Best (legal) things to do under $5

For the second installment I will tell you about my favorite summertime activity: Bingo.

Yea I said it. It’s fun and it’s not just for old people, don’t be tricked by that stereotype. Bingo is a business of fun and games but no funny business. For just $5, you too can have the chance at the American dream; some smokes, some fun and a 1 in 100 chance of winning some cash–usually $300 to $700. A silly purple dollar bill gets five cards with 12 plays on each, so basically each game you have 12 cards in one to play. At B-12 Bingo, where I like to go, they’ll give you a free dauber your first time and purchases over $5 at their fine dining area will also score you a free dauber.

[This living room is located in the 1970s]

This place isn’t the only Bingo place in town, I know of at least another one in south/central Austin on Riverside, but B-12’s 290 and Victory lane location, BYOB (with coozie) and smoke-tastic atmosphere make it No. B1 in my book.

Disclaimer: You will get secondhand lung cancer from going here, for real though. Even the tiny non- smoking backroom only barely warrants its name.

Best (outdoor) things to do for under $5

This is going to be a series, since school is almost done. For the first installment, I have to choose Barton Springs. It’s only $3 to swim, embarrass yourself on the diving board or tan. The pool’s closed on Thursdays for cleaning, so you’ll have to endure your apartment pool on those days. The awesome exhibits in the front are free also. I highly recommend watching the Barton Springs history video in the rock cove. Two thumbs up, really.

Do not ever ever ever buy a season pass though, unless you plan to live at Barton Springs. It cost $180 and the pass only lasts until November. The 15-year-old kid working there when I was complaining about this corrected me, saying that it pays for itself in just 60 visits. Oh, how silly I was, I only have to come here every day of the summer to make it worthwhile.