Bucket List August 16-22: Philadelphia, The Greatest City Never Sold

The usual summer goodies are all going on, and now is the best time to take advantage of them. Free movies, special events and more:

Tuesday, August 16: Tonight: The big deal to be at tonight is the Skillshare Launch Party. While it's cleverly disguised as a class on Skillshare, don't be fooled. But wait, what is Skillshare? Go to the Field House tonight from 7-9 p.m. to find out, or wait for tomorrow's entry revealing all. If unraveling the mystery isn't enough, there will also be $3 brews and $4 wine specials to get you out. The free movie at Dock Street Brewing will be Riding Giants (giant waves, not overly large people - though that would be almost as cool as dwarf-tossing). Enjoy it along with $1 off small pizzas and $2 off larges, plus $1 off select drafts. Also tonight? It's National Rum Day. Where are you celebrating? (Hint: there's a Philly Hub List). If you're looking for something completely free to do, Sunday's free Awesomefest flick got rained out: See it tonight.

Wednesday, August 17: Take advantage of Center City Sips while it's still summer! $4, $3, $2 beverages all over the CC 'hood - weekly party is at Perch Pub, 1345 Locust St., with free appetizers for the first hour. Plus, bonus: there's free parking after 5 in Center City! The free South Street Headhouse Square Indie flick is The Happening, and since you'll get a cozy view of Rittenhouse Square (well, it starts off cozy), plus Mark Wahlberg, you should probably go. Plus, I don't think I mentioned this: drink specials, everywhere! Just mention the Indie Film Fest. Also FREE in the city? Franklin Institute tonight from 5-8 p.m., enjoy basically all the science amenities gratis, courtesy of Target Community Night. 
If you're looking for music instead of art/science/film, head to Reggae Night at the Piazza at Schmidt's. Philadelphia Weekly's free concert series presents covers of famous original reggae songs - for free of course.In the 'burbs, head to Malvern if you're a lady - or a wino - for Wednesday Night Whinos. Located at The Pub at Wegman's, it's a good excuse to network, nosh on free appetizers and check out a fairly new venue. 

Thursday, August 18:  Hang out with WMMR at the Piazza at Schmidt's for the "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia GATHERING OF THE GREEN MEN and Viewing Party" from 7 to 9 p.m. If you wear green and you're there early enough, you can get a free Paddy's Pub shirt, thanks to Coors Light. Apparently it's "Sunny" night in Philly, because DrinkPhilly.com reminded me that Mac''s Tavern is also hosting a The Dude Hates Cancer party. $5 to enter, cool raffle prizes from 6-9 p.m. Summer oldies but goodies: Old City Social (6-8 p.m.) gets you $3 Hoegaarden, Skyy vodka and Don Q Rum drinks (celebrate National Rum Day a day or two late with Don Q!) and at Penn's Landing: the Thursday Night free movie is Twilight Eclipse. So if you're a tween girl, or want to act like one, check it out. Don't forget your team Jacob shirt. (That's right you Edward fans, I'm on the guy's side who doesn't wear a shirt.) If you're not a tween, watch "The Incredibles" on the Schuylkill River Banks instead. Starts at 8:20 in the evening! In case you don't know where in the banks to go, head to the Walnut Street Bridge. 

Friday, August 19: The Philly Geek Awards. The only place to be on Friday night. Watch the coolest nerds in Philadelphia score awards at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Hope you've got a ticket, or you are SOL- the tickets sold out on Monday! So, if you're unlucky or too cool for geeks, don't forget about summer's Friday staples: The Smooth Jazz Summer Nights. Fantastic Fridays at Penn Treaty Park.  Smooth Jazz tonight could be moved inside the Independence Sea Port pending bad weather. Should the weather hold up, you can also head to Penn Treaty Park for The British Invasion from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Also: Brandywine Polo Club's Friday Nights Under the Stars for night polo & live music.

(Better) Updates Coming Tomorrow:

Saturday, August 20: Brewerytown has some daytime action for you. Starting at 10 am - a farmer's market, then a community picnic. Bring a dish and share all the other ones. 

Sunday, August 21:  At 9 p.m., Awesomefest screens "Beauty Day," about a dare devil that possibly spawned all the "Jackass"es of our modern world, for free.

Monday, August 22: Try a Philly Hub favorite happy hour . Example? Patio 13 at the Marriott has Center City Sips prices if you can't wait until Wednesday. Verdad Restaurant & Tequila Bar at 818 W. Lancaster Ave in Bryn Mawr also has a 3-course, $20 menu on Mondays. I'm actually supposed to have surgery today, so I won't be imbibing, or eating, at a place near you but have one for me!

Not Your Grandma's Bingo Night

You’ve probably thought about going to "Bingo Night" since you discovered Atlantic City and alcohol, but you've probably never heard of The Underground Bingo Club either. Apparently every week, across the world, thousands of party people descend on cleverly disguised meetings of said club in cities as far afield (thats British-speak for far) as London, New York, and Madrid. People come to drink, dance, scream and shout - but above all - to play hardcore Rebel Bingo and win weird prizes. What started as a few drunken friends messing around with a bingo kit in a London basement has now become a global underground revolution.

On July 15th,  The Underground Rebel Bingo Club is coming to Philadelphia for one night, before they disappear into the shadows, and possibly obscurity, again. 

It’s bingo, sort of, but not like you’ve seen it before. They made up our own rules, because they don't know how to play ACTUAL bingo. This is Rebel Bingo. It's not nice and it's not fair. Do not bring your grandma. Find a cover story and stick to it, because you won't want anyone knowing where you are. In fact, the location is usually kept secret until the night of the party, but Philly Hub has the scoop: It's at the Blockley.

If you want to be a part of the revolution, seek the club out between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Friday. Tickets range between $4 and $10 - if you get them now, they'll cost less and you'll have more time to come up with your cover story. GET A FREE PAIR OF TICKETS, maybe, if you TWEET this link: http://bit.ly/p0gLBP. Random winner will know on Friday if they've won.

A night of dancing, drinking…….and hardcore rebel bingo. It involves markers. Like a highlighter party, but upgraded.

To be the first to find out how to get into The Underground Rebel Bingo Club - Philadelphia, check out the event on facebook or twitter.  

Just don’t tell anyone about it.

A Little Cuba for a Lot Less: 50% Cuba Libre May 23-26

***Update About Caipy Hour Below!***
(May 22, 2011 - Philadelphia) What's the next best alternative to closing when a restaurant is doing a complete overhaul of their menu? Offering the new menu at a discount of course. (Of course, for us that is really the best case scenario considering I don't want to blow my entire paycheck on one, very good, meal.) From May 23-26 hit up Cuba Libre for 50% off retail price on lunch/dinner and from May 27-31 enjoy 25% off the a la carte menu for lunch, dinner and their new brunch. If you need a refresher on why this is amazing for us non-financially-endowed people who still want some quality cultural cuisine, read about their gourmet food on $1 National Empanada Day.

Considering that it's technically legal for most U.S. Citizens to travel to Cuba, yet logistically impossible since you can't spend any money there - ah, loopholes - Chef Pernot of Cuba Libre has traveled there and back to bring some Cuban flavor to our doorstep (aka, Cuba Libre in Old City). While the menu is in the process of changing over, we get to sample it at half what people will be paying a week later. Suckas!

I'm going tomorrow, so look for a review on what to get tomorrow night and plan to go Tuesday. If you're too eager to wait, the $5 Caipirihna "Caipy Hour" and $4 bar bites are still going to be cheaper than the half price menu, so go between 5 and 7 p.m.  Put in your name for a table under the palm trees and grab your appetizer and $5 Cuban bevy (not the mojito!). The drink price will shoot up once you reach your seat.


Preview the menu on the Cuba Libre website or to the right. Another reason why Philadelphia is the Greatest City Never Sold? You can only get this 50% off deal at the Brotherly Love location of Cuba Libre - Sorry Atlantic City and D.C. That's why you need to visit.

REVIEW AFTER MONDAY: While there definitely were some snafus in the bar and kitchen (hence the 50% off), the ambiance and taste of Cuba Libre remains the same. However, I found the same thing to be true with new menu as with the old. Skip the sugary drink special, in this case Caprihianas. Instead vote for $4 sangria or wine - you'll get a full glass with the same kick and a lot more satisfying flavor. The $4 bar bites are what you'd except exceptionally small plates of exceptionally good Cuban food. I'd tell you about how awesome the new menu is, especially at half price, but it would have been four hours before we could get a table. Call ahead and make a reservation!

(Philadelphia - May 30, 2011) Thursday, June 2, Cuba Libre will be enhancing the standard Caipy Hour with Caipirihna tastings, Samba dancers, bongo drummers and Leblon giveaways - because who doesn't want a natural cane sugar beverage while twirling with latinos and listening to island music? If only they could bring the beach to us, in a classier way than the Bamboo Bar...