It’s peak season for your local farmers’ market. Shop local, save big. Sound familiar? That’s because it’s RTownShopper.com’s tagline and one that we believe in.

Farmers’ market advocates believe the markets help farmers stay in business as well as preserve natural resources. They also provide an opportunity for farmers and people from urban communities to deal directly with each other rather than through third parties and to thereby get to know and learn from one another. Wholesale prices farmers get for their produce are very low, often near the cost of production. Farmers who sell direct to the public without going through a middle man get a better price. It can be shown that the preservation of farmland is important for the health of the environment and water supply. According to the American Farmland Trust, sustainable and managed farms conserve soil and clean water and provide a habitat for wildlife.

Farmers’ market produce is renowned for being locally grown and very fresh and often features naturally or organically grown produce. You’ll find the season’s best vegetables, fruits, flowers, and specialty products all produced in Wisconsin. Farmers’ markets often feature meats that are raised humanely on pasture, handmade cheeses, eggs, and free-range poultry. Produce is picked at peak times, preserving the nutritional content of fresh produce. Since locally grown produce doesn’t have to travel far, the difference in mileage saves fossil fuels.

Check out RTownShopper.com for 50% off gift certificates to local restaurants, hotels, golf courses, hair salons and more.

Another event at EAA AirVenutre is KidVenture.  All generations live and breathe aviation with its hands-on, educational and fun, aviation-based demonstrations and presentations. They even get to build their own gliders and rockets! The young kids can even learn how to fly from the EAA’s “Learn To Fly Center.” The staffers at the event from NAFI will guide your child through important steps in the aviation decision making process for their future. Their dream of flight can become a reality at this event happening July 26th through August 1st.

You can also check out this video, to get a first-hand look at the adventure where “aviation is at the center of the universe!” Since you’ll be in Oshkosh for the event, check out these great restaurant deals on our site. These featured Oshkosh restaurants provide one-of-a-kind deals for a family of any size. You can also buy your tickets for this once-a-year event today and come July 26th, you’ll be flying high!

RTownShopper.com is the website for you!

If your life needs just a little spice

RTown has so many options for half the price

Check out our newly featured restaurant, Venue

They have 20 Different Burgers on the menu!

If you feel like you’re having a boring week,

Take your family camping at Deer Creek

Go see the Timber Rattlers when they play the Burlington Bees

Or just watch the game at Big D’s

If you love to golf, check out the Royal Scot Golf Course and Supper Club

Check out Steve Nuthals Massage Therapy for a good rub

Let your little ones try out martial arts

And the older ones will be thrilled to ride go-karts

There is a secret keyword hidden in this poem

You may use this if you’re cooking dinner at home

Even though RTownShopper.com is already sold out of Lifest tickets, they’re still available at the Lifest website. And if you can’t buy tickets, volunteer! All you have to do is apply online. A 4.5 hour shift will get you access to the entire event. And when you’re in Oshkosh for Lifest, RTownShopper.com is a great resource to get discount restaurant gift certificates or even find a place to stay with our discount lodging gift certificates.

At RTownShopper.com, we love our customers and in turn we want our customers to love our site. Our customers come back time and time again for the amazing deals we offer. You can find so many incredible deals ranging from discount festival tickets to discount dining gift certificates to discount hotel gift certificates. RTownShopper.com is where you can get more bang for your buck by saving 50% off at hotels, restaurants, golf courses, salons and more.

What about all of that money you spend at restaurants? According to bundle.com the average American spends nearly $300 a month dining out.

That’s $3,600 a year! At RTownShopper.com, we think that spending money should be rewarded and if you were to spend $3,600 a year on RTownShopper.com we would give you $100 towards another purchase on the site. Loyalty is important to us, so that $100 is a currency only RTown will accept, we call that currency RTown points. Remember, you can’t use dollars and RTown currency together. That would be like trying to use a Monopoly money and dollar bills together at a restaurant to pay the bill…

We appreciate our users and therefore, want to reward them. Every $15 dollars you spend on our site, you’ll earn 50 points.

= 50 RTown points

If you spend $25 we’ll bump up the rewards to 250 points, spend $50 and we’ll go all out and gift you with 1,000 points, add $25 to that $50 and you’ll earn 2,000 points. Hey big spender, spend $100 and you’ll be rolling in the points with 3,000 big ones.

What do these points mean, you ask? Accumulate points to earn money towards future RTown purchases. Once you earn at least 6,000 points you can use them to make a purchase. Get this! When you sign up with us, as a token of our appreciation, we’ll give you 5,000 starter points. That means purchase a discount gift certificate on our site for at least $50 and you’ll have enough points to start redeeming them.

For example purchase a discount golf certificate, like the fabulous Black Bear Golf Course and you’ll earn 1,000 points which will bring your total up to 6,000 points.

Once you reach 6,000 points you can use those points to purchase a discount certificate that is equal to or less than $6 on the site. Our best advice is to wait until you’ve racked up enough points to play a round of golf on us, get a massage or even a nice dinner with your honey.

This week, we are doing a special promotion in honor of Father’s Day, receive 10% off of everything purchased on the site. Buy dad something special and while you’re at it, get something for yourself too!

You must use the special promo code that we’ll be announcing to our Facebook fans soon.

Summer and romance go hand in hand. Summer vacation, walks on the beach, picnics in the park…but pressures of the adult world make it hard to get away for a vacation for two. While a romantic getaway to Hawaii or Tahiti may be out of reach, Milwaukee, Wisconsin has romantic destinations to keep the home fires burning.

If you love art and architecture, head downtown to the exhilarating Milwaukee Art Museum. Situated downtown on the lake, the building’s dramatic profile is defined by the Santiago Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, and open until 8 pm on Thursdays. Stop by the Cafe Calatrava, where floor to ceiling windows overlook Lake Michigan. On warmer days, venture out to the patio for some of the best views of the lakeshore.

Another romantic favorite is Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro overlooking Lake Michigan and surrounded by Milwaukee’s Lake Park. The French restaurant features wood floors and large windows, and authentic French cuisine worthy of a special occasion. For a more casual approach and outstanding frozen custard, try Kopp’s, known for their burgers and custard, with locations in Greenfield, Brookfield, and Glendale. Did we mention the custard?

Window shoppers can head to historic downtown Cedarburg for boutique shopping, artist studios, and wine tastings. The Cedar Creek Winery, located in the Historic Cedar Creek Settlement Shops, is an award-winning winery, offering tours and tastings daily. Tours are by appointment. Visit the last remaining covered bridge in Wisconsin for a romantic photo opportunity right out of Bridges of Madison County, and plan a picnic along Cedar Creek.

If you’re looking for a real “get away from it all” experience, try our discount coupon for Sybaris Pool Suites in Mequon, Wisconsin, where rooms feature in-room whirlpools and fireplaces. Even phones are limited, so leave all of your troubles and responsibilities at home. This couples’ retreat promises plenty of ambiance, perfect for a day’s getaway for a birthday or anniversary. You may not even want to leave your room.

What are your favorite romantic Milwaukee destinations?

The last notes have been studied, the final paper has been written, and the last essay question has been answered. Fox Valley graduates have earned their degrees, and it is finally time for family and friends to witness the transition.

If you’re traveling to Appleton, Green Bay or Oshkosh for the ceremony, check out RTownShopper.com for hotel travel discounts and gift certificates for the college graduate in your life. We also feature nearly 60 Fox Valley restaurant coupons for dining in the area.

As your graduate files in to the chords of Pomp and Circumstance, you know that the graduation march began years ago, and walking across the stage to receive a handshake and degree is merely the first steps of a new chapter.

As the ceremony concludes, they will move their tassel from right to left and earn a rousing round of applause for their achievement. No matter what grades or class rank they received as students, every one has now reached the proud goal of college graduate.

Congratulations Class of 2010! Here is a listing of area college commencement ceremonies:

Fox Valley Technical College
Sunday, May 16
1:30 p.m.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Kolf Sports Center

Lawrence University
Sunday, May 16
10 a.m.
Creasy Commencement Commons or Appleton Arena

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Wednesday, May 19
6 p.m.
Resch Center

St. Norbert College
Sunday, May 16
1:30 p.m.
Schuldes Sports Center

University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley
Tuesday, May 20
7 p.m.
UW Fox Fieldhouse

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Saturday, May 15
11:30 a.m.
Kress Events Center

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Saturday, May 15
9 a.m and 2 p.m.
Kolf Sports Center

While dining out regularly can be costly, it doesn’t have to be. Look for savings in your dining out budget with these tips:

Let’s do Lunch. Try a new restaurant for lunch instead of dinner. Lunch menus are often smaller, less expensive versions of the dinner menus. Going for dinner? Order an appetizer instead of a main course. The portions are smaller, and so is the price.

Click and Save. Look for coupons online. Discount coupon sites offer great savings on restaurants. (But remember to tip your server on the full amount.)

Advance Notice. Check the menu in advance. It’s easier to make your decision while you have plenty of time, without the growling stomach, tempting smells and busy server. This is a great way to save calories too.

Cash Reserve. Make a reservation instead of waiting in the bar. You won’t be tempted to buy appetizers or drinks while you wait.

Add it Up. Servers are trained to up-sell, even after you’ve made your budget-conscious decision. Mushrooms on your steak? Cheese on your potato? And everyone knows the old stand-by: “Would you like fries with that?”

Water Please. Beverages add a considerable amount, even double, to your bill. A fountain soda can add $2, while a glass of wine can be $6 and up, even for a bottle you can buy for under $10 in the store. If you are with a group, split a bottle of wine with your table. You’ll pay less per glass.

Just Desserts. While you’re sharing, consider splitting dessert as well. Ordering a cup of coffee for dessert is another option.

Tightening your belt doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a night out now and then. Have any more tips to share? How have you saved money on dining out?

The winning blogger is Julie, who wrote the blog below:

Julie says:

I currenlty live in De Pere and like to try new restaurants as they open. Keeping the business local helps the economy and maintains a good balance of options available in the area. But beyond that I would love to celebrated Valentines Day with my husband at The Cellar on the Fox. The menu looks wonderful, and the extras included in the Valentines day package are exceptional. A romantic evening out and away from my day to day routine would be awesome!

Congrats Julie! Thank you to everyone who entered. Julie please contact rtownshopper.com, we will also contact you via email. Thank you.

Christmas marches into Appleton during the 39th Annual Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade November 24.  Held every year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the parade is the largest nighttime Christmas parade in Wisconsin.

Regular parade-goers know to mark their spot along College Avenue early, then head out to their favorite downtown Appleton restaurants for dinner. The parade begins at State Street, follows along College Ave. and ends at Drew Street. Nearly 50,000 people, bundled in winter coats and snuggled under blankets, watch, listen, and enjoy the spectacle of nearly 75 parade units, including floats, fire trucks, and flames. Along with those attending, over 100,000 watch the event live on WFRV-TV 5, Green Bay and WJMN-TV 3 from Escanaba, Michigan.

The street echoes with music and merriment as seventeen marching bands and costumed performers stream by under a canopy of gold tinsel angels and the November night sky. Children await a glimpse of the guest of honor, all the way from the North Pole.

Following the parade, Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna and Parade Marshall Jay Schumerth will lead the Annual City of Appleton Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in City Park. The ceremony will feature a chorus of Christmas carols by the Appleton Boychoir and a community sing-along, beginning at approximately 7:45 pm.

The theme of this year’s parade is “A Child’s Christmas,” but children and grownups alike will delight when Santa Claus closes the parade by wishing everyone a hearty “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!”