Sex: Dating on the cheap (without looking cheap)
Originally published in The Fulcrum on Thursday February 16th:
ONLY GOT 20 bucks but still want to impress your date?
There are lots of things you can do in Ottawa for little or no money without compromising your romantic integrity. You can still look cool and thoughtful while pinching pennies, it just takes some careful planning and—wait for it—conversation. That’s free.
Coffee date
In the 21st century, the coffee date is basically par for the course. Everyone loves coffee (maybe not the bean pickers, but everyone else). If you are going to attempt something so cliché as a coffee date, you must do it with originality and flare. Taking your date to a new, stylish coffee house is a good option, despite the daunting proliferation of the characterless Starbucks and Second Cup cafés. Ottawa has several alternatives to international corporations that can provide you with your caffeine fix. Bridgehead coffee provides its patrons with fair-trade coffee and has several locations around the city. The aptly named Tea Store sells tea from various nations and has a pleasantly upbeat atmosphere. Other options include sharing a sundae or gelato.
Movie date
In the vein of clichés, go to a movie. Popcorn and drinks will cost you a few extra dollars, and a good film can provide entertainment as well as a topic for later conversation. The artsy elite will enjoy the two downtown art houses: the Bytowne Cinema and the Mayfair. Their membership fees are not too expensive ($10 for Bytowne, $18 for Mayfair), and both allow you to see second-run/indie/foreign movies for cheaper than normal. Non-members will be asked to pony up some extra cash ($9 at both cinemas). The cinemas at the World Exchange Plaza ($9.95, $7.95 on Tuesday) and at the Rideau Centre ($6.95) both offer reasonable rates.
Bring the movies home
If you can convince your date that your dirty dorm room is more "intimate", a cheaper alternative is to rent a flick. Show a bit of class by picking up a video from one of Ottawa’s many independent movie rental locations. These include Laurier Video (250 Laurier Ave. E.), Invisible Cinema (319 Lisgar St.), or the Elgin Street Video Station (258 Elgin St.). Suave first-date flicks: The Motorcycle Diaries, Rushmore, In the Mood For Love, The Edukators, Amelie, etc.
Make ‘em laugh
Ottawa has two fine comedy clubs: Yuk Yuk’s (at 88 Albert St.) and Absolute Comedy (at 412 Preston St.) are both within walking distance of the U of O and feature a dining option for those who are so inclined. The frugal will note that Wednesdays have the cheapest cover-—$6.30 for Yuk Yuk’s and $5 for Absolute. Shows start at 8:30 p.m. Those with a sense of propriety must be warned, however, that the routines are uncensored by the club owners, so content is sometimes adult-themed and can be offensive.
Get your geek on!
The Ottawa area plays host to 29 museums. No matter your predilection, you can find a museum that will keep you and your date entertained for hours. A quick visit to the Museum of Nature (240 McLeod St.) won’t dent your pocketbook, as it accepts donations until September 2006 (but try to look cool when you opt out). The kid in you may enjoy a stint at the Museum of Science and Technology where, during the last hour of the day, admission is free. For a scant $5 (for students), you can make an afternoon of it. You may also want to check out the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau (just across the bridge), where entrance is $6 and you can catch an IMAX movie for $8.
Put your ear to the underground
One look at a campus lamppost (or www.punkottawa.ca) and you can find dozens of upcoming shows all across the city. Shows are listed as all ages, 19+, or all ages/19+. You can normally buy tickets in advance and save a few bucks in the process. On top of the extra change in your pockets, it guarantees your ability to attend the show—because it doesn’t look very impressive if you get turned away from a show you were looking forward to.
Get outside
A great deal of fun can be had outdoors without dropping a dime. The limited patches of greenery scattered around the downtown core, Sandy Hill, and the U of O campus can make a great place for picnics—a little oasis in the urban sprawl can be romantic. Indulging your inner child is another option, and finding a park where you and your date can play on the swings will provide hours of giggly fun. Or find a nice warm blanket and spend hours stargazing. It seems too early to be thinking about spring, but a day at the beach (Mooney’s Bay is an Ottawa favourite) is both fun and cheap.
ONLY GOT 20 bucks but still want to impress your date?
There are lots of things you can do in Ottawa for little or no money without compromising your romantic integrity. You can still look cool and thoughtful while pinching pennies, it just takes some careful planning and—wait for it—conversation. That’s free.
Coffee date
In the 21st century, the coffee date is basically par for the course. Everyone loves coffee (maybe not the bean pickers, but everyone else). If you are going to attempt something so cliché as a coffee date, you must do it with originality and flare. Taking your date to a new, stylish coffee house is a good option, despite the daunting proliferation of the characterless Starbucks and Second Cup cafés. Ottawa has several alternatives to international corporations that can provide you with your caffeine fix. Bridgehead coffee provides its patrons with fair-trade coffee and has several locations around the city. The aptly named Tea Store sells tea from various nations and has a pleasantly upbeat atmosphere. Other options include sharing a sundae or gelato.
Movie date
In the vein of clichés, go to a movie. Popcorn and drinks will cost you a few extra dollars, and a good film can provide entertainment as well as a topic for later conversation. The artsy elite will enjoy the two downtown art houses: the Bytowne Cinema and the Mayfair. Their membership fees are not too expensive ($10 for Bytowne, $18 for Mayfair), and both allow you to see second-run/indie/foreign movies for cheaper than normal. Non-members will be asked to pony up some extra cash ($9 at both cinemas). The cinemas at the World Exchange Plaza ($9.95, $7.95 on Tuesday) and at the Rideau Centre ($6.95) both offer reasonable rates.
Bring the movies home
If you can convince your date that your dirty dorm room is more "intimate", a cheaper alternative is to rent a flick. Show a bit of class by picking up a video from one of Ottawa’s many independent movie rental locations. These include Laurier Video (250 Laurier Ave. E.), Invisible Cinema (319 Lisgar St.), or the Elgin Street Video Station (258 Elgin St.). Suave first-date flicks: The Motorcycle Diaries, Rushmore, In the Mood For Love, The Edukators, Amelie, etc.
Make ‘em laugh
Ottawa has two fine comedy clubs: Yuk Yuk’s (at 88 Albert St.) and Absolute Comedy (at 412 Preston St.) are both within walking distance of the U of O and feature a dining option for those who are so inclined. The frugal will note that Wednesdays have the cheapest cover-—$6.30 for Yuk Yuk’s and $5 for Absolute. Shows start at 8:30 p.m. Those with a sense of propriety must be warned, however, that the routines are uncensored by the club owners, so content is sometimes adult-themed and can be offensive.
Get your geek on!
The Ottawa area plays host to 29 museums. No matter your predilection, you can find a museum that will keep you and your date entertained for hours. A quick visit to the Museum of Nature (240 McLeod St.) won’t dent your pocketbook, as it accepts donations until September 2006 (but try to look cool when you opt out). The kid in you may enjoy a stint at the Museum of Science and Technology where, during the last hour of the day, admission is free. For a scant $5 (for students), you can make an afternoon of it. You may also want to check out the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau (just across the bridge), where entrance is $6 and you can catch an IMAX movie for $8.
Put your ear to the underground
One look at a campus lamppost (or www.punkottawa.ca) and you can find dozens of upcoming shows all across the city. Shows are listed as all ages, 19+, or all ages/19+. You can normally buy tickets in advance and save a few bucks in the process. On top of the extra change in your pockets, it guarantees your ability to attend the show—because it doesn’t look very impressive if you get turned away from a show you were looking forward to.
Get outside
A great deal of fun can be had outdoors without dropping a dime. The limited patches of greenery scattered around the downtown core, Sandy Hill, and the U of O campus can make a great place for picnics—a little oasis in the urban sprawl can be romantic. Indulging your inner child is another option, and finding a park where you and your date can play on the swings will provide hours of giggly fun. Or find a nice warm blanket and spend hours stargazing. It seems too early to be thinking about spring, but a day at the beach (Mooney’s Bay is an Ottawa favourite) is both fun and cheap.
posted by Brendan at 3:57 PM
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