This Week in Athens: May 16th - May 23rd

Hey guys,

First off, I know it's week 8 and everyone is super busy, so good luck with all of your studies! I know it's hard when the sun is shining and the birds are singing, and virtually the rest of the college world is on summer break, but you can do it! We're all in this together.

Second, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has been keeping up with my posts over the past few weeks of this project. It has really meant a lot to me! I've had a really fun time with this blog, and I'm thinking of keeping it going through my last year here in Athens... what do you guys think? I would love to take any suggestions anyone has out there, and definitely keep the posts coming! I really do look forward to reading them each week. This will be my last post for awhile, but I always have my eye out for good deals in the area, and I look forward to letting you know about what I find in the future! Thanks again for everything, and keep checking back here because I still have plenty of ideas! Here's what I plan on tackling sometime soon....

* Places in Athens you've probably never been: The Purple Chopsticks, Dela Zona & Indian Star
* Fine dining experiences... which has the most worth for your money?
* The cutest (and most affordable) accessories on Court St.
* Coffeehouses... quality vs. price
* Online college dining resources Campusmenus.com and Eatcollege.com: Coupons, deals and more

But for now, I will leave you with a compilation of events taking place this week. So if you do have time to take a study break, you'll be able to have fun - as always - on a budget :)


Monday:
* Study day!

Tuesday:

*2010 Graphic Design BFA Exhibition Opening:
7pm to 9pm Seigfred Hall, Ohio University Art Gallery

Free show featuring projects designed and created by the graduating Graphic Design class of 2010. Check out their website if you're interested in viewing the artwork before the show!

The exhibition will remain open until Saturday, May 29th. Gallery hours are 10:00am-4:00pm.

(http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124669447548145&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=119785678045728&ref=ts)


* Ohio Men's Baseball vs. Xavier

Last home game of the 2010 season, 6pm Bob Wren Stadium
Tickets free for all Ohio University students, and $5 dollars for any single ticket!
(For more pictures of the team, go to my post Take Me Out to the Ball Game.)

* Sushi Tuesday's at Lui Lui Restaurant

* Retro Night at PigSkin: .50 cent drafts and DJ Aroc
Also, check out their online coupons here. Pigskin is known for having great deals!


Wednesday:
* $5 dollar Liquor Pitchers: Lucky's Sports Tavern

* .50 cent slice night at Courtside Pizza and Sports Bar, plus $1.00 shots & $1.50 wells; 9:00pm - Close


Thursday:

*First Annual Bark Fest, 2010: Hosted by OU's Association for Women in Communication; 3-7pm, Howard Hall Site

A philanthropy event for the Athens Humane Society. There will be raffles from local businesses, and dogs from the Humane Society will be present through the afternoon, so bring your dogs too!
(http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124669447548145&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=120318157985835&ref=ts)

Free Food. Cute Dogs. Sweet Prizes.
Can't get any better then that!

* Free Canoeing and Swimming trip: Outdoor Pursuits
Every Thursday in May 5:30pm-8:30pm

Trips depart from the Outdoor Pursuits Rental Center.

No registration is required, just show up! Transportation, instruction and all required gear will be provided at no cost.

(http://www.ohio.edu/recreation/op/SCHEDULETripsSpr10.html)

Next Week: May 27, Canoeing and Swimming at Dow Lake

* May Day OU 2010: 5 pm, McCracken Field
Featuring free performances by hip hop artists Clipse and Consequence

Check out the videos below for a sample of their music...


(Caution: may include explicit material)



Hosted by OU organizations: Backdrop Magazine, BSCPB, UPC, ImPRessions, SAC, and Vision Ohio.

* School of Dance Concert: Shirley Wimmer Theatre, Putnam Hall
Thursday and Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm

The Ohio University School of Dance presents their School of Dance Spring Concert. Come see performances by the Senior Class 2010, guest artists and students alike. I go to these performances every quarter, and they are always great! (Free ticket with a valid student Id)

* $2 Mega Mug Night at Red Brick Tavern; one of the most popular, and best, deals of the week.


Friday:

* Relay for Life at the Athens County Fairgrounds, 286 West Union Street!

Whether you camp out with a team, or just come out and walk around the track, you'll be helping a great cause.

Takes place 5p.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday.



Saturday:

* If you have the extra money to splurge ($20)... 7 Fest, the seventh installment of the premier college campus outdoor music festival is taking place at 7755 Williams Road from 11am to 11pm Saturday, May 22nd. Tickets can be purchased uptown at Courtside, Yannis or Sundries.



(http://www.athens6fest.com/SixFest.WeRunOU/images/stories/5fest030.jpg)

Set list includes: Bourbon Kings, iPhonic, The Forties, Fam Fresh, DJ Edski, Mt Carmel, The One Eyed Show, Downplay, L.e, Jesty Beatz, B. YONEST, Mike Posner.

For more information go to the 7 Fest site.


Sunday

Take a day to relax :)


By the way, if you're interested in more restaurant and bar promotions, check out campusmenus.com for a full list of nightly and monthly specials, and happy hour promotions.

I tend to check this daily. They have so many great deals!



Anyway, that's all for now Athens. Thanks for everything!


Julie

Local Dollar Stores... Worth it, or not?

Family Dollar vs. Dollar Tree
We've all seen it. Sitting there on Carpenter Street in all its mystery... the Family Dollar.

The concept of the dollar store has always been a hook, especially for poor college students who don't have much of an income. But it seems every time I go into one, it turns out to be a collection of worthless items no one would ever care to buy.

(http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/11/1106_dividend_aristocrats/image/12_family_dollar_stores.jpg)

As far as Family Dollar goes, I've never been. Personally, it seems a bit sketchy - a townie shopping haven. But, at the same, time I've always been kinda curious about it. What kind of items do they offer? Is everything really a dollar? Should I go in and check it out? The answer has always been a mental "maybe some other time"... until now.

This is Athens on a budget, right? So what the hell. Might as well give it a shot and see if the local Athens dollar stores are actually worth the look-around. So sit back while I take you on a virtual tour of the Athens dollar stores. Family Dollar vs. Dollar Tree.

Family Dollar
The Family Dollar is (as predicted) a little bit sketchy, but definitely but not as bad as I had predicted. When I got there, they had a sidewalk sale of koozies, coolers, tank tops and other nice-weather geared items to greet guests at the door. They also had a full section of apparel, on top of the groceries and other items available, which was unexpected.

Unfortunately, the Family Dollar is a little misleading in the vein that it's not, in fact, a true dollar store.

The tank tops in the sidewalk sale? 3 dollars. Coolers? 14. Not quite as appealing. Especially when there's a Walmart right down the street.


But surprisingly enough, I was able to put together a cute spring outfit in light of the fests this weekend... all for under 30 bucks. A little steep, but still reasonable. And a full outfit for 30 bucks is nearly impossible to pull off, so that's pretty good!


Ruffle Tank: $7

Shorts: $6

Black Flip Flops (can go with anything): $1

Silver-Rimmed Aviators: $6

Silver Hoop Earrings: $1.49

Paisley Black and White Tote: $6

*Add a Miller Light Koozie and a vile of knock-off Chanel No. 9, each a dollar.

Total: $29.49 with tax

"They had some cute tops, which was surprising," said Ohio University Senior Ashlee Bonham, who had also never been to the Family Dollar and decided to check it out.

Unfortunately, the Family Dollar doesn't have a fitting room, so you're on your own when it comes to sizing. But if whatever you buy doesn't fit, no worries. Returns are always accepted with a valid receipt. I even walked out with a cute pair of knock-off, tortoise-colored Ray Bans. Super cute and edgy, and only 6 bucks.

And the attendant even clipped off the tag for me so I could wear them out :)

Overall, the Family Dollar wouldn't be a place I would shop on a regular basis, but it's definitely worth a try. Check out their website for coupons.

Dollar Tree
At the Dollar Tree on East State Street, everything is officially a dollar! No ifs, ands or buts about it. They also had sidewalk sale items, graduation and Forth of July displays, a section of toys for the kids, and even a full isle of glassware and ceramic dishware! Aside from the not having a full apparel section (they do have a few items), this is clearly the better store. A bigger and better selection and more of a variety, if you're looking for a true dollar store in Athens, this is the one for you. Check out the pictures below, and if you've never been before, definitely go and check it out for yourself! They pretty much have just about anything, so you won't be disappointed.



Pros and Cons
To sum it all up...

Family Dollar:
Pros
* Apparel and jewelry items
* Within walking distance from campus
Cons
* Not everything is a dollar
* Kinda sketchy

Dollar Tree:
Pros
* Everything is a dollar!
* Big store and great variety
Cons
* No apparel
* Have to drive there


Happy shopping :)

Movies 10: 4 Dollars, All Ages, All the Time

Well, the beautiful weekend weather didn't really hold up as forecasted, did it? After a full Friday of high temps, blue skies and no precipitation, the last few days have consisted of rain, rain and more rain in a weather 180°.
(http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/images/uploads/movie_theatre.gif)

Luckily, the Moms Walk for a Cure was able to come and go without a single raindrop, but most of the weekend events moved indoors. Because we all know in Athens, when it rains it pours.

But the great thing about this city is, whether it's a show uptown or a university event, there's constantly something to do - despite the rain. And even on a lazy, rainy Sunday, there's always the chance to catch up on recent box office flicks. Below is a compilation of the best local theaters, their prices and attractions.

The Athena
Although The Athena uptown offers 5 dollar matinee tickets, 4 dollar movie Tuesdays and free Arts for Ohio Cinematheque screenings for all Ohio University Students, sometimes you just want to see a mainstream movie. In a theater that offers independent films, and usually only 3-4 movies at a time, mainstream movies aren't really an option.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2819617194_d7a6e28367.jpg)

The Athena Grand
Your next closest bet is Athena Grand on East State Street. Offering 3D movie options, a small arcade and a broad range of concessions snacks (including over 12 flavored popcorn toppings - yum!), it's pretty much your basic local movie theater. But with tickets at 6.50 (12 to 13 dollars for 3D films), plus food and arcade games, a trip to the movies quickly turns into costing the price of a full tank of gas.

(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Athens-OH/Athena-Grand/101425333232551?v=wall#!/photo.php?pid=8163&id=101425333232551&fbid=101520463223038)

Movies 10
So all you avid Athena Grand goers out there, listen up. I will let you in on a local student secret. Only 7 minutes north of Athens on US Route 33 in Nelsonville, OH, is Movies 10 theater. Although it's further from town, it's more than well-worth the trip.

First of all, they just built a brand new, amusement park-sized arcade facility called the Fun Barn featuring more games than you can count, a mini bowling alley, bumper cars, food court and the only flight simulator in the state. Check out this article by Athens Midday for more information on the Fun Barn, as well as the video below showcasing their main attractions.



But aside from the Fun Barn, the biggest upside to Movies 10 is the fact that they offer 4 dollar movie tickets for all ages, all the time. And really, nothing gets better than that. And I haven't even mentioned the popcorn prices. Movies 10 also offers a small popcorn or soda for a dollar.

Yes - you did in fact read that correctly. 1 dollar popcorn and soda! So even with all those arcade games, whether before or after the movie, at least you know the movie itself comes at a reasonable price. So hop on the Movies 10 bandwagon - your wallet and bank account will thank you later.

Here's a coupon from the Fun Barn Cafe's blog for your next visit, and until next time... April showers bring May flowers :)

Date Night Deals: Film Festival & DQ Promotion

If you live in Athens and have yet to experience the Athens International Film and Video Festival, now is the time to go! I know, I know... Ark and High Fests are this weekend. But for real, try taking a break from the keg stands and beer pong and go see some award-winning films.

(Source: http://www.ohio.edu/athens/bldgifs/athena.jpg)

Athens 2010 International
Film + Video Festival
Founded in 1974, the festival annually hosts independent films from around the world, as well as those produced right here in Athens. Starting tomorrow, and running for a solid week, The Athena on Court St., Baker Center Theater and Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville, are all teaming together to showcase 12 feature films and 56 competition screenings.

This is the perfect opportunity to grab your significant other and catch a flick uptown! And if you happen to miss the film you wanted to see, no sweat. Unfortunately, the competition pieces are only shown once, but each of the 12 feature films have multiple show times throughout the week. View the festival's complete schedule here.

Last year, a friend of mine named Adam Miller was working on a group animation project for his digital media major. That same project was later awarded entry into the Film Festival's animation competition. So on a Saturday afternoon, my roommate Laura and I walked over from High Fest to check it out. Tickets were free with a valid student ID, and we were able to see several great animated features (think Pixar).

Aside from my Adam's hilarious film about a depressed ice cream cone, ironically entitled Nutrition: With Herbert J. Wafflecone, there were several other more professional features included as well. One animated short entitled Procrastination, with animation and direction by John Kelly, visually depicts the true meaning of procrastination - something pretty much anyone can relate to. Watch Procrastination below and view my friend Adam's video here.



This year, another project of Adam's has been entered into the festival. But this time, the film packs more of a punch. Entitled People of the Machine, the film is supposed to be more intense and dramatic, with a plot about a 1960-type society that puts all of its knowledge into making a machine, and then has to learn to live with it.

"I'm curious to see the reaction the film gets from the crowd, because we've gotten a tremendous amount better than we were last year" Adam says. "It's cool to see your work up against professionals. And while it kind of gives us a jolt of reality, I'm really looking forward to seeing what other films get in."

The animation competition takes place at the Athena on Monday, April 26th, at 10 p.m. If you're looking for a good laugh, I definitely recommend it! And like I said before, luckily for us Ohio University students, Arts for Ohio provides free tickets to anyone with a valid student ID!

For those of you out there who aren't students, or for anyone who wants to bring a parent or sibling, you're in luck. Any matinee before 5pm at the Athena is free, as well as all screenings at Baker Center Theater. For all shows after 5pm, tickets are 5 dollars and after 6pm, tickets are 6.50 (5.50 for seniors or children). Pre-sale options begin on Friday at 1pm, and there is also a 6-show screening pass available for 30 dollars.

So like I said, take a break from High or Ark Fest this weekend (whichever your preference) and go to the film festival. You won't regret it!


Happy Birthday DQ
If you're hungry after the movie, swing by DQ on 70 Columbus Rd. (right past Dirty Deeds on N. Lancaster) and partake in the celebration of Dairy Queen's 25th birthday! Because who doesn't like a frozen snack on an evening out with friends? All week across the country you can get any two medium sized DQ blizzards - one regularly priced at 3.50 and another for only 25 cents!

With 25 different flavors, including my personal favorite Thin Mint (mint ice cream with crushed Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies), this is a steal that any ice cream lover would go crazy for! When I went, the parking lot was packed and the drive-thru was full. So hurry while you can, because the promotion only lasts til Sunday! Perfect for a date night, or late night, this is one sweet deal :)

Have a great weekend Athens!

Julie

Mug Club & Liquor Pitchers: Lucky's Sports Tavern

After a weekend of birthdays, bars and a beer Olympics with friends, it's definitely one of those hungover Sundays. As I relax on the couch watching Knocked Up on E! eating leftover Taco John's, everything from the weekend comes rushing back... the inside jokes, funny moments and one-on-one talks that truly make my friends great.

One bit of information that particularly sticks out from the weekend, is finding out about the "Mug Club" at Lucky's Sports Tavern on Court Street. The "Mug Club" is a discount offered at Lucky's that lasts all quarter.

(source: http://www.myspace.com/luckyssportstavern)

As a club member, you'll receive:
* Special discounts on mixed drinks
* Reduced shot prices every Monday, and
* 1.50 drafts anytime

To join the club, all new members pay 25 dollars. But for renewing members, it's only 20 bucks. For this price, Lucky's staff will assign you to a specific mug on a shelf behind the bar, and put your name on it with a little key chain. How cool is that concept, to have a glass reserved for you uptown 24/7? Although renewing members had to pay by April 7th, new members can join anytime - that is, until the mugs run out. The earlier you join, the more bang you'll get for your buck... but the clock is ticking.

Another really popular promotion at Lucky's, are their 5 dollar liquor pitchers offered every Wednesday night. Served in a Budweiser pitcher of about 54 oz, you can get literally any mixed drink. But this way, instead of one drink for 3 or 4 bucks, you'll get a little over four of your favorite drinks for only 5 dollars! This is seriously one of the best deals in Athens. Below are my friends and I on St. Patrick's Day this year, celebrating with Lucky's Lemonade Liquor Pitchers dyed green for the holiday!

Although Lucky's is locally known as the "Steelers bar," all who like to drink, eat and mingle with friends are welcome. Coming from a die hard Cleveland Browns fan, as long as I've got a Lucky's Lemonade in my hand, screw the rivalry. It's a great place for food, friends and to just sit back and socialize or watch the game. Follow them on Facebook, MySpace or Twitter for more information on the "Mug Club," and other Lucky's promotions.

Cheers!
Julie

Just for fun:
Can you name all the Athens bars? Check out Sporcle for this fun quiz.

Sushi Tuesdays at Lui Lui Restaurant

Ever get the craving for some good, local sushi? No, not that overpriced packaged Okami shit at Baker's West 82. I mean fresh, hand rolled stuff. I've tried the California Rolls at Baker multiple times hoping it might be better each time, but it never was and it never will because it's packaged. Packaged sushi tends to be very dry, and never fails to crumble apart in your hand. Nobody wants to sit in the cafeteria scooping rice chunks out of their soy sauce. Sushi on campus is important, but not that important.

Okay, so back to good sushi. My roommate Laura Baskin was walking to the HDL center for work one afternoon and a huge sign reading 'Tuesday Sushi Special' caught her eye in a nearby window. This is when she discovered Lui Lui Restaurant next to the Oak Room on Station Street. Soon after, we decided to check it out.


Every Tuesday night they offer a wide range of sushi combinations at super low prices. Anything from salmon, tuna, eel, scallops, shrimp and even crab - they've got it. Unfortunately though, it's only on Tuesday nights. On a regular basis they serve the California and New York Rolls, but they're more expensive during the rest of the week.

But on Tuesday, the Lui Lui basic California Roll is priced at 4.50, a dollar less than West 82's 5.25 and Kroger's whopping 5.86. And all rolls on the menu are between 4 and 8 bucks, depending on what's in them.

Laura and I both took forever to decide what to get - everything looked so good! I finally decided on the Shrimp Tempura (battered and lightly fried shrimp, with green onion) and Laura got the New York Roll (smoked salmon rolled with avacado, cream cheese and wasabi). We also ordered the Dragon Roll to split (crab and avacado rolled inside out topped with eel). They brought it all out on a plate and everything was presented so nicely. Not to mention, the food itself was just incredible...

(left: NY roll, right: shrimp tempura, furthest back: dragon roll)

The Dragon Roll was by far the best, but it was all really good. And what's great about Lui Lui is that it's so close to campus. Only a short walking distance from Bromley, Baker and uptown, it's the perfect spot for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon! With good food, low prices, and a comfortable atmosphere, what more could anyone ask for?



Take a look at their complete sushi menu if you're interested, and check it out for yourself. Trust, me you won't be disappointed. And if you become a fan of theirs on Facebook, you can receive even more discounts. It says right at the bottom of their Sushi 101 post that they'll give anyone a free sushi a la carte order by simply mentioning the post! And guys, if you're not a big fan of sushi, Lui Lui also has a full menu including wok items, seafood, pasta, pizza and even vegetarian entrees. Their general lunch menu is also very reasonable with all items costing under 7 dollars. See Athens, I've got your back :)

Happy eating!