DOLLAR DAYS: Locals get some love with rides, surfing, burlesque

Editor's note: To suggest events, email us at charlestonscene@gmail.com or go to the Dollar Days Facebook page.

The end of January is an exciting time for someone like me who has to find fun, inexpensive events to write about each week.

That's because this is the time of year when the holidays are well behind us and the Lowcountry is looking forward to SEWE, the Wine + Food Festival, Charleston Fashion Week and, of course, Spoleto.

Here are my suggestions of some ways to fill your weekend until then.

Monster bash

The Hippodrome, 360 Concord St., is hosting a benefit for Charleston Surfrider at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The Midwinter Monster Wave Bash is free to attend and features a book signing by Chris Dixon, the local author of "Ghost Wave: The Discovery of Cortes Bank and the Biggest Wave on Earth." Dixon will talk about his book while surfing footage is shown on the Hippodrome's big screen.

The bash also will include live music from The Brillers, a raffle of prizes such as tickets to the upcoming Jimmy Buffett concert and surfing lessons, and food and beverages available for purchase from Taco Boy.

All proceeds will benefit the Surfrider Foundation's Charleston Chapter. Go to charleston.surfrider.org.

Birthday burlesque

Feel the heat in January on Saturday night when The Mill hosts Dolly Dee's Disgustingly Cute Birthday Burlesque, which will feature performances by Skye Paige, Cherry Von Bomb, Selia D'Katzmeow, Rachel Riot and some special guests.

Musical entertainment will be provided by The Cogburns, and nonperishable food donations will be accepted for local food banks.

Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show begins at 10 p.m. Admission is free.

The Mill is at 1026 E. Montague Ave. in the Park Circle area. Call 225-2650.

Love for locals

On Sunday, Charleston Harbor Tours and Palmetto Carriage Works are showing some love for the locals by offering free tours all day.

Free harbor tours will be offered at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The tours last 90 minutes and point out such sites as Fort Sumter, The Battery and other Charleston landmarks.

Free hourlong carriage tours will take place throughout the day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) and cover many of Charleston's beautiful streets and parks.

Participants must show ID with a local address to take the free tours. For information on where the tours meet, go to www.charlestonharbortours.com.

Girl power

This week, the College of Charleston's women's and gender studies program is hosting two screenings of Jennifer Siebel Newsom's documentary "Miss Representation."

The film is an exploration of the way powerful women are portrayed in the media and how their portrayals influence girls' and women's self-perception and undermine their abilities to lead.

The screenings are free and will take place Saturday at 11 a.m. and Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Robert Scott Small Building at 175 Calhoun St.

Call 953-2280 or go to www.missrepresentation.org.