Cheap dates

Face it, you're flat broke. It's OK, we all are. But does that mean that as students we don't deserve the finest weekend entertainment out there? Does that mean we don't get the chance to impress dates with our creativity and romanticism? Basically, does that mean that our dating scene should be confined to Friday and Saturday night keggers because the $3 plastic cup fee is the most we can splurge? I think not. \nTo prove to you that there is quality dating material for those on a shoestring budget, I have compiled a list of the eight best cheap dates in and around Bloomington. \n1. No self-respecting cheap date list would be complete without a mention of bowling. The official sport of white-trash chic, bowling might not be respected, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. It's a great way to impress a guy who's obsessed with "The Big Lebowski" (and trust me, ALL guys are). And everyone should remember this little pearl of wisdom -- playing games on dates is the ultimate aphrodisiac for those hyper-competitive types. \n"It's fun because you can laugh at yourselves and you get to see a different side of the person you are with," junior Danielle Daley says. Just make sure you skip the Union lanes, with their lame school-day aura. Go to the real-deal, Suburban, at 2634 N. Walnut St. \n2. At the opposite end of the spectrum, you could impress a date with the best-kept secret cheap date at IU. The School of Music, one of the most reputable music academies in the entire world, offers high-rent entertainment at very reasonable prices (usually free). Every year, there are about 1,100 concerts in the many concert halls near the corner of Third Street and Jordan Avenue. Check the calendar on www.music.indiana.edu/publicity/prelude/index.html, and you will be hard-pressed to find a single day without several concerts. Offering such fare as full orchestra symphonies to solo piano concerts to new music ensembles, it is a waste for the School of Music to only be appreciated by its own musicians. \n"It's usually an intimate atmosphere, and it beats your average movie date. It leaves room for people to get to know each other on a more intellectual plane," junior Aaron Merritt says. \n3. Another outstanding set of performances can be found three times a semester at the T300 theatre on the south side of the auditorium. Actors from the advanced levels of the Theatre department perform for an intimate crowd of 60 for two weeks during each play's run. The sets are typically minimalistic and there are no lavish song and dance numbers, but the entertainment level is first rate. The chosen plays are often from undiscovered sources of genius and sometimes soon-to-be-celebrated plays are even premiered on this tiny, inconspicuous stage. As a general rule, plays are more impressive dates than movies. And, at $7.50-$8.50 per person, the price is not much higher. \n4. But who's knocking movies? Movies have been tested and proven effective as dates since the beginning of last century. Both Video World locations at 2612 E. 3rd St. and South Walnut and Grimes offer five movies and a bag of popcorn for $5.55. As we all know, renting movies is a perfect opportunity to sit in the dark on your loveseat and hold onto your date all night. It has become our premiere mating ritual for a reason... it works. The slower and more boring the movie, the more likely you are to try to entertain yourselves. And with five movies, you have enough ammo for two, maybe three, nights of fun.\n5. The Starlite Drive-In movie theatre offers films with a twist of throw-back glamour. Everyone has seen the '50s movies with the requisite smooching at the drive-in scenes. Imagine yourself in that position, and you'll see that this activity has as much appeal for you as it did for your parents. Call 824-8036 for features and showtimes. Starlite is located at 7630 S Old State Road 37, two miles south of the intersection with State Road 37.\n6. If you and your date like the retro action of a drive-in, you'll love Ladyman's Cafe. You might have seen the tiny '50s diner at 122 E. Kirkwood Ave., but you've probably never been inside. Definitely take a chance on this super-cute hole-in-the-wall and take your date here. The food is great and cheap and the atmosphere couldn't be cozier. This is no "Happy Days"-themed restaurant. \n"As a diner, it couldn't be more authentic, and it's a great place for a conversation-date," junior Tracy Truels says. \n7. While the weather is still good, get out there and get in touch with the natural side of dating. The fire tower in Hoosier National Forest is the perfect autumn date. \n"It ranks very high on the list of cool dates," junior Mary Sullivan says. "You are way up high, above the trees so that you can just see all the color from the changing leaves. It is so nice at sunset." As an added bonus, after climbing the 10-12 flights of stairs, your date is guaranteed to start out with heavy breathing. Take 446 out of town, turn west on Chapel Hill Road, go two miles and then follow the signs for the fire tower.\n8. Finally, we come to a personal favorite. Go grocery shopping at midnight. Huh? Seriously, though, this is a wacky plan that works wonders. Go to the store in the middle of the night and shop for breakfast. All of the annoying other shoppers will have cleared out by then. Then, go home and stay up all night talking...or whatever. As the sun comes up the next morning, make breakfast together. You can't find a sweeter date than this one. But, be careful, don't use this one if you're only half interested. It should be reserved for making that one person feel truly special. \nSo, there you have it -- a lineup of somewhat unusual suspects. You might take someone out on one of these dates only to find that your love interest is less than interested in the night's activity. If this happens, chances are your date is entirely stuck-up. Dump him or her immediately and take out someone who cares about quality, not quantity of money. And, for those not currently dating anyone, don't feel left out. Most of these dates work just as well as hanging out activities for friends. Just reread this article and delete all sexual undertones.