Let Freedom Ring

Just because the economy sucks and hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs and many more have seen their life's savings vanish into thin air doesn't mean we all can't have a good time.

After all, there's a treasure trove of free, exciting things to do in Tulsa. Here's a list of some of the best:

Get Skilled. Ever looked at the class listings at your local community center? What about at the nearest park? There's no shortage of free classes at these places to teach you everything from belly dancing to wood carving to digital photography. Check the 2009 Summer Fun Guide, online at cityoftulsa.org/recreation/parks, for what's going on at Tulsa Parks right now.

Read. No, Really. Books are like beer--both go really well with friends. Problem is, book clubs have an image problem: They're boring, they're dorky, they're not exactly events at which to see and be seen. Well, local author Jeff Martin and Dwelling Spaces owner Mary Beth Babcock have set out to change all that by having their BookSmart Tulsa meetings in some of Tulsa's favorite bars and restaurants. Check www.BookSmartTulsa.com for more. The Tulsa City-Country Library should be your no. 1 source for copies of the book of the month; if the library runs out, check a used book store like Gardner's Used Books & Comics on Mingo, just south of the BA.

Fulfill Your Wildest Dreams...of Modeling. Hop on Meetup.com and peck in these search terms: Tulsa Digital Photography Group. Ta-da! You just scored your first modeling gig. This very active group of local photographers is always looking for someone to sit for them, so don't be shy. If you're more comfortable behind the camera, TDPG membership comes at the wallet-busting price of $1 per month.

Get Down and Dirty. Can't get enough of working in the garden? Point your Web browser to the Tulsa Community Garden Association Web site at tulsacga.org to find one of the ten or so community gardens that need weeding, watering, picking and a general tendin' to. It's BYOT (bring your own trowel), but if you stick around and the other gardeners take a liking to you, there's a share of the garden's produce in it for you.

Flaunt Your Brains. Find a trivia night. The two local hotspots for trivia lovers are downtown: Soundpony on Tuesday nights, and Joe Momma's Pizza on Thursday nights, starting at 9pm. Both events are open to anyone and everyone. Trivia mastery at Joe Momma's earns prizes, so bring your A-game.

Make Out at the Museum. Every second Saturday of the month is Free Family Day at Philbrook Museum. Drop in anytime between 10:30am-4:30pm. Make hands-on projects, go on a scavenger hunt and get a tour of the museum with no strings attached

Pack a bag. And no, I don't mean for a picnic in Woodward Park (not because I don't love picnics in Woodward Park, but because that's the first thing everyone suggests when someone asks for free stuff to do in Tulsa). Grab some extra socks, lots of water and maybe even a big stick for snake shooing, because friend, you're about to see Tulsa as you never have before: From the eyes of a geocacher. Get thee to geocaching.com and prepare to be wowed.

Go to a Concert. Summertime is synonymous with free music in T-Town. Check out what's at the BOK Center plaza at Third Street, and get online to check the schedules for Fifth Night at Utica Square, the Starlight Concert Series at the River Parks' floating amphitheater and the Triangle on Main Street in Sand Springs. And, don't forget Chris Klein, the guitar player staked out downtown at Fifth and Main who does killer Eagles covers. There are also festivals galore 'round these parts at this time of year, all replete with free live music.

Get Moving. We Oklahomans might have a bad reputation for being less-than-fit, but a core of active Tulsans has formed dozens of athletic clubs in town. These people are breaking a sweat doing everything from marathon running to frisbee golf to kickball. Yes, there's a Tulsa kickball league. Before you find a club that's just for you, spend a few more minutes sitting on your behonkus and get online to sniff out all the options.

Rub Elbows With the Stars. Join the Astronomy Club of Tulsa on the nights of its public star parties. For nothing more than the cost of the gas it takes to get to Mounds Observatory, learn from the informed, energetic and friendly ACT members about what's going on in the sky, right now. They'll even let you play with their telescopes, some of which seem like they'd be more at home at NASA than in a 1.5-acre field in rural Oklahoma. Feel free to bring the fam, but before you head out, read about star party etiquette at astrotulsa.com. Don't be the guy who blinds everyone at the party with a white flashlight.

Turn Tulsa Townie. Those racks of pink bikes at River Parks aren't just for looks, so grab a group of buds and get the blood pumping by testing out the new trails along the east side of the Arkansas. Be sure to bring along your mp3-playing device loaded with a playlist of Tulsa bands, and don't forget your trusty debit card. While the bike ride is free, the park needs a way to track down those who abscond with the pink pretties.

Go fish. If you're not really the gone-fishin' type but a foray into the world of casting and trolling piques your interest, head out to the lake June 6-7 for one of the statewide free fishing days. No fishing license is required (though I implore you to find a better deal on weekend entertainment the whole family can get in on for than $25 per year), and if you need a refresher course on fishing, that's free, too. Check the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com for details.

Celebrate Oklahoma Industry. Ever hear of the little operation Blue Bell Creameries? You know, the one that's there for you when you need your Tin Roof fix? Bet you didn't know it's headquartered in Broken Arrow. Since adult admission costs no more than the change in the couch cushions (if you don't have any in yours, check the one at the doctor's office -- it's a goldmine) and kids get in free, a tour of the Blue Bell Creamery plant makes the cut for free things to do in T-Town. Sneak a lick of the giant mixers for me.

Start a Local Blog. Not only is it free, but starting a local blog pays dividends. Local bloggers get to see their towns in a new, refreshing light. Plus, they make friends and meet interesting people they wouldn't have otherwise. Check out the free blogging platforms at Blogger.com and Wordpress.com (my two personal favorites), and don't be afraid to send that first post out into the ether.