Friday

Special Cheap Date Offer! $7 tix to Circus-Theater Show, Invert!

Tangle presents Invert

Need plans next week? On May 16, 17, and 18th, Tangle Movement Arts (an eight-woman circus arts company with an interdisciplinary focus), presents Invert!, an innovative mix of dance, theater, and aerial acrobatics, featuring a torch-song trapeze solo, tango solos by Juilliard violinist Caeli Smith, and a tribute to Rosie the Riveter complete with on-stage power tools. Tickets are usually $15, but Cheap Date Philadelphia readers can get $7 tickets for opening night May 16,  if purchased before May 7 with the code “tangle7” – that’s this Tuesday, so get on this one fast (i.e. click here to purchase)! The show will be performed on stage and in the air under the 40-foot ceilings of the historic and little-seen Sanctuary at the Rotunda in West Philadelphia (4014 Walnut Street). A little more about Tangle Movement Arts: Founded in Philadelphia in 2011, Tangle members have studied performance and trained circus arts at schools from around the world to the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts.…

Read more »

Eat, Play, And Win Hearts at Barcade!

Barcade

The area of Fishtown around the intersection of Girard and Frankford is packed with places to take a date.  The $8-10 live music shows at Johnny Brenda’s are always a good bet, but if you are looking for something a little more interactive, check out Barcade.  It’s just what it sounds like — a Bar and an Arcade under one big roof.  But it’s not just any bar – you could easily spend half an hour choosing from their extensive selection of craft beer offerings; And it’s not just any arcade — Barcade specializes in those nostalgic, hard-to-find arcade games of the 80s and 90s like Frogger, Galaga, Burgertime and Rampage. And the best part? They are still just a quarter to play! Barcade can often get crowded on weekend evenings, with waits for the more popular games like Ms. Pacman and Tapper.  But weekend afternoons are a great time to…

Read more »

Tacos and Tequila at Loco Pez

Loco Pez

A trip to the taco truck can be a delightful cheap date. But as winter sets in, the prospect of waiting outside and then hunching over to eat before it all gets cold seems decidedly less pleasant. Enter new Fishtown pub Loco Pez! I spent a lovely date there recently, relaxing at the bar with an oversized margarita and fish tacos – for less than $15! Read the full review here, at Drink Philly (now Drink Nation!)

Read more »

Meet Me Downtown! Happy Hour at Sampan

Sampanbar

A downtown date for happy hour may seem convenient and economical, but it can also be majorly hit or miss.  Overcrowding, poor selection, long waits for service, and lack of food can turn what should have been a happy hour (or two) into a date disaster.  Luckily, my date recently introduced me to the perfect center city happy hour spot: Sampan. Located at 124 S.13th street, Sampan is a contemporary-Asian bar/restaurant that’s sophisticated and modern without being snobby or trying too hard – a good balance for a post-work date. It’s large enough to accommodate a sizeable crowd without feeling cramped, yet the cool lights that saturate the walls cast an intimate and almost sensual glow. There’s also a giant wraparound bar in the center where you can watch the chefs hard at work expertly slicing Satay and garnishing dumplings as fast as the orders come in.  And ordering is…

Read more »

It’s back! Hot Chocolate and the Holiday Light Show.

Macy's Holiday Light Show

Traditions are what make holidays special.  (They can play a pretty big part in relationships, too). There is probably no holiday ritual more iconic in Philadelphia than the John Wanamaker (now Macy’s) Christmas Light Show. Since 1955, this dazzling display of lights and music (with narration by the equally iconic Julie Andrews) has delighted children and adults alike. At least it delighted my date and I (two consenting adults) when we went to see it! How cheap we talkin’: The light show is FREE! Hot drinks range from $3-6, as do individual shots for spiking them! Why this will impress your date:  Because nothing beats feeling like a kid again. Except feeling like a kid who’s snuck into the liquor cabinet. The Inside Game: If you can get there on a weekday, Monday through Thursdays are the least crowded shows. Score Extra Points: By planning your visit to coincide with one of the daily concerts on the famous…

Read more »

Introducing: Top 5’s! My top picks for cheap fun in Philadelphia.

Introducing: Top 5’s! My top picks for cheap fun in Philadelphia.

First up: Top 5 spots for FREE live music!* The Curtis Institute. Talented young musicians perform solo and chamber pieces nearly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during recital season at Field Concert Hall in Rittenhouse Square. Fiume. This tiny West Philly hot spot hosts a blue grass night every Thursday featuring the band City-Wide Specials. Bob and Barbara’s. Every Friday and Saturday, from 9:30 to close, veteran jazz musicians, The Crowd Pleasers, bring down the house. The Kimmel Center. Their “Free at the Kimmel” series features a wide variety of musical acts, with most events taking place Saturday or Sunday afternoons. World Cafe Live. Every Friday afternoon at noon, you can get up close and personal with bands big and small, local and national. A great segue to a lunch date, or skip lunch and enjoy a naughty mid-day drink at the bar! *Top 5′s are listed in no particular order…

Read more »