10 Cheap Dates In and Around New York City (Part 2)
New York City is a wonderful place to go on a first date, but it can cost you a bundle. If you’re creative, it’s not necessary to empty your wallet.
Last time we covered Harlem, the High Line, Central Park, Koreatown, and Battery Park City.I’ve lined up five more options for you, so buckle up and prepare to save money while having a great time. I hope you had time to check out one of last post’s recommendations. The most important thing to glean from these posts about affordable first dates is the importance of tapping your imagination to look at first dates with fresh new eyes. You don’t have to break the bank to impress a new connection. If you’re authentic, creative, and have a spirit of fun, you can find a solution to “where am I going to take her tonight?”
You might have noticed that all of my recommendations have been located in Manhattan. There’s a reason. If you live in one of the outer boroughs or fabulous New Jersey, you can usually find something to do on a first date that’s within budget. It’s not nearly as challenging to go on a cheap date in the outer boroughs. Although you can still buy a banana for a quarter, Manhattan is damn expensive. So, our focus remains in Manhattan. I will, however, include one idea that can take you away from the core of the Big Apple.
So in no particular order, here are five more cheap dates ideas in or around New York City.
6. Open Center, Meta Center, Cayce Center – What better way of getting to know what’s inside your new connection than a yoga class, metaphysical workshop, or an exploration into accessing your Akashic Records? Not everyone is in touch with their spirituality in the same way and some prefer keeping this area of their lives private, but a Guy’s Guy can meet lots of intelligent, attractive women who would welcome activities of this sort for an out-of-the-box and affordable first date. The venues mentioned above are but a few of the many spiritual outposts sprinkled throughout the city.
7. Chelsea Piers – If you like a hot workout followed by cooling off with a few brews, you’ve come to the right place. And you might order a Michelob Ultra while you are at it. Chelsea Piers offers indoor and outdoor activities for everyone. You can shoot hoops, rent kayaks, drive golf balls, bowl, skate, push iron, or take a fitness class. The list of activities goes on and on, and there’s a nice brewpub here also. And if your new date is not athletically inclined, you can take a long walk along the picturesque walking path along the Hudson River. You’ve got lots of options and it’s not expensive. Check their website for more info.
8. Any Museum – Where do I begin and end?New York City has the Met, the Guggenheim, the Frick Collection, Museum of Modern Art, New Museum, Cloisters, Intrepid Sea and Space Museum, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Transit Museum and many more. I can’t think of any other city on the planet that offers the diverse options of museums than the Big Apple. Some of these venues are free, but most ask for a donation of your choice. In most cases you set the price. You can’t go wrong when going to a museum in the city.
9. West 79th St Boat Basin – Take the subway to 79th Street on the West Side and walk west towards Riverside Park and the Hudson River. You’ll stumble upon a cozy marina and café in front of a marina. It’s a great place when the weather is nice and you want to enjoy a mellow outdoor space away from the din and bustle of Midtown. I took my future wife here on our first date and we’ve been together ever since so I am proof of the sparkles possible at this picturesque venue.
10. Local Beaches – You probably don’t think of New York City as a beach town, but Coney Island, City Island, Long Beach, and even Asbury Park, New Jersey are within striking distance. So, if you have a day or long afternoon and early evening set aside to make inroads with a special lady you want to spend quality time with on a first or second date, the beach is a solid choice. I cannot think of a more fun way to spend a nice long day than at the beach or chilling at a café near the water. All of these quirky locales are accessible by mass transit. Coney Island is how Brooklyn rocks the beach. City Island is an oasis in the Bronx lined with seafood cafes. Long Beach is about an hour’s train ride from Penn Station that offers a nice slice of beach along the south shore of Long Island without having to schlep to the Hamptons. And if you are adventurous, consider formerly tragic and newly hip Asbury Park, NJ to experience a hipster Brooklyn vibe at the Jersey Shore.
Okay, amigos, I’ve only scratched the surface with these ten ideas out of the myriad of affordable first dates options in and around New York City. It’s up to you now to use your imagination and come up with a few fresh concepts of your own. Then, get in touch with that special new lady and set it up. Yeah, it’s that simple. Good luck!
This week’s GUY’S GUY of the WEEK is your Guy’s Guy. Why? I’m here to help. That’s all. Having lived and thrived in this crazy city for many years, I know how New York is constantly changing and often overwhelming. I know they’re a lot of very cool places to go on a date in this city, but nowadays dating can be really expensive and some places are not as great as the hype. So, it’s important to keep your game on and find simple, creative ways to have fun when you’re on your way up, but still on a budget. Until next time…
