The Fillmore Art Walk in San Francisco (Friday, September 10, 2010) is part of the 3rd Annual Independent Artists Week (September 5-11). The Art Walk, which celebrates The Fillmore’s rich art and music community, is curated by Robert Melton, an Infin8 Sync Network awardee, and will feature over 60 artists and 10 bands. WHAT’S THE [...]

The San Francisco Botanical Garden Plant Sales offer amazing opportunities to buy plants you rarely find at commercial nurseries or garden centers. The next sale is September 11 – Native Plants & Succulents, propagated by volunteers from the Garden’s own collections.  You can shop or just browse a wide variety of of plants, many exclusive [...]

The San Francisco Really Really Free Market (RRFM), run by a collective of citizens, is a temporary marketplace based on an alternative gift economy. No business cards, no bartering — just show up for the joy of giving (and getting) stuff. Like a potluck for stuff, everybody brings something and goes away with more. Bring [...]

Farmer’s Markets are starting up again all around the Bay Area and Napa Valley is no exception. But Napa Valley also has the Downtown Chefs’ Market on Thursday nights, starting May 20, 2010. At the Chef’s Market, you can shop for fresh produce and sample fabulous food from some of the best chefs in the [...]

Gift Cards seem like a great idea when someone just doesn’t know what to get you. The problem is, you can’t return a gift card, even if it’s for a store that doesn’t particularly suit you. Now there’s a work-around. You can now sell or trade your unwanted gift cards and even buy discounted gift [...]

Tuesday is locals night in in Napa Valley, with deals all around at Oxbow Market in the heart of downtown Napa. On Tuesdays, the shops at Oxbow Public Market offer locals specials “on the cheap.” Take a tour of the Napa shops, drink wine, listen to music, and take advantage of the discounts. Hog Island [...]

The Bay Area Free Book Exchange is a great way to recycle your old books and pick up some new books without spending a penny. Along with used books from people like you and me, independent book sellers donate thousands of books every month that haven’t sold. The Bay Area Free Book Exchange stocks the [...]

Among the many Art Walks happening in the Bay Area, one of my favorites is the First Thursday Art Walk in Calistoga.  It’s a great opportunity to get out and meet local artists, ask them about their work, and have an appetizer or glass of wine. It’s always fun to stroll around Calistoga’s downtown area, [...]

Here’s an idea that’s bound to be a better deal than it sounds: The “Give Two, Take One” swap and clothing drive on Saturday, April 17, at the Academy of Art University’s 79 Gallery. Surely someone will say a “give one take two” event sounds better. But who doesn’t have two things just waiting for [...]

Amoeba Music, in Berkeley and San Francisco offers free free MP3 downloads and free in-store live music shows and events, with videos available online if you miss them–free, of course. Sometimes you have to clear a shelf before updating your media library to reflect your evolving tastes. Amoeba Music is a favorite in the Bay [...]

[Archived] Downtown Petaluma’s Sidewalk Sale (Saturday July 24, 2010) is a bargain shopping opportunity and annual ritual for local Sonoma County residents and visitors from all around the Bay Area. This one day event showcases over 50 eclectic and expansive of one-of-a-kind stores and offers shoppers refreshing choices and alternatives to the mall. Participating stores [...]

Time to spruce up the home or get your garden going? Grab these 2 for 1 admission tickets and head over to the annual Marin Home Show in San Rafael on May 22-23, 2010. The Marin Home Show is a two-day event at the Marin Center and Fairgrounds in San Rafael that showcases new home [...]

The Annual White Elephant Sale in Oakland has been called the biggest and most fun rummage sale in Northern California. This free event takes place March 6 and 7, 2010. Put on by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board, the event packs a 96,000-square-foot warehouse with sporting goods, boutique items, books, furniture, art, electrical items, dishes, [...]

IndieMart is teaming up with the Alamo Square Indie Mart (Saturday August 21, 2010) to offer the best of both worlds: DIY and vintage. The event is free (except for the treasures you’ll need a truck to lug home) and will offer food, fun and DIY family activities, from terrariums to crafts to cookie decorating. [...]

The Macy’s Flower Show in Union Square goes on from March 28-April 11 with a list of free/cheap activities to enjoy, like in-store events, sweepstakes, cooking demos, and seminars. Something to do on a foggy April day in the city, perhaps. “Spring Is In The Air as Macy’s Union Square is transformed into a colorful, [...]

Adore books and the occasional free thought? Then take it to the streets … of San Francisco, that is, at the 15th Annual Bay Area Anarchist Bookfair in Golden Gate Park (March 13-14, 2010). While this particular book fair is sooo San Francisco, it attracts booksellers, distributors, independent presses and political groups from around the [...]

If you love sample sales, here’s one that’s perfect for those holiday gifts you want to get for yourself. You can get 50 to 80 percent off chic items at the Rock + Republic Sample Sale this weekend at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. Rock + Republic will slash prices on men’s, women’s and [...]

Here at Bay Area On The Cheap you hear a lot about fun things to do — for free or at a sweet discount. Our holiday gift guide is no different. That’s because one of the best ideas for gift-giving during recessionary times is to give people something fun they can do to get them [...]

Okay not exactly cheap, but cheap for Jimmy Choo. Starting November 14, the coveted designer duds will be available at H&M on Powell Street in San Francisco, an other H&M stores. Jimmy Choo’s exclusive collaboration with H&M lands in stores on November 14, 2009, including our own H&M in SF. Even if you missed the [...]

If you’re looking for unique gifts for the holidays, check out the Annual Holiday Craft Fair at Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance in Berkeley, CA. This art & craft show specializes in unique and unusual ethnic gifts for everyone on your list, in all price ranges. You’ll find food for sale while you shop, [...]