Taos On The Cheap

Baskin Robbins Buy One Get One Free Coupon – Buy one regular soft serve cone and get one free at participating locations till August 8, 2010.

$1 off McDonald’s real fruit smoothie or frappé with this McDonald’s coupon valid to August 15, 2010.

Sonic Footlong Quarter Pound Coney is only $2.99 for a limited time – no coupon required. It’s a full 12 inches of hot dog with chili and melted cheese.

Taco Bell $2 meal deals give you a burrito or taco, plus medium soda and bag of Doritos for…. yes, $2!

NOTE: Not all locations may be participating in all offers – call ahead if you want to be sure.

If you’re flying into Albuquerque to visit Taos, or you live here and want a deal on a trip away, get discount flights starting at $49.

The new Southwest sale gives a price break on flights this fall. You must book by August 5, for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between September 7 and December 14, 2010, and sale fares include two free bags.

We’re seeing these prices to or from Albuquerque for a one way fare:

• $49 Tucson, Phoenix, Denver
• $69 Las Vegas
• $79 Austin
• $89 San Diego, Kansas City
• $94 Dallas
• $109 Los Angeles, Tampa Bay
• $113 Salt Lake City
• $119 New Orleans
• $125 Chicago,

There are many more cities and you may find different / better fares. Sale fares are not valid on the blackout date of November 24. Make reservations for the Southwest Airlines sale directly with Southwest.com.

The Albuquerque Free Vacation Giveaway to win a 3 night vacation (or call it a staycation) closes on August 1, 2010 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Not sure why it’s by Eastern time – that’s 9:59 pm here in New Mexico.

Four sweepstakes winners each win:

• Three nights at the hotel of their choice from:  Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, Hotel Andaluz, Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, Nativo Lodge, or Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown.
• $200 Visa card to offset expenses such as gas, or shopping.

Plus the choice of an activity guided by Albuquerque experts, with options including:

• Fly in a hot air balloon with Rainbow Ryders and tour the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
• Eat at a local restaurant with dining diva Gwyneth Doland
• Play golf at Twin Warriors Golf Club
• Shop Albuquerque with Lexi Petronis (editor of Albuquerque The Magazine)

You can see all the options at the  Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau free sweepstakes page.

Entrants must be aged 18 or over, not an Albuquerque resident, and winners take their trip by September 30, 2011. Transport is not included.

Emeril’s Restaurant celebrates its 20th anniversary in New Orleans with a give-away PDF of Emeril’s 20th Anniversary Cookbook.

The free Emeril’s Restaurant cookbook only contains 11 recipes from Chef Emeril, but it’s 32 pages long, nicely illustrated, and all the recipes sound delicious, with a couple highlighting CHILE!

How do you like the sound of Tomato Chile-Glazed Lamb Spare Ribs? Or a Pork dish with Tamarind Glaze and Green Chile Mole Sauce?

Barbecued Shrimp with Petite Rosemary Biscuits sounds pretty tasty too (I have SO much rosemary growing, I’m always looking for new ways to use it.) There’s also a recipe for Banana Cream pie, and even a few cocktails!

How do you get your copy? Download the free Emeril’s 20th Anniversary Cookbook directly in PDF. It’s quite a large file so may take a minute.

If you missed our earlier post, also check out the free Martha Stewart Summer Grilling cookbook.

The great (and green) thing about PDF cookbooks is that they save trees and don’t clutter up the kitchen. Oh yes, and of course they’re FREE! 

If you’re looking for something fun to do that won’t break the bank this weekend, check out this fab event taking place at Angel Fire – and on through July 30, 2010.

Every Friday night in July starting this Friday July 9, Angel Fire Resort offers Movies Under the Stars. You can enjoy recent movies on the golf course – Angel Fire Country Club provides the 50-foot inflatable movie screen, movie-style surround sound, pleasant turf to sit on, parking, and even the free popcorn!

Here’s the free movie schedule:

• Friday, July 9: Monsters vs. Aliens
• Friday July 16: Sherlock Holmes
• Friday July 23: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
• Friday July 30: Avatar

You’re invited to bring your family, friends, lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets. Note that alcoholic beverages may not be brought into the venue (due to NM state law), but alcohol / brews are available for purchase.

All Movies Under the Stars start showing at dark. In case of last-minute weather cancellations or other changes, call the Angel Fire Resort Hotel at 575-377-6401.

Angel Fire Resort is located, naturally enough, in Angel Fire, NM, just east of Taos, about a 45 minute drive away. See the driving directions to Angel Fire map.