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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 Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

heart image

Let’s face it: Valentine’s Day can be kind of a racket. Your favorite go-to BYO all of a sudden has a minimum $50 pre fixe, activities ripe for handholding, like ice skating, double in price just for the night, and reservations everywhere are a must. But as all cheap daters know, true romance comes from the heart; it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. So without further ado, here are my Top 5 ideas for spending time with your loved ones this holiday, without spending too much money.

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Top Fives: My Five Fave Dates of 2011

December is the time for reflection, which in the blogosphere means: Best-of lists! Here are my Top 5 Cheap Date discoveries of 2011 (in no particular order). These are the dates that stood out in terms of providing the most unique and fun activities, the best atmosphere, and the tastiest food and drink. If you didn’t get to try these last year, make it a resolution!

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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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BYO Is the Way to Go! Second Friday Jazz at Moonstone Arts

BYO Is the Way to Go! Second Friday Jazz at Moonstone Arts

Hello readers and friends. Some of you might have noticed that I haven’t been as diligent about bringing you new cheap date ideas quite as often over the last several weeks. I wanted to assure you that there’s a lot more coming your way soon so keep checking back! And once a month look for my column at Drink Philly about a boozy cheap date. This month I wrote about BYO Second Fridays at Moonstone Art Center featuring eclectic and excellent Jazz performances curated by Lucky Old Souls. Read the full review here! Thank you for your continued readership and support! XOXO, J.S. Cheapdater

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