5 things to do on your birthday

My 22^nd birthday is just around the corner. While trying to plan a fun night for my friends and I, I realized that I did not have any ideas about what to do! So I compiled this list hoping that it will help some of you in the future.

1.Boulevard Brewery Tour - Kansas City, Mo.:  Every day, Boulevard Brewery gives free, 40-minute walking tours of their facilities. At the end of the tour, you are able to taste an array of Boulevard beers. Because the tour is free, tickets usually go fast, so check www.boulevard.com for times and tickets.

2. Karaoke at Jazzhaus - Lawrence, Kan.: Jazzhaus in Lawrence has themed karaoke nights every Monday. This is perfect if your birthday falls at the beginning of the week, and the dress up themes adds an extra element of fun. Whether you like to sing or not, Karaoke Mondays are sure to be entertaining. The cover is $2, but if you dress up, it’s only $1!

3. Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center - Hutchinson, Kan.: This might seem like a weird entry, but the Cosmosphere is awesome. There is so much to do there, and for an all day pass, it’s only $19. You will have to make it a daylong trip, because Hutchinson is about two and a half hours from Ottawa, but trust me; it’s worth the drive.

4. Pinstripes Bistro, Bowling Bowling and Bocce - Overland Park, Kan.: When I think of bowling, I picture sweaty shoes, annoyingly loud music and warm pitchers of beer, but Pinstripes is the exact opposite. This upscale bowling and bocce ball joint has amazing food and desserts. They even have brunch on Sundays! What could be better than waffles and bowling? Their food is affordable for the high quality, but Pinstripes also has happy hours for their food and drinks throughout the week. Go to www.pinstripes.com for more details.

5. The Cave Bouldering Gym - Kansas City, Mo.: The Cave is a suggestion for the active and adventurous. This underground rock climbing gym has amazing equipment and is fun for both beginners and experts. A day pass to The Cave is $11 plus a $5 equipment rental fee if you need it. Watch some videos on www.thecavebouldering.com to check out the facilities!

Next time you are planning a birthday celebration, try one of these options. They are guaranteed to be a blast, and make your birthday fun and unique; or you could stick to the trusty Ottawa tradition and just go to Applebee’s for half-priced appetizers. No matter what you choose to do on your next birthday, I hope you have tons of fun.