How to create the cheapest weekend ever in Dallas-Fort Worth

by Sarah Blaskovich

We don't live in a cheap city. I've fallen victim to $12 martinis and too-expensive concert tickets, but going out on the weekends with family, friends, or kids just shouldn't break the bank. In fact, there are tons of restaurants and events just waiting for thrifty people to take advantage of their oh-so-cool specials.

So on Friday afternoon, I got $50 cash out of the ATM. That's all I was willing to spend on a weekend packed to the brim with nine local events. I'm pleased to say that I made it out alive with more than $10 to spare! Check out the DFW freebies and cheapies that deserve your attention.

Cruiser bike ride on the Katy Trail

Cost: Free

Time: 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 or 5 p.m. Sundays

First up on my ultra-cheap weekend was a free bike ride, offered by Fleetwood's Kit Kat on Mockingbird. The free trip is first come, first served for about 25 riders – including many “regulars” who know the owner and his lovable dog DeVille. Fleetwood Hicks, the laidback owner, welcomes friends and strangers into his colorful bike shop, casually offering sangria while those riding wait to have their seats adjusted and tires pumped full.

Then it was off to the Katy Trail, where our motley crew took a 10-ish mile jaunt down to Victory Park and back. We jammed to Fleetwood's tunes, strapped on the back of his cruiser, which was decked out with hot pink tires, a hot pink basket, and a zebra seat. Somehow he still looks like a badass.

The riders gleefully brrring their old-school bike bells when passersby approach. Most are befuddled why 20-some adults are riding in an unkempt group at 8 p.m. on a Friday. (They also offer free rides on Sundays at 2 or 5 p.m., depending on the season.)

“Most things to do in Dallas revolve around drinking, patios, or shopping,” Fleetwood tells me as we ride along. “This doesn't really center around any of those.” But it can – on some trips, the group stops at a bar or restaurant. And most Fridays after the hour-and-a-half ride, Fleetwood invites anyone interested to bike with him to Greenville or West Village for a margarita or late-night snack. There's one word for this chill, free ride: Rad.

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Friday movies at the Nasher

Cost: Free

Time: 9 p.m. on Fridays during the summer

For moviegoers on a budget, the Nasher Sculpture Center's Friday Night Films was a refreshingly cheap way to spend an evening. Last weekend's film was My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and hundreds of locals spread their blankets to watch the flick.

My favorite part of the evening was the neighborhood feel there in the garden, where movies are shown. Everyone seemed content to share the lawn -– or even the corner of their beanbag chair –- with those nearby. One word of caution though: They don't allow outside food or drink, and a small mixed bev rang up at $9. If you're truly going for a free Friday, skip the cocktail.

See other dates and times where museums cut their fees to free.

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Garage sales

Cost: That's up to you. Tempted by somebody's used stuff? Hit just a few to save some bucks.

Time: Most Friday and Saturday mornings. The earlier you go, the better.

I know garage sales all too well. When I was a kid, my mom and I would hit endless g-sales in search of stuff to fill our lake house on a budget. They're a great way to save on items that you want but don't need, and you're bound to discover some vintage treasures, if you're into that sort of thing. You can generally haggle for a deal if you don't like the original price.

Check out our weekly garage sale listings for a rundown of the sales close to you. You can also check out what kind of items they have for sale so you don't waste time. The garage sales I visited on Saturday morning didn't turn up anything worth purchasing, so I'll mark this one down as a great deal that kept me well within my budget.

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Tortas and tacos in Fort Worth

Cost: $2.90 (not including tax)

Place: Paco & John Mexican Diner in Fort Worth

It was only fair to get out of Dallas for at least a half day to see what kind of freebies Fort Worth had to offer. Twitter follower @laurenwsmith suggested a great little mexican place for lunch called Paco & John, which (like many mexican places) comes with free chips and salsa to start. Had to get something free in there.

On principle, I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu: $1.45 tacos. I got a pork taco and a vegetarian taco, both delicious. The portions were small, so two tacos made for a light but filling lunch.

However, if you're willing to spring for a $5.75 meal, the pork tortas were by far the best thing at our table. Stuffed with moist, shredded pork, lettuce, tomato, avocado, pickled jalapeno, and sliced onion, with black beans smeared on top, this mexican sandwich is serious bang for your buck. For more about this restaurant, read one of our reviews.

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Beer tasting at Rahr & Sons Brewery

Cost $5 for a pint glass and three fill-ups

Time: Saturdays at 2 p.m.

Talk about a party. It wasn't just my idea; a couple hundred other people decided to show up too, gathered in the hot-as-Hell warehouse. This cheap event is a sure bet for beer drinkers who want to try a sampling of as many as three of Rahr's pints. The whole thing is really just a bunch of standing in line, but for 5 bucks, it's worth it.

The medium-bodied Rahr's Red was good, as was the Summertime Wheat. We reference the wheat as one of our favorite summertime sips here.

Those lucky people who pull pints are largely volunteers. One guy told me this is his form of “community service,” and me and the good 'ol boys nearby had a nice chuckle over that. Everyone seemed unbelievably friendly, sharing tips on which beers were best or which line seemed to be moving the quickest. It was an exercise in marathon drinking at its finest: We got in line for beer, filled up, and got right back in line. When the line moved quicker than we thought it would, it was time to drink up. Nothing glamorous about this place; it was just plain fun.

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Cowtown Cattlepen Maze

Cost: Free to watch; $5 to go in the maze. I watched.

Place: Fort Worth Stockyards

Get lost or watch someone run in circles at this family-friendly venue. The human maze boasts 5,400 square feet of “frequently-changed wooden pathways.”

It was pretty hilarious to watch those young and old look up in confusion as they hit dead ends or came upon yet another wrong turn. All of us watching from the observation deck watched gleefully. No way was I going to give them any hints.

This cheapie place is one of many that you can find on our Living page. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll see a list of “places.” I say go for it. Get lost!

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Free dance lessons before a honky tonk concert

Cost: Dance lessons were free, but the concert cost $12 admission. Then, beers, wells, and wine were $2. I'll play it safe and say I had two drinks, making this event $16 total.

Time: 6-8 p.m. Saturdays for free dancing; concerts run most evenings

Let me first say that this event was disproportionately expensive compared to the others. But stay with me; I think it's worth it. The night at Gilley's on Saturdays starts out with free dance lessons from 6-8 p.m. (Judging from the crowd that came later, some of them could have used those free dance lessons.) Then, drinks are $2 from 8-10 p.m., which is generally when people start to show up for the 11 p.m. shows. Many nights, shows are as cheap as $8. It all depends on who's playing.

I mention this event because concerts are often a cheap thing to do if planned well. Some smallish bands play for free at a variety of Dallas and Fort Worth venues; others range from $5-$15 cover. In the grand scheme of things, that's a pretty good price for a live show.

Gilley's was a good pick for us because friends of mine were interested in seeing Texas country singer Roger Creager. The venue also has mechanical bull riding, an incognito poker table at the back, and pretty darn clean restrooms. Even if you're not the dance hall type, it's good for people watching.

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Breakfast or brunch at Fuel City

Cost: $1.40 per taco. I had two, so that's $2.80 (not including tax)

Place: Fuel City, 801 S Industrial Blvd

This little gem isn't such a secret anymore, but it's definitely worth mentioning. Their taco menu includes picadillo, chicken fajita, beef fajita, pastor, and barbacoa. They've also got some yummy breakfast tacos if you can make it there between 5 and 10 a.m.

The taco stand is actually inside a Gucci gas station, complete with a drive-thru window, a vast beer selection, and a pool off to the side. (There are always floaties near the pool, but I've yet to see anyone strip down and take a dip.) Take note: Despite the flashy store, this place sits on the side of the highway. There's nothing glam about getting breakfast at a gas station.

The tacos themselves come smothered with onions, cilantro, and jalapeno, with a side of hot sauce. The line is rarely longer than a 5-minute wait to get some of the tastiest tacos around, and for cheap.

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Bottomless mimosas at Bolsa

Cost: $10

Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sundays only

Bottomless anything can get tricky if you don't read the fine print. At Bolsa in Oak Cliff, it's one of the few places I've found that doesn't have a catch. It's just $10 for as many bubbly OJ's as you can legally -- or comfortably -- drink in their allotted four hours. They don't make you buy an entree, which is rare, and to keep my frugal promise, I didn't. (But if you're curious, one reviewer says it's good food. “More popular than a slutty girl on prom night,” in fact, is what they say.)

The Bishop Arts District is also a fun place to take a walk before or after your bottomless binge. If you're a window shopper, there are artsy funky stores galore. It's worth a trip.

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Grand total: $36.70

And thus concludes my cheapest weekend ever. Hopefully it's inspired you to stray from those spendy weekends and get out there to try some of DFW's more frugal haunts.

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