18 other things to do with the Art Institute's $18

1. Or just throw one at the University of Illinois-Chicago Bowling Alley (750 S. Halsted, 312-413-5170, Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-midnight and Sunday 10 a.m.-midnight). Lanes are open to the public and with $3 a game and $1.75 shoe rental, you can throw a couple of strikes and still leave with change to spare. 2. Spring should soon be busting out all over Millennium Park’s Lurie Garden. The urban oasis takes the city’s Latin motto “Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden) seriously. Highlights of the five-acre garden include the 15 foot-high hedge that protects the perennial garden from the wind. Free guided garden walks are offered beginning May 10, or you can pack a lunch and take it in on your own.

3. You really don’t have to fool yourself any longer. Spring really is just around the corner. Get a sneak peek on what’s soon to be blooming at the free Spring Flower Show at Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park, (312) 746-5100).

4. Make it a movie night at Brew and View at the Vic (3145 N. Sheffield, 773-929-6713). The popular Lakeview establishment offers $5 second-run films and on Mondays-Thursdays select draft beers are $3. It’s 18 or older to enter, 21 and over to drink.

5. Catch the best in art house and independent films at the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport, 773-871-6604). First show of the day Mondays-Thursdays is $8.25, general admission is $9.25. Ghost sightings of “Whitey,” a long-time manager of the theater who died there in 1977, are included with your admission.

6. The Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N. State, 312-846-2600) also gets a thumbs up for it’s $9 general admission. No ghosts that we know of, though.

7. Pack a picnic and take the CTA to Lincoln Park Zoo (2200 N. Cannon, 312-742-2000). The zoo’s free, and four round-trip CTA fares will run you the $18. You can also drive and pay to park in the zoo’s lot (3-4 hours will set you back $16). 8. The Art Dealers Association of Chicago sponsors free gallery tours in participating River North galleries every Saturday at 11 a.m. Meet at the Starbucks at 750 N. Franklin. West Loop Gallery tours also are offered on occasional Saturdays, as well. Head to www.chicagoartdealers.org for a list of dates and participating galleries.

9. Travel back in time with the photo exhibit “Chicago Landmarks Before the Lens” featuring 72 black-and-white photos of 24 of Chicago’s landmarks and historic districts in the Landmark Chicago Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington, 312-744-6630). It’s just one of several free art exhibits at the center.

10. You may not be able to afford that dream vacation, but at least you can eat like you can. Treat your honey to a Hawaiian staycation with a plate lunch from Aloha Eats (2534 N. Clark; 773-935-6828). Traditional dishes liked Kalua Pork (pulled pork with marinated, cooked cabbage, $7.35), Hawaiian-style barbecue beef ($8.35) and Spam Loco Moco (three slices of Spam with two eggs and brown gravy, $7.35) are served with two heaping scoops of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad.

11. Make it an early dinner and save. Meet your significant other at McCormick & Schmick’s (1 E. Wacker, 312-923-7226) after work to take advantage of the incredible deals on its happy hour menu. Blackened chicken breast sandwich or cheeseburger and fries are $1.95 until 6:30 p.m. Depending on the season, a two-drink minimum might be in effect, but even with two sodas each and tip, you’ll still spend less than $18.

12. Watch up-and-coming improvisational groups face off against each other in the popular cage match series at iO Chicago (3541 N. Clark, 773-880-0199) at midnight Saturdays. Tickets are $5. And if you find yourself alone on Saturday night, that just means you have $13 to drowned your sorrows at IO’s bar.

13. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind,” the Neofuturists (5153 N. Ashland, 773-878-4577) are offering cheap tickets the first Sunday of the month for the 7 p.m. show. You roll a die and pay that amount ($1-$6; cash only). Doors open at 6:30, but you’ll want to come early and line up with the crowd.

14. The Barrel of Monkeys takes over the Neofuturist’s space on Monday nights at 8 for “That’s Weird, Grandma,” a revolving set of sketches written by Chicago Public School kids and performed by professional actors. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids, but their Web site has a printable coupon that will get you $2 off one adult admission at the door.

15. Take in a “Triple Feature” at Annoyance Theatre (4830 N. Broadway, 773-561-4665). At 8 p.m. Wednesdays, the satiric theater company presents three new 20-minute plays for $5. The League of Chicago Theatres’ same-day half-price Web site also frequently has some of the company’s musical productions like “Scientology! The (Unauthorized) Musical” for $5, too.

16. The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia, 773-227-4433) hosts the best and brightest of indie music with tickets usually $10 and under. Country/blues band Devil in a Woodpile plays a regular Tuesday night gig at the club with a $5 suggested donation and on Saturday nights at 11:30 the club hosts a $5 dance party featuring local DJ talent.

17. World music takes center stage Wednesdays at the Old Town School of Folk Music (4544 N. Lincoln, 773-728-6000). World Music Wednesdays carries a $5 suggested donation.

18. Check out the latest spiritual exhibit at Loyola University Museum of Art (820 N. Michigan, 312-915-7600). Suggested admission is $6 adults, $5 seniors and free to children under 14, students under 25 with ID and military dependents with ID.