Tailgating on a budget
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Sideliner
9
Tricia Peterson
WASHBURN REVIEW
As students, there is a limit on how much to spend for certain things, including tailgating. It’s part of being a college student, but it can also get expensive quickly. There are many popular choices for what to cook while tailgating and it matters on the preference of the people there. It could be as simple as hotdogs and hamburgers or as extravagant as baby back ribs that have been smoked all night. Also a question of equipment is prevalent and adds even more expense to a fun tailgating experience. Grilling always comes to mind when thinking about tailgating and grills usually don’t come cheap. Walmart offers a variety of small charcoal grills ranging in price from $7.99 to $30 and these are brand new. Electric and gas grills run $80 and up, but are cleaner than charcoal, and there won’t be leftover charcoals to dispose of. Coolers are needed and those can be pricey as well, but shopping around might reveal an awesome deal. There are many types and styles that range in size, color, weight and accessories. Food and drinks need to be kept cool, and depending on the number of people attending this tailgating party, also depends on the size of the cooler. The simplest cooler found at K-Mart is $3.69, but it’s a oneuse cooler because it’s Styrofoam and will at least get the job done. With a larger budg e t there a r e
Jordan Chilcote
WASHBURN REVIEW
Photo by Josh Rouse, Washburn Review
Sizzlin’: Washburn students can find deals throughout Topeka for supplies ranging from meat to sauces and marinades. coolers that have wheels on them for easy portability, or just handles. On to the food – the most important part of tailgating. Assuming there is a small budget, the best route to go would be hotdogs and hamburgers. There are frozen patties available at the local Dillons or Walmart ranging from $5.99 for a small package of 20 to $20 for a box full with 50 frozen patties. There is always ground chuck you can buy by the pound, which varies in cost as well as the percentage of fat per pound. With burgers comes buns and those are pretty cheap for the store brand, and can get expensive for name brands. The store brands are usually $1 to $1.50, same for hot dog buns. Hot dogs can also be bought for as cheap as $1.50 for a package of eight, which is convenient because the buns come in packs of eight as well, so there will be no waste. Sides are a whole new story and favorties include potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans and coleslaw. At Walmart, these items are available in small or large containers which cost $1.98 to $2.98 There is also the deli, where it’s made fresh daily can be bought by the pound. The cheapest in town was found at Dillon’s for $2.09 per pound.
Graphic by Cameron Hughes, Washburn Review
“We see a lot of wing trays, boneless and bone-in,” said Angela Gamino, Dillon’s deli clerk. “Our potato salad and fried chicken are also [popular] selections, as well as party trays in general.” Other popular hot items for tailgating are chicken wings, fried chicken and barbeque chicken. These come ready and available at both Dillon’s and Walmart for a reasonable price, especially because the food is ready to eat, and no cooking is necessary, therefore no grills or coolers needed. “[The most] popular is the wings, wingdings, and it also depends on the day,” said Nellie Sutherland, Walmart deli associate. “Honey barbeque and sweet and sour chicken are ordered a lot. Our general’s chicken is popular, sweet with a bite.” The cheapest way to go is to pool resources and do this as a group. It saves cash, creates variety and is always more fun that way. Designate certain people to bring certain things, and volunteer to buy the burgers if someone else will bring the sides. Tailgating is always fun with friends, and the more the merrier. Tricia Peterson is a junior mass media major. Reach her at patricia.peterson@washburn.edu
As winter is slowly getting closer it will become too cold to mini golf outside. Take a look at mini golf’s new psychedelic friend, Lunar Golf - it provides all the fun of mini golf but it’s inside and glow-in-the-dark. With the use of black lights, everything glows while golfing here. They also sell glow in the dark items and assessories such as basketballs, soccer balls, bracelets, necklaces, golf balls, toy swords and many other fun items. To golf it costs $8 a person and children five years or younger get in for only $6. This may seem pricey, but a movie at Hollywood Theatre 14 is $9.50. Included in the price for Lunar Golf is three rounds of glow-inthe-dark golf. “I really liked it,” said Jayde Boyer, a college student from Fort Hayes. “It was fun, but what made it fun was the people I was with.” Lunar Golf also has a birthday party pack. It costs $80 for the entire package, which allows 10 people, unlimited golf for 90 minutes, free use of the Party
Zone, one shot at the prize hole for each player as well free glow in the dark necklaces per player. Don’t forget to set up a reservation. “My family has actually been to one at the mall in Wichita a couple times,” said Washburn student Caitlin Reimerl. “But that one isn’t anything terribly exciting, but it’s still fun.” By going to the Lunar Golf it will give students something different to do in the winter when there is snow on the ground, and there is not much of anything else to do. Lunar Golf is located inside Westridge Mall on the lower level by Macy’s. Lunar golf is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For reservations or questions call 785-228-8950. There is also a website where they provide you with customer reviews and more information.
Jordan Chilcote is a sophomore history major. Reach her at jordan.chilcote-santoro@ washburn.edu