If you were to create a Venn diagram where one circle was labeled “cheap” and the other labeled “awesome”, the middle point where they cross over could be labeled “Vancouver on the Cheap”. In other words, this is a weekly series on things to do and places to go in Vancouver that fall into that magical category of being both cheap and awesome. Got a cheap-living tip you’d like to share? Send it in!

New Year’s Eve! It always seems like there are two options: house party (always awesome), or a really over-priced bar party. Right? Wrong! Not to dump on the house party, I love a good house party, but there are some cheap options for going out as well.

The Original Tap & Barrel – FREE!

The Tap & Barrel is a new pub in the Olympic Village featuring tons of delicious craft beers. Their regular prices are decent but don’t qualify as “cheap”, but their New Year’s Eve bash offers a truly rare thing in this city: free entry for all! They have limited reservations available, and I would jump on that if I was you. Walk-ins are welcome if you miss out.

Comox Street Long Bar & Grill – FREE!

Another no-cover deal, this one for all of you in the West End. No cover, band playing from 9-1, dancing, the whole deal!

ADDITION: Storm Crow Tavern – FREE!

The coolest new nerd bar is on Commercial Drive and they have so far managed to make a name for themselves not only by appealing to lovers of everything from Sci Fi to classic literature, but by having free parties on all major holidays. The Halloween party featured a patron getting murdered every hour, and now it’s a post-apocalyptic New Year’s Eve with DJ, dancers, and “post-apocalyptic snacking”, which just sounds fun.

So there you go, now three major neighbourhoods are covered: West End, Olympic Village, and East Van. You all have a free pub party to go to on Monday night!