Posted in Date Night, Fairmount, Good for a first date, I asked you first! What do you want to do?, Let's do something inside, Let's do something outside, Queen Village/Bella Vista, Saturday, Shopping/Perusing, South Philly, Sunday, West Philly/University City, Where should we meet?, tagged budget dating, cheap date, Clark Park, date idea, flea market, free shuttle, fun dates, Pennsy flea market, punk rock flea market, R5, uhuru on July 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »
On a recent Saturday, my date and I went to the Philadelphia Flea Market held that weekend in Headhouse Square, near the east end of South Street. Dozens of vendors were crowded under the covered walkway between Lombard and Spruce, spilling out onto the sidewalk on both sides.
Posted in Center City East, Center City West, Date Night, Film/Movies, Friday, Good for a first date, Good for a friend date, Good for a group date, I asked you first! What do you want to do?, Let's do something outside, Northern Liberties, Rittenhouse, Sunday, Thursday, Tuesday, Uncategorized, Wednesday, West Philly/University City, Where should we meet?, tagged awesome fest, cheap date, cheap date ideas philly, Headhouse Square, indie film series, liberty lands park, movies at the piazza, movies outside, outdoor screenings, penn treaty, schuylkill banks, screenings under the stars, walnut street bridge, welcome america movie night on June 20, 2011| 6 Comments »
Posted in Date Night, Drinking, Good for a first date, Good for a friend date, Good for a group date, I asked you first! What do you want to do?, Let's do something outside, Live Entertainment, Misc. Adventures, Shopping/Perusing, Thursday, Uncategorized, West Philly/University City, tagged $1, Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, cheap date, cheap eats, date idea, free, frugal, University City District, West Philadelphia on June 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Lining up for $1 treats!
Once a month, starting tonight, June 2nd, take your date and a fistfull of dollars to Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia for the second (now) annual Dollar Stroll!
Featuring live music, street performers, sidewalk vendors and $1 deals on everything from ice cream to samosas to theater tickets, it’s going to be hard to find more bang for your buck anywhere in the city tonight.
This event turns Baltimore Avenue into a delightful open-air parade of sights, smells, and sounds, but as I learned last year, the lines do get long. My advice for making it a great date: go early (the event runs from 5:30-8:30pm), don’t try to hit every venue, and use this handy vendor list to plan your route!
Note: If you miss tonight’s stroll, there are 3 more this season. Pencil in your next date for July 7th, August 4th, or September 1st!
Posted in Dancing, Date Night, Drinking, Fishtown/Kensington, Friday, Good for a first date, Good for a friend date, Good for a group date, I asked you first! What do you want to do?, Let's do something outside, Monday, Thursday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Where should we meet?, tagged backyard, beer, beer garden, cheap date, cheap date idea, diner, Happy Hour, patio, philly, Silk City, tiki bar on June 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Summer means t-shirts, shorts, sundresses, sandals, and sunshine. It also means the spectre of the possible date disaster – SWEATING. That’s why every cheap dater needs a go-to spot to enjoy a cool drink outside, with equal parts shade and ambiance. Read my full review at drinkphilly.com and find out where!
Posted in Center City East, Date Night, Drinking, Friday, Good for a first date, Good for a friend date, I asked you first! What do you want to do?, Let's do something inside, Monday, Old City, Thursday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Where should we meet?, tagged beer, Belgian, Beneluxx, cheap date, cheap date idea, cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, Eulogy, fondue, Old City, philly, romantic, tasting room, wine on April 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »
The Beneluxx Tasting Room in Old City is easy to miss, but for those looking for romance on a budget, its wine, cheese, beer, and chocolate are well-worth discovering. Read the full review at Drink Philly and find out why!
Posted in Anytime, Date Night, DIY/Arts&Crafts, I asked you first! What do you want to do?, Let's do something inside, Misc. Adventures, tagged chapterhouse, chapterhouse cafe and gallery, cheap date, coffeehouse philadelphia, rainy day on August 18, 2010| 1 Comment »
The other night, my date and I bought a box of crayons and a pad of paper, and spent the evening sipping tea, drawing pictures, and eating pastries at Chapterhouse Cafe and Gallery at 620 S.9th Street (9th and Bainbridge). At first it may seem a bit childish of an activity for a date, but feeling like a kid again was half the fun. Plus, it got us talking about the kinds of things we liked as children, the toys we remember playing with, etc., from which I learned a lot of endearing facts about my date. The other half of the fun was picking out which baked goods we wanted to have! The pastry selection at some coffee houses can be downright sad, especially near closing time. But at 8pm on a weeknight (they’re open until 10pm everyday), Chapterhouse still had an ample selection of delicious goodies for us to choose from. We sat down with our tea and treats, and as soon as we spilled the crayons onto the counter, we were hooked. The time flew by, and before we knew it they were closing up shop. We didn’t get to finish our dessert or our drawings, but hey, there’s always next time.
How cheap we talkin’: $6 for a 24-color box of Crayons and sketch book from Rite Aid. $10 for 2 teas, an almond croissant and 2 cookie sandwiches at Chapterhouse.
Why this will impress your date: Because thinking about what your date was like as a little kid is just too adorable.
Score Extra Points: By suggesting that one croissant might not be enough.
The Inside Game: Chapter House also features a rotating exhibition of art by local artists on its walls. Check it out gallery style before you sit down.
Next Date: Anytime. Chapterhouse is open 7am-10pm every day.
Posted in Anytime, Center City East, Date Night, Good for a group date, I asked you first! What do you want to do?, Let's do something outside, Misc. Adventures, Old City, Where should we meet?, tagged boat ride, Camden, cheap date, cheap date idea, cheap date philly, Ferry, philadelphia, Rita's, River Link, Victor's pub on August 16, 2010| 2 Comments »
The boat ride scene has long been a staple of the romantic film genre (case in point, anyone remember the Chicago Ferry slow-dance scene from My Best Friend’s Wedding?). But truly, what is more romantic than a boat ride? Watching the wind tousle your date’s hair, listening to the waves slap rhythmically against the side of the boat, and exalting in the subtle danger of being so far from solid ground. Didn’t think you could experience this in Philadelphia? Enter the River Link Ferry. For only $7 round trip, my date and I cruised the Delaware across and back, and during our layover in Camden, found a place to enjoy a cold beer near the waterfront.
How cheap we talkin’: $7 for round trip tickets on the River Ferry. $2-4 for beer and optional $4.50 for fries to split.
Why this will impress your date: I talked about the hair tousling, right?
Score extra points: With this move:
Classic.
The inside game: The Camden waterfront has some nice benches and green space to sit. The rest of Camden does not. So for a nicer time (and a cheaper date), maybe skip the beers and bring a picnic instead.
Next date: Anytime! (between Memorial Day and Labor Day). Season regular hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with departures from Philadelphia every hour on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. Departures from Camden are every hour on the half hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Posted in Anytime, Center City East, Date Night, Good for a first date, Good for a group date, I asked you first! What do you want to do?, Let's do something outside, Misc. Adventures, Sports/Games, Where should we meet?, tagged Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Cheap, cheap date, cheap date idea, Franklin Square, miniature golf, philadelphia, Square Burger, Tasty Cake Shake on August 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Since its renovation in 2006, Franklin Square Park has been transformed into a vibrant amusement park, complete with a carousel, two playgrounds, the impressive and historic Franklin Square Fountain, and the perfect Cheap Date diversion: an 18-hole miniature golf course designed around iconic Philadelphia landmarks like Love Park and the Liberty Bell. After battling it out on the green, my date and I cooled off by getting frosty treats from Square Burger, the park’s freestanding snack stand, and taking them on a stroll (part-way) across the breezy and beautiful Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
How cheap we talkin’: $8 for a round of golf ($7 if you have a Septa pass!)$3.50-$4.75 for a rootbeer float or shake from Square Burger.
Why this will impress your date: By showing that you can be a gracious winner. Or loser.
Score extra points: By offering to be the one to keep score. (Do not literally score extra points by cheating).
The inside game: Access to the Ben Franklin Bridge closes at 9pm, and is not reputed to be the safest after dark, so make sure you are finished walking well before sundown.
Next date: Anytime! Well, almost. The course is open from 10am to 9pm every day May 28th through September 7th. Then, through October 23rd, you can golf Tuesday through Saturday 9am-9pm (although from October 1st – 31st the hours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are 11am-8pm). The course is also open Columbus Day, and November 26th-28th, 5-8pm. December 4th-19th golf Saturday and Sunday 5-8pm. December 27th-31st golf every day 5-8pm. Then the course will close until daily hours resume March 26th. Whew! Did you get all that???
Cheap Date Philadelphia 