Bored on a Friday night? Can’t find anything to do? Looking for a reason to get out of the house without draining your bank account at the bars or the liquor store? San Luis Obispo is chock full of things to do at a price much more affordable than a night out drinking. From on campus to around the city, there are tons of ways to find something to make the evening more exciting without getting trashed.
Rocking out for free
The most well-known, affordable entertainment you can find is right on campus every Thursday during UU Hour. Concerts in the Plaza is put on by Associated Students Inc., and features touring bands each week as well as local favorites. This quarter bands like Elevaters and locals Still Time played in the University Union Plaza. ASI is always accepting recommendations from students for bands they’d like to bring to campus.
If it’s not Thursday, head over to Backstage Pizza on campus around noon. There are a lot of different acts that come at various times, so you have a good chance of finding a performance.
Some SLO classics
What if a movie sounds great, but sitting inside on a nice warm Central California night doesn’t? Sunset Drive-In is a local classic. The best part is that you get two movies for the price of your ticket (usually $6). Just hop in the bed of a truck or roll the windows down and violá!
Farmers’ Market always has free music and entertainment. Also downtown is bike night, which is the first Thursday of every month after Farmers’ Market. It is the epitome of college fun and ridiculousness.
If you don’t mind paying a little for some live acts, various San Luis Obispo venues host concerts and other performances. Just for starters, check out what shows Downtown Brew, Linnaea’s Cafe, Boo Boo Records,The Graduate and The Clubhouse have to offer.
Dance the night away
Swing, salsa or samba your way into the evening — depending on what gets you grooving. Cal Poly abounds with dance opportunities, with lessons offered by various clubs throughout the week.
The Cal Poly Ballroom Dance Club holds lessons Thursday evenings in Architecture Building 5, room 225. Check out their Web site at www.calpolyballroom.org for more information.
Salsa lessons, taught by members are held every Friday night at 8 p.m. in the same room. Go to www.cpsalsa.com for more information.
Not to be outdone, the Country Line Dance Club steps into the scene on Thursdays, offering lessons at The Graduate at 8 p.m., before the club opens up for line dancing night. Visit the club’s Web site at www.cpcldc.com.
When you feel artsy
The Steynberg Gallery is another wonderful place to check out different sounds as well as some extraordinary artwork. A family-run gallery, it’s an ever changing, ever stirring place according to English senior Will Vigliotti, who has worked at the gallery for three years. “The Steynberg Gallery is run by a family and you can definitely feel that here. The owner, Peter, is like everybody’s dad — but a much cooler version,” Vigliotti said.“There’s always something new or strange going on, even if it’s some weirdo from off the street who’s just doing stuff inside or something we have lined up.”
The Steynberg has different things going on all the time, from poetry readings to new exhibits to various off-beat musical shows. “The gallery is rooted in the community and it’s that cyclical community relationship that keeps the place going and forever moving,” Vigliotti said.
Many of the performances held at the gallery are put on by the concert promotional group “Pocket Productions,” run by Cal Poly alumni Graham Culbertson and Michele Tondreau. The group brings new and interesting bands, many of which are indie-famous, to the gallery all the time, with tickets that average $8.
Just smile and nod
If it’s a good laugh your looking for, Cal Poly’s resident improve team, Smile and Nod, performs every Saturday night at 7 p.m. with a short-form show and then again at 9 p.m. with their long-form style. Smile and Nod shows are a great way to start off your weekend right with a night of pure comedy. Both shows are only $5, and it is money well spent. Not only are they hilarious, but the team attends an improvisation comedy festival every other year, and your donations help the team pave their way to the extravaganza in Scotland. Be sure to make reservations online, because tickets sell out fast.
Take yourself out to the ball game
Sports fan? Anyone can catch a Mustangs game or even attend a game for local summer college team The Blues, for about $8.“I love watching baseball,” statistics senior Audrey Bigelow said. “The Blues make it fun with things like the ‘beer batter’ and all of neat stuff they do in between innings for kids.”
Visit the Cal Poly Athletics Web site at www.gopoly.com to see what’s coming up.
Don’t lose your groove
Poetry aficionados don’t have to lose their groove — at least not on the first Wednesday of each month. Another Type of Groove is slam poetry, or spoken word poetry and features both students and famous slammers from around the country.
“Anyone that has the guts to speak their poetry is allowed at ATOG,” animal science junior Sade Haro said. “The best part is that even if you expect it from the featured poet, most people really blow you out of the water.”
Another Type of Groove is held in Chumash Auditorium from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Visit the Student Life and Leadership Web site for the poet lineup each month.
When the great outdoors beckon
If you prefer to be outdoors, there are more than enough recreational things to do around the city. Bishop Peak and Madonna Mountain are two of the most popular local hiking spots. Both are equipped with easier trails for someone who isn’t quite as experienced as well as more difficult trails for some resident daredevils.
The beaches in this area are an obvious attraction and water sports of all kinds can be done on most beaches around the area. Those without their own gear can rent surfboards, skimboards and even wet suits in Pismo Beach and they are generally pretty low cost.
There is always something going on in San Luis Obispo. The trick is knowing where to look. Stop sometime and look at the bulletins around campus; it’s a great place to start.