The best things in life are free, indeed, and our monthly "Free Stamp" feature rounds up all of the free #CLE events that get our "stamp" of approval. Got a free event you want us to include? Drop us a line here.

Happiest hour ever
Can you smell the Brewnuts? LaunchHouse’s monthly happy hour is happening on July 19 from 5 to 7 p.m., and the team behind Gordon Square hotspot Brewnuts will be on hand to share their story of entrepreneurial success. (Be sure to RSVP here if you plan to attend.) The coworking space will also host its monthly “Lunch + Learn” series on July 12 (digital marketing) and July 26 (effective communication with programmers).

Highly animated
The all-ages Pekar Park Comic Book Fest returns to Coventry Village on July 14. Scheduled from noon to 5 p.m, this outdoor festival will honor the late comic writer Harvey Pekar (formerly a Cleveland Heights resident). Various comic vendors will be on hand, including Comics Are Go and Imaginary Worlds, as well as artists such as Ted Sikora, Ashley Ribbletts, Keith Allen, and more. Panels, workshops, and a screening of the Pekar biopic American Splendor will round out the day. Click here for more 411.

Plenty of fish
The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership will host a family-friendly day of fishing at Rockefeller Park Lagoon on July 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees will learn how to cast, tie knots, and fish, while also learning about native Ohio fish. Fishing rods and equipment will be provided to kids who don’t have their own, and all attendees will receive a hot dog lunch. Participants must register online or RSVP by calling Andrew at 216-325-7781. 

Stop the world and melt with you
Lakewood’s highly anticipated street festival, the Summer Meltdown, is quickly approaching. On July 14 from 4 to 10 p.m., residents from around Northeast Ohio will travel to Lakewood to take part in a day of fun festivities. The street festival features 100 vendor tents, a fee-based 5k race, and a bike raffle—plus a locally-focused beer garden and live music from the Front Porch Lights. The Lakewood Summer Festival takes place on Detroit Ave. between Marlowe Ave. and Mars Ave.

Tuesdays at Tudor
As part of its Tuesdays at Tudor concert series, Gilmour Academy will host another summer concert on July 17 . A.R.T. Trio will perform, comprised of Julia Russ on piano, Jim Thompson on violin, and Linda Atherton on cello. The evening kicks off with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the concert from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Tudor events are open and free to all, but registration is required. 

Retelling history
Cleveland Stories, a writing program for the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, is using oral history to continue telling the stories of Clevelanders. Though the four-part series started yesterday, there are still three more training workshops on July 17, July 24, and July 31. Charlotte Morgan will teach interviewing and writing techniques, such as how to develop a list of questions, conduct an interview, and write a profile. Workshops take place on the specified dates from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Seeds of Literacy.

Healthy in the 216
A new business in South Euclid, 216 Fitness, is kicking off its free Summer Health Speaker Series on July 21 at 1 p.m. Every week for six weeks, local experts will give presentations on health-related topics, including back pain, weight loss and cancer prevention. (The first topic will be pelvic floor health.) Each attendee receives a free two-week membership for personal training, and free refreshments and parking will be provided. Reserve a seat by calling 216-532-3348 or by clicking here.  

Because...science
Join scientist Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal on July 25 for a free lecture at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Titled With a Little Help from my Friends: Marsupials, Mistletoes and Hummingbirds Preserve Forests in Patagonia, Rodriguez-Cabal's lecture will cover the causes and effects of disruption in seed dispersal mutualisms and their implications for conservation. The lecture will be held in Woodland Hall at 7 p.m. The event is free but registration is required.  

#BBQVibes
On Friday, July 27, the Van Aken District will come alive for a night of food and fun. Shaker firefighters and police officers will fire up the grill with hot dogs and hamburgers, and beer, wine, and Mitchell’s Ice Cream will also be available to top off the evening. All food can be purchased to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, but live entertainment (including Wesley Bright & the Honeytones) and all-ages activities are free. Join the celebration from 6 p.m. to sunset on the corner of Van Aken Blvd. and Farnsleigh Rd. in Shaker Heights.

Circle of love
In 2016, thousands of Clevelanders joined hands on the Lorain-Carnegie bridge to symbolize the power of love and its positive impact on the world. This year, Circle the Cities With Love returns to The Land on Sunday, July 29, from 2 to 4 p.m. (with 30 minutes of silence between 3-3:30 p.m.). The event will be held at Voinovich Bicentennial Park at the East Ninth Street pier (north of the Rock Hall). Come join this peaceful, nonviolent effort to spread love and awareness by registering here.

Free admission rocks!
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and KeyBank recently announced that Cleveland residents can receive free walk-up admission to the Rock Hall, 365 days a year. Residents must show proof of residency for the City of Cleveland (such as a driver’s license or a state ID) at the Rock Hall box office to redeem a CLE VIP ticket and a voucher for one free fountain drink. Children under 18 who reside in Cleveland must enter with their guardians. Learn more about the CLEVIP program here.