place
2. Mint Museum/Museum of Craft + Design
3. U.S. National White Water Center
4. Levine Museum of the New South
5. Arboretum at UNC Charlotte

From Katie Overcash:
1. Go to the Mint Museum on Tuesday Nights (It’s free)
2. Center City Alive After 5 (Every Thursday April 10 – Aug 28) Also free
3. Hike the trails at the Whitewater Center ($5 to park)
4. Eat at Mr. K’s on South Boulevard.
5. Bike the Booty Loop (It’s free)

From Roxane Javid:
1. Free Popcorn Tuesdays at the Manor
2. Festival in the Park -- a beautiful fall weekend of music, art, and various sorts of entertainment in Freedom Park. No admission charge.
3. Gallery Crawls. Visit various art galleries in NODA/uptown/South End first and third Fridays of the month. Free.
4. Bike, walk, or jog Charlotte’s growing greenway system. No charge and lots of exercise!!!
5. Movies in the Park -- free summer movies on Fridays at Freedom Park.

Got your own list? Add it here.