41. Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square

Downtown on Ice at Pershing
Square, Downtown Los Angeles
Originally uploaded by alossix

Only $6 for 1-hour plus $2 for ice skate rental, this is THE best deal for ice skating in LA! Downtown on Ice is celebrating it's 12th season at Pershing Square. Even though the rink has been open since Nov 19th, the Free Winter Holiday Festival is next weekend, Dec 12-13th, 11 AM- 6 PM. The festival activities will include: Free Snow Zone for sledding and romping, Free live puppet shows, Free photo moments and more!

The fun does not stop there! Downtown On Ice is the only venue to provide a Free Winter Concert Series at the ice rink: at 8-10 PM on Wednesday through Friday nights, in the afternoons on the weekends, and also during lunchtime concerts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Check the calendar online for updates.

The rink is open daily until...

35. Ice Skating in Santa Monica

Originally uploaded by .Lisa Marie.

Unless you are a skating pro, ice skating could be a good bonding exercise!

Literally, what a good excuse to hold hands, huh? See the cute photo on the right here, that could be you too!  This gets my vote for a fun first date idea. Where else can you go and be clumsy yet it be romantic at the same time? The $10 admission includes the skate rental. There are several parking lots on 2nd and 4th Street, where the first 2 hours are free then $1 for every 1/2 hour ($7 max), or a flat rate of $3 after 6 PM (click here for a helpful walking map which shows the parking structures). "Ice at Santa Monica", the outdoor rink located on Arizona Ave and 5th Street, is open until 10 PM daily except Fri-Sat until midnight through the end of January 2010. Unless you want to avoid the crowd, a fun day to go will be this...

List: Date Ideas for November

December is upon us! So here's the summary of date ideas posted for the month of November. If no specific date is listed, then it's a cheap date idea good anytime. I'll send out reminders on my Twitter about upcoming events, such as the Annual Tree Lighting Celebration in Hermosa Beach on Thursday, Dec 3rd.

• 14. FREE Helium Balloon Rides
• 15. Shark Lagoon Friday Nights
• 16. Champagne, Sparklers & Bubbles, Oh My! - 11/12...
• 17. More Than A Happy Hour
• 18. Buona Vita is Buona Anytime
• 19. Annual Hermosa Tree Lighting - 12/3
• 20. Sand Snowman Contest - 12/12
• 21. MB Holiday Fireworks Festival - 12/13
• 22. Ice Skating at Redondo Beach (11/10-1/18)
• 23. Naples Xmas Boat Parade - 12/19
• 24. Newport Beach Boat Parade - 12/16
• 25. Free Movie Screening - 11/16
• 26. Free Magic Mountain - 11/25
• 27. Free Yoga Is Good - 11/15
• 28. MB Holiday Open House - 11/18
• 29. 100-Foot Xmas Tree and More (11/22-12/25)
• 30. FREE USC vs UCLA Viewing Party - 11/28
• 31. Medieval Times Dinner Show
• 32. FREE at The Getty Center
• 33. Long Beach Turkey Trot - 11/26
• 34. Bonfire at Aliso Beach

33. Long Beach Turkey Trot - 11/26

Long Beach Turkey Trot - Fourteen
Originally uploaded by Gloomy Little Cloud

I'm still catching up between my Twitter and my blog, so this event has passed and gone. On the bright side, you have 365 days to train for the next one! The Long Beach Turkey Trot is more of a fun charity event than a competitive race, so this is a date idea for people who are active and have a good heart. There are no timers for this 5K/10K run/walk because the $10,000 is donated, but you can see race time on a race clock at the end. To provide some motivation at the finish line, about 400 FREE holiday pies are randomly given away (pumpkin, apple, oh my!). And don't miss the Chicken Chucking Championship!! You can enter the contest for free and try to beat the 2006 champion record of 120-foot throw. Where else can you go on a run/walk near the beach? Save the date for next year, Thanksgiving 2010.

Approximate cost of creative date idea = $25 pp early registration + Free parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless + good karma.
Click here for map

30. FREE USC vs UCLA Viewing Party - 11/28

LA Live Christmas Tree in Nokia Plaza,
Downtown LA
Originally uploaded by Michael Zampelli

What's the next best place to see the USC vs UCLA game tomorrow besides at the LA Coliseum? Come watch it for FREE on a 22' x 44' screen (AKA Jumbotron) on Nokia Plaza at LA Live. The USC vs UCLA Crosstown Showdown starts at 2 PM. Although it may be a "tailgate party", no outside food and drink are permitted. Fortunately, there will be a beer garden and also live music entertainment. If you haven't been yet, LA Live is the new entertainment complex right across the Staples Center that opened almost 2 years ago to revive Downtown LA.

While you are down there, continue the fun and...

27. Free Yoga Is Good - 11/15

Yoga head stand
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

Are you active? And want to do something active (AND free) for a date? Even if you are a newbie to yoga (beginner level), this is a perfect opportunity to try something new. Lululemon Athletica offers free yoga classes weekly at various locations, including The Americana at The Brand, which opened last year in Glendale. Bring your date and your own yoga mats to The Green (right next to the water feature) on Sunday mornings at 9:30-10:30 am. Parking is free for the first hour and then $3 for the second hour with validation. Afterward, treat yourself to Pinkberry or Jamba Juice, then cool down by window shopping at this high-end retail center. For the upcoming Sunday 11/15, stick around to enjoy the free musical entertainment on The Green at 3-6 PM. If Glendale is too much of a trek, Playa Yoga in Hermosa Beach is another good place to try out for newbies (Levels 1/2). Namaste.

Approximate cost of creative date idea = FREE + $3 Parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $40.

26. Free Magic Mountain - 11/25

Scream
Originally uploaded by PortugePunk

Donate a full bag of food in exchange for an admission ticket to Magic Mountain, valid for use on the day before Thanksgiving, Nov 25th. Not a bad deal, especially when theme park normally costs $55 each! The LA Foodbank has made this possible with KISS FM and Magic Mountain for the past 7 years now. This is your opportunity to show off your philanthropic side! Clean out kitchen cabinets at your place, your date's place, your mom's, your work, your neighbors, whoever you know has a good heart (and a full kitchen). If you can't make it to the park on Turkey Day, you will have another chance during Magic Mountain's Annual Toy Drive in December (see upcoming Cheap Date Idea #40).

Approximate cost of creative date idea = FREE + $15 Prepaid online parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $125 Total + Good Karma.
Click here for map

22. Ice Skating at Redondo Beach (11/10-1/18)

Who ever thought that we could ice skate at sunset by the beach?? Well, the City of Redondo Beach did! Today is the first day of the 2nd Annual Seaside Skating Season (Nov 10th to Jan 18th). You can buy tickets for $14 pp, which provides 90 minutes of fun including skate rental, at the Seaside Lagoon or online. Don't worry if you can't ice skate, because they offer lessons on site. Parking is available at King's Harbor for a flat rate with validation from the skate admission. The ice rink is open daily even during the holidays til 9:30 pm or later. The best time is to go an hour before sunset. Have fun!

UPDATE 01/09/10: During the 50th Anniversary Celebration on Jan 9th at 10 AM to Jan 10th at 11 PM, save $5 on ice skating (so ONLY $11 pp) by showing a $10 or more receipt dated in December or January from any of the King Harbor restaurants or businesses. Thanks to @CenterdinLA for sharing!

Approximate cost of creative date idea = $14 Per Person.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Click here for map

15. Shark Lagoon Friday Nights

Baby Shark Eggs
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

Get up close and personal with the ocean's ultimate predator!! The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is hosting a FREE Shark Lagoon Night on every Friday 6-9 PM. Not only will you see all kinds of sharks, but also TOUCH the bamboo sharks (bring your camera!). A live band performs every week, with this Friday night, Nov 6th, being jazz music. A snack and beverage bar is onsite, but I suggest going right before dinner when it opens at 6 PM or stop by after dinner. There are plenty of eateries and things to do nearby at The Pike or on Pine Street.

UPDATE 01/07/10: As of today, the calendar shows it's free EVERY Friday night through May 7th.

UPDATE 01/28/10: @AquariumPacific informed me that this event is almost every Friday. I see that the current schedule shows that the last Friday of the month in January 1/29 and February 2/26 have been replaced by "Night Dive".

UPDATE 04/27/10: If Fridays don't work for you, get 2-for-1 admission anytime thru May 19th with this BOGO coupon (print HERE). REMINDER: LAST free Shark Lagoon Night on the calendar is May 7th!


UPDATE 10/01/10: Free Shark Lagoon Night is back for the rest of 2010! It's almost every Friday, so check the online calendar. Thanks to @matthewdiluzio for the reminder! Click HERE for the schedule.

Approximate cost of creative date idea = FREE + $7 parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $48 total ($24 per regular admission ticket!).
Click here for map