8 Cheap And Free Dates You Can Go On In New York City
By Joe Choi
Producer’s note: Someone on Quora asked: What are some cheap or free places to take a date in NYC? Here is one of the best answers that’s been pulled from the thread.
1. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…”
Not what you’re thinking. Get your mind out of the gutter! But if you have a favorite exhibit at the Met. You can take a date there to show what you’re favorite exhibit is and then ask your date if he or she has a favorite and show it to you.
You get to know the other person’s style this way and chat while walking amongst some great art work. If the date doesn’t have a favorite you can wander until you find one. Fee for the met is donation only. Pay a buck or two. You can pay discretely for two. Or you can just use the excuse “we’ll only be here for a little bit.”
2. “I’m going to take you to a surprise location”
Don’t say where you’re going but take the train to the Lower East Side and walk over to 176 Stanton St. When you get there say, “Here we are!”
Your date probably won’t get it. Then you say it’s Lady Gaga’s old apartment. Snap a few photos individually and the two of you. It’s funny asking a random stranger to photograph you in front of an apartment, too, when the person probably doesn’t get it either. (176 Stanton Street on Tumblr. )
Then you walk over to Donut Plant and get awesome donuts and a hot drink.
3. Row Boats at Central Park (weather needs to be nice)
4. Ping Pong at Spin on 23rd Street
5. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
6. Walk around Eataly to taste food and get coffee, lunch, dinner, etc
If you get a meal there it can be expensive. But you can buy drinks, snacks, pastries and bring them out to Madison Square Park and then watch the line at Shake Shack.
7. Housing Works Cafe on Crosby is pretty cool and holds various events that are free
8. Roll-N-Roaster out in Sheepshead Bay
This is really far out there in Brooklyn, but you can walk along the water until you get to this iconic fast food joint that’s not expensive.