Denver Deal: Denver Arts Week, Ski Expo, Santa Arrivals and More

Last year it seemed that there were several stores that were in a race to see who would be open on Thanksgiving. This year it seems to be quite the opposite. Stores are proclaiming loud and clear that they will NOT be open. Among the stores are TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Nordstrom, Costco, Sam’s Club, Staples, and REI. While you and the staff of these stores may have to enjoy Thanksgiving at home, you may have a chance to get your time with Santa long before then.

Denver Arts Week. November 6 – 14 is Night at the Museums and Denver Arts Week 2015. A week of events celebrating the city’s vibrant arts & culture scene. Events include Free showing of The Nutcracker by the Colorado Ballet, The Denver Art Museum (DAM) will offer free general admission during Night at the Museums on Nov. 7, 2015 from 5 to 10 p.m. This special evening offers visitors of all ages an after-hours creative art experience and access to 19 different exhibitions at the DAM. Galleries, Movies and more. There is certainly something for everyone – and it’s all FREE!

Free Days. Nov. 3 (4-8 p.m.) Children’s Museum of Denver; Nov. 7 Denver Art Museum; Nov. 13 and 14 Denver Botanic Gardens; Nov. 9 Denver Museum of Nature & Science; Nov. 13 and 19 Denver Zoo; Nov. 6 (noon-4 p.m.) Four Mile Historic Park; Nov. 14 Longmont Museum; Nov. 11 Molly Brown House Museum.

Get Organized. Simply Put Organizational Solutions for the Home, LLC has these awesome tips on how to best declutter your home. Simply Put is currently offering a special for Mile High Mamas in the Denver area, the first 2 hours of organizing support for the price of one, a $150 value for only $75. Additional hours are 20% off, or $60/hr.

Santa Arrivals. Santa arrives to much fanfare, activities and great kids fun at the following locations.

Cherry Creek – Friday, November 6 celebrate the arrival of Santa Claus for the season at Cherry Creek Shopping Center and the official lighting of the Ice Palace from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy festive holiday music from a live DJ, milk and treats and the Original Dickens Carolers. Also, beginning Nov. 6, in conjunction with the release of the The Peanuts Movie in theaters, Cherry Creek Shopping Center will offer a unique “Peanuts” holiday experience at the Ice Palace.
Park Meadows – Santa is ready for photos starting on November 7
Town Center of Aurora – Santa will be ready for photos starting at 7:10 a.m. on November 7. They are also offering a fun dine with Santa on November 29 from 4 p.m .to 6 p.m. You have to be a member of the Kidgets program and rsvp.
Outlets at Castle Rock – Join Outlets at Castle Rock for the official Holiday kickoff celebration! The party starts at 3:00pm with a FREE concert from Denver’s own Breanna Rubio, free hot cocoa, activities for the kids, and more! Santa will then make his way to the stage to light the famous Outlets at Castle Rock Christmas Tree and begin his stay in his cottage for pictures with the kids! Bundle up and join the fun Saturday, November 14th from 3-5pm!
FlatIrons Crossing – NOVEMBER 7, 2015 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM. Prepare to fill your bellies as we celebrate the arrival of Santa Claus with a FREE breakfast provided by Eggland’s Best! Plus, enjoy a jolly mix of festivities, featuring entertainment by the Jackman Brothers and other fun activities. Join us in the Food Court.

Colorado Ballet Nutcracker Market. On November 5-8, 2015, Colorado Ballet will host the first annual Colorado Ballet Nutcracker Market in a heated tent in Skyline Park in Downtown Denver at 16th and Arapahoe Streets. The market will consist of an upscale retail market, with additional artisan and high-end craft booths. In addition to the holiday market, Colorado Ballet will host other events and activities including a kick-off cocktail party, two Breakfast with Santa events, a food court with a variety of food trucks, and live music by local chorale and music groups. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children ages 12 and under are free. There is an additional charge for Breakfast with Santa: www.coloradoballet.org/nutcrackermarket.

CARVE Grand Opening. This new fast-casual concept launching in Denver is opening its doors on Thursday, Nov. 5. The concept, serving up mouthwatering barbecue, cooked low and slow, is donating 10 percent of its grand opening sales to the Denver Rescue Mission. In addition, the first 25 customers to arrive on opening day will win a full year of free Carve Barbecue! CARVE is also giving all opening day customers a chance to win free catering for their next Broncos party. All you have to do is join the grand opening celebration to enter. Anyone who comes in on opening day (Thursday, Nov. 5) can bring their receipt in on Saturday, Nov. 7 to receive 20% off. CARVE is located at 1000 S. Colorado Boulevard, at the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and E. Tennessee Avenue. http://www.carvebarbecue.com/

Ski and Snowboard Expo. The 24th Annual Colorado Ski & Snowboard Expo opens Friday, Nov. 6 at noon at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. Known as Colorado’s single biggest ski and snowboard sale, shoppers arrive to make purchases on equipment and clothing with discounts ranging from 40-75 percent off. The Expo is open from noon to 10 pm on Friday, Nov. 6; 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday, Nov. 7; and 10 am to 6 pm on Sunday, Nov. 8. Representatives from Colorado resorts and other western mountain destinations will be selling season passes and lift tickets. Adding to the festive atmosphere, plenty of interactive and kids activities are included with admission.Try the high ropes course that stretches over the Expo, an introduction to the combined sport of Nordic biathlon that involves a Ski Erg machine that simulates cross-country movements to raise heart rate and then having participants drop to the ground and aim at a target with a laser rifle. Admission is $15 for adults or $12 with a discount coupon available in The Denver Post or at any Colorado Ski & Golf location or at http://www.bewisports.com/expos/boston/buy-tickets#/select. Kids 12 and under are free.

King Soopers. King Soopers has been offering the Free Friday Download for a while now. They offer great products. In the past few weeks we have received free treats for our cat, protein bar, yogurt, fruit drinks, and more.

Free Bowling. Wednesday, November 11th is Veterans Day and to thank the troops for their service, Bowlmor AMF, the largest operating of bowling centers in the world, is offering FREE bowling nationwide. Every veteran or active military member that comes into one of over 300 centers will receive two free games plus shoe rental.

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Email me if you know of any great Denver deals!

Don’t want to miss any of Mile High Mamas’ contests and events? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter so you can forward these great deals to your friends.

If you’re on Twitter follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93). If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out.

Kids Eat Free Mile High Mamas has rounded up a huge listing of local restaurants where kids eat free or for a discount with a paying adult.

Denver Deal: Sierra Trading Post, Pancakes at Park Meadows, Taste of Colorado & More

When I was in Junior High my friend and I would go to the local pool and pretend we were mermaids. I think I foolishly added it to my then bucket list–“become a mermaid is what I had written.” I knew that was probably not going to happen but I did get to at least check “swim with mermaids” off my list last weekend as my friend and I were in the fish tank at the Denver Aquarium when the mermaid show was happening. I won the opportunity to swim with the fishes at the Denver Aquarium from a Twitter contest sponsored by Mile High Sports Magazine – but you can purchase your chance to swim (kids have to be 6 years old). I’m still pinching myself. Yes, that was real.

Taste of Colorado

Taste of Colorado will take place at Civic Center Park this weekend. The “Taste” is not just taste in food (although that is a giant component) there are also several different stages of FREE music (with BIG name bands/performers), arts & crafts and an amazing Kids Zone with activities and fun.

Session Kitchen

Session Kitchen wants to buy you a drink. You’ve earned it— from diaper changing to dorm room arranging and everything in between. You have the world’s most important job, and we can’t thank you enough for doing what you do. During Friday lunch, all moms who ask for the Wine Down Friday deal at Session Kitchen will receive one free glass of tap wine or prosecco.

Sports Optical

The kind folks at Sports Optical (4337 Tennyson St. Denver, CO 80212) are offering Mile High Mamas readers $50 off a pair of glasses with Rx – or $25 off a pair of non prescription. For real! No catch! My son, who is going into high school this year has asked for Oakley sunglasses for his Christmas gift – I will be heading over to Sports Optical to snap up a pair for him. If you are looking for something for yourself OR your kiddos – they will fit you with your prescription too!

Sierra Trading Post

Sierra Trading Post is having a Grand Opening on Thursday, August 28 (starting at 8 a.m.) at their newest location at University and Orchard. Grab deals like 70% off your favorite adventure brands and 20% off on Grand Opening day.

Children’s Consignment Sales
Twice a year, Mile High Mamas does a round-up detailing Colorado’s popular children’s consignment sales. Thousands of shoppers find bargains on kids’ clothing for newborn-preteen, toys, strollers, furniture, baby equipment, books, shoes, maternity items and more…all at 50-90 percent below retail. This week’s sale: Rhea Lana-Southeast Denver.

Park Meadows Retail Resort Pancake Breakfast

This August, Park Meadows celebrates 18 years of being Colorado’s only Retail Resort. To mark the occasion, the Retail Resort celebrates each year with an annual free pancake breakfast in the Dining Hall on August 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. with special VIP-celebrity “flippers” and live entertainment from the trio American Honey playing Colorado Classics. Commemorative gifts will be handed out to guests and prizes will be given away throughout the celebration. This event is open to the public.

ODYSSEO by CAVALIA
The internationally-acclaimed Cavalia pushes the limits of live entertainment once again with its second production Odysseo. Cavalia marries the equestrian arts, stage arts and high-tech theatrical effects at never-before-seen levels. A veritable revolution in live performance, Odysseo by Cavalia features 67 horses and 48 artists in a larger-than-life theatrical production that sends hearts racing. This breathtaking ode to horse and man, imagined by one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil, is an absolute feast for the eyes that succeeds in delivering the spectacular with soul. Odysseo by Cavalia will make its premiere under the White Big Top at Pepsi Center in Denver on Wednesday, September 17, 2014. MHM Readers save on Kids Tickets to Odysseo by Cavalia. Kids tickets for only $30 – Use Promo Code: FAMILY Minimum purchase of 2 adults tickets and up to a maximum of 6 tickets.

Celebrate International Bacon Day

This year, alongside bacon lovers near and far, the Farmland Bacon Club is celebrating International Bacon Day on Saturday, August 30 with The Great Bacon Treasure Hunt. One lucky winner in Denver will get a year supply of free bacon, a Bacon Club prize pack and cold hard cash. Even better, members of the Bacon Club are eligible to win a trip to the annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival in Des Moines Participate by joining the Farmland Bacon Club or following Farmland on Facebook and Twitter and keeping an eye out for clues beginning at noon on August 30.

Schwan’s Home Service

Schwan’s Home Service has provides frozen foods with convenient home delivery. Their foods are flash frozen at the peak of freshness and flavor. Choose from USDA Choice meats, wild-caught seafood, flavorful skillet meals, Grade A fruits and vegetables, or heritage ice cream, distinctive desserts and more. Foods to satisfy everyone, including family members with special dietary needs including: No gluten ingredients, Vegetarian, No sugar added, Heart healthy, Low calorie, and Low sodium choices. Schwan’s offers weekly specials, coupons, online hot deals and new customer special offers. Join the Schwan’s Rewards program and earn 5% back on every online purchase, to be used on a future order. MHM Readers Save $ On Your First Order at Schwans Home Service! – $5 off $25 Order – Coupon Code: JULIEN2; $10 off $50 Order – Coupon Code: JULIEN2; $15 off $75 Order – Coupon Code: JULIEN15

Ski Deals

We have posted a round-up of Ski Deals. Many of them start this weekend. If you plan on skiing/snowboarding check them out.

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Email me if you know of any great Denver deals!

Don’t want to miss any of Mile High Mamas’ contests and events? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter so you can forward these great deals to your friends.

If you’re on Twitter follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93). If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out.

Kids Eat Free

Mile High Mamas has rounded up a huge listing of local restaurants where kids eat free or for a discount with a paying adult.

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Email me if you know of any great Denver deals!

Don’t want to miss any of Mile High Mamas’ contests and events? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter so you can forward these great deals to your friends.

If you’re on Twitter follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93). If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out.

Denver Deal: Consignments, Natal to Nest and Free Day

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The day that we all pretend that we are Irish even if we are not. But I will say I definitely love GREEN – especially when I am saving it! So Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you – may you enjoy that corned beef and cabbage (it’s on sale everywhere!!!), the green lemonade (I have kids so we don’t have green beer we have green lemonade) and welcome to spring breaks everywhere. That is what St. Patrick’s means right?

Children’s Consignment Sales

Ohhh Mama! I love to get a great deal – one of the best ways to get a deal is to shop at consignment sales. You get great stuff at great prices – sometimes just pennies on the dollar. Here are TWO upcoming sales and go here for the full listing http://www.milehighmamas.com/blog/2014/02/24/denver-consignment-sale-2014/:

March 18-22. Rhea Lana-Southeast Denver. Tuesday-Wednesday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-8 p,m. Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (half-price sale) at Smokey Hill Town Center in Centennial. rhealana.com
March 20-23
. Just Between Friends of Denver. Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (25% off sale) Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Half-price sale), $4 admission Thursday, $2 admission Friday, free weekend admission; Parking is FREE for all shoppers at the National Western Complex in Denver. Print off this coupon and get free admission. denver.jbfsale.com Natal to Nest

Natal to Nest in Highlands Ranch knows how to nurture moms, family and community. From the moment you walk in, you know you’re not in a typical yoga studio. The center provides fitness classes, education, information & resources for those trying to become pregnant, already expecting & new families as well as massage and nutrition consultation. Childcare is available. They are offering MHM readers an AMAZING deal!

Unlimited one month $52.80, usecode MHMomas5280.New customers only.Valid towards-fertility, prenatal, mom&baby yoga chat, vinyasa yoga, barre, baby at the barre. Can not be applied towards child care. Check schedule for class times. Online registration required.

Bicycle Village Trade Up

This year’s Bicycle Village Kid’s Trade Up gets underway at the annual weekend-long Deals on Wheels bike sale beginning at 9 a.m. on March 15 and 10 a.m. March 16 at the Bicycle Village store at 2802 S. Havana in Aurora; the same opening times on March 22-23 at 2450 Montebello Square Drive in Colorado Springs and finishing up with same opening schedule April 5-6 at 2100 28th Street in Boulder. The program is designed to save parents on the cost for new and right-sized bikes for their kids. Adults can get previously rented bikes for 60% off (and Trek bikes for just $99.99).

Free Movie

See why Gravity won so many Academy Awards with a free screening of the film, free popcorn and free lemonade at the Bemis Library on Saturday, March 22, 2014 (6014 S. Datura Littleton, CO 80120). The film is rated PG-13.

World Water Day at Botanic Gardens

Celebrate World Water Day at the Denver Botanic Gardens with free admission on Saturday, March 22. Denver Botanic Gardens is a top-ranked US botanical garden, offering spectacular garden displays, outdoor art exhibits, gardening classes and workshops.

Spring Break Ski Deals

Are you looking for something to do for Spring Break? What about vising one of the ski areas because there are some great deals out there. One place to get inexpensive tickets is at Liftopia.com. (They have great deals here in Colorado and also other states if you are wanting to go somewhere out of state). At Keystone, kids ski FREE with a two-night stay (plus at Keystone there is a cool snow fort atop Dercum Mountain). If you are a skier/snowboarder – now is the time to get your season pass for next year (yeah, they started selling them already) with some great deals and the cheapest prices for NEXT year. Speaking of skiing/snowboarding – now is the time to secure your passes for next season. Most places are offering great incentives if you buy early!

Contests

I don’t typically write about contests (because it is not a deal everyone can get) but a friend told me of a couple you might be interested in:

I-70 Corridor and CDOT are getting creative to help unclog the weekend roadways to the mountains. To get people to consider traveling at off-peak hours, they are hosting a Take the Peak Time Challenge. It’s easy – people just post a photo and a couple sentences to Facebook.com/Change Your Peak Time about how they avoided peak traffic times (1-7 p.m.) The winner will get a free weekend getaway at Keystone Resort.
SOL in Cherry Creek is celebrating the new swimwear line with a sweepstakes to win a 5 day/4 night vacation to Riviera Maya. All you have to do is shop the store to enter (no purchase necessary).

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Email me if you know of any great Denver deals!

Don’t want to miss any of Mile High Mamas’ contests and events? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter so you can forward these great deals to your friends.

If you’re on Twitter follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93). If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out.

Denver deals: children’s consignment sales, Color Run & Spring Break ski deals

I try not to be on phone calls too much when I am with my kids (I only have them part-time since I’m divorced) – even my sister and parents have to wait until I’m not with them for any lengthy calls. Not only do I do this because I want to give my kids my attention – but inevitably that is when they need me most, have some blow out fight with each other or some other catastrophe. But, I have this friend who now lives in Arkansas (she spent some time in Texas). I find that my kids are more forgiving of needing my attention when I am on the phone with her – and they can usually tell it is her when a “short” call is somewhere around an hour. I end of talking like a Texan for several hours afterwards. But due to the length of the calls they only happen every six months or so. Do you have a friend that can pick up right where you left off after several months of not talking at all? Do you have a friend that somehow your kids “know” you need to talk to?

Children’s Consignment Sales

Ohhh Mama! I love to get a great deal – one of the best ways to get a deal is to shop at consignment sales. You get great stuff at great prices – sometimes just pennies on the dollar. Here are THREE upcoming sales and go here for the full listing http://www.milehighmamas.com/blog/2014/02/24/denver-consignment-sale-2014/:

March 14-16. Just Between Friends of Aurora. Friday 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. $2 admission; Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $2 admission
Sunday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Half-price sale) at Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora. aurora.jbfsale.com
March 18-22. Rhea Lana-Southeast Denver. Tuesday-Wednesday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-8 p,m. Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (half-price sale) at Smokey Hill Town Center in Centennial. rhealana.com
March 20-23. Just Between Friends of Denver. Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (25% off sale) Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Half-price sale), $4 admission Thursday, $2 admission Friday, free weekend admission; Parking is FREE for all shoppers at the National Western Complex in Denver. denver.jbfsale.com

Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops in are hosting Next Generation Weekend from 12n to 5 p.m. both March 15 and 16. Kids can attend the free workshop daily at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., fish in the stocked fish pond (and learn how to cast), get a free 3×6 KeepAmericaFishing Certificate and photo, free Kids Crafts each day (including keepsake magnetic fish craft) and get a Free tackle box (to the first 150 kids who complete a punch card each day).

Bicycle Village Trade Up

This year’s Bicycle Village Kid’s Trade Up gets underway at the annual weekend-long Deals on Wheels bike sale beginning at 9am on March 15 and 10am March 16 at the Bicycle Village store at 2802 S. Havana in Aurora; the same opening times on March 22-23 at 2450 Montebello Square Drive in Colorado Springs and finishing up with same opening schedule April 5-6 at 2100 28th Street in Boulder. The program is designed to save parent on the cost for new and right sized bikes for their kids. Adults can get previously rented bikes for 60% off (and Trek bikes for just $99.99).

Spring Break Ski Deals

Are you looking for something to do for Spring Break? What about vising one of the ski areas. There are some great deals out there. One place to get inexpensive tickets is at Liftopia.com. (they have great deals here in Colorado and also other states if you are wanting to go somewhere out of state). At Keystone kids ski FREE with a two night stay (plus at Keystone there is a cool snow fort atop Dercum Mountain). If you are a skier/snowboarder – now is the time to get your season pass for next year (yeah, they started selling them already) with some great deals and the cheapest prices for NEXT year.

Aspen Grove Shopping Center

This Tuesday, March 11th from 2- 5pm at the Aspen Grove Shopping Center is Community Appreciation Day. Aspen Grove will donate a portion of sales from participating retailers and restaurants to the Littleton Public School Foundation. AND TO THANK YOU for your support of Littleton Schools and Aspen Grove Shopping Center receive a FREE Gigi’s Cupcake* and see a FREE Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Movie** by simply showing your receipt dated March 11, 2014. *While supplies last, from 2-5 PM. **Movies showing 3/11/14, from 2-5 PM, limited seating available.

The Color Run

I have seen several of my friends post photos at the end of the Color Run (also known as the Happiest 5K on the planet). You know the run where they go 5K – start out with a white outfit and end up looking totally cool because they have been color bombed through the race. I said that I would do that this year. And found a discount – you can get the same discount and run with me! Save $5 off their registration (COLOR5OFF). The Kaleidoscope Tour 2014 has THREE stops in Colorado including Copper Mountain (April 19), Denver (July 19) and Colorado Springs (September 6).

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Email me if you know of any great Denver deals!

Don’t want to miss any of Mile High Mamas’ contests and events? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter so you can forward these great deals to your friends.

If you’re on Twitter follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93). If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out.

Denver Deal: IHOP; Ski Deals, Krispy Kreme, Color Run and More

I got a new snowboard coat, pants, base layers (the “long johns”) and sweaters from Nils Sportswear. Their stuff is super luxe – but I will tell you I feel like a million dollars when I’m wearing that outfit (and I actually notice that people look at me on the slopes – which may be an unfortunate outcome as I’m not that good). Do you feel different or walk taller when you are wearing something special? When was the last time you got out of your comfy mom clothes? When was the last time that you spent some money on yourself – just something that is special and will make you walk taller – even if that kiddo is weighing you down? Tell me what makes you feel good.

Free Days

In addition to the always free venues like Hudson Gardens and the Aurora History Museum on Tuesday, March 4 you can also check out the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield & Children’s Museum of Denver (4 p.m . to 8 p.m.) for FREE!

Children’s Consignment Sales

Thousands of shoppers find bargains on kids’ clothing for newborn-preteen, toys, strollers, furniture, baby equipment, books, shoes, maternity items and more…all at 50-90% below retail. This week is the Mothers of Multiples Society sale on Saturday at 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Douglas County Events Center in Castle Rock. Admission is $1. Go here for the full round-up: http://www.milehighmamas.com/blog/2014/02/24/denver-consignment-sale-2014

IHOP Free Pancakes

IHOP is hosting their annual fundraiser this Tuesday, March 4. Get a short stack of pancakes for free. They simply ask that you make a donation. The money goes to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Walmart to Go

Most of the time I write about saving money or FREE events – but I have recently found something that saves me TIME – and probably some money too as my kids are not bugging me to buy things I didn’t plan to purchase) with the WalMart To Go. Now you can order fresh groceries and every day essentials online and have them delivered to your door in temperature-controlled trucks. Or, pick them up for FREE at the store and have them loaded into the car. Plus, there is no add on fees – the prices are as they are in the store!

Spring Break Ski Deals

Krispy Kreme

I love daylight savings for more reasons than an extra hour of sunshine. Krispy Kreme is offering a FREE donut this Sunday, March 9 in celebration!

The Color Run

Whole Foods Tamarac

Whole Foods Store located at Tamarac has some pretty amazing things happening this March including: Every Saturday in March -Pancakes for the Planet!8:00am-11:00am Only $5.00 and 100% of the proceeds benefit the Whole Planet Foundation. Includes 3 pancakes, 2 pieces of bacon and cup of fruit. And a FREE cooking class Thursday, March 6th: Spring Greens 6:30-7:30pm. Greens are not only low in calories, but they are your nutrient powerhouse for your daily diet! Come and learn how to include greens into your diet! Class will feature a kale pesto, green lemon sorbet, and a green detox soup. Reserve your spot at customer service.

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Email me if you know of any great Denver deals!

Don’t want to miss any of Mile High Mamas’ contests and events? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter so you can forward these great deals to your friends.

If you’re a twit follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93). If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out

Denver Deal: Redbox, Free Days and Mr. Peabody Movie

Last week, MileHighMamas were invited to the Soybu Grand Opening in Greenwood Village. While I enjoyed seeing all the other ladies and of course shopping for a totally cute outfit (or two) that night, another thing I was looking forward to was sneaking into the Trader Joe’s in the same parking lot. I was surprised when I went into their store and saw that it was a bit like the apocalypse was going happen. The shelves were bare and I couldn’t really understand what all the hoopla was about. I have fallen in love with some amazingly different foods sent to me by Frieda’s Produce (things like sunchokes, purple brussel sprouts and the purple sweet potatoes) I guess I was sort of hoping that some of these items would be in that store – but they were not. So back to my weekly quest for awesomely great foods at Sunflower Market and King Soopers! Looking forward to the spring food fun!

Free Days

Saturday, March 1 – Denver Art Museum and Colorado Railroad Museum
Sunday, March 2 – Museum of Nature & Science
Monday, March 3 – Denver Botanic Gardens
Tuesday, March 4 – Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield & Children’s Museum of Denver (4 p.m . to 8 p.m.)

Children’s Consignment Sales

Thousands of shoppers find bargains on kids’ clothing for newborn-preteen, toys, strollers, furniture, baby equipment, books, shoes, maternity items and more…all at 50-90% below retail. This week is the Supertwins of the Rocky Mountains (STORM) sale on Saturday at 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Manning School in Golden. Go here for the full round-up: http://www.milehighmamas.com/blog/2014/02/24/denver-consignment-sale-2014/

Mr. Peabody & Sherman Movie

Do you want to see MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN before it hits theaters? Well click on the link http://l.gofobo.us/kYtbOnpW for your chance to download a screening pass for you and your family to check out an advance screening on Tuesday, March 4th in Denver! Seats in the theater are first-come, first-serve so PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY! MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN hits theaters March 7th! www.mrpeabodyandsherman.com.

Walmart to Go

Smashburger & Winter Park

When you purchase an entree and beverage at Smashburger you can also pick up your two for one coupon for lift tickets at Winter Park!

Redbox

Text DAYS to 727272 daily through March 3 – to receive a “surprise” (so far it has been a daily discount code for me).

Colorado Mammoth

Buy One Colorado Mammoth Ticket (v. Rochester) for March 1 – Get One Free.

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Email me if you know of any great Denver deals!

Don’t want to miss any of Mile High Mamas’ contests and events? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter so you can forward these great deals to your friends.

If you’re a twit follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93). If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out

Free fun: Denver-area cultural activities that don’t cost a thing

There are plenty of free things to do along the Front Range, but some are more valuable than others.

But wait: isn’t free always good?

Not really. Whether you’re dropping cash or time, you’re still spending something. Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase “time is money,” but microeconomic theory calls it “opportunity cost” — or the realization that choosing to do one thing necessarily crowds out the opportunity for another.

Some free things offer a better return on your time investment. And when it comes investing in arts and culture, free can be a powerful motivator to try something new.

“When cost is a barrier someone might end up saying, ‘Oh, that isn’t for me,'” said Ashley Pritchard, communications manager for the Denver Art Museum. “But we offer free (programming) because we want to be accessible to everyone. Free gets someone in the doors and if they can have a beautiful, inspiring experience because of it, it’s worth it for us.”

Different things are free for different reasons, although many of them are sales tools. Like supermarket food samples or free song downloads, they’re tastes of a bigger experience intended to coax consumers into a purchase.

But they can also be high-minded in nature, as when open-source software allows developers to collectively improve and distribute free computer programs. Or, in our case, when taxpayer- and foundation-funded groups offer free programming with no other agenda than educating or building a sense of community. Think libraries, museums and city-wide arts festivals.

“Some people talk about how they don’t come to museums because they can’t afford it, and that makes me so sad because there are so many ways to come experience art and culture around Denver for free,” Pritchard said.

We like free things, but we want them to be worth our time. With that in mind, we’ve compiled some of our favorite cultural activities that are otherwise worth paying for along the Front Range . For day-by-day events, visit denver.org/events/free-events.

John Wenzel: 303-954-1642, [email protected] or twitter.com/johnwenzel

Free days (and weeks) at Denver museums

The city’s biggest and best cultural institutions offer a different free day each month, so if you don’t mind the crowds, they’re a great way to check out the Denver Museum of Nature & Science or Denver Botanic Gardens. Keep an eye on Denver Arts Week (Nov. 1-9), which also offers loads of top-notch programming like a free Colorado Ballet performance at the Children’s Museum of Denver, or the colorful, art-driven Festival de los Animales at the Denver Zoo (with a free day Nov. 4). The Night at the Museums program during Arts Weeks also offers free attendance to a dozen institutions like the Denver Art Museum, Clyfford Still Museum, Molly Brown House and more. denver.org/ denverartsweek.

Colorado brewery tours

Even before the microbrewery explosion of the past few years, Colorado boasted Coors Brewing Co. in Golden, which remains the largest single-site brewery in the world. Park, then catch a bus to the complex for a guided tour of the labyrinthine operation and a few gratis beers afterward. More plentiful are the dozens of microbreweries along the Front Range, which offer everything from quick, one-on-one brewery chats (Wynkoop Brewing Co.) to full tours of fast-growing local brands (New Belgium Brewing, Oskar Blues) and, as always, free samples. Various times and locations. Download the new Denver Post Beer Guide app for iPad from the iTunes app store for recommendations and links.

A tractor gives families rides at the free “Lakewood Lights” festival just before Lakewood’s mayor ceremonially lights the big Christmas tree.

Seasonal festivals and parades

You don’t need to get lost in a corn maze or a haunted house to feel the rush of Halloween in Colorado. Arvada’s free Festival of Scarecrows (Oct. 12, arvada.org) offers a kid’s costume parade, pumpkin-picking, hay rides, potato-sack races and more. Denver’s infamous Zombie Crawl (Oct. 19) aims to attract a record-breaking and all-ages crowd of ghoulishly-costumed souls to the 16th Street Mall for its seventh annual parade of horrors ( eyeheartbrains.com). Closer to the big holidays, the free Lakewood Heritage Center presents its “Lakewood Lights” event (Dec. 6-7) with Christmas ornament-making activities, museum tours and more ( lakewood.org/holidaylights).

Denver money tours

Paying money to learn how money is made seems like a perverted sort of logic. Fortunately, the United States Mint in Denver still offers free tours of its winding and heavily-guarded halls. The process of making coins is fascinating but so is the history of this 150-year-old operation, which has its roots in the Pikes Peak Gold Rush and remains the largest coin producer in the world. Guided tours lasting 45 minutes start every 90 minutes and run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Reservations are required, and spots fill up quickly. 320 W. Colfax Ave. 303-405-4761 or usmint.gov/mint_tours. Also check out the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Denver branch’s free, walk-in Money Museum tour on the 16th Street Mall. Get a look at millions of dollars in the region’s largest cash vault and design your own digital currency (complete with your photo). 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays. kansascityfed.org.

Comedy nights

Denver’s hilarious stand-up comedy scene is more active than ever, and one of the benefits of these comics’ relentless pursuit of stage time is the bevy of free shows. And we’re not just talking open-mics. Quality showcases with Comedy Works headliners and nationally touring stand-ups happen both weekly (Too Much Fun at the Deer Pile) and monthly (Arguments and Grievances at Vine Street Pub, Three Course Comedy and the Narrators storytelling show at the Deer Pile, Propaganda! at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret). Visit 5280comedy.com for a complete list with locations, dates and times.