City streets are the best option. Most downtown thoroughfares allow street parking, which is usually free after 6 p.m. For the best spots, look for roads where stopping is not allowed during the evening rush. Main Street south of Truman Road, for instance, was wide open at 6:15 on a recent concert night. The arena is but a 10-minute walk from there.

If it's a weeknight and drinks and dinner are part of the plan, 10-hour meters are good sources of cheap parking before 6 p.m. Ten-hour meters line Charlotte and Holmes, among other streets. Walnut south of Truman is another choice spot for people arriving early for evening events.

Those who don't trust their own parallel-parking skills can stick $5 in an honor box in a lot at 11th Street and Wyandotte just east of the Lyric, about six blocks from the Sprint Center. The new City Center Square garage, five blocks away at 11th Street and Baltimore, charges $6 on weekends. The garage that envelops Quality Hill Playhouse, about seven blocks away at 303 West 10th Street, costs only $3. That price is supposedly reserved for people attending events in the theater district; a small fib might be all that arenagoers need to qualify for the rate.

BUZZ ON A BUDGET

By LORNA PERRY

God love the happy hour, for it was designed with one goal in mind: To get happy on the cheap, via consumption of inexpensive alcoholic beverages. Here are some of the deals that make us the — hic — happiest.

Willie's

Monday Microbrew Night at Willie's brings sweet deliverance from watery domestic beer. Fresh pints of Boulevard, Fat Tire, Flying Monkey or Blue Moon cost $2.50 a draw from 8 p.m. until kicking-out time. 1501 Grand, 816-527-0122.

Lew's Grill and Bar

During Tuesday Bewsday at Lew's, from open to close, every beer in the house — bottle or draft, domestic or import — is $2.75. And the pickings aren't slim; Lew's carries a wide selection of domestic and import beers. 7539 Wornall, 816-561-2492.

The Red Balloon

The state of Kansas doesn't believe in happy hours, but you can guzzle to your heart's content seven days a week at the karaoke palace known as the Red Balloon. All day, every day, the Balloon offers hefty 32-ounce "schooners" of Busch or Miller Lite for a wallet-friendly $4.50. If that's 50 cents too much, come in on Tuesdays, when those same schooners cost $4 apiece. 10325 West 75th Street in Overland Park, 913-962-2330.

Charlie Hooper's

Hooper's brings hump day to a close with Wednesday Import Night, when almost every import bottle in the house costs a measly two bucks (OK, the larger bottles might be three). And Hooper's stocks an impressive 140 imports, so it'll take a lot of happy hours to cover that territory. The happy hour starts at 5 p.m. and runs until close. 12 West 63rd Street, 816-361-8841

Denim and Diamonds

Hands down, the Northland's Denim and Diamonds gets the cheap-libations prize. Wednesday night there is Ladies' Night —that means the gals pay a $2 cover at the door and then get to drink 10-ounce cups of well drinks, beer or wine for 25 cents apiece all night. That's two and a half cents a sip, people. 1725 Swift, 816-221-7330.

J.R.'s Place

If the idea of drinking from a giant schooner appeals to you but the prices at the Red Balloon are still outside your price range, J.R.'s in Olathe offers 34-ounce domestic draws for $3 every Thursday. All. Day. Long. 20238 West 151st Street in Olathe, 913-254-1307.

La Bodega

From 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, La Bodega throws one of the premium happy hours in the city: the half-off happy hour. Tapas, wine, premium well drinks, cerveza and sangria are all half-off. This includes refreshing pitchers — not just glasses — of red or white sangria. Word to the wise: La Bodega's happy hour is popular, so reservations are highly recommended. 703 Southwest Boulevard, 816-472-8272.

The Velvet Dog

From 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, the Dawg offers a high-quali­ty cosmo or appletini for $3. (Really, it's just as well that there are only two martini options — the ones that taste as innocuous as melted ice cream go down a little too well.) Margaritas and glasses of house wine are also three bucks, and domestic beers and well drinks are $2. All appetizers are half-off, too. 400 East 31st Street, 816-753-9990

The Record Bar

What's most impressive about the Record Bar's happy hour, from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, is that Stolichnaya well drinks cost $3. All Stoli flavors are included, so bring on the suicide blueberry-raspberry-cranberry-vanilla cocktail. 1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207.

Dave's Stagecoach Inn

A true and total dive, Dave's sells alcohol at dive prices available throughout the week (save Sunday, when the place is closed). Drafts of Budweiser ring in at $1.50 a draw, wells cost $3, Boulevard draws are $2.50 and ice-cold cans of Schlitz, Old Style and Hamms are $2. 316 Westport Road, 816-561-2492

Tower Tavern

After church on Sunday, the Tower Tavern satisfies that need for a post-service drink (or for penance in the bottom of a 12-ounce can) during Scumbag Sundays. Cans of Old Style are in abundance and cost a piddly $1.50 all the sacred day long. 401 East 31st Street, 816-931-9300.