Nashville Public Library patrons can now get free admission to Cheekwood Estate & Gardens through the library’s Community Passports program.

It’s a busy week for Ms. Cheap with two of my favorite sales on my weekend calendar. Plus, it is also flea market weekend at The Fairgrounds Nashville.

Thirty-four years ago, it took Carl Teitloff months to perfect the art of smoking and seasoning meats for his White Bluff eatery.

Having a consignment boutique that offers “something for everyone” was Deb Pursley’s goal when she and her daughter Meg Webber opened their Green Hills-area Designer Finds ladies consignment shop 18 years ago.

When I was first out on my own, I wanted to do something very “adult,” like put some pretty plants in pots on my porch.

Like many Middle Tennesseans, our family loves visiting the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast for fun in the sun and on the beach.

The summer calendar, which was pitifully empty the last two years because of COVID-19, is loaded with free fun.

Outdoor symphony concerts have been taking place in Nashville since the 1950s, and now, after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus, the Nashville Symphony’s popular community concert series is back with five free concerts coming up this month.

If you are planning to go to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center’s wet and wild SoundWaves water attraction, it is smart to wait until the outdoor slides and pools are open because they offer even more water and fun at this $90 million water wonder.

The Ms. Cheap T-shirt Drive is back, with the sixth annual collection of shirts for the homeless community running from May 17 through June 6 with multiple drop-off locations across Middle Tennessee.

One of the things I most look forward to in May is strawberry picking time, especially when I can take our grandchildren on a berry picking expedition.

If you haven’t been to the Parthenon or Centennial Park lately, May offers some perfect opportunities to enjoy the history and see what’s new at this park, which is known as Nashville’s cultural and recreational centerpiece.

Lots of people believe that staying on a tight budget and eating healthy are mutually exclusive.

When I first wrote about ALDI in 1994, I was intrigued by the concept of a store that catered to the frugal minded by being cash only, offering mostly store brands and by having customers bring their own bags and bag their own groceries.

The Nashville Flea Market is making a comeback, albeit slower than the staff had hoped.

Beaman Park has had a spring “Wildflower Weekend” for many years, but this year, with more staff, this beautiful woodsy park has extended its planned wildflower activities to span a week — April 12-16.

Many of Granville’s visitors make the trip for a step back in time day of exploring the quaint town’s museums and historic sites, but more and more people are discovering the experiences of the nearby Wildwood Resort, which offers a laid-back waterfront complex full of nature, hiking and boating.

A night at the ballpark can cost you a bundle. But if you play your cards right, a Nashville Sounds baseball outing can be downright affordable, and a big hit with family and friends.

You know it is spring — or almost spring — when Tennessee State Parks announces details of its Spring Hike Day, with hikes being offered at all of its 56 parks.

With so many people taking a renewed interest in gardening and home landscaping during COVID times, the upcoming American Legion Auxiliary tree and shrub sale should get lots of shoppers.

I have good news for those who want to explore the new National Museum of African American Music but don’t want to pay $24.95 to get in.

Used book sales are a wonderful way to acquire inexpensive reading material, build libraries for children, stock school libraries and classrooms, and at the same time support our public libraries with our purchases.

With so many longtime Midstate restaurants shutting down due to COVID fears, staffing challenges and rising costs of everything, it is wonderful to see a veteran business like Hendersonville’s Center Point Pit Barbecue going strong.

The spring/summer children’s consignment season is cranking up.

My favorite project of the year is the Ms. Cheap Penny Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

If you want to see American bald eagles, Tennessee is a good place to be this time of year, with more and more eagle sighting sites at Dale Hollow, Center Hill, Radnor, Watts Bar and Pickwick lakes.

It is a new year and time to do some planning.

Shopping at ThriftSmart is always fun — looking for bargains on household goods, toys and clothing at this South Nashville thrift store. Books are also a draw since the Nolensville Road store has a particularly good, well-stocked book section.

One of my new favorite shopping destinations is Marathon Village.

Yes, the free “Tuba Christmas” concert is back in action this holiday season.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is for my daughters and me to take the grandchildren to the lavishly decorated Gaylord Opryland complex to take advantage of all of the free things to do.

It is so exciting to see lots of our favorite holiday events coming back to life this year as in-person offerings.

If you are looking for a holiday project, the Ms. Cheap Penny Drive for Second Harvest may be just for you.

As Annette and Mark McCreedy prepare for Christmas gift giving for their family, they don’t have to worry about the pesky supply chain woes that are haunting Christmas shoppers and so much of the retail world.

With the holidays just around the corner and entertaining (almost) back in vogue, buying wine may be on your to-do list.

When I want a cheeseburger, I want the old-fashioned kind — cooked on a grill or griddle with melted yellow cheese and dressed with a thin slather of mustard, and lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle, all served on a soft bun.

Does it seem like the cost of groceries is skyrocketing?

October is a great month for free things to do in Middle Tennessee.

With the cooler weather finally here, it is time to plan some fall walks and hikes with family and friends.

Fall shoe alert!

Nashville has so many attractions that warrant multiple visits in a year’s time.

Centennial Park will be bustling throughout September with music-loving crowds enjoying the “September Sundown” series of free Musicians Corner concerts.

When the Martin ArtQuest area first opened at the Frist Art Museum 20 years ago, I was thrilled to hear of a place where children could go make art with knowledgeable and patient art educators and not make a big mess at home.

The arrival of fall brings out the coupon books and cards that students and their families sell as fundraisers for everything from band and playground equipment to computers and student trips and other extras for their schools.

The back-to-school season always brings out a flurry of pop-up children’s consignment sales that feature gently used clothing, toys, books and equipment for infants through teens at prices well below their original retail price.

Volunteer: This does not have to be a big preplanned organized project but could be a last minute neighborhood cleanup that you do on your own or with a group. Or maybe you could spearhead a book drive or food drive, where you pass out flyers to neighbors asking them to put out books or non perishable food for you to pick up and donate to a food pantry or literacy program. And if you want an organized project, Hands on Nashville has a full calendar of volunteer opportunities. HON.org

Dollar General’s new $5-and-under pOpshelf stores are popping up all over Middle Tennessee.

This year the Tennessee tax-free offerings have tripled — not only including the usual back-to-school weekend exemption on clothing, school supplies and computers, but expanding to offer a full week of taxless shopping on food and a whole year of tax-free shopping for gun safes and other gun safety features.

Safari Fridays are back at the Nashville Zoo!

If you are looking for an easy and fun day trip, this Friday’s Cottage Tour and Bazaar at the Monteagle Assembly Grounds is a good bet.