You know the feeling. You open your wallet with optimism, expecting to find a few spare bucks hanging around, and instead stare at empty folds. Dismayed, you reluctantly tell your friends you can’t go see that killer new movie that’s opening. No, you can’t go out to eat either. For the third week in a row.
Not every Northwestern student has the luxury of dropping cash each weekend for dinner and a show. Even fewer have access to the god-like power of Daddy’s credit card. Fortunately, the Evanston area offers abundant cheap entertainment. Wait, you don’t want to spend any money? No problem.
You can have a night out at no cost if you know where to look. (And if you call now, we’ll throw in a Magic Spatula absolutely free. Plus shipping and handling.)
Movies
A&O Productions shows a free movie in Harris 107 every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. And they aren’t D-list duds; you can see the latest award-winning films. Occasionally a screenwriter or author connected with the film will speak afterwards, so you get two events for free. Check out the A&O website for their schedule.
If you’re looking for an unusual film experience, pay attention to free outdoor movie screenings on the Norris East Lawn. The Dark Side of Oz, The Wizard of Oz synched with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album, is showing as part of Mayfest on May 25 at 8 p.m. Have a picnic with a blanket and some food pilfered from the dining hall.
Art
For the pseudo-cultured NU student, enjoy an excursion to an art gallery with a few friends. Dittmar Art Gallery, flanking the Norbucks, is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Starting May 15, the gallery will display exceptional work by senior art majors.
You can see professional work nearby at the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art. Traveling exhibits rotate throughout the year in addition to the museum’s substantial permanent collection. The prints of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein will be on display until June 17, perfect for those with an eye for bright colors and comic book images.
Music
Free auditory entertainment can be very pleasing, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself stuck listening to an American Idol wannabe. The coffee shop Kafein holds Open Mic Mondays starting at 8:30 p.m. Many of the untested musicians put on admirable performances, but a select few can ruin the best cup of java. And if a crazy crooner attempts to sell nude self-portraits to you, gulp down your macchiato and run.
The biggest free music festival coming up is, of course, Dillo Day. Smear on lots of sunscreen, then head up to the lakefill on May 26 for a full day of live music. A variety of different styles are represented. Grammy-nominated rapper Lupe Fiasco is set to perform, and it is rumored that rock band Cake will take the stage.
Museums
Don’t let a week of classes discourage you from visiting some of Chicago’s great museums; many of their exhibits are far from academic. The Art Institute has free general admission every Thursday night from 5 to 8 p.m. There are several unique collections in the museum beyond the requisite paintings. The Arms and Armor display features over 225 weapons and defensive items, mostly of European origin. In addition, the Thorne Miniature Rooms lie sequestered on the Institute’s lower level. These replicas of historical rooms in 1 inch to 1 foot scale are delicately detailed.
Students of technical disciplines will enjoy the Museum of Science and Industry, located on the site of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. General admission is free June 3-8, granting access to exciting displays including a German submarine, a replica of a coal mine, a fairy castle, and live chicks hatching.
So the next time your well-supplied friends entice you with an expensive endeavor, suggest one of the many free forms of entertainment in the area. That’s a four-letter word any college student can get used to.