Old City

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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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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Escape To Europe Via Happy Hour with Beneluxx

Escape To Europe Via Happy Hour with Beneluxx

The Beneluxx Tasting Room in Old City is easy to miss, but for those looking for romance on a budget, its wine, cheese, beer, and chocolate are well-worth discovering.  Read the full review at Drink Philly and find out why!

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THANK GOODNESS ITS FIRST FRIDAY!

THANK GOODNESS ITS FIRST FRIDAY!

On the first Friday of every month, Philadelphia’s art galleries stay open late and welcome everyone — from casual passerby to serious collectors — to come in and peruse their current curations.  The aptly dubbed “First Friday” has been happening, rain or shine, since 1991, and has become one of the city’s most visible and popular events.  Although historically focused on the 40+ galleries between Front and Vine and Market and 3rd streets in Old City, First Friday open houses are now hosted by galleries all over the city, from Space 1026 in Chinatown to the Projects Gallery in Northern Liberties to Highwire in Fishtown.  The best thing about this expansion is that, even though every First Friday shares the same core elements, depending on who’s showing what where, you can have a radically different experience every single time. How cheap we talkin’: FREE! Why this will impress your date: Because you can show you…

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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 waffle…

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Boat Ride on the Delaware & Explore the Camden Waterfront

Boat Ride on the Delaware & Explore the Camden Waterfront

The boat ride scene has long been a staple of the romantic film genre (case in point, anyone remember the Chicago Ferry slow-dance scene from My Best Friend’s Wedding?).  But truly, what is more romantic than a boat ride?  Watching the wind tousle your date’s hair, listening to the waves slap rhythmically against the side of the boat, and exalting in the subtle danger of being so far from solid ground.  Didn’t think you could experience this in Philadelphia? Enter the River Link Ferry.  For only $7 round trip, my date and I cruised the Delaware across and back, and during our layover in Camden, found a place to enjoy a cold beer near the waterfront. How cheap we talkin’: $7 for round trip tickets on the River Ferry. $2-4 for beer and optional $4.50 for fries to split. Why this will impress your date: I talked about the hair tousling, right? Score extra points:…

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