Drinking

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…

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Updated for 2012: Wednesday Summer Nights at Penn Museum

Updated for 2012: Wednesday Summer Nights at Penn Museum

Every Wednesday until August 29th, from 5-8pm, the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology hosts a live music series in its verdant courtyard garden as part of its Summer Nights Music Series.  Located at 3260 South Street, at the intersection of Spruce and 33rd, the lush and stately museum garden will make you feel like you have been transported away from the city to another time and place – making it the perfect setting for the diverse musical acts featured by the series which come from all over the globe. For a mere $5, you get entry to the garden concert, as well as the museum’s intriguing Maya 2012 exhibit! Beverages (alcoholic and non) and light snacks are available from the Pepper Mill Cafe’s garden bar.   Here’s the lineup for the rest of the Wednesdays this summer: July 25 Magdaliz and Her Trio Crisol -  A Latin ensemble dedicated to the interpretation of folk and traditional music from all over Latin America and…

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Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll is BACK!

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll is BACK!

The Dollar Stroll is back for 2012! Starting tonight, July 19th, take your date and a fistfull of dollars to Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia for the third annual Dollar Stroll! 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: (1) go early (the event runs from 5:30-8:30pm), (2) pick a few must-do’s, but don’t expect to hit every single venue, and (3) use this handy vendor list to plan your route! This year there are over 25 businesses participating. You can find everything from $1 patch kits at Firehouse bikes, to $1 grape leaves at Aksum, to $1 yoga classes at Studio 34, and $1 craft beers at Dock Street. Simply put: it’s going to be hard to find more bang for your buck anywhere in the city…

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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!)

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Top 5 Cheap Date New Year’s Eve Events for 2012

Photo from NakedPhilly.com

Ahhh, New Year’s Eve – a night of resolutions and countdowns, champagne, good cheer and midnight kisses.  Alas, it’s also a night where most clubs and restaurants plan elaborate RSVP events with expensive eats and costly covers.  For those who prefer to party on the cheap, here are Cheap Date Philadelphia’s top picks for New Year’s events that will help you ring in 2013 with a smile, and within budget! 1. Bring a Flask and Friends to see Free Fireworks on the Delaware! New Year’s Eve draws thousands of people to Penn’s Landing and the Delaware River Waterfront every year for the festive fireworks display.  In addition to a family-friendly first show at 6pm, there is also a second show at midnight, “Pop’n on the Delaware,” which will be set to a soundtrack of dance hits.  The show itself only lasts about 15 minutes, so make sure you arrive early…

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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…

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