Friday

Get Coffee then Get Creepy at Eastern State Penitentiary

Get Coffee then Get Creepy at Eastern State Penitentiary

There is something kind of exhilarating about having the daylights scared out of you, especially when you have a date’s hand to cling to in the dark.  In October, through Halloween, haunted houses pop up all over Philly and the surrounding area.  These spook shows are fun, for sure –  but they’re not cheap.  Tickets to Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary during off-peak hours are $20, and go up from there.  But, as I discovered on a recent date, this dilapidated prison fortress in Fairmount is pretty darn creepy all by itself, even in daylight hours.  Get your imagination going by trading ghost stories over a cup of coffee at Mugshots across the street, then go walk the long, ghostly halls of Eastern State, which many believe to be haunted. If you dare. Why this will impress your date: Because being scared on a date is kind of...

Read more »

Explore Hidden Treasures Near Washington Square Park

Explore Hidden Treasures Near Washington Square Park

As my date and I recently discovered, there are a whole date’s worth of cool (and cheap!) things to do, see, and eat in the small area of Center City between Walnut and Locust streets to the north and south, and 6th and 8th streets to the east and west.  After checking out the gorgeous Tiffany glass mural in the Curtis Center, we went to Lore’s Chocolates, a gourmet chocolatier, and spent at least half an hour picking out a half pound box of chocolates to enjoy in nearby Washington Square.  On our way to the park, we stumbled across even more hidden treasures: a curious little troll, and a fun, no-frills, bulk nut and candy store too. How cheap we talkin’: Approximately $11 for a half pound of chocolate from Lore’s. $2-$5 per pound for nuts or candy from Nuts to You. Why this will impress your date: You can whip...

Read more »

Friday Night Fireworks & Ice Cream at Franklin Fountain

Friday Night Fireworks & Ice Cream at Franklin Fountain

On a Friday night, Old City can sometimes seem a bit overrun by heavy drinkers, flashy dressers, and unruly crowds – not necessarily the most inviting atmosphere for a date.  But that’s only if you don’t know where to go (or where not to go).  For an Old City date with old-fashioned charm, start with homemade ice cream from Franklin Fountain, then take in the concert and fireworks at Penn’s Landing. (Concert starts at 7:30, fireworks at 9:15).  After the big show, head to Sassafras International Cafe (and bar) at 48 S.2nd between Market and Walnut.  With painted tin ceilings, a faux fireplace, and international beer list, this intimate and classy joint is a welcoming respite from the mayhem of the club scene.  That is, if you can make it past the throngs on the street. How cheap we talkin’: $5-7pp for ice cream (it gets pricey fast if you opt for the...

Read more »

Center City Cocktail Crawl

Center City Cocktail Crawl

There is good fun to be had with old-fashioned bar hopping in boisterous pubs or local dives, but on a recent weeknight, my date and I decided to class it up with a happy hour “cocktail crawl” in Center City.  We started around 5:30pm at Vintage, a wine bar and bistro at 129 S.13th street that offers up $4 house wines by the glass from 4-6pm, Monday-Friday.  After one delicious glass of red there, we trotted 1 block south and 2 blocks west to the swanky nineteenth floor bar at the Bellevue Hotel (aptly named XIX), where all signature cocktails are only $6 from 5-7pm, Monday-Friday.  After enjoying a well-made cocktail and the view from the balcony, we made a last stop at the nearby Kimmel Center to walk off our buzzes wandering around the rooftop garden. How cheap we talkin:’ Wine at Vintage: $8.80 + $2 tip for 2 glasses. Cocktails at the Bellevue $12.00...

Read more »

Making Time

Making Time

Making Time is a consistently great dance party featuring consistently great buzz bands (for example, most recently, Girls, the XX, Die Antwoord, and Neon Indian).  As a date, Making Time is not for the timid, the crowd-averse, or the dance floor phobic.  My date and I had some reservations about going – we had never “hit the clubs” together before – but it turned out to be a really fun time. How cheap we talkin’: $12 if you buy tickets in advance at The Last Drop coffee house or AKA music; FREE PRBs until 11pm! Why this will impress your date: It’s a happening. The Inside Game: The bathrooms are unisex, yet there are urinals, so if you aren’t there quite yet, go at different times…. Score Extra Points: Find the free hot dogs in the downstairs lounge and share a midnight snack. Next date: Check the R5 website, or...

Read more »