Center City West

2013 Summer Screening Guide!

Cheap Date Philadelphia is happy to bring back one of its most popular posts: a night-by-night guide to what’s screening in the city this summer, where, and when. Creating this list is a labor of love for me, but the finish product always makes me feel so lucky to live in a city with so much fabulous FREE summer programming for all (unless otherwise noted).   Happy viewing, all, and don’t forget to BYO Blanket!    As always, please let me know if I’ve missed anything – I’ll be updating this post throughout the summer.   June 18: For A Few Dollars More at Dock Street Brewing Co. (8:00pm, indoors, $1 off drafts and pies) June 20: Punk Jews Documentary at Shivtei Yeshuron (i.e. The Little Shul) for Hidden City festival (indoors, 8:00pm, $10) June 20: Revenge of the Nerds at Drexel Park (9:00pm) June 20: Despicable Me at Grays Ferry Crescent Esplanade…

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Top 5 Cheap Date ideas for Father’s Day with Dad!

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Yeah, Mom is the one who calls all the time, but the truth is, Dad wants to spend time with you, too! Here are my Top 5 picks for things to do with Dad this Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16th, 2013.  And as always with Cheap Date Philadelphia, my ideas cost $15 or less per person. After all, you should be able to hang out with your dad at least once a year without having to ask if he can spot you a $20 when the bill comes, right?

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Mega Bad Movie Night at the Academy of Natural Sciences!

Sharktopus

Philly is full of great odd-ball movie events where you get to see cool flicks in non-traditional settings.  The $3 Monday Movies at the Trocadero, and the free Secret Cinema series are two of my favorites, and now the MST3K-style Mega Bad Movie Night at the Academy of Natural Sciences has also made the list! This museum-based event, which only happens a few times each year, screens “awesomely awful” movies, like Bigfoot, Sharktopus and Mega Piranha. The flicks are spectacularly campy with ridiculous plot leaps and antiquated special effects, which makes great comic fodder for the Academy’s own experts who contribute Mystery Science Theater 3000-style commentary during the screening. The $15 ticket includes the movie, free food and drink, and museum admission, so make the most of your ticket by arriving when doors open at 6:30, and checking out the exhibits at the Academy.  Massive dinosaur skeletons, wildlife dioramas and a butterfly garden…

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Top Five Kissing Benches!

Drexel Park

Fall is a great time to walk around the city, taking in the sight of trees turning red and gold, the smell of fireplaces being used once again, and the sound of leaves crunching underfoot.  It’s also a great time of year to find a place to sit for a spell and cuddle up to keep warm.  Luckily for city residents, Philadelphia is full of little tucked away parks – both scenic and secluded – with benches perfect for puckering up! Here are some of my favorites, along with the nearest coffee shop.  One kissing bench + two hot beverages = a perfect fall cheap date! 1. Drexel’s mammoth glass buildings lining Market street provide cover for one of Philly’s best-kept secrets: Drexel park.  Located at 32nd street and Powelton Avenue, the park is elevated above the railroad tracks on 30th street Station, and offer an unobstructed vista of the…

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Cheap Date’s 2012 Guide to Summer Screenings!

Click HERE for the 2013 Guide! In addition to compiling a list of this summer’s free street fairs and festivals, Cheap Date Philadelphia is also your go-to guide to summer screenings. Why summer screenings make a great cheap date is a no-brainer! Now the question of what’s showing where this summer is a no-brainer, too! All movies are FEE and begin at dusk, unless otherwise noted. Check back often for updates, and as always, if I’ve missed something, let me know at cheapdatephiladelphia@gmail.com. Saturday, June 9 at Race Street Pier for Awesome Fest: NO ROOM FOR ROCKSTARS: THE VANS WARPED TOUR Sunday, June 10 at The Piazza: Finding Nemo (5-7pm) Thursday, June 14 on the Schuylkill Banks by the Walnut Street Bridge: The Muppets  Saturday, June 16 at Race Street Pier for Awesome Fest: THE SHEIK AND I Saturday, June 23 at Race Street Pier for Awesome Fest: JEFF Thursday, June 28 on the Schuylkill Banks by…

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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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