Usually being called a “cheap date” can make a person cringe, but we think it’s time to reinvent that phrase. As college students, we know you’re strapped for cash, just like us, and when date night rolls around you want to do something fun and classy yet cost-effective. Cheap Dates is here to give you ideas for memorable dates that won’t leave your wallet completely empty! Cornell and Ithaca are full of potential date venues, but students have neither the time nor the money to find these places — or so they think. Cheap Dates is here to show you, dear reader, that you can have an upscale date, whether it’s a romantic candlelit dinner or a casual night out, for under $30 a person. Today we will offer classy yet cost-effective suggestions to revamp the otherwise cliché dinner-and-a-movie date.
$ — Collegetown is a mecca of reasonable, well-priced restaurants, but not all of them seem particularly suitable for a date. (Up for a candlelight dinner at the Pita Pit? No thanks.) Stella’s is one of the few places in Collegetown that serves inventive, organic cuisine in a romantic, upscale setting that won’t break your bank. Daily specials include half-price “beer-basted, local, organic, grass-fed burgers” and half off of your second martini or cocktail between 4-6 daily, and all night on Tuesdays.
After dinner, walk over to Collegetown Video and rent a movie. Collegetown Video has a wide selection of movies, ranging from old classics like Casablanca and Rebel Without a Cause to recently released movies such as American Gangster and No Country for Old Men. Rentals typically cost about $3-4. In addition, coupons for the 2-for-1 rental deals frequently appear in the Sun. In our opinion, this is a much better option than downloading a movie from DC++. The picture and sound is guaranteed to be clear, and you won’t have Chinese subtitles scrolling along the bottom of the screen or hear sounds of muffled audience laughter in the background. Pop some popcorn, and the date is sure to end on a fabulous note.
If you prefer to watch movies on the big screen but don’t want to pay the going rate of $10 for a movie ticket, Cornell Cinema is your best bet with tickets at just $4 for students. Cornell Cinema has two locations, one at Willard Straight Hall and one at Uris Hall. It features a wide variety of films, from small indie productions to political documentaries to mainstream movies. Check Cornell Cinema’s website for up-to-date listings and times at cinema.cornell.edu.
$$ — Dying to get off campus or out of Collegetown for a change? Looking for a more sophisticated night out? Head over to Fall Creek for a decadent meal at Willow, one of Ithaca’s most elegant restaurants located right next door to Fall Creek Pictures. Willow and Fall Creek Pictures have teamed up to offer the “Dinner and a Movie” deal, which includes a three course meal and a movie ticket all for the price of $28, Monday-Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m. It’s not exactly the cheapest option, but for a three-course meal at one of Ithaca’s best restaurants and a ticket to a movie that’s not just another low-brow Adam Sandler comedy, it’s well worth the money.
With these ideas in mind, there’s no reason your significant other should roll their eyes next time you suggest dinner and a movie.