Summer's almost over, your money's almost gone, and yet it feels like there's still so much left undone. What's a person to do?
We can't help you with the money part. And much as we'd like to, there's no way to expand the calendar. But we can point out what you may not realize: There's plenty to do in and around Charm City in the waning days of summer, even with nary a penny in your pocket.
Herewith, an itinerary for the thrifty, offering 50 no-cost activities to keep body and soul engaged over the next month or so. There's a lot to do, so get busy.
American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway. OK, you have to pay to get in, but walking around outside the building is free (and a visual experience in itself), and there's no charge if you want to go inside and visit Baltimore's funkiest museum gift shop. avam.org.
Annie Oakley Festival Fortunately, you don't have to be a gun-toting female sharpshooter to check out Cambridge's Annie Oakley Wild West Festival, set for tomorrow and Sunday on the banks of the Choptank River in a town the real Annie once called home. Organizers promise plenty of country and western music, plus arts and crafts, stagecoach rides, canoe excursions and lots of food. Admission is free. Noon-8 p.m. tomorrow and noon-6 p.m. Sunday at Governors Hall in Sailwinds Park. sailwindscambridge.com
Baltimore Free Store A place where everything is free — is this genuine nirvana, or what? The Free Store specializes in used, recycled goods that someone may no longer want, but someone else does. All they ask is that you don't get greedy, but only take what you genuinely need or want. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 7, 14 and 21. 1413 W. Baltimore St. freestorebaltimore.org.
Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive. Hang out all day with Matisse, Picasso, Rodin, Rembrandt and a bunch of other fabulous painters and sculptors, all without plunking down a dime. Free admission to the BMA just may be the biggest cultural deal in town. artbma.org.
Belly-dancing Cazbar Turkish tavernia, 316 N. Charles St., offers free belly-dancing shows at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Fridays and 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturdays. 410-528-1222 or cazbarbaltimore.com.
Belvedere Square concerts The Friday night concert series at Belvedere Square offers free music plus food deals from area restaurants. Remaining concerts include: The Apple Scruffs (Friday), The Remainders (Aug. 13), Barleyjuice (Aug. 20), Fins (Aug. 27), Bob Byer Band (Sept. 3), Sons of Pirates (Sept. 10) and Donegal Xpress (Sept. 17). Shows begin at 6 p.m. at the southeast corner of York Road and Northern Parkway. belvederesquare.com.
BET Health Symposium R&B singer Deborah Cox will be among those providing the entertainment for a day of health education, fitness, fun and entertainment aimed at African-American women and their families. Events run 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 21 at Reid Temple AME Church, 11400 Glenn Dale Blvd. in Glenn Dale, Prince George's County. Advance registration is suggested. 866-356-7348 or betfoundation.org.
Bocce in Little Italy. It's kind of like a cross between bowling and croquet, which means that even if you've never played bocce, it's easy to learn. Check out the courts at D'Alesandro Park in Little Italy (902 Stiles St.). Makes a fun spectator sport, too. bocce.baltimore.md.us
Book discussion The Towson Book Club meets monthly to discuss things literary. This month's book: "Driftless," by David Rhodes. 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Towson library, 320 York Road. 410-887-6166 or bcpl.info.
The Book Thing If Baltimore still likes to think of itself as The City That Reads, The Book Thing of Baltimore may be the biggest civic treasure around. Stop in, find some books or magazines you want, and walk out with them without paying a dime. Really. 3001 Vineyard Lane. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 410-662-5631 or bookthing.org.
Chesapeake Pride "Gay on the Bay" is the theme for the annual Chesapeake Pride Festival, set for noon-5 p.m. Saturday at Mayo Beach Park, 4150 Honeysuckle Drive in Edgewater. chesapeakepridefestival.org.
Cooking demonstration Area chefs will lead cooking demonstrations at selected Fresh Market stores throughout August. This month's featured dish: ginger-glazed wild salmon with edamame soba salad. Baltimore-area stops include: Baltimore, 2510 Quarry Lake Drive (Aug. 14, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.); Annapolis, 2504 Solomons Island Road (Aug. 21, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.). thefreshmarket.com.
Craigslist If you're looking for free stuff — and we're talking actual, getting-something-for-nothing stuff — there's no better place to look than Craigslist. Earlier this week, a quick search of the Baltimore area revealed a free sandbox, air mattress, weed whacker, hamster cage, even a rear-projection TV. Such deals! craigslist.org.
