cheap movies when it's too hot to be outside

If you have kids — or love movies yourself — this Blockbuster deal is worth a look.  The movie store is offering a new summer promotion: rent one movie at $2.99 and get access to free, unlimited movie rentals through July 4. Choose free rentals from movies priced at $1.99 or less — one free movie rental at a time per day. With its new pricing structure, thousands of movies are priced at 99¢. A coupon is required for this deal. Print out this .pdf coupon here.

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half off aquarium

If you’re planning some educational fun this summer, think of the Houston Aquarium. Take advantage of half-price Houston Aquarium tickets with buy-one-get-one free All-Day Adventure Pass coupon available online at the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau.  What an awesome deal for Aquarium fun!  The coupon is valid through 12/31/11. The Adventure Pass retails for $15.99, so the deal makes it about $8 per person. Print the coupon here to get this deal. Families will enjoy many of the Aquarium’s activities this summer including Tiger Weekend this weekend (June 25-26) and free Salsa dance lessons each Friday evening from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.  Find the Houston Aquarium downtown at 410 Bagby at Memorial.

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Summer Reading

Houston Public Library — This annual summer reading program, Feed Your Dreams, encourages kid and teens to spend some time reading this summer. Read 10 books/10 hours and receive a free book.  But wait, there’s more!  Read 20 books/20 hours and receive tickets to an Astros game or Ringling Brothers Barnum Bailey circus.  Register online or in person through August 1 at any Houston Public Library to participate. Library locations are here.

Harris County Public Library — Harris County Public Library is offering three different programs through August 6 for its annual summer reading program — Dig Up A Good Book (kids under 12), Going Global, Staying Connected (ages 12-18), and ReaderNation (adults 18 and over).  Kids get a free book, while supplies last, when they read 10 books or 500 minutes. Teens get a flash drive bracelet and certificate for reading five book or 600 minutes. Adults who read four books are entered into a random drawing for $50 Amazon gift cards at each location. Register online for any of these programs or visit your local branch to pick up a reading log. Library locations are here.
Barnes & Noble — Kids read any eight books of their choice to participate in Barnes & Noble’s summer reading program through September 6, 2011.  Keep a Summer Reading Journal, share why you’d recommend it , and return it to Barnes & Noble for a FREE book from their list.  Print the Summer Reading Journal out here.
Borders Books –Participate in Borders’ Summer Reading Challenge by reading any 10 books.  Bring your completed Summer Reading Worksheet to any Borders before September 15 to receive a coupon for a free book valid on selected titles. Print the Summer Reading Challenge worksheet here.
Half-Price Books –The Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program at Half-Price Books runs through July 31, 2011.  This is a great deal!  Kids 14 and under will receive $5 Back-to-School Bucks summer reading award when they read 600 minutes or more. One top reader per age group will earn a $20 HPB gift card. Print your reading log online here. Find Half-Price Books’ locations nearest you here.
H-E-B Summer Reading Program: Kids can join the H.E.Buddy Summer Reading program and get cool prizes in return.  Read 10 books this summer and mail your list to H-E-B by October 1, 2011.  One of the prizes looks to be a t-shirt! Print your reading log here.

Borders Event this weekend

Free symphony

The Houston Symphony’s free gift to the community continues this summer with free performances throughout Houston. Tonight is the final Sounds Like Fun! Gotta Dance! performance with Summer Symphony Nights following at Miller Outdoor Theater June 17-July 4:

• June 14: Sounds Like Fun! Gotta Dance! at Grace Community Church (South Campus), 14505 Gulf Freeway, 7:30 p.m.
• June 17: Beethoven’s Fifth Plus Rhapsody in Blue, Miller Outdoor Theatre, 8:30 p.m.
• June 18: Bernstein’s West Side Story, Miller Outdoor Theatre, 8:30 p.m.
• June 24: Mozart and Dvorak, Miller Outdoor Theatre, 8:30 p.m.
• June 25: Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, Miller Outdoor Theatre, 8:30 p.m. Enjoy the returning “tweetcert” event. Bring your cell phone and get concert insights through the Symphony’s Twitter feed as you listen to the concert.
• July 4: A Star-Spangled Salute, Miller Outdoor Theatre, 8:30 p.m. Booming cannons are a tradition at this annual family event!

Free, assigned seat tickets are available at the Miller Outdoor Theatre Box Office on first-come first-serve basis between 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on performance day. Miller Outdoor Theatre is located in Hermann Park at 100 Concert Dr.

houston museum of natural science discount

For a limited time, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is offering three extra months free to a one-year museum membership.  You’ll get access to special behind-the-scenes, special access events all summer. Be one of the first to tour the new Paleontology wing in summer 2012!
This offer is available for new and renewing members. Check it out online or call 713.639.4629. Thanks to Deal Finder E for this tip!

Out of town on vaca, but back with more deals!

Canvas People is sharing an introductory offer for a free 8×10 gallery wrapped canvas — or $50 credit towards any size canvas. You’re just responsible for shipping and handling, which is $14.95. As a bonus, customers who order more than $19.95 will receive a free one-year subscription to Disney’s FamilyFun magazine, a $10 value.
Head over to Canvas People to get started! If you’re quick, you might even get it back for Father’s Day… This deal is valid through the end of June.

Thanks houston on the cheap for this tip