MoneySmart

Stop by any Wegmans this Earth Day and you'll be showered with freebies and coupons.

Departments throughout the grocery store will offer samples of organic produce and organic Wegmans brand products, as well as money-saving coupons.

While you're noshing an organic roast beef on ciabatta sandwich, some cedar-plank E.U. Certified Organic salmon from Ireland and chasing both with a freshly-made organic strawberry-orange-banana smoothie, the kids can pick up farm-themed tattoos, try an organic peanut butter and jelly sandwich and get a free organic juice box.

Parents can also grab up to $10 in coupons for things such as eco-friendly cooking pans, and bring in plastic bags for recycling to receive a free Wegmans reusable bag.

Some stores will have additional activities, such as story times and seedling plantings.

The Earth Day Organic Festival will take place Saturday April 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

ByChristopher Palmeri
April 10 (Bloomberg) -- Carnival Corp. is offering a Caribbean cruise for as little as $38 a night, less than a stay at Motel 6, after an engine fire on the Triumph stranded passengers at sea for several days.

A four-night trip on Carnival’s Imagination, leaving Miami on April 22, costs $149 a person, including meals and some beverages, according to the cruise company’s website yesterday. The lowest nightly rate at the budget-priced Motel 6 chain was $39.99, according to an online ad.

Carnival, based in Miami, generated headlines worldwide in February after the engine fire on the Triumph left 3,100 passengers at sea for several days with limited food and toilet service. The ship broke loose from its moorings in high winds last week in Mobile, Alabama, where it is being repaired.

“The prices did go down,” said Manny Lubian, president of Futura Travel Inc. in Miami. “An empty ship doesn’t make as much money. They’d rather have bodies in them, buying drinks and spending money.”

Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Howard Frank said on a March 15 conference call that fares were running slightly ahead of last year. Bookings in the three-week period after the Triumph incident were lower for the company’s Carnival-brand ships, he said. Volume recovered after the company offered “new marketing promotions,” he said.Cruise pricing also took a hit last year after Carnival’s Costa Concordia ran aground off the Italian coast, killing 32 passengers.

Vance Gulliksen, a spokesman for the world’s largest cruise operator, declined to comment on pricing. The Imagination’s four-night itinerary includes stops in Key West, Florida, and Cozumel, Mexico, according to the website.

The week was expected to be slow, following spring break in the U.S. and tax season, Lubian said.
Immediately after the fire, cruises on the Triumph were offered as low as $319 a person for four nights, or $80 a night, after its return to service later this year. Today, the lowest advertised price for a five-night trip on the Triumph out of Galveston, Texas, with stops in Cozumel and the Yucatan, was $289, or $58 a night, for an Oct. 7 departure.

The $149 fare on the Imagination is nonrefundable and based on two travelers, according to the website. Government fees and taxes bring the total to $454 for two.

The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library is pulling out all the stops next week.

To celebrate National Library Week April 14 through April 20, the library will offer free activities at each branch. Activities include crafts, story times, speakers, author meet and greets and more.

Here's a brief listing of events provided by the library:

Alden Ewell Free Library – Make and Take Bookmark (Thurs., April 18)

Angola Public Library – Preschool Story Time (Wed., April 17)

Main Library at Audubon – Harry Potter w/ Matt James (Wed., April 17); Creating a Japanese Rock Garden (Sat., April 20) 

Aurora Town Library – Intro to Twitter (Fri., April 19), Prepare for College (Sat., April 20)

Boston Free Library- Various programs during the week 

Central downtown Library – Imagine Buffalo Series & Social Justice Series speakers,

(Tues., Wed., April 16 & 17),

Primate Sanctuary (Sat., April 20), 

Library Tours (Mon., Tues., Fri., & Sat., April 15, 16, 19, 20),

Rare Book Room Display – all month

Clarence Public Library – Editing Digital Photos (Mon. April 15), World of Beatrix Potter (Fri., April 19)

Clearfield Branch Library – Super Heroes (Mon, April 15), Family Movie (Fri., April 19)

Town of Collins Public Library – Quilting with Florence (Wed., April 17) 

Concord Public Library- Corduroy at the Zoo: Young Child Week - story & crafts (Thurs., April 18)

Crane Branch Library – Book Club (Thurs., April 18)

Dudley Branch Library – Trace Family Roots w/Ancestry Library Edition Training (Thurs., April 18) 

East Clinton Branch Library– Homework Help (Mon. Wed., Fri., April 15, 17, 19)

East Delavan Branch Library- Jazzy Dancers (Mon, April 15), Science Firsthand (Wed., & Thurs. April 17 & 18)

Eden Library - Used Book Sale (Wed., - Sat., April 17 – 20), Author talks (Mon., April 15 & Sat., April 20)

Eggertsville–Snyder Branch Library - Gardening with Perennials (Wed., April 17)

Elma Public Library – Sing & Read w/Nan Hoffman (Mon., April 15), Movie (Fri., April 19)

Grand Island Library – Movie & Crafts (Sat., April 13)

Hamburg Public Library – Book Club & Cook Book Club (Fri., April 19), Soil Test Clinic (Sat., April 20) 

Kenilworth Branch Library- Local Author Visit Jane Marinsky (Mon., April 15)

Kenmore Branch Library – Tax Assistance (Mon., April 15), Kids Book Club (Sat., April 20)

Lackawanna Public Library –Teen Book Club (Mon., April 15), Movies Based on Books (Thurs., April 18)

Lakeshore Public Library – Chess Club (Mon., April 15), eBooks & eReaders Workshop (Sat., April 20)

Lancaster Public Library –Book & Bake Sale (Thurs. – Sun., April 18 - 21), Teen gaming (Fri., April 19)

Marilla Free Library – 100 year Celebration Open House (Wed., April 17), programs all week

Frank E. Merriweather, Jr., Branch Library – Letter from Birmingham Jail Readings (Tues., April 16), Tell Me A Story (Sat., April 20) 

Newstead Public Library – Gravitational Bull Juggling (Wed., April 17),

American Girl Club (Sat., April 20)

Niagara Branch Library – Open House: Meet the Library (Fri., April 19)

North Collins Public Library – Sunday Café (Sun. April 14 & 21), Editing Digital Photos (Wed., April 17) 

North Park Branch Library –Wii Fridays & Lunch Bunch (Fri. April 19), Crazy Crafts (Sat., April 20)

Orchard Park Public Library – Froggy Program (Tues., April 16), In Jest (Sat., April 20)

Riverside Branch Library – The Wondermakers performance & Library Open House (Sat., April 20)

Anna Reinstein Memorial Library – Zoo Fun, Preschool Story Hour (Mon., & Tues. April 15 & 16)

Julia Boyer Reinstein Library – Computer Training Classes (Mon., Thurs., & Fri. April 14, 18, 19)

City of Tonawanda Public Library –Toddler & Preschool Stories (Mon., & Thurs., April 15 & 18)

West Seneca Public Library – National Library Week Game Night for Teens (Wed., April 17)

Williamsville Branch Library – Lunch Bunch (Mon., April 15), Reminisce Saturdays (Sat., April 20)

The downtown Buffalo central library is in the middle of its annual book sale.

The magazine is liquidating a large inventory of used books, magazines, VHS tapes and audio books on cassette and CD. All items will sell for 25 cents.

The sale goes until 2 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Enter the public library, 1 Lafayette Square, from the Ellicott Street door between Broadway and Clinton.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Looking for something fun and free to do this weekend? Watch the wire walk on ABC tonight, then bring the kids to the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls Sunday for a chance to meet daredevil Nik Wallenda. Here's more from the mall:

Two days after daredevil Nik Wallenda makes his historic high-wire walk from the United States to Canada over the Falls, visitors to the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls will have an opportunity to meet him in person.

Wallenda will be conducting a free meet and greet at the outlet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 17. The event will be located in Fashion Avenue inside the mall and is first-come, first served during this limited time-- so get in line early.

The 33-year-old aerialist from Florida, part of the Flying Wallendas, will walk 1,800 feet across Niagara Falls at 200 feet above the gorge bottom on Friday evening. He will be the first to cross over the brink of the falls. More than 100,000 spectators are anticipated to attend the high-wire walk on both the American and Canadian sides.

The walk, which is scheduled to begin about 10:15 p.m. Friday and take between 30 to 40 minutes to complete, will be televised nationally by ABC. Tickets to attend the event and get a glimpse of the historic walk are no longer available.

However, on Sunday, members of the public will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Wallenda in person at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, 1900 Military Road.

Have plans this weekend? Check out this great list of freebies and discounts from MrFreeStuff.com:

1. AAA Tipsy Tow
Plan on partying a wee bit hard this Memorial Day? AAA wants to keep you off the roads by offering a free vehicle tow for all partiers from 6 p.m. Memorial Day until the wee hour of 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

2. Air Shows
Check out the searchable database of airshows scheduled for Memorial Day weekend throughout the country, as offered by the EAA.

3. Bass Pro Shops
Participating stores will help your kids have a ball Saturday and Sunday with crafts, photos, photo contests and their Summer Kickoff Challenge.

4. Blue Star Museums
More than 1,500 museums across the country are offering free admission for active military personnel and up to five family members. Call ahead to see if your local museum is participating.

5. Cabela's
Save anywhere from 20 percent to 60 percent on hundreds of items on Memorial Day, plus receive free shipping.

6. Home Depot
All active duty and retirees receive a 10-percent discount on Memorial Day for purchases of up to $500.

7. Knott's Berry Farm and Soak City Water Parks
Admission is free to active and retired military personnel on Sunday and Monday. You can also purchase up to six discounted admission tickets for members of your immediate family.

8. Lowe's
Active duty military and their family members as well as retired military and VA recipients receive a 10-percent discount on all personal purchases.

9. Parades
VetFriends offers a state-by-state list of Memorial Day parades scheduled throughout the country.

10. Ramada Inns
Escape for the weekend and save 20 percent for three nights or more at participating Ramada Inns across the country.

At least two restaurants will feed your little goblins for free on Monday:

Kids in costume will eat free after 5 p.m. at Old Country Buffet at 3048 Sheridan Drive in Amherst. When one adult dinner is purchased, up to two costumed kids get free dinner. Call 832-1773.

Kids 10 years old and younger can eat free at any Applebee's in Western New York. They can choose from chicken fingers, mini cheeseburger, grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, fried shrimp or hot dog and will receive a coloring sheet and a free Oreo Cookie Sundae card to be used on their next visit. Up to two kids' meals are free per each adult meal purchase. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Kids age 12 and under can enjoy a free Scary Face Pancake at area IHOP restaurants Friday October 29 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Scary Face Pancake is an oversized buttermilk pancake with a whipped topping mouth and strawberry nose, served with two mini OREO cookies and candy corn on the side which kids can use to finish decorating their creation.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Applebee's will let you fill your babies' bellies for free this Independence Day.

The restaurant is giving out two free kids' meals per adult entree purchased July 4. Kids must be 10 years old or under and dining in the restaurant (no takeout).

Meal choices include chicken fingers, mini cheeseburger, grilled cheese, Kraft macaroni and cheese, fried shrimp and hot dog. Each child's meal comes with choice of a side dish and drink.

Find your nearest location here.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

I'm not sure if you want to spend your Easter at Applebee's, but if you do, the restaurant chain is offering free entrees to children ages 10 and under on Easter Sunday, April 4.

As long as they are accompanied by a parent paying for an entree, kids can choose from a menu of six meals, including macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers and fried shrimp. A drink and side dish are also included.

To find your nearest location, click here. Applebee's restaurants in New York State and Connecticut are participating.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann