$20 or Less: Bethesda Concert Series

Are you a music lover? Are you a music lover with a miniscule budget? Tired of investing half your paycheck into the latest "concert of the year" or over-sized festival? Well fear not, fellow budget-keepers!  Bethesda has something that you, too, can enjoy! They have a FREE summer concert series on Thursday nights!

I don't know about you, but I love when I hear the word "free." Free is just associated with awesomeness. Obviously there are sketchy free things that you should probably avoid like tattoos, haircuts, etc. But generally speaking, free = wonderful (you should see my coworkers and I bull-rush the break room when they put out free food). And I have to say, not only was the cost (or lack thereof) appealing, but the concert aspect was a draw in and of itself. I don't get to go to concerts all that often, so not only was it a welcome treat, but it was also something different to do - something fun other than going to happy hour or watching a movie in an apartment. So I rallied up some troops (via Facebook event of course - whattup awesome planning skills) and dragged a bunch of friends to Bethesda to check out last Thursday's performance - The 19th Street Band.

 

We had an awesome time. The concert was at this little outdoor area called Veteran's Park - which, if you're a Bethesda rookie like me, I feel the need to tell you ahead of time that it's not so much a park as it is a mini plaza. I was  taken a bit off-guard when it turned out to be a patio instead of a patch of grass, but that didn't change the awesomeness of the evening - it sort of gave it that outdoor cafe feeling. I'm glad I got there early and snagged a table, because the whole area filled up quickly - chairs, wall space, you name it.

I wasn't sure if the place filled so quickly because everyone else was just happy to enjoy a concert or if they knew that it was a good band performing - if it was the latter, The 19th Street Band did not disappoint. They were fantastic! To quote their website, "Their style can best be described as an acoustic mix of popular Rock, Country, Celtic, and Bluegrass songs" (the19thstreetband.com). They were really great performers and a lot of fun to watch. Plus they're a local band and have a lot of upcoming shows around the area, so I can't wait to see them again. 

As a bonus for the night, not only was the band fun, but the audience was something to watch as well. First of all, there were adorable little kids dancing to the music right in front of the band. But then there was another hidden gem - one of the restaurants in the park served beer, but you couldn't take it past a certain area on the patio. So of course, that's where all the dads were, rockin' out and clearly having a grand ol' time:

The guy in green was having the most fun of all. He was jammin':

 


If you're looking for something fun, different, and cheap, definitely check out the other groups performing for the rest of the summer. You can see the list of groups (and time and location) at Bethesda's website. Not from the area? Google your city and see if they have something similar! That's how I found out about these concerts in the first place - I just Googled "Bethesda, MD" and the rest was history!

$20 or Less: Everyone Can Afford A Little Natitude

It was early June. Two of my friends had recently gone to baseball games just a few days apart. I gazed into the distance with envy, dreaming of the day this summer when I would get to go to a game myself. But a tight budget and multiple June events demanding the attention of my wallet meant that even a baseball game seemed like a lofty financial goal. The summer always slips by so quickly, and here I was at the end of June without having gone to a baseball game. Oh how I dreamed of returning to America’s pastime, soaking up summertime with a game, a cold beer, and a suspicious yet oh-so-delicious hot dog…

Luckily, the Nationals had me covered with their amazing 5 Series.

 The Nats 5 Series was an idea born from pure genius. I love it, because it seems like it was created purely because the Nats care for their fans whose bank accounts may not be as fat as others. Sure, baseball games are relatively cheap to attend compared to other sports, but when you add up tickets and refreshments it can still get pricey. Not so with this epic deal. Last week my friend and I took advantage of series #2 of 5 for the season, finally making it to our first ballgame of the year. Needless to say, it was pretty awesome. 

So what's the main foundation behind the 5 Series? FIVE DOLLAR TICKETS, that's what! You want to know what else? FIVE DOLLAR BEERS. Given that we're talking about a sporting event, that's practically the bargain of the century. The beer is where the biggest catch comes in - you can only get particular brands (Coors and Miller Lite), at a particular stand, and before the first pitch. Still, who cares?! It's cheap! My friend and I only stuck to one beer a piece since we’re working off really tight budgets and had work in the morning, but if that doesn't matter to you then go ahead and stock up early, my friends.

Guess what – it doesn't end there! Along with cheap-o tickets and beers, an additional deal for that particular game was $1 hot dogs. Two dogs a piece to make for a filling dinner and we were all set. Once we totaled everything up (can’t forget the $2 purchasing fee for tickets), we got a ballgame, beer, and dinner (and a fun night out of course)…for only $14 DOLLARS! An entry-level 20-something’s dream…

There will be three more series this season. I will sadly be missing the next/current one since it’s going on this week and I’m headed out of town. But if you’re looking for a fun night out in D.C. then you should definitely check it out! Plus the deals change up, too. The $5 tickets and beers are consistent for each series, but some of the games also have free concerts, fireworks shows, and even food drives.  If you want to see the deals for the current series, check ‘em out here!

The Nationals definitely got it right with this deal. Keep it up, team! Your fans appreciate it!