refreshing life and living refreshed

So upon moving here, I knew cash was going to be a little tight (if only I could say this about my abs…). With this in mind, I set out seeking all volunteer or freebie opps so that my flow of fun wouldn’t stop with my cash flow.

In the next couple of weeks, look for different articles titles “Freebie ‘Frisco Fun” for ideas of ways to get your fun on without breaking (or tapping into) your bank.

Cheers ‘Frisco!

‘Frisco Free Living: Wine Sampling at Deer Ridge Vineyards

How did I find it? Before I moved, I spread my passion for wine to my aunt and uncle who live in the East Bay. It just so happened that my uncle volunteers at a local vineyard and after a little bit of coaxing, the owners of the vineyard extended an opportunity to volunteer.

Requirements? Passion for wine. It also helped that I took a wine course in college, however, in all honesty, I took the class just so I could say that I got an “A” getting drunk in class. Pathetic, I know.

What exactly did and do I do? Bimonthly I sample 9-12 different wines to vineyard visitors and walk them through the wines. This usually includes telling a story about each wine’s production, the vineyard, or any particular story that sets the wine apart from others.   

Where? Deer Ridge Vineyards. Livermore, CA.

Bonus? To lead tastings, I must know the stories and the flaovrs of every wine. So starting every session I taste each wine that will be served, including their limited editions of wines for wine club members, like the Chocolate Silk desert wine (Move over “better than sex cake”, there’s a new temptress in town. And aside from this, each time I learn more and more about the wine industry from the winemaking process (tending the fields, making the wines) to selling and marketing the wines (what to call the wine? where to sell it? how to pitch it?). Already I’m picking up on terms and wine industry facts I would have never known. (Did you know that wine thief is pipette used to sample wine from a barrell or cask during the fermentation process? Hence the name, it was once used by thieves to steal wines from barrels without anyone realizing that the wine was gone until lifting the barrels.)

Additional Bonus: Every hour that I volunteer, I get “wine bucks” (10 per hour) that I can use to buy wine.  

‘Frisco Free Living: WINE TASTING PARTY

How did I find it? Craigslist

Requirements? None - except it did help to actually be interested in wine

What exactly did I do? Served wine, but I was directed to only serve a tasting, just merely titillating guests’ palates enough to instigate their pocketbooks for more.

Where? SOMA gallery wine party

Bonus? Throughout the night I tasted several wines from around the world, expanding my inexperienced wine palate (and saved me from “pregaming” for the bar later that night).

Additional Bonus: A few days after the event, I received an email from one of the guests, offering free tickets, six rows behind the visitor’s dugout, at the next Oakland A’s game.  

Crunch Fitness Yoga Body Sculpt

Downward facing dogs, transition dog and cats, upward facing dogs, and reverse downward facing dogs, transition dog/cat, repeat… the positions called out in this class sound like you’re in an animal shelter. The upbeat tempo of warrior 1, 2, and 3 transitions will get your heart pumping and body flowing in less than 10 minutes from the start. Beginners and newcomers beware, the pace is fast and the class will keep moving forward whether you’re ready or not. 

‘Frisco Free Living: BEACHSIDE CLEANUP

How did I find it? My flatmate an email from Surfrider about an upcoming beach clean up.

Requirements? None, just a few open hours on a Sunday and an interest to keep our planet clean!

What exactly did I do? Picked up glass, nails, and other debris along the beach.

Where? Ocean Beach

Bonus? FREE FOOD! Fresh veggies burgers, hamburgers, fresh veggies, chips, salsa; the lineup of free food was awesome! Besides being deeelish, the food factor was huge becasuse 1) currently living in a hostel which only serves bagels, 2) I have no food, 3) limited funds to buy (good/nutritious/tasty) food.

Additional Bonus: We entered Surfrider’s beachside cleanup raffle and won a Patagonia hat and long sleeve shirt, Carve Designs surf long sleeve, Roxy board shorts, and the grand prize (drum roll please!) 6 bottles of Barefoot wine and 4 BareFoot stemless wine glasses (our first set of glassware!)

Livin’ like a San Franciscan

A wise friend once told me, “you’ll be surprised how much you receive when you offer to do something for free.” Arriving to my new home, his words lingered in my head as I pursued cheap or free entertainment. Being broke and jobless was putting a damper on my entertainment, so I started looking for fun and freebies in exchange for my time and energy.

Doing my best to get out, get active, and getting my ‘Frisco groove on, I’ve been attending several functions to see what this city has to offer. From leading wine tasting at a vineyard to volunteering at The Who’s Tommy musical, I’m checking out what San Francisco districts and surrounding communities have to offer…without dropping a penny.

Check out posts titled “‘Frisco Free Living” for advice on how to get your ‘Frisco fun on, for free.