Living in the culinary capital of the world, it’s easy to get into the ol’ dinner and a movie date night routine. Here’s five of my favorite dates under $50.
Serenade your better half in love songs.
What better way to wile away than by renting a private karaoke booth and crooning the best of Frankie Valli? I’m a huge fan of Duet Karaoke, as they have a “Karaoke Marathon” that let’s you rent out your own booth ALL DAY (1pm-8pm) for only $14 a person. Another perk: you can bring in your own food. Heart shaped cupcakes, anyone? (Although don’t try to sneak in a bottle of bubbly, they insist that you purchase drinks on site.)
Be pretty and pampered.
I’m sure there are guys out there who will pretend like getting a mani-pedi is the most awful idea they have ever heard…but I promise, once getting the foot massage coupled with the hot stone leg rub down at Aroma Nail & Spa, those feelings will go right out the window. It’s not the fanciest of all places to be sure, but for only $20 each, you can get an amazing manicure + pedicure, allowing lots of time in between to whisper sweet nothings into one another’s ears…or just sit in blissful silence.
Get cultured, the sexy way.
NYC has no shortage of museums, but there are none with the same sexy appeal as the Museum of Sex. For $17.50 a ticket, you can have an easy opening to share your deepest, darkest desires with one another. And let’s not forget the giggles you’ll share over the museum’s collection of vintage vibrators and other such contraptions.
Indulge in tapas and flamenco.
A nice alternative to dinner and a movie is tapas grazing and watching flamenco dancing. These ladies exude passion in every clasp of the castanet and stomp of the heel, and the small plate tapas sharing only heightens the senses…a light finger brush here, a sea salt sprinkled pepper bursting with flavor there…you get my drift. Nai Tapas Bar in the East Village has shows every Thursday and Saturday nights at 8:30 and 10:30pm. The show is free, but reservations are recommended.
Laugh like no one’s looking.
My mom’s relationship advice includes the adage that “laughter is the key to any successful relationship”, so what better way to bond with your boo than a night of comedy? I’m particularly fond of the Magnet Theater’s ”Made Up Musical”, held every Friday at 10pm for only $10 a person. If you’re particularly ambitious, you can even sign up to take a free “Intro to Improv” class together, held at various times throughout the week. How’s that for a lifetime of laughter?
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
