Dinner at an average restaurant -- $10 per person. Movie at Showplace East or West -- $8 per person. A night of drinking at a bar -- $25. Having a good time without spending a ton of money -- priceless. Luckily for a college student on a budget, there are many ways to have a great week in Bloomington without spending a lot of money.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES\nAccording to the History of Brown County on www.browncounty.com, a glacier that covered much of the Midwest during the Ice Age flattened most of Indiana, north of Brown County, leaving the southern portion of the state covered in rolling hills. It was the beauty of these hills that first attracted artists to Brown County in the early 1900s. It is this beauty that brings tourists to Brown County for picnics, hikes and other outdoor activities.\nFor just $4 with Indiana plates or $5 with out-of-state plates, students can spend a day in Brown County State Park hiking, water skiing, camping or studying birds in the 16,000 acre park. \nEmployee Ashley O'Riley said the park has 20 miles of road with numerous pull-offs and overlooks. She said some pull-offs have picnic tables and playgrounds.\nO'Riley said Brown County also boasts shopping in Nashville, Ind., and numerous art studios. In fact, the county was started as an art colony. According to the Web site, each studio is open to the public.\nJust half an hour east of Bloomington, Brown County State Park offers two entrances, one located on State Road 46 east and one located on State Road 46 west.\nStudents wanting to enjoy the outdoors, but not wanting to travel so far can visit Oliver Winery here in Bloomington. \nOffice Assistant Stephanie Govert says it's possible to visit Oliver Winery and not spend any money at all. \n"You could come here and spend no money; if you just went on a tasting, a tour and bring your own food," she says. "The majority do end up purchasing wine. It's rare when people don't spend money."\nWith the price of a bottle of Camelot Mead, Soft White, Soft Rosé or Soft Red wine only $7.55, Govert said visiting the winery can be cheaper than spending a night at a bar.\nOliver Winery's 35 acres of vineyards and 15 acres of gardens are located at 8024 N. State Road 37.\nOf course there are numerous parks in Bloomington including People's Park, Miller-Showers Park and Bryan Park where students can hang out for free. A list of parks can be found at www.bloomington.in.gov/parks.
Entertainment Alternatives\nFor students who enjoy going to the movies but do not enjoy the steep prices, the Union Board comes to the rescue. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night the Union Board presents a second-run film or a preview at both 8 and 11 p.m. A second-run film is a movie that has left the theaters but has not yet been released on video. The films are free for IU students who show a valid student ID and cost $2 for non-students. Sometimes the Union Board presents films that have not yet been released to the theater.\nUnion Board films director Atticus Westerfeld says the Union has had a film series since 1919. But, he said, the movie has only been free to students for about five years.\n"We don't charge for students because Union Boards gets funds from the Student Activity Fee which all students pay each semester," he says.\nHe added that at any given movie, the board usually gets between 10 and 20 non-IU students.\nSenior Trent Chitwood says he likes to go the Union Board movies at least once a month. He says he enjoys going because he doesn't have much money to budget, and he likes the social environment.\n"I can meet people from class and say 'hi' to people," he says. "It's a social event, sitting there chatting."\nHe also says he likes the availability of the movies.\n"You can go at 8 or 11 and you have three days (to choose from)," he says.\nHe added that the showings are usually full.\n"I haven't been to one that's not full," Chitwood said. \nWhile some students enjoy escaping from homework with a movie, others would prefer to escape with a game. For students who would rather be active than sit and watch a movie, owner Amanda Johnson offers daily specials at Suburban Lanes located at 2634 N. Walnut St. For instance, all day Monday bowling and shoes cost only $1 each. Johnson says she offers the same deals Tuesday through Friday before 5 p.m. (excluding Wednesday when the alley does not open until 5 p.m.). She says the students like Monday nights because the alley also provides a DJ and karaoke.\nTuesday night, Johnson offers $1.25 bowling, $1.50 shoes and $1 drafts after 5 p.m. She says Tuesday is also a popular night for students because of the $1 drafts. Thursday after 5 p.m., bowling is $1.95 and shoes are $1.50. Friday after 5 p.m. and all day Saturday, bowling is $3 and shoes are $1.50. Sunday bowling is $2.25 and shoes are $1.50.\nAnother place to escape to for a few hours is LazerLite, a laser tag facility located at 4505 E. Third St. According to its Web site, www.lazerlitelt.com, LazerLite plays three games an hour charging $6 for one game, $11 for two and $15 for three. It also provides daily specials which makes hiding from laser beams and zapping friends even more enjoyable. \nFor instance, all day Monday LazerLite offers "buy one game, get one free" for $6. Thursdays offer happy hour with three games for $13 per person and Fridays offer "Tag Till 'u' Drag" from 10 p.m. to midnight for $15 per person. During these two hours, players participate in at least four games.\nLazerLite owner Susie Wolfgong says these specials are popular to college students who often play laser tag Thursday nights to celebrate the end of the school week. She says the facility can book parties, too. A pizza party, she says, costs $14 per person and includes pizza, laser tag, tokens and cookie cake.\n"It's a non-alcoholic great place for tag and a great place for those types of events," she says. And, with two "Dance Dance Revolution" machines, air hockey and "Ms. Pac-Man" among other games, Wolfgong says LazerLite provides the best arcade in town.
CHEAP EATS\nUntil recently, Becky Wann had a sign up in the men's room at Tortilla Flat, the Mexican restaurant she owns located at 501 N. Walnut St., asking patrons not to graffiti the bathroom. Unfortunately, Wann says she may have to raise the price of veggie tacos on Tuesday as a result. Currently the price is $1. \nWann says Tuesday is by far the busiest day of the week, but if she continues to have to paint the bathroom after people graffiti it, she's going to have to raise the price of the featured Tuesday Taco.\nShe says veggie tacos are normally $2.50. Beef and chicken tacos cost $1.25 and fish tacos cost $2 on Tuesdays. On any other day, beef tacos are $2.95, chicken are $2.75 and fish are $3.50.\nAnother place in town that provides specials is Mother Bear's Pizza. Waitress Lauren Brown says the pizzeria offers "Mom's Favorite:" a 10-inch, one-topping pizza with two house salads or an order of breadsticks and two soft drinks with refills for $11.95 every day.\nAdditionally, Mother Bear's offers a daily early bird special from 4 to 6 p.m. Brown says for the early bird customers receive free breadsticks and a free two-liter when they buy a 10- or 14-inch pizza starting at $6.70 and $9.60 with cheese only, respectively.\nSenior Jen Maddox is a big fan of the Early Bird special. She says she enjoys the special because it's enough food for people to share and it's filling. Maddox says she eats Mother Bear's every month or two.\n"I really do like it," she says. "I like the atmosphere, I like the food and it's usually pretty fast, and you can't beat the price"
