Great Escape: Dinner On A Budget And Great Entertainment

As always, we have a list of local favorites where you can grab a bite to eat before heading out for the evening. With gas heading for $4 per gallon, why drive to another town when there are great restaurants right here?

• First on the list is . This is a great place to go if you feel like having Asian cuisine for dinner, or Chinese food in general.

• is a small, casual restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere and an extensive menu of sandwiches, wraps, and other items. Open until 4 p.m. on Friday, so skip out of work early and grab a quick wrap or sub before hitting the town.

• There are fancier places than , but it's still one of my favorites. A casual atmosphere, an extensive menu, reasonable prices, and most importantly, ice cream!

• on Putnam Pike is a casual restaurant with a convenient location and reasonable prices. That sounds like a good combination to me.

• Finally, we have on Plainfield Pike, which serves a variety of food with an emphasis on seafood.

Once you get your fill at one of Johnston's  restaurants, it's time to venture out on the town. There's a little something for everyone this week.

• The Rhode Island Convention Center will be hosting the 18th Annual Rhode Island RV and Camping Show. Admission is $10 for adults and will take place on Friday from 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Smuckers Stars on Ice will be making their annual visit to the Dunkin Donuts Center on Thursday, March 3rd. Tickets start at $25.

• Tom Sadge will be singing Neil Diamond songs at The Lighthouse Bar at Twin River friday night at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free, so there's nothing to lose. After the show, you can head to Catch A Rising Star at 10:30 p.m. to catch comic hypnotist Frank Santos perform. Tickets are $22.50.

• Blue Man group plays the Providence Performing Arts Center this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets start at $38 to see the most talented blue creatures since The Smurfs.

• For the rockers out there, Godsmack tribute band Voodoo will be playing in Johnston.