Vintage Fashion Fair - Free tickets!

Photo: Vintage Fashion London

This one is not just for my recessionistas, its for my vintage fashionistas! On Sunday 17th January, Vintage Fashion London will be holding its first Vintage Fashion Fair of 2010. If you are a lover of vintage fashion from the 1800's to the 1980's (and who isn't, vintage is all the range these days daaaarlinnng) then you NEED to head down to the Vintage Fashion Fair in charming Primrose Hill for the opportunity to uncover and purchase unique vintage goodies from dresses and coats to bags, hats, gloves, textiles and more!  There will be 28 stands for you to browse on a lazy Sunday afternoon and with home made food and refreshments available to purchase you have no excuse not to have the energy to rummage through the racks and seek a vintage bargain! I love vintage clothing - the ultimate appeal for me is the potential story behind each vintage piece and the uniqueness of each item that cannot be found on the High Street (however much 'vintage' lines try, they just aren't the real deal right??). Note: debit/credit cards are NOT accepted at the fair so make sure you have enough cash on you - this is actually a blessing for us recessionistas; decide your budget, withdraw cash and you're guaranteed not to go overboard!

With "very wearable vintage pieces at affordable prices" this is a recessionista/fashionista's dream! I can't wait, this will be my first ever Vintage Fashion Fair and I'm uber-excited; I've done the vintage stores but with a variety of different stalls and sellers in one place (super-convenient), the Vintage Fashion Fair is bound to get my pulses racing!  I'm personally on the look out for some fab vintage accessories - hair accessories, bags, jewellery, belts and vintage leather goods! Oooooh it's gonna be so fun trying to find these treasures!

Photo: Vintage Fashion London

I'm going bright and early... who wants to join me?? Entry to the fair is £3 but Vintage Fashion London have limited FREE tickets up for grabs (did you even doubt I wouldn't have some sort of freeness involved?!).  Just click HERE to fill out your details and if successful, founder and owner of Vintage Fashion London, Marilyn, will email you a free ticket (+1 guest).

Learn more about Vintage Fashion London - a fab website for vintage fashion - and be in the know about future Vintage Fashion Fairs (it's a monthly affair fashionistas!) by visiting their lovely website www.vintagefashionlondon.co.uk.

Date: Sunday 17th January 2010
Time: 11am - 5pm
Venue: Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY
Closest Tube: Camden Town (although it's Sunday so you can park for free & throw your vintage goodies in the boot!)

Jeeez, can't say your No.1 Recessionista doesn't love ya!!! This is one of my fave posts for 2010 so far!

xX Mets Thrifty xX

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The Rebel Cell - 2 days only! FREE tickets!

Photo: GreenwichTheatre.org.uk

Friday 22nd January & Saturday 23rd January

For 2 days only, The Rebel Cell is coming to the Greenwich Theatre and best of all, if you are UNDER 26 - your ticket is 100% FREE!!! Woop!! If you are not under 26, don't worry tickets are only £12.50 (concessions £10) so still recession busting entertainment either way. So what's it about anyway? Well first things first, The Rebel Cell is a collaboration between 'hip hop tour de force' Dizraeli (BBC R4  Poetry Slam winner, 2006/7 Farrago UK Slam Poetry Champion) and Baba Brinkman, creator of the award-winning and critically acclaimed hip-hop show, Rap Canterbury Tales.... Interesting! Check the synopsis:

"A politically charged rap fable, which has been described as ‘8 Mile meets 1984’, The Rebel Cell is... set in 2013, in a not-so-distant dystopian future England, where civil liberties are a thing of the past and Glastonbury is a Guantanamo-style prison camp for those brave enough to fight against it. Engaging directly with today’s culture of political tension in which one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter, The Rebel Cell is an irreverent political comedy that asks challenging questions about human rights and the rule of law.  (Source: GrenwichTheatre.org.uk)

In 2008, The Rebel Cell won the Spirit of the Fringe Award at the 2008 Edingburgh Fringe Fest... All sounds pretty darn interesting, right? The Rebel Cell has been described as a 70 minute rap battle, a hip-opera and a hip-hop political satire, I'm not sure how this is going to pan out, but I do know that this production is truly intriging and I can't wait to go and see it!

To book your FREE tickets courtesy of the A Night Less Ordinary scheme (Under 26's only) contact the Greenwich Theatre box office on 020 8858 7755 and tell them you want to book The Rebel Cell as part of the scheme.  You'll need to provide your full name, address, DOB and email address/mobile number.  It's 1 free ticket per under 26 year old.  Be quick - you have only 2 showings to get tickets for, it's first come, first served and tickets are limited.  **08/01/10 Update: this is allocated seating so to book seats with your friends you must call with the above details for your entire party**

For those paying, you can purchase tickets online HERE

Hope you enjoy! Mets Thrifty x X x

50% off at The Living Room

Photo: Ameretto Sour, a signature cocktail - The Living Room

YES!! Finally something other than Italian that I can REALLY enjoy!! This one deserves a post if its own! 50% off the a la carte menu at the Living Room!!!!! If you have never been or heard of the Living Room before, it's a sophisticated restaurant and bar chain serving the best in British and European food with a slight fusion of Asian and global faves. Particular faves of mine are the tempura prawns (of course, I'm a complete LOVER of prawns - prawns 'til I die!!)  followed by the 21-day aged British rib-eye steak (yes it doesn't really go together but I'm v.weird like that!) and with 50% off the price is just right too! Other popular dishes include roasted and spatchcocked poussin, roasted organic salmon fillet and ricotta and butternut lasagna.  The menu is seasonal and varies depending on venue so you are comforted by the freshest ingredients which go through rigorous testing to ensure excellent quality cuisine.

To be completely honest, for me the food at The Living Room comes second to it's cocktails.  This is the real highlight of any visit - although the voucher is not valid on drinks, I encourage you to immerse yourself in the cocktail menu and get involved! There is a never ending variety of freshly made cocktails which can sometimes take ages to arrive (very annoying) but once you sip on one of these babies, you can't stay angry for long. Some of my faves from their Signature Menu include the Singapore Sling, Fire Island Iced Tea and of course the classic Mojito and I love the variety of Daquiri's. Let's not forget about the non-alcohlic concoctions though - Peak Performaner and What's Up Doc are particularly tasty - the fruit and veg is so fresh it tastes as if they were picked that morning!  The cocktails alone are worth rocking up to The Living Room's Signature Hour (7 days a week, 5-7pm) to take advantage of reduced priced Signature Cocktails at only £4.95. Sweeeeeet!!!

Visit the link, sign up and print your voucher off HERE

Validity: 7 days a week (yay!) but not valid after 5pm on Friday or Saturday (boo!) Venues: Bristol, Chester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Nottingham, Nottingham, Oxford, Yorkand Ends: Sunday 31st January 2010

ENJOY! MT x PS don't forget to check the Fab New Year Restaurant Deals post for plenty of other restaurant deals :-)

Fab New Year Restaurant deals!

For those who love their food as much as moi, here is a dedicated New Year's dining out post just for you.  Plenty of great deals which will keep both your pallets and post-Christmas/post-New Year sales purses & wallets happy.  Don't forget to check full T&C's to make sure you don't embarrass yourself :-).  Clearly if you cannot find anything in this vast list of specials to suit your tastes, there is just no pleasing you! Why not team up a dinner at any of the below restaurants with a cheap night at the theatre? (check my blog post HERE) and I will never accuse you of being a cheap date again ;-) X MetsThrifty X

2 for 1 at ASK restaurant, nationwide. As expected, Italian restaurant chain ASK has launched a New Year promotion offering diners 2 main meals for the price of 1 (cheapest meal free). Good old Penne Polla della Casa for me! My fave ASK restaurant? London Bridge for its views. Register and download your voucher HERE. Validity: Sunday - Thursday, 1 voucher per party (max 6 pepole). Ends: Mon 1 February. Full T&Cs available here

2 for 1 on main courses at Azzuro, nationwide. Another Italian chain with a recession-busting deal. Click HERE to print your voucher, courtesy of MoneySavingExpert.com. I've never been before maybe now's the time to try?  Validity: 7 days a week (hot offer!), max party size of 6). Ends: Sunday 31st January.

2 top foodie deals at Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Nationwide. 2 fab deals but not valid until later in the month - take advantage of 1 burger, fries and a soft drink for £7.95 for yourself and for on another visit, get 2 burgers and fries to share for £10.95. Ravenous! Ooops I meant bargainous! Print your vouchers HERE.Validity: Monday - Wednesday from 18th January, not available in the Clink St, Bluewater branches and only for eat-in. Ends: Wednesday 27th January (small window of opportunity)

2 for 1 at Las Iguana, nationwide. Latin American restaurant Las Iguanas is offering diners 2 for 1 on its a la carte main menu. My fave dishes - XinXim and Moqueca, traditional Brazilian dishes...yummy and highly recommended! Print your voucher HERE, this one is courtesy of MoneySavingExpert.com Validity: Sunday - Thursday, excluding during event nights at Cardiff Stadium & O2, 1 voucher per 2 diners. Ends: Wednesday 10th February.

2 for 1 on main courses at Masala Zone, selected branches. For a little diversity, Masala zone are also offering a great recession friendly deal, but it's only available at a few of its branches. If you've not been before, think Wagamama's type setting (long benches and tables) but with Indian cuisine. Better than your local curry house I bet! Signup to the Masala Zone mailing list HERE and receive your voucher via email with a bonus of 15% off the total bill! (valid for 6 wks from date of email). Validity: Every day at Bayswater & Fulham branches, Sunday - Thursday at Camdem and Islington branches, max 8 people per voucher, eat-in only.  Ends: Sunday 31st January.

Buy 1 get 1 for £1 at The Real Greak, selected branches. For Greek food lovers head down to The Real Greek and purchase 1 meze or slouvaki and get one for a recession busting £1.The souvlaki's are particularly tasty at the Westfield branch -  perfect for dinner after a bit of late night sale shopping.  Register and receive the voucher in your inbox HERE.  Validity: Sunday - Thursday at Westfield, Spitalfields, Bankside, Hoxton, Putney & Marylebone branches, 1 voucher per table max 6 diners. Ends: Thursday 11th February

50% off all food at The Slug and Lettuce, nationwide. A good one for an after work catch-up with your colleagues with Slug & Lettuce branches throughout the capital. 50% off ALL food!  Print off your voucher HERE. Validity: Tuesday-Sunday for upto 3 people, exluding during big events at the 02 Ends: Sunday 17th January.

50% off food & drink at Tiger Tiger, nationwide. This is an absolute bargain as food and drink is pretty cheap at Tiger Tiger already.  Sign up and recieve your voucher HERE. Validity: 7 days a week 8-10pm at Cardiff, Croydon, London, Leeds,Machester, Newcastle & Portsmouth branches. 50% off food only at Aberdeen & Glasgow branches. Ends: Sunday 31st January.

40% off at Yo Sushi!, nationwide. Good old Yo Sushi! with their January sale, offering diners 40% off. Full details of this deal are TBC - vouchers will be launched this week with the 'sale' starting on Saturday 10th January... You have been warned so keep your sushi addiction at bay until this voucher is out! As soon as this voucher is released I'll let you know - follow me on Twitter for the latest. If you really can't stay away, don't forget Yo Sushi's Blue Mondays offering delicious sushi at blue plate prices (£2.20). Check HERE for full T&C's.

£1 meals at Zizzi's, nationwide. The classic is back! I must admit I'm getting sick of the Italian chains but for those that just can't get enough, this one is a great opportunity for that 1st date (no I'm kidding guys, that's a bit TOO cheap LOL). When buying a main meal, you can purchase your fellow diner an item from the 'Pizza & Calzone', 'Insalate' or 'Pasta & Risotto' sections for a mere £1, cheaper than a single journey in Zone 1 on your Oyster ;-). Register and get your voucher HERE. Validity: Sunday - Thursday for a maximum of 2 people.  Ends: Thursday 31st January.

********** UPDATED 04 January 2010 ********

Prezzo has joined the New Year 2 for 1 meal deals, (jeeez really I'm so sick of Italian now lol, other types of restaurants need to up their game!!!) but I know there are countless Italian food lovers out there, so this one is especially for you :-) Get your voucher off HERE. This voucher is exclusively available courtesy of Prezzo & vouchercodes.co.uk Thanks to @Love_Prezzo for making me aware of this one on Twitter... (I'm turning into a Twitter freak lol). 2 weeks only so make the most of it! Validity: 7 days a week (top offer!) Ends: Sunday 17th January

Hello! Yeh ANOTHER Italian Chain - Pizza Express half price pizzas! Can't moan about this one though because, I HEART Pizza Express!!. Get your hands on the voucher HERE. Only on for 2 weeks so make the most of it!  Validity: 1 voucher per party (max 6) full T&Cs here. Ends: Sunday 17th January