Right about now many of us recognize our post-holiday hangovers in the form of wallet fatigue. Despite this blow to the budget, those with recovering finances aren’t necessarily sentenced to lockdown on the couch with a plateful of ramen. Several area events and activities offer free and inexpensive go-and-do alternatives. Whether you’re digging into the loose change bucket or simply cutting back on spending, the following suggestions may prove easy on the bank account.
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NORCROSS
The Great Southern Fishing Show at North Atlanta Trade Center
Fishing enthusiasts and those looking to get hooked on the hobby will be casting their lines at this massive event in hopes of catching big bites of inspiration. The focus is on fly, shallow water and light tackle fishing. Schools of vendors will be offering both fly and conventional fishing gear at lower prices. A host of fishing pros, including fresh and saltwater guides, are leaving the water behind to pass on suggestions and tricks.
Tipping the scale of notoriety is headliner Andy Mill. This tarpon fishing champ is only the second person to win five Gold Cup Tarpon Tournaments and have the distinction of wearing a triple crown in tarpon fishing.
Mill, the author of “A Passion for Tarpon,” shares his secrets with guests and demonstrates his successful techniques. There is no bag limit to the rest of the information and entertainment. Fly-tying presentations and casting demos in the show’s casting pond take place. Check the event info online for seminar times.
Although you can stock up on plenty of fishing supplies, lucky attendees will be taking home free gear courtesy of O’Neill Williams, an Emory grad and host of the TV show “O’Neill Outside.”
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 21; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 22. $8; $4 ages 13-16; free ages 12 and younger; $20 family pass for two adults and as many as four children. North Atlanta Trade Center, 1700 Jeurgens Court, Norcross. 770-279-9899, www.northatlantatradecenter.com/fishing.html.
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ATLANTA
Rotknee Presents at Star Community Bar
Atlanta stand-up comics and those aspiring to bring the funny stuff don’t simply grease the wheels of their joke-making machines by dishing out material to their reflections. To reach the point where their skills pay the bills, they work it out on stage. This Little Five Points dive provides one of the most popular spots in town to do just that. Although it’s typically a home for indie and roots rock, the Star Bar has always kept its tongue firmly in cheek. Its Grace Vault, a kitschy tribute to Elvis Presley, even showed up in Frommer’s.
So the steady flow of open mic comedy continues, and next month marks an entire decade. Fellow comics and comedy fans watch the stand-up through a fog of cigarette smoke to see what sticks. Local comedians known to take the stage include Matt O’Meara, Mike Kaiser, Evan Fowler and Shalewa Sharpe. The whole shebang is hosted by Rotknee, the chrome-domed, goateed emcee, who kind of looks like Ming the Merciless from “Flash Gordon.” No doubt open mic-ers hope both Rotknee and the crowd show some mercy themselves. Karaoke follows featuring DJ Brian. Rotknee co-hosts his own no-cover karaoke show on Tuesdays at the Clermont Lounge.
9 p.m.-midnight. Mondays. Free. Star Community Bar, 437 Moreland Ave., Atlanta. www.starbaratlanta.com.
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TUCKER AND WOODSTOCK
Kim Edwards at Northlake-Barbara Loar Library and FoxTale Book Shoppe
Award-winning author Kim Edwards opens up to fans at a pair of signings. Her latest tome, “The Lake of Dreams,” finds a woman coming home from Japan and uncovering something hidden by her family. It’s Edwards’ second novel and has quite a bit to live up to. Her first, “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter,” sat on the New York Times Best-Seller list for 122 weeks, with 20 weeks at the top spot. USA Today ranked it Book of the Year for 2006.
“The Lake of Dreams” may be on its way itself. It’s been a best-seller and is being published in 16 countries. Edwards will not only sign copies of her books, but she’ll be talking about them, too. The FoxTale Book Shoppe event includes lunch, and Edwards will only sign books purchased at FoxTale.
2 p.m. Jan. 28. Free. Northlake-Barbara Loar Library, 3772 LaVista Road, Tucker. 404-679-4408, www.dekalblibrary.org/branches/northlake.html.
1 p.m. Jan. 29. $5. FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main St., Suite 138, Woodstock. 770-516-9989, www.foxtalebookshoppe.com --------------------
KENNESAW
Pizza, Movie and a Tour at the Museum of History & Holocaust Education
These days dinner and a movie can practically put you in hock. Thank the Museum of History & Holocaust Education for providing a free evening of both. Its Pizza, Movie and a Tour series returns with a screening of the award-winning drama “Sarah’s Key,” starring Kristin Scott Thomas. It tells the story of a woman who uncovers the truth behind a Jewish family’s experience during the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in France during World War II. A pizza dinner is included, and the museum’s galleries will be open before the film begins.
On-site exhibits include V for Victory: Georgia Remembers World War II and The Butterfly Project. The latter was created to honor the 1.5 million Jewish children lost in the Holocaust and features handcrafted butterflies representing those children and those who continue to suffer because of the war and genocide. While some will be hitting movie theaters to catch the new flick “Red Tails,” a similar story can be found at the museum. It is currently showing the traveling exhibit The Tuskegee Airmen: The Segregated Skies of World War II.
5:30 p.m. Jan. 24. Free. Museum of History & Holocaust Education at KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw. 678-797-2083, www.kennesaw.edu/historymuseum.
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LAWRENCEVILLE
“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” at Aurora Theatre
Aurora Children’s Playhouse, the venue’s family series, resumes with the first event of the year. Aurora staff says “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” based on the popular storybook, may be the most ambitious production this series has ever seen. Everything about the set is oversized to create a child’s point of view. That’s because the lead character is an adult (Terry Guest) playing a little boy. This kid befriends a mouse (Annie York) by sliding the creature a cookie. Things start to spiral out of control as the mouse becomes more demanding.
Although “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” will be performed for schoolchildren throughout January and February, this is the only public performance. Jaclyn Hofmann directs. Other Aurora Children’s Playhouse shows on the horizon include “The Wow Show” and “Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes.”
10 a.m. Jan. 28. $7. Aurora Theatre, 128 Pike St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-6222, www.auroratheatre.com.
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