Student Rush at the Kimmel Center:
Want to play up your musical side on a budget? You can take your date to a concert for only $20 when you buy tickets through Student Rush (kimmelcenter.org/stix). They’ll be the worst seats in the house for some of the best music in Philly. No pricey dinner required afterwards. Music is food for the soul.
A Romantic Walk Down South Street:
Couldn’t figure out your date’s interests from that mysterious (read: vague) Tinder profile? South Street is the catch–all, with shops that cover everything from the underground (the Wooden Shoe) to the occult (Requiem) to the whimsical (Mineralistic) to the downright kinky (the Sexploratorium). There’s guaranteed to be conversation material for any date. If all else fails, at least there’s a Copabanana.
A Tour of the Philadelphia Art Museum:
Got a 5 on the AP Art History exam? Show off for your date by identifying every Matisse and Monet by sight alone. Look up the floorplan beforehand, though—it’s pretty easy to get lost in there. Better yet, take your date after 5 p.m. on Friday and stay in the atrium to enjoy the catered food and live performances. It’s a way to get a taste for Philly’s local art scene.
Speaking of the local art scene, if you time your date night just right, you can head down to Old City to wander about the 40 or so open galleries and enjoy all of the new artwork. Grab some artisan local coffee and desserts and you’ll have the perfect romantic–yet–casual date. Personal recommendation: the outdoor sculpture installations in the park by 3rd and Arch.
So you’re actually super cultured but you’ve blown all your money on painting supplies, cigarettes and other artistic endeavors. Never fear, you can save your precious SEPTA tokens and walk around the Woodland Graveyard instead. Less mainstream than Clark Park but still within walking distance, it’s a great place to express yourself in a semi–private environment. Just know that kind souls may also be listening.
