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Dating in Boston: First Dates for Under $50
- by jilliancyork
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- August 25, 2008
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Dating in the Hub...All I can say is I'm glad I've never been single here. Fortunately, that little fact has given me time to explore the cheaper side of dating (also known as married life) and really, if you stay away from Back Bay (for the most part), it's not all that difficult to entertain your date for under $50 - total.
Date #1: Dinner and a Movie
The idea of dinner and a movie for under $50 sounds virtually impossible…not so if you do it on a Tuesday night! Granted, this particular dating scheme works a little better in college, but having tested it out – multiple times – I can guarantee this to be a fun night. Sure, you have to head to Brighton, but it could be worse – you could have to take the B line.
Circle Cinemas
399 Chestnut Hill Ave, Brighton, MA 02135
Right off the C and D lines of the green line trolley, this cinema is easily accessible and, best of all, offers $5 Tuesdays. It’s a first-run movie theatre and nearly always has at least one or two box office hits. Ignore the sticky floors and tacky decor and you’ll be good to go.
Right off the C and D lines of the green line trolley, this cinema is easily accessible and, best of all, offers $5 Tuesdays. It’s a first-run movie theatre and nearly always has at least one or two box office hits. Ignore the sticky floors and tacky decor and you’ll be good to go.
Date #2: The After-Work Date
So you agree to meet after work for a date…we all know 5:00 is an awkward time: too early for romance, too late for a long museum/picnic/walk-filled day. Hitting up a typical happy hour might be a little too cheap, but dinner at this hour might just age you thirty years. Better hit up one of these spots.
Felt
533 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
While I would never, ever recommend Felt as a late-night spot, as an after-work date, it can’t be beat. Happy Hour specials include $1 sliders (let your date help herself to as many as she wants!) and free billiards (both specials are just Tues-Fri, 5-8pm). Now you’ve got $48 left for drinks!
While I would never, ever recommend Felt as a late-night spot, as an after-work date, it can’t be beat. Happy Hour specials include $1 sliders (let your date help herself to as many as she wants!) and free billiards (both specials are just Tues-Fri, 5-8pm). Now you’ve got $48 left for drinks!
Cheers
CityPass
If you’re pretty sure there will be a second date, or you just love museums, CityPass offers 6 Boston attractions for $44 each (including the romance-inducing Skywalk at the Prudential).
Mission Bar & Grill
724 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
You can posture as classy at the Mission, which has Hoegaarden on tap. And a steakburger here will leave your date absolutely satisfied.
You can posture as classy at the Mission, which has Hoegaarden on tap. And a steakburger here will leave your date absolutely satisfied.
Mmmm…
Date #4: The Casual Coffee Date
This is a tribute to those of you for whom $50 is a stretch. The coffee date is best served on a Saturday afternoon, and followed by a bit of window-shopping or a long walk. If you’re going to double up with the latter, here are my favorite neighborhoods in which to do so:
- Brookline/Coolidge Corner: Tons of excellent cafes and window shopping!
- Allston Village: You can’t go ten feet without bumping into a cafe.
- Newbury Street: Just leave those credit cards at home.
- Government Center/North End: Winding streets, loads of curiosities.
- South End: Great strolls through brownstone neighborhoods
Finale
1306 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started at Finale with a cup of strong espresso and ended up walking downtown. It’s right on the cusp of Coolidge Corner, so you’ve got two possible walking directions, but if you’ve never gone downtown via Beacon Street, there’s no time like the present!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started at Finale with a cup of strong espresso and ended up walking downtown. It’s right on the cusp of Coolidge Corner, so you’ve got two possible walking directions, but if you’ve never gone downtown via Beacon Street, there’s no time like the present!
For More Boston Cafes...
Check out this other guide of mine for more local cafes.
Date #5: I Scream, You Scream...
…We all scream for ice cream! Best kept for impromptu outings and lazy summer afternoons, an ice cream date can be a great icebreaker (bah-dum ching!) Since you’ll be spending way under $50, you could always treat her to a manicure after…hint hint.
Ben & Jerry Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
174 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
So this isn’t Boston-born, but Burlington isn’t all that far away. There’s nothing like fresh Ben & Jerry’s.
So this isn’t Boston-born, but Burlington isn’t all that far away. There’s nothing like fresh Ben & Jerry’s.
Christina's Homemade Ice Cream
1255 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Oh Christina’s of the crazy flavors, what would I do without you? Your burnt sugar ice cream makes me swoon, and your pumpkin keeps me coming back for more.
Oh Christina’s of the crazy flavors, what would I do without you? Your burnt sugar ice cream makes me swoon, and your pumpkin keeps me coming back for more.
Fin's Sushi and Grill
254 CHESTNUT HILL AVE BRIGHTON, MA 02135
Fin's Sushi + Grill
Sure, there’s an Applebee’s right next to the theatre, but why not show a little originality? With dishes around $15 each, you’re cutting it close – so skip the drinks and hit up City Side after the movie for a few $2 Bud Lights.
Finding Your Date Spot
Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro
129 South St, Boston, MA 02111
Les Zygomates isn’t cheap, I’ll say that upfront, but if you plan well, it’s another great after-work option. Have your date meet you there around 6:00 for dessert and wine, thus giving him time to grab a quick bite first. Select one of the many bottles for around $30, a couple of desserts, and sit back to enjoy the live jazz!
Les Zygomates isn’t cheap, I’ll say that upfront, but if you plan well, it’s another great after-work option. Have your date meet you there around 6:00 for dessert and wine, thus giving him time to grab a quick bite first. Select one of the many bottles for around $30, a couple of desserts, and sit back to enjoy the live jazz!
Cheers
84 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108
Cheers will probably be a bigger success say, if your date is just in Boston on business – it’s a novelty that most locals are just, so over. The good news is, burgers are less than $10 and beers are pretty standard, leaving you a little extra to buy your date a souvenir from the gift shop…cheesy, perhaps, but you can be sure she’ll remember you.
Cheers will probably be a bigger success say, if your date is just in Boston on business – it’s a novelty that most locals are just, so over. The good news is, burgers are less than $10 and beers are pretty standard, leaving you a little extra to buy your date a souvenir from the gift shop…cheesy, perhaps, but you can be sure she’ll remember you.
Date #3: Museum Day
Sadly, Boston is not New York (well, okay, not that sadly, because otherwise we’d be stuck with the freakin’ Yankees): Sure, it has plenty of museum, but not at Met prices. Still, a few are date-affordable if you do it right. And by right I mean, grab a slice of pizza at the museum cafes.
Museum of Science
1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114
Two exhibition hall passes + 1 show is $42 exactly, leaving just enough for a couple of bowls of clam chowder at the cafeteria. My favorite part of the museum, which I hope is still there, is the make-your-own-museum section (see photo). I can’t tell you how much fun my father and I had digging through plastic crap to build those.
Two exhibition hall passes + 1 show is $42 exactly, leaving just enough for a couple of bowls of clam chowder at the cafeteria. My favorite part of the museum, which I hope is still there, is the make-your-own-museum section (see photo). I can’t tell you how much fun my father and I had digging through plastic crap to build those.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Main, Boston, MA 02108
Also included in the CityPass, the MFA is a classic with classy exhibitions (art nouveau jewelry anyone?). Admission is $17, but Wednesday nights are free. Best date bet? A Wednesday night stroll around the museum followed by a movie in the museum’s own cinema ($9 each) and drinks at nearby Mission.
Also included in the CityPass, the MFA is a classic with classy exhibitions (art nouveau jewelry anyone?). Admission is $17, but Wednesday nights are free. Best date bet? A Wednesday night stroll around the museum followed by a movie in the museum’s own cinema ($9 each) and drinks at nearby Mission.
J P Licks Homemade Ice Cream Co
659 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
J.P. Licks is a Boston original. I go here because I dig their chocolate sauce, but I can think of at least 50 other reasons, including kahlua, mint chocolate chip, and grape nut.
J.P. Licks is a Boston original. I go here because I dig their chocolate sauce, but I can think of at least 50 other reasons, including kahlua, mint chocolate chip, and grape nut.
South End Buttery
98 SHAWMUT AVE BOSTON, MA 02116
This South End gem has kickass cupcakes (that’s not to be confused with Somerville’s actual Kickass Cupcakes)
I Scream for Ice Cream!
Toscanini's Ice Cream
899 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Take your rogue date to this rogue ice cream parlor, which only recently “forgot” to pay over $100,000 in sales tax and then had the nerve to ask its customers for donations. Like the product it sells, so bad, but so good.
Take your rogue date to this rogue ice cream parlor, which only recently “forgot” to pay over $100,000 in sales tax and then had the nerve to ask its customers for donations. Like the product it sells, so bad, but so good.
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Great guide! That 5:00 date is awkward no matter what city you live in. Fantastic suggestions.
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