I know this applies to a limited number of Spotobe users, but it’s a segment that’s near and dear to my heart. For today only, any of you who were born in the great year of 1983 can get free food at Isaac’s Restaurant and Deli. I’m not talking a free bag of chips with the purchase of a sandwich either, if you were born in 1983, you get a soup or salad, a sandwich, dessert and a drink on the house. Isaac’s is celebrating its 25th birthday, and they are graciously hooking up anyone who turns 25 in 2008. Dine in only. You wouldn’t walk into a party, take a 6-pack out of the fridge and leave, would you? (Wait, don’t answer that). If you haven’t guessed, that applies to me. 1983 was a great year. Just think what the world would be missing without the birth class of ’83. In addition to my sparkling wit, you’d all be deprived of the devastating changeup of Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, the boozy stylings of Amy Winehouse, the carbon dioxide produced by Nicky Hilton, the poetry of Juelz Santana and the, um, short game of Natalie Gulbis That would be quite the dinner party, no? I’ve got to say, when I go to Isaac’s I usually forgo one of their bird-inspired creations in favor of a simple corned beef sandwich with lettuce, tomato and onion. I think that makes me the only person under the age of 50 who eats corned beef. Anyway, even if you weren’t born in 1983, find someone who was, and go get a sandwich. You didn’t feel like cooking tonight anyway.

Rob Nease, promotions manager for HarrisburgatHome.com, has a few extra passes good for two people to watch the movie screening of Mamma Mia! WHEN? Tuesday, July 15 at 7:30 pm (Arrive early since a pass does not guarantee a seat at the movie – first come, first served.) WHERE? The brand new Great Escape movie theater at Harrisburg Mall WHAT? Movie screening of Mamma Mia!, rated PG-13. If you would like to see this movie and take a friend or special someone for free, please e-mail Rob to request one of the passes. Thanks Rob!

Summer is, for all intents and purposes, here.  Parks are opening and days are lengthening and temperatures are rising.  I have my season pass to HersheyPark.  I did my first deck-staining-and-cookout of the season on Tuesday.  Walking down Second Street on a Friday or Saturday night, you can just smell the Legionnaires’ Disease spilling out into the streets in cold bursts of processed air.  And today we fed some geese in the park (why do they hiss?  We’re giving them food, we’re their friends!).  So it’s here, June 21st or not.  And the season is already starting to take a big hit out of my checking account. Some of the expenses are inescapable:  meat for the grill (Karns’ $2-a-pound Freezer Pack really helps with this), admission to BYB and other events, obligatory drinks at the blogHarrisburg meetups every third Thursday at ABC Harrisburg, that sort of thing.  But as we stood transfixed by the pool-ball-clock-sculpture-like thing in Strawberry Square (which is awesome, who made that?) in-between Civil Service tests last week, it occurred to both of us that we’re easily amused and thus fairly cheap to entertain. So I ask you:  What’s your favorite free or dirt-dirt-cheap thing to do around here?  I’m sure we’ll be making lots of use of Knoebels, and biking around Riverfront Park and City Island, and probably more than one trip to the local state parks (Rickett’s Glen, though not local, is all kinds of awesome in and of itself).  What do you find yourself doing when the days are long and the budget is thin?

Holding steady with our tradition of blowing your minds with an awesome free show every year to celebrate the anniversary of Harrisburg’s most diverse and unique live music venue, restaurant and micro-brewery, Appalachian Brewing Company, we are pleased to officially announce Mike Doughty as the headliner for this year’s festivities. The show will culminate a day’s [...]