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Bored? Lost? Hungry?... Broke? Tips for having a big night out in the city without winding up on the poor farm.
At Lone Star Steakhouse, you have the option to create a three-course meal for $12.99, which includes a personal-sized appetizer, soup or salad, and your main course.
3030 S. Campbell Ave., 417-886-2900, lonestarsteakhouse.com
No reason not to get your caffeine cheap: Kum & Go has 59 cent fountain drinks all summer long for their 50th anniversary. If you can’t find a Kum & Go, you’re not looking.
You don’t normally think of eating at Ocean Zen as being a cheap experience, but with Sushi-a-Go-Go you won’t be eating AT Ocean Zen. Instead you’ll be picking up a California Roll or Spicy Tuna Roll ($3); a Shrimp Tempura, Tempura California or Crispy Creamy Spicy Tuna Roll ($4); or even one-half of an Ocean Roll ($5) at Ocean Zen’s jiffy drive-through. These prices are good every day from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and again from 8-10 p.m. (weekdays) or 9-11 p.m. (weekends). 600 E. Battlefield Rd., 417- 889-9596
Needing something FAST? Look no further than your friendly local supermarket’s deli; Harter House, in particular. Stop by the deli and ask for a Leaning Tower, an Italian marvel loaded with meat, cheese and brushed with Dijon. It’s only $3.99. Buy a large fountain drink at the front of the store when you check out. 1625 S. Eastgate, 417-883-1650
Downtown, the owners of Haruno also bring you Kai After Dark. Soups start as low as $3 with their miso soup. If you’re craving sushi, go after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, when select rolls are half-price.
306 S. Campbell Ave., 832-0077, kaiafterdark.com.
Feeling fancy? Touch Restaurant’s bacon-wrapped dates are only 50 cents on Mondays until 6 p.m. And wines by the bottle and glass are half-price all night.
1620 E. Republic Rd., 417-823-8383
The Roost has a fine selection of pizza pies, and during St. Louis Cardinals games they sell for the super-fly price of just $5 (one topping, like pepperoni, above).
2025 W. Battlefield Rd., 417-865-4000
Sexy gets cheap at Red Room, where they have $3.50 cheeseburgers and calamari for early birds from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with 2-for-1 drink specials on select beverages.
314 W. Walnut St., 417-862-4444, flamesteakhouse.com/happyhour
If you want a nice, casual date that’s still pretty great, pizza might just be the plan for the night. South Avenue Pizza has a special six nights a week: $12 gets you a 16-inch onetopping pizza and a pitcher of beer.
307 South Ave., 417-869-1500
Movie Quick Hits:
Campbell 16: Cheapest ticket $7 before 6 p.m.
Springfield 8: Cheapest ticket $5.50 from 4-6 p.m.
Moxie Cinema: Cheapest ticket $6 before 5 p.m. and all day Monday
College Station 14: Cheapest ticket $7 before 6 p.m.
Palace Theater: Cheapest ticket $2.50 all the time.
Sensational snacking tip: On Sunday and Sunday only at Springfield 8, a huge tub of delicious, buttery, fattening, leaves-your-fingers-greasy popcorn AND a large drink is only $5 total.
Nail salons are a dime a dozen in Springfield, but Hanah’s Beauty Salon (1155 E. Battlefield St., 417-890-6851) has an ace in the hole—hour-long massages for $35.
If something a little more active is your style, an old-school favorite is the Fun Acre mini-golf and batting cag es located just off of South Campbell. This is an eighteen-hole mini-golf course and entrance is only $2 per person. For a modern version of this favorite, check out Lunar Mini- Golf in the old Steve & Barry’s location in Battlefield Mall. This is a blacklight course with
tickets for $8 per person, which buys you up to three rounds.
Dying to watch Animal House or Total Recall (totally arbitrary films, by the way)? Don’t wait for your next Netflix; Family Video offers non-new rentals two for $1, and you get to keep them for five nights.
There are a lot of places to see free live music in Springfield, but the schedule can be confusing. But there are a few places that never charge a cover for live music or DJs, including Harlow’s, Tonic Ultralounge, Springfield Brewing Company (weeknights only) and Archie’s Lounge.
If the weather isn’t too sticky-hot, you could always head for the Dickerson Park Zoo (adult ticket: $7, which is a bargain to look at monkeys for hours on end) or leave your wallet at home and take a free walk on the wildlife side at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.
The cheapest Springfield Cardinals ticket is only $6, and the location of your seat depends on how early you get there. Our suggestion: if you’re not prone to frequent bathroom (or concession stand) trips, sit out in straightaway center field and enjoy a blanket in the grass and no foul balls threatening to disrupt your chillaxing.
Cheap cabs: The best deal in town is Blue Cab, which costs $1.80/mile plus a $2 drop fee. Give them a call at 417-865-2583, or visit 865blue.com.
If you’re not a fan of paying for parking, we present this Handy free-parking map (below). Note: It’s hardly exhaustive, and we’ve not included garages and lots at which you have to pay. Finally, remember that street parking (of which there is quite a lot) is always free.
Want to find the cheapest gas stations near you? Try visiting missourigasprices.com, a site that lets you view and report the cheapest and most expensive gasoline in your area. For gas prices on the go, iPhone users can download the GasBag app for free on iTunes.
