If you want to go out, but your bank account is reading “not so fast, buddy,” do not fret.
From deals for foodies to freebies for history buffs or classic car lovers, options abound for a cheap date, be it with your significant other, self, friend or child.
Catch horseback battles with canons and pyrotechnics at World War II Days where admission is free. Grab 10 food samples from 10 businesses for just $10 — or $20 for a whole family —and help kids fighting cancer during the Lockport Sweets and Savory Crawl.
Go to a minor league ballgame, gaze at the stars, rent a canoe or catch a discounted flick or free concert.
And you might be surprised what your local library is doing for free, too.
Aphrodisiacs, anyone?
At The Cottage on Dixie, 18849 Dixie Hwy. in Homewood, at 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, fresh-shucked oysters are available at the bar and cost $2 each or $3.50 per oyster shooter. Call 708-798-8263 or go to www.thecottageondixie.com.
Oysterfest returns to Tribes Alehouse, 9501 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park (708-966-2051). Starting at 3 p.m. Sept. 14 and continuing to Sept. 16, oysters, clams, shrimp and other seafood specials will be offered. Plus, throughout September, all first responders (police, fire and emergency medical technicians) will be given a 25 percent discount on food purchases at both Tribes in Tinley Park and Mokena, 11220 W. Lincoln Hwy. (815-464-0248). Go to tribesalehouse.com.
Astronomy buffs
Cancers are ruled by the moon, but who doesn’t like to look at stars?
Join a local astronomer for free stargazing events at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, 7402 S. Lake Katherine Drive (off Route 83/College Drive) in Palos Heights. Call 708-361-1873 or go to www.lakekatherine.org.
Or join the Chicago Astronomical Society for the free program “Astronomy vs. Astrology” from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 9 at Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, 9800 Willow Springs Road in Willow Springs. Call 708-839-6897 or go to fpdcc.com.
Fitness for you
Through September, you could rent a 3-person canoe or a kayak for $7 per hour or $25 for half-day at Monee Reservoir, on Ridgeland Avenue south of Pauling Road in Monee.
Have your own canoe or kayak? Launch at Hammel Woods in Shorewood, Isle a la Cache in Romeoville, Rock Run Rookery Preserve in Joliet, Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Minooka and McKinley Woods in Channahon. A launch pass is $10.
Call 815-727-8700 or go to www.reconnectwithnature.org.
Paddle a kayak around the lake for $8 per hour at Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights. Kayak rentals are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. Call 708-361-1873 or go to www.lakekatherine.org.
Foodies
Catch a break on your dining tab during Lockport Restaurant Week Sept. 3 to 10. Participating restaurants include the Public Landing, Iron Horse Saloon and Embers Tap House. Call 815-838-3357 or go to www.lockportchamber.com.
Also in Lockport, tickets are selling fast —a nd available only through Sept. 15 — for the Lockport Sweets and Savory Crawl.
Eat, walk and help a good cause from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17.
Tickets are $10 or $20 per family and proceeds going to the Mark Staehely Pediatric Cancer Foundation (makeyourmark7.org). A ticket provides a sample from 10 businesses, such as a pulled pork slider at Embers Tap House, cream soda shop at Port Noir, toffee at Hollingsworth and possibly a sweet corn and honey ice cream at Dairy Queen. Other businesses include the Vegan Café, Cakes XO, Cool Creations, Naked Sprout Organics, Antonis Restaurant and Sizzles.
Attendees also are invited to play an interactive bingo game from stop to stop and around town for a chance at winning gift certificates.
For more details, call or visit a participating business or find “Sweets and Savory Crawl” on Facebook.
Can’t afford to travel to Hawaii, Greece or France? Check out the themed buffets — and maybe win some cash toward that feeding frenzy — at Flavors the Buffet at Harrah’s Casino in downtown Joliet. The Monday luaus for $21.99 include a pig roast, Spam mac n cheese and coconut shrimp and the international dinners on Thursdays for $21.99 feature food from two countries. Call 815-740-4447 or go to www.caesars.com.
For more deals all over, sign up for restaurants’ newsletters to receive discounts or take advantage of happy hours.
Gearheads
It’s free to admire cool rides.
Municipalities’ cruise night season is winding down. Check with your local village or city.
Continuing cruise nights include every Sunday to Oct. 29 at Deans Gyros, 162 W. Sauk Trail in Chicago Heights (708-949-0542 or www.independencecarclub.com); Sept. 11 at Route 52 and Monee-Manhattan Road in Manhattan (815-418-2100 or www.villageofmanhattan.org); and the first and third Wednesday through September at Buddy’s Drive-In on Dixie Highway in Beecher (708-672-3915 or beecherchamber.com).
History buffs
The annual World War II Days will open at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 9 and 10 at Dellwood Park, Route 171 and Woods Drive in Lockport.
Battles with pyrotechnics will be at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. both days.
Also on Sept. 9 in the park is the finale of the LockRocks Free Concert Series. Chicago Experience will perform from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Admission is free, with a food court and beer garden available.
Call 815-838-3621 or go to lockportpark.org.
Flicks for you
Tuesday is discount day at Cinemark, with locations in Joliet (815-267-8832) and Bourbonnais (815-933-5983). Go to www.cinemark.com.
See five movies for $25 with the Sunday Passport Sept. 3 to Nov. 12 at Marcus Theatres in Orland Park and Chicago Heights. The passport also includes a 20-percent discount on concessions and December deals, too. Go to www.marcustheatres.com.
Libraries beyond the books
Your local library is a source of free activities that sometimes include tasty samples.
Sample authentic mole sauce during the cooking demonstration “Taste of Oaxaca” at 2 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Joliet Public Library, 3395 Black Road in Joliet. Call 815-846-6500 or go to jolietlibrary.org.
Other free programs include “The Story of German Beer” with the Art Institute of Chicago’s Lucas Livingston at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Tinley Park Library, 7851 Timber Drive in Tinley Park (708-532-0160 or tplibrary.org); the movie “Hacksaw Ridge” at 1 p.m. Sept. 11 at Homer Township Public Library District, 14320 W. 151st St. in Homer Glen (708-301-7908 or www.homerlibrary.org); and “Cook-A-Book: The Tastes of Mexico” at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at Palos Heights Library, 12501 S. 71st Ave in Palos Heights (708-448-1473 or www.palosheightslibrary.org).
Sports fans
Tickets are only $12 — or $8 for lawn and free for military personnel Sept. 2 — and parking is free and convenient for Joliet Slammers baseball games. The season’s final home games are against the Lake Erie Crushers.
For “Halloween Night” at 7:05 p.m. Sept. 1, fans are invited to participate in a pre-game costume parade on the field and fireworks follow the game. Veterans and active-duty personnel are admitted free of charge Sept. 2 for “Military Night,” with the game at 6:05 p.m. During the game at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 3, prizes will be given away for “Fan Appreciation Night.”
Joliet Slammers Stadium is located at 1 Mayor Art Schultz Drive in downtown Joliet near the Metra station. Call 815-722-2287 or go to www.jolietslammers.com.
In Tinley Park, watch the Bears game on a big screen, have a craft brew and buy a little something for your sweetheart or yourself during “Craft and Brew,” featuring a dozen vendors, at 1 p.m. Sept. 24 at Hailstorm Brewing Company, 8060 186th St. in Tinley Park. Call 708-480-2268 or go to www.hailstormbrewing.com.
Vickie Snow Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
