Now that Valentine's Day is behind us once again, I have been reflecting on the effect that it often has on us. Have you ever noticed that Valentine's Day has the ability to make
people really belligerent? It doesn't matter whether someone is a first
date expert or whether they have been coupled for a long time -
Valentine's Day can bring out some strong, often negative opinions!
While it's obvious to more than just the cynical among us that this
"holiday" was created to manipulate money from our pockets, it is still
hard to avoid the romantic expectations of the day. Now, I'm as
romantic as the next person, and I don't think that anyone is
advocating throwing away romance all-together, but I do think that most
people resent being told that they have to spend all sorts of money to
be considered romantic. There are plenty of people who boycott
Valentine's Day, and not necessarily because they can't stand public
displays of affection, but because they don't equate hyper-consumerism
with romance!
However, as we all know, it can be difficult to get creative in Boston, since it is such an expensive city. Especially in the winter time, when it is more difficult to find free or inexpensive, outdoor events, it's tempting to decide to take a break from dating and romance until the spring. I argue that there are plenty of creative solutions to this problem so that you can go on fun, romantic dates all year long and not worry too much about your budget. We all deserve a chance to participate in the cheesiest day of the year without emptying our bank accounts, or (worse) maxing out our credit cards!
I've compiled several great ideas for fun, romantic, creative and low-cost ways to enjoy each other and our great city this winter! Who needs Valentine's Day when you can be a cheap date all season long! (I have tried to include approximate prices and hours where applicable, but please visit the website or call in order to verify the accuracy before you head out on your date!)
1. Ice Skate and Cuddle over some Hot Chocolate
There are several wonderful options in the area for ice skating. You could go the more well-known, traditional route and go skating at the Frog Pond on Boston Common (which is a lot of fun!), but there are a couple of other great rinks in the area worth considering. The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square has a small rink outside its front doors. The best part about ice skating in Harvard Square is that you could head around the corner to L.A. Burdick's cafe afterwards for their highly acclaimed hot chocolate! Additionally, Kendall Square has a community skating rink. Whichever one you choose, be sure to bundle up - you are sure to have a good time with your date!
Frog Pond Skating, Boston Common - open Thursday 10am - 9pm (Admission $4pp, Skate Rental $8pp and Locker Rental $1)
Charles Hotel Ice Skating, Harvard Square - open Thursday 2pm - 8pm (Skates $5, Skating Fee $5)
L.A. Burdick's Harvard Square Cafe, 52D Brattle Street, Cambridge - Thursdays 8am - 9pm
Kendal Square Community Skating, 300 Athenaeum St., Cambridge - open Valentine's Day 12noon - 10pm (Admission $4pp, Skate Rental $5pp and Locker Rental $1)
2. Borrow a classic movie from the library and make your favorite meal together
Sometimes, there is nothing more romantic than a relaxing night at home together. First, be sure to shut off both cell phones, turn off the computers and make a promise to pay attention exclusively to each other for the evening. Decide on your favorite meal and then go shopping together to get the ingredients. Go back home and prepare it together. Light a couple of candles and enjoy your masterpiece! Then, snuggle up on the sofa and enjoy a classic romantic movie together. If you enjoy books more than movies, this idea would be equally romantic with a classic novel or book of poetry.
3. Go Roller Skating!
Travel back together to the time when there was nothing greater than taking a turn around the roller rink holding the hand of your crush! Enjoy some great music and a break at the snack bar together. You can show each other all your roller skating moves from back in the day!
Chez Vous Roller Skating Rink, 11 Rhoades St. Dorchester, MA 02124 phone 617.825.6877 ($4 cheap skate on Thursdays includes skate rental)
Roller World, 425R Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906 781-231-1111 ($6 on Thursdays 3:00-5:30 - unclear whether skate rental is included)
4. Visit a Museum Together
It is a little known fact that there are some easy ways to visit some of our local cultural institutions for free. Spend an evening enjoying some local art, scientific exhibits, or checking out some marine wildlife (penguins are very romantic creatures, after all, as we learned in March of the Penguins). Showing off your cultural side could be very attractive to your date!
Some tips:
Most local public libraries allow you to borrow passes to the MFA, Science Museum or Aquarium for free! I recommend calling your library as available passes will vary by location.
The Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) is FREE for all from 5 to 9 pm every Thursday for Target Free Thursday Nights
5. Play with the animals at the MSPCA
If you and your date are animal lovers (it probably helps to ask them first before planning this one!), I can recommend a great activity for you. The MSPCA-Angell Animal Care and Adoption Center is a wonderful facility full of dogs and cats that would love to play with you! This is especially a great activity if you both live in small apartment(s) in the city and can't have pets of your own. During adoption hours, you can usually just walk right in and visit all the animals. What a fun way to give love this winter!
MSPCA Animal Care and Adoption Center, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130 (617) 522-5055 mspca.convio.net (Thursdays, Open 2pm - 7pm)
6. Go on a photo scavenger hunt downtown together
When you meet up after work, separately create lists for each other of funny/cheesy things that you and your date must capture with your cameras. Spend the evening combing the city together and taking turns finding items on each of your lists until you have completed both lists. Celebrate your accomplishments by taking the cameras back home, printing off the photos and creating an album of your memories over an inexpensive bottle of wine.
7. Tour Fenway Park
You have probably both been to Fenway Park many times to enjoy a game, perhaps you have even been together, but have either of you been "behind the scenes" at Fenway? If the Red Sox are the First Love of either you or your date, or both of you, this would be a great way to spend a great date together! During the winter months, there is construction going on, so your tour will include the Press Box, State Street Pavilion Box, Red Sox Hall of Fame Plaques and the oldest seats in Major League History.
Info:
Tickets are $12pp. Hours are 9am - 3pm. Reservations are not accepted and walk-up sales are encouraged.
8. Enjoy a night at the theater!
There are inexpensive ways to enjoy more traditional dates in Boston. I have not found a better website than Goldstar.com for theater and event tickets. It is free to sign up for the website and each week, they will e-mail you the best deals around. Goldstar.com offers tickets to most of the local hot shows and events for half-price or less. I have not seen better prices anywhere, and for such a variety of events. I have not gotten around to ordering tickets from the site personally yet, but I hope to in the future. It's worth exploring, if you are interested in a date at the theater this winter!
www.goldstar.com
9. Surprise your Date and take them out to Lunch
You may have noticed that none of my recommendations include dining out at restaurants. The easiest way to avoid spending lots of money during your date is to eat at home before you meet and then spend your time together focusing on activities not related to food. However, if you and your date would really enjoy having a meal out together, there are ways to do so less expensively. My first recommendation would be to surprise your date at work and take them out to lunch. Most of the time, restaurant lunch menus offer very similar fare to their dinners for half the cost. Additionally, neither of you will be tempted to order multiple alcoholic drinks (which can get very expensive) if you are headed back to work after your date. Also, there is something very romantic about escaping from your busy workplaces to steal some alone time, especially if you don't often see each other during the day!
10. Go out to Dinner
I know, I know - I just finished saying that going out to dinner in Boston is the easiest way to spend lots of money during your date! However, there are a few creative ways to dine less expensively, even at dinner time. Also, I'm sure there are still a few of you who have gotten to the end of this list and feel that you can't escape taking your date out to a nice dinner, so this last item, #10, is for you! There are a few things that you can do. First, try to avoid stereotypical date nights (i.e. Valentine's Day, Fridays, Saturdays, etc). During the week, and during slightly earlier seatings, restaurants might be more willing to offer a flexible, or less expensive, menu. This is especially true this year, during the difficult economic situation. Secondly, you and your date can decide ahead of time to eat your meal at the restaurant and then you can have drinks and dessert at home afterward. A bottle of wine is much less expensive from the liquor store than from the restaurant. Finally, visit the website www.restaurant.com to purchase a discounted gift certificate to your favorite restaurant. The deals on the website are amazing. You can often get a $25 gift certificate for $10 or a $10 gift certificate for $3! Additionally, as a new customer to the site, you can usually find a coupon code online for half-off your first gift certificate. You can only use one certificate at a time, but the site is very convenient as you can pay online with a credit card and print the certificate off your printer before you head to the restaurant.
www.restaurant.com
With a little creativity, romance lives in Boston and it doesn't cost much at all!
Happy Winter! May the sun return soon!
I'm interested to hear your creative ideas for inexpensive dates in Boston, especially during the winter months. Please share your favorites!
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