Perhaps you've noticed that everything's expensive. And when prices on essentials go up – as they always do – we're forced to cut out things from our lives that bring us joy. And that's no fun.
Here at OnMilwaukee, we're all about the fun. But we also know when and how to be thrifty, because that is the Way Of The Milwaukeean. We are penny-pinching masters. We never met a coupon we didn't consider clipping. We are Frugal with a capital F.
Thus, in this series, "Cream City Carousing on $20," we will unearth experiences that are economical, engaging and energizing. For the first segment, we focused on Milwaukee's South Side. Spoiler alert: there will be math.
Stop 1: Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Ave.
Cost: $9 for adults; $8 for Milwaukee residents; $6 for seniors, students and disabled adults
Parking: free
Hours: Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Domes are open seven days a week and are delightful during all seasons. It's an easy way to casually exercise and the air smells ridiculously good.
Stop 2: Vientiane Noodle Shop, 3422 W. National Ave.
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Closed Mondays
Cost: $3.50 and up
Clean and tasty, many Milwaukeeans tout Vientiane as the city's best noodle shop. An entire meal is extremely affordable, but for this series – to keep it on the super cheap – we're suggesting a creamy dreamy Thai iced tea, made with black tea, sugar and condensed milk ($3.99) along with large BBQ pork fresh spring rolls with sweet-and-sour peanut sauce ($4.99).
And finally, the math
The total cost of this Cream City Carousing adventure depends on a couple of factors. We will base it on the adult-priced admission to the Domes and the purchase of both suggested items.
$8 (Domes) + $4 (Thai iced tea) + $5 (spring rolls) +$3 (tip) = $20
Of course, these stops could be done in reverse order: the Domes before 5 p.m. and then Thai treats after, as the restaurant is open until 8:30 p.m. In any case, happy exploring and happy not breaking the bank in the process.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
