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There's no better symbol for "free" than Claes Oldenberg's "Free Stamp" sculpture near City Hall.

(Peggy Turbett, The Plain Dealer)

Some say there's no such thing as a free lunch. That may be true -- but there are free museums, movies, theater performance, concerts, crafts . . . even free Indians tickets and sushi. And we know where they area. Read on for 25 of the best deals in town. UPDATED MAY, 2015.

1. Cleveland Museum of Art, clevelandart.org: Picasso, Monet, Rubens, Caravaggio, Pollock, Kiefer, Warhol, Asian art, the Armor Court . . . it's all at CMA, and it's all free. Without question, it's the best deal in town.

2. Free Mondays at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, clemetzoo.com: Are you a resident of Cuyahoga County or Hinckley Township? Then head on down to the zoo on Mondays, which is free for those residents on all non-Holiday Mondays. You'll save the usual $13.25 adult and $9.25 children's admission.

3. Films at the Lakewood Public Library, 15425 Detroit Ave., 216-226-8275, lkwdpl.org: A night at the movies can be expensive. Not at the Lakewood Public Library, which hosts weekly free showings of classic and art films.

4. Free sushi Fridays at Touch Happy Hour, 2710 Lorain Ave., 216- 631-5200, touchohiocity.com: There may not be any such thing as a free lunch, but there is free sushi -- at least from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays at this sleek and chic Ohio City nightclub. It's one reason Plain Dealer reporter John Petkovic rated it one of the best Happy Hours in town. The other reasons are the (not free, but hey, you're saving on the food) fantastic cocktails and impressive import and craft beer list. A Nicksicko Pivo from Montenegro goes quite nicely with sushi. MAY, 2015: TOUCH IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION.

5. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Learning Center and Money Museum, clevelandfed.org: Isn't it ironic? The MONEY museum is free! Yes, free! For the cost of, well, nothing, you can teach your kids money doesn't grow on trees with the Fed Learning Center's 30-plus interactive exhibits.

Gallery One at the Cleveland Museum of Art is free - like the museum's permanent collections.

6. Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, 750 East 88th St., Cleveland, 216-664-3103: Year-round, Clevelanders can visit this civic gem to see displays -- from the cactus garden and tropical plants inside, to the rose garden, sprawling Japanese and Peace gardens and Betty Ott Talking Garden for sight-impaired visitors outside. On your way there, don't forget to look out the window for a glimpse of one of Cleveland's unique treasures, the ever-growing cultural gardens stretching over 50 acres of East Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

7. Cleveland Indians High Achievers Program, cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/fan_forum/highachievers.jsp: Is your little one a high achiever? She or he can turn those good grades and reading lists into Indians tickets with the Tribe's High Achiever Program. Log on, submit your child's good report card and reading lists and they will be eligible for vouchers for up to eight tickets, a free T-shirt, a free drink and store discounts.

8. Metroparks Adventure Club, www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/Adventure-Club.aspx: Finding affordable activities for kids is hard. The Cleveland Metroparks Kids Club, open to children 12 and under, makes it easy. The free club offers a full year-round schedule of family activities throughout its reservations. This includes hikes and programs throughout the parks, exclusive events, behind-the-scenes tours and more. Free membership includes an Official Kids Club passport, birthday card, coupons to Metroparks attractions and access to an end-of-year-party (with 12 stickers).

9. Take a Hike Tours, historicgateway.org: Get to know your city better, with one of these fantastic free downtown walking tours offered by the Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corp. This year's tours explore the Gateway District, the Warehouse District, PlayhouseSquare, Canal Basin Park in the Flats and the Civic Center. Tours are offered through Sept. 16. See website for schedule.

10. Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, cleveshakes.com: Experience the Bard (with a blanket and bug spray) in a variety of unique outdoor settings around town this summer, as the CSF launches its free annual tour. This year's productions include "The Life of Timon of Athens" and "The Merchant of Venice." The touring schedule begins June 5.

11. A day at the beach: Clevelanders take our Great Lake for granted. We shouldn't. This summer, make sure to lie back, relax and soak in the sun at one of Northeast Ohio's beaches along Lake Erie.

12. Wade Oval Wednesdays, or WOW, University Circle, universitycircle.org: WOW indeed! University Circle's free Wednesday parties are just about the best night in the city. The 2015 WOW series will run from June 17 to Aug. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m, Wade Oval will supply the music and picnic spots. You supply the food and drink (vendors are on site, too). Each week attracts thousands of revelers to the family-friendly events, which feature music and sometimes movies.

13. International Women's Air and Space Museum, Burke Lakefront Airport, 1501 N. Marginal Road, Cleveland, 216-623-1111,iwasm.org: Did you know Napoleon appointed a woman as his Chief Air Minister of Ballooning? Or that the Wright Brothers' sister, Katharine, was very active in their success? Or that Soviet Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to orbit the Earth? You will, and then some, when you visit this excellent free museum dedicated to honoring the women who played an important role in the history of aviation.

14. Preston's H.O.P.E., at the Mandel Jewish Community Center, 26001 S. Woodland Road, Beachwood, prestonshope.com: There are playgrounds, and then there are playgrounds -- and then there's Preston's H.O.P.E. This amazing Beachwood playground is the largest free playground accessible to children of all abilities in Ohio. The $3 million park opened in 2008 and is named for Preston Fisher, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, which kept him in a wheelchair. He died in December 2008, but this wonderful park honors his life. It includes the 60,000-square-foot "Imagination Village" play area.

15. Stearns Homestead, 6975 Ridge Road, Parma, 440-845-9770, stearnshomestead.com: Explore more than 48 acres at this working farm, smack-dab in the middle of busy Parma. Animals include horses, cows, goats, pigs, chickens and turkeys. There are also a country store and two historic museum houses. There is a small fee of less than $1 to buy food to feed the animals. The experience is priceless.

Touring the gardens at the Rockefeller Greenhouse is one of the best free deals in town.

16. Cleveland Police Museum, Justice Center, 1300 Ontario St., 216-623-5055, clevelandpolicemuseum.org: See the death masks of the victims in the infamous Torso Murders! See artifacts from Eliot Ness! See exhibits on motorcycle and canine units! Learn about Cleveland policing in the 19th century! And see it all -- and more -- for free at this fascinating museum.

17. Cuyahoga County Public Library programs, cuyahogalibrary.org: Year round, CCPL plans a plethora of free programs that tour from branch to branch. Special summer events include shows by the Bubble Lady and the Sho-Jo-Ji Japanese dance troupe, free technology camps for kids (they fill up early) and classes for adults -- plus the usual book clubs and story times. Registration (required for most events) on the website, or at your branch.

18. Cleveland Public Library programs, cpl.org: CPL offers a bevy of free family events and classes at its main campus and branches. Among them: the Music at Main concerts; free GED and ESL classes; free tutoring and craft-making for kids; knitting circles; a summer reading club; even free lunches for those who qualify. See the website or visit your local branch.

19. Tremont Art Walk, tremontartwalk.com: Every second Friday, Tremont transforms into a huge art party as art lovers and plain old party lovers gallery hop through the monthly art openings at the many galleries. It's one of the best Friday nights in town, especially in the warm weather. And of course, while looking is free -- and many galleries even have complimentary nibbles -- they'd love it if you bought some art, too.

20. "Star-Spangled Spectacular": See the best band in the land -- at least WE think so -- when the Cleveland Orchestra plays its annual free July 4th show with music and fireworks on July 1, 2015, on Mall B. 9 p.m., clevelandorchestra.com.

21. CMA Ohio City Stages concerts, clevelandart.org: The Cleveland Museum of Art is bringing the world to Ohio City on Wednesdays in July. The free concert series of acclaimed global musicians takes place on the block surrounding Transformer Station on West 29th Street. The concerts start at 7:30 p.m.

22. NASA Glenn Research Center tours, call 216-433-9653: Want to see what goes on inside that big hangar? Get a sneak peek at the latest NASA technologies (well, as much as the government will reveal). From April through October the Glenn Research Center offers free public tours of its research facilities. The tours are open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents with a government-issued photo identification or a permanent resident card. Individuals without proper ID will not be admitted. Reservations required.

23. Lakeshore Learning free crafts for kids, 27500 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, 216-378-9488, lakeshorelearning.com: Running out of crafty ideas to keep the rugrats occupied? From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday, this educational superstore offers free crafts (and innovative ideas) for kids. Saturday, the agenda calls for a beautiful beach scene "dazzling doorknob decoration." Next week, colorful Fourth of July noisemakers are the plan.

24. Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Parkway, North Olmsted, 440-734-6660, clevelandmetroparks.com: One of the Metroparks' true gems, the center offers over five miles of trails and gardens, including spectacular views of a 360-million-year-old shale cliff. Inside, the center's permanent exhibits include the giant fish of the Devonian sea, Dunkleosteus, and the Hideaway Hollow giant oak tree with lots of things to discover. Free events include hikes, lectures and family programming.

25. Birthday clubs: Many local retail chains -- among them, Bob Evans, Bob's Big Boy, Baskin Robbins, Sephora (!) and Red Lobster -- offer you birthday freebies when you sign-up online. Some locals do, too, including East Coast Custard (eastcoastcustard.com/) and Johnny Mango World Cafe and Bar (jmango.com).