Cheap Dates

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Sacha Burn and Mackie Jimbo — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

It’s official — winter has arrived in Ithaca. While the snow may have been fun for the first few days, we know that icy sidewalks, numb fingers and months of sub-zero temperatures get old very fast. Don’t let the frigid weather get you down; winter is the perfect season for a little romance and a little snuggling, and, additionally, the holidays are just around the corner. So put down those books, bundle up and head out to celebrate with your sweetheart! This week, Cheap Dates offers three holiday themed ideas that are sure to keep you and your sweetie feeling warm and merry on the inside.

Back in the Grind

Sacha Burn and Mackie Jimbo — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Do you feel like you are swamped with work? Do you have prelims scheduled every week until finals? Could you use a big cup of coffee and a hug? If you feel yourself slipping into a post-fall break slump, Cheap Dates is here to help, with a few fabulous ideas that are sure to perk you and your sweetheart right back up. What better way to get back into the grind than with a smooth, rich, caffeine-laden cup of coffee? We compiled a list of Ithaca’s best and most budget-friendly cafés, all of which serve a mean cup o’ joe and have no traces of a Frappuccino or venti-anything in sight.

Tricks and Treats

Sacha Burn and Mackie Jimbo — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Happy Halloween, Cheap Daters! Halloween evokes mixed feelings for us, as we love to dress up yet hate walking around in 30 degree weather in costume all night; we like to carve pumpkins but hate knowing that they will inevitably be smashed by rowdy drunks at 3 a.m.; and we love an excuse for a candy corn binge but regret needing to go to the gym the next day — and the dentist next week. All in all, Halloween is still an incredibly fun holiday with plenty of opportunities for causing mischief, pretending to be someone (or something) else for one night and taking a break from prelims.

Fall in Love With Fall

Sacha Burn and Mackie Jimbo — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

It’s the start of our favorite season in Ithaca — Autumn! Crisper days, changing leaves, hot cider at CTB, an outburst of plaid — it’s a great cozy time before the town ices over and walking to class is as daunting a task as Mallory and Irvine’s journey up Everest. Normally we would rave about the Apple Festival (our favorite festival ever), but that was last weekend. Autumn seems like the perfect time to hold hands and snuggle together for warmth, but what else is there to do in the fall? Never fear, Cheap Dates is here with plenty of ideas for ways to keep warm and enjoy fall with your sweetie without breaking the bank as the days get cooler and shorter .

The Birds and the Bees

Sacha Burn and Mackie Jimbo — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

It’s official. We have hit that crucial point in the semester where prelims are just getting started, fall is fast approaching and students still have plenty of time to procrastinate. If you feel a bad case of cabin fever coming on in the library, put down your books, head outside and enjoy the crisp fall weather before it is too late! This week, Cheap Dates offers three creative ideas for exploring the great outdoors with your significant other. From wandering through the woods together to kayaking on Cayuga Lake at sunset, these activities are sure to impress your honey and make you both forget about the impending prelim season.

Tuesdays, Mondays, We All Scream for Sundaes!

Sacha Burn and Mackie Jimbo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Wishing you were back at the beach instead of back at Cayuga Lake? Dreading your inevitable return to Uris Library? Can’t bring yourself to hit the books? If you’ve got the end-of-summer blues, don’t despair! Cheap Dates is back to help you and that special someone put off studying a little longer and enjoy the last bit of summer — without breaking the bank. With the end of summer fast approaching, we thought we should spotlight one of our favorite summer pastimes: digging into a rich, creamy scoop of ice cream! Today we offer three sweet suggestions for spending a lazy summer afternoon with your sweetheart.

Spring Flings

Sacha Burn and Mackie Jimbo — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The sun is shining and students are actually venturing outside of the library, laying out in the Arts Quad and tossing around Frisbees. This can only mean one thing: spring is finally here! Whether you’re celebrating the warm weather by heading down to the gorges, playing football, or getting a tan on the sidelines, there is no doubt that stretching your legs is the cure for the winter blues. Cheap Dates has three fabulous ideas for taking advantage of the beautiful weather with that special someone.

If Music Be the Food of Love

Sacha Burn and Mackie Jimbo — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Shakespeare told us, “If music be the food of love, play on,” and we agree. Even if you’re not a romantic, savoring some good food while soaking up some good music is a great pairing. The only problem is that concerts around here are so expensive ($125 to see Toby Keith at Turningstone?!) and the music offered in most restaurants seems to always be the greatest elevator jams of the 90s. Here we suggest to you some more exciting opportunities to combine a love of food with a love for music.