Date Night

Street Fairs and Neighborhood Festivals

Street Fairs and Neighborhood Festivals

Come summertime, it seems like every Philadelphia neighborhood throws down block party style with a neighborhood festival or street fair.  Providing a full day of live music to listen to, vendors’ wares to peruse, yummy treats to try, and in most cases, green space to camp out on, these events make great dates because there’s a lot to see, a lot to do, and a little something for everybody. How cheap we talkin’: FREE plus the (optional) cost of food, which could be very little, but could run you up to the budget if you decide you just have to get ice cream, and kettle corn, and funnel cake… Why this will impress your date: Because you also look good in daylight. The Inside Game: Bring your own water.  Bottled water will be overpriced, and you could spend your whole day in line for it.  Also, take public transportation...

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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...

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Tuesday Night Baseball & Pizza at the Piazza

Tuesday Night Baseball & Pizza at the Piazza

  Every Tuesday evening throughout the summer (or as long as the season lasts) the folks down at the Piazza in Northern Liberties throw the big game up on the big screen.  Whether you are a huge Phillies fan (because you live in Philadelphia and therefore pretty much have to be), or are feigning interest (because you didn’t always live in Philadelphia but it’s too early in the relationship to quibble about sports), this weekly event – when coupled with some take-out slices from nearby Pizza Rustica – is a downright pleasant way to spend a summer evening. How cheap we talkin’: $5-10 pp (depending on how hungry/thirsty you are).  Figure $3 or less per slice for pizza, and $2, give or take, for beverages.  Optional post-pizza treat, about $2. Why this will impress your date: Because baseball is America’s pastime, dammit. The Inside Game: Avoid your dinner getting cold by getting drinks...

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National Mechanics’ Monday Night Club

National Mechanics is an Old City bar with an imposing façade but an inviting interior.  I think it makes a good first date spot because it’s dimly lit without being dark, it’s nice without being fancy, and it’s usually lively without being overcrowded.  There are also many seating options – a long bar, where you can wait for your date without having to stand around awkwardly, and deep wooden booths if you want a bit more privacy.  On Monday nights, however, you should stake out one of the tall tables with high-backed stools near the back of the room where, come 9pm, you will be front and center for the irresistably kooky “Monday Night Club,” hosted by the irrepressible and unforgettable Needles Jones. How cheap we talkin’: Monday Night Club is FREE; Burgers and a lager during happy hour about $12, including tax and tip. Why this will impress your...

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Secret Cinema Sci-Fi Film Series

Chemical Heritage Foundation

  The Secret Cinema presents screenings of unique and rare original 16mm films, (usually) for free, at multiple venues throughout the city, throughout the year.  The night we went was part of a sci-fi series hosted by the Chemical Heritage Foundation museum at 315 Chestnut Street (between 3rd and 4th) in Old City.  Popcorn and sodas are provided, and after the film, a local university professor led a discussion about the film and its depictions of science. How cheap we talkin’: Free! Why this will impress your date: The films are projected from original celluloid! Score extra points: The movie doesn’t start until 6:30pm, so bring your date a bit early and take in the museum’s well-executed exhibits highlighting everyday applications of chemistry. The inside game: Bring a sweater. It got a little chilly in there. Next date: Check the Secret Society website for upcoming events. In 2012, events are being hosted by the American...

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Make Smoothies, Get Sloshed, Stumble Around the Neighborhood

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On the first warm evening of the spring this year, my date and I were looking to do something outdoors.  We also wanted a drink, but the bars in my neighborhood had yet to put any tables outside.  So we decided to make our own drinks and take them on a walk.  Obviously, this date could work with any number of libations, but what’s more fun to make when you are thinking ahead to summer than a cold, delicious smoothie? (Alcohol not required, but recommended). How cheap we talkin’: Approximately $8- $13 pp, depending mostly on the quality and quantity of the alcohol you invest in.  A small (6oz. ) bottle of vodka runs $6-15, Sherbert is $2-3, Frozen fruit is $3-4, as is juice. Why this will impress your date: You knowledge of the romantic park benches in your neighborhood will be much appreciated, especially post-smoothie. Next date:...

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