182. Cinespia Cemetery Screenings

Watching movies at the cemetery with wine & beer?!?!
I've watched movies in the park, but have yet to do it at a cemetery! Sounds creepy yet fun at the same time. The Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery has a whopping 4.5 stars rating by 200+ Yelpers. From what I gather, part of the appeal that sets it apart from a movie theatre is that you can bring a picnic and drinks (yes, alcohol IS permitted) PLUS a DJ spins records before and after the screening. The $10 cash donation (for grounds keeping) is comparable to the price of a theater ticket nowadays, however the whole experience pales in comparison. This is a great idea for a group date, maybe even for a first date.

Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya!
Originally uploaded by daft or dangerous

Cinespia Cemetery Screenings is on it's 10th season of summer series (May - October). Screenings are usually on Saturday nights with bonus nights on holiday weekends on occasion. Here's the schedule for the first month:

• 5/15 - The Wizard of Oz
• 5/22 - The Thing
• 5/29 - North by North
• 5/30 - Purple Rain
• Check the calendar for monthly updates.

The cemetery gates open at 7 PM, so come early to park (free street parking or $5 on the cemetery grounds, best before 6 PM I heard) and claim your spot on the grass (bring blankets, short lawn chairs and pillows). This is first come, first serve (AKA no advance reservations required or tickets available). Show time is not until 8:30 PM, so eat, drink & be merry while the sun sets and the DJ spins music. Afterward, let the traffic die down by hanging out with more tunes by the DJ. If the Hollywood Cemetery is too much of a trek, the OC Great Park in Irvine offers free movies in the park throughout the year, such as Cheap Date Idea #165.

UPDATE 05/26/10: The screening schedule for June is posted! Click HERE for the calendar updates. Enjoy watching a movie under the stars on cemetery grounds - spooky yet romantic, right?

Approximate cost of creative date idea = $10 pp + $5 Parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $25 Total.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @callmemochelle

179. Summer Live Music at Malibu Wines

Wine + live music = romantic date idea, even a first date idea!
Starting Memorial Weekend, the Summer Live Music is back at the Malibu Wines tasting room! The winery, Malibu Family Wines provides live music for free starting May 28th until October 24th by night (Fri-Sat 7-9 PM) or day (Sat-Sun 1-3 PM). This is definitely something worth checking out at least once in the next 5 months, especially when the weather is perfect for an outdoorsy activity. The property is family-friendly during the day, so the kids and adults can enjoy the mid-day concerts (1-3 PM) on Saturdays and Sundays. After 6 PM, it's adults only for the evening concerts (7-9 PM) on Fridays and Saturdays.

Drink, drink and be merry!
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

My friend took us here last summer since it's her favorite spot and then we were pleasantly surprised (as you can tell by my photo here) by a live band coming onto stage. There is one requirement for admission: a purchase of at least one bottle of wine by each group. That is unless you catch the wine tastings before it ends at 6 PM, however sharing a bottle is more cost-effective. Invite your friends to share a bottle (or two or three) and make it a group date! Bottles range $14-27, so that could be as cheap as $3.50pp on a double date! As for parking, it's free along Mulholland Highway, but carpool and come early as these events get packed. Bring a picnic and a blanket, otherwise some food is available for purchase there and tables are reserved for minimum purchases.

While you're up in Malibu, make it a full day of fun by combining it with one of these other things to do:

• Cheap Date Idea #96: The Getty Villa offers free museum admission but reservations are required.
• Cheap Date Idea #38: Lake Shrine is a beautiful spot for a day date plus it's FREE.
• Cheap Date Idea #10: Point Dume State Beach is a nice beach with lots of activities, including rock climbing.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun!


Approximate cost of creative date idea = $14-27 per bottle.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by Miss W., @stephschneider & Derek @malibufmlywines

169. FREE Tuesday Night Cafe

Support your local artists in Downtown LA!
Yup, it's Tuesday again, which means Tuesday Night Project shares performing art again with the public, such as music, poetry, theatre, comedy improv, dance, karaoke and more. Tuesday Night Cafe (TNC) is a FREE event at 7:30 PM every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month between April and October. Of course, donations are always appreciated! This outdoor performance is usually held at the Aratani Courtyard in Little Tokyo, which is family-friendly and dog-friendly (that's a rare find!). For directions, tonight's line up and updates, click HERE.

IMG_4161
Originally uploaded by waxstyles

TNC has been teetering between #1 and #2 spot for Yelp LA Nightlife (click HERE to read Yelp reviews). Either way, this is something worth checking out. Street parking is free after 8 PM. The cheapest paid parking lot is at Joe's on 2nd St between Central and San Pedro. Come early to find parking and grab a seat. Otherwise, bringing your own chair and blanket would be a smart idea to stay comfortable for 2 hours outdoors. No drinks and food are served here, so feel free bring something or stop into Little Tokyo Cafe next door before the show.

If prefer to watch from the comfort of your own home or are out of town, watch the performances LIVE online (yes, streaming live at 7:30 PM PST). If you miss it or simply want to rewatch it, no worries! TNC is on YouTube too! As of this moment, there are at least 16 previous shows at your fingertips. Enjoy!

UPDATE 05/11/10: For ease of reference, the future show dates are: 5/18, 6/1, 6/15, 7/6, 7/20, 8/3, 8/17, 9/7, 9/21, 10/5 and 10/19. Mark your calendars!


UPDATE 05/17/10: Last minute change of venue due to chance of rain: Senor Fish at 7:15p at 422 E 1st St, Los Angeles.

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Free.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @tnproject

121. Persian Festival of Norouz - 3/7

It's officially Spring Season tomorrow!
To celebrate this special moment of vernal equinox, join in the Persian Festival of Nrouz on Sunday, March 7th, at The Bowers Musuem in Santa Ana. Museum hours are 10 AM - 4 PM daily except for Mondays and a few holidays. For this particular festival, the celebration will be held Noon - 3:30 PM. Spend your Sunday afternoon immersing in Persian culture, including traditional Persian dance, music, food, art, face painting, etc. General admission is normally $12 per person but it's completely free tomorrow. The event is family friendly and a casual day date idea for a group.

2009 Iranian Festival
Originally uploaded by matunos

If you can't make it this Sunday, come back on the first Sunday of every month in 2010 for FREE admission courtesy of Target. The festival theme changes every month. Here's a quick list for the rest of this year, but check the website for details about each event.

• April 11 Silk Road Festival
• May 2 Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival
• June 6 Pacific Islands Festival
• July 18 Americana Festival
• August 1 Native American Festival
• September 5 Indian Festival of Lights/Diwali
• October 3 Italian Festival
• November 7 Mexican Day Festival
• December 5 International Holidays Festival

Parking is $2 on the weekends, but nearby meters and limited street parking may be available. While we're at it, mark your calendars for the sister event, Mehregan (Persian Festival of Autumn) in Costa Mesa during early October (future date idea!). By the way, the Persian tradition calls for wearing new clothes or Persian folk outfits. Also, the belief is that whatever a person does on Norouz will affect the rest of the year. Enjoy!

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Free Admission.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $24 Total.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @mamimaria

List: Date Ideas for October

Just a simple outline of the cheap date ideas for the first month of 365 Cheap Dates: October 2009. If a date is specified, then it's either a one-time or annual event. Simply click on any date idea in the list below for more details. Or look up date ideas by date on my Google Calendar or by location on my Google Map or by any key word (see Google Search tool bar on the left or key word cloud at the very bottom). I'll send out reminders on my Twitter for upcoming events when the dates get closer, such as the FREE tickets to The Huntington Botanical Gardens. If you want to share some of your cheap date ideas, I'd love to hear it!

• Welcome to 365 Cheap Dates!
• 1. Go Chicken Dancing at Oktoberfest
• 2. Great Park Pumpkin Harvest - 10/24
• 3. Pumpkins = Yummy Treat
• 4. Star Gazing at Griffith Observatory
• 5. Paint Pottery in Your Pajamas
• 6. 360° Ocean View Aquarium
• 7. Fireworks at Downtown Disney
• 8. "Surf City Nights" Fair on Tuesdays
• 9. Tapas Tuesdays in Hermosa Beach
• 10. Adventures at Point Dume Beach
• 11. Halloween Costume Carnaval - 10/31
• 12. Laugh at Comedy Shows for $5 - 11/3-11/4
• 13. Huntington Botanical Gardens - 12/3

5. Paint Pottery in Your Pajamas

the princess and the pig
Originally uploaded by Christina Krantz

Skip the messy pumpkin carving and stay in your pajamas, then head to Color Me Mine. At the Manhattan Beach studio, they have PJ Nights, where you save 50% off the studio fee on Saturday nights (open til 9 PM). So that's only $10 for a couple, plus the cost of the pre-maid pottery piece (as low as $4 each). The studio has a wide selection, including cookie jars, coffee mugs, piggy banks, and your favorite animals and characters, such as Dumbo the Elephant. The meters in the parking structure below Color Me Mine is less expensive than those on the streets (note that meters stop at 8 PM in Manhattan Beach). Make one for each other as a keepsake and don't forget to sign and date it!

UPDATE 12/04/09: No more Saturday PJ Nights, but there is 2-for-1 Special on Tuesdays or $4 pp on Sundays after 5 PM!

Approximate cost of creative date idea = $5 per person + $4 or more for pottery.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $30 Total.
Click here for map

3. Pumpkins = Yummy Treat

Our First Jack-o-lantern
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

This is your chance to be creative AND spontaneous... Surprise your partner by taking him/her to a pumpkin patch to select your pumpkin (one is ideal for teamwork). After the "lobotomy" (as my significant other called it), start roasting the seeds, so that the this tasty treat will be ready when the real fun starts (carving, that is). Here's a trick for you: To help separate the pulp, the seeds will float to the top in a bowl of water. Also, boil the seeds for 10 minutes prior to baking for a toasty finish. Being my first time, I tried an easy recipe from the Food Network (salt, pepper, and garlic powder) with a longer bake time. Why not share the fun? Invite friends over for a friendly contest of pumpkin carving. Make sure to proudly display your pumpkin to show off to friends and family. Better yet, take a photo of your masterpiece! 10 Days and counting...

Approximate cost of cheap date idea = $4.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.

2. Great Park Pumpkin Harvest - 10/24

This Saturday, October 24th, will be the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Harvest at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine (near the 5/405/133 freeway intersection). Between 1-5 PM, the FREE activities include pumpkin picking (only 1 per child while supplies last!) and decorating, games, kids crafts and activities, a costume parade, Halloween treats, a petting zoo, and more. Not only will this be a fun and unique date, but it's for a good cause! Your date may even give you bonus points when you offer to help them clean out their kitchen cabinet for long-forgotten can food. Admission is free, but parking is $8, so it's a good reason to pick up your date and carpool. Remember to dress warm for this outdoor event. Enjoy!

UPDATE 10/22/10: Annual Great Pumpkin Harvest is back! Enjoy this free fun family-friendly event tomorrow, October 23rd. Click HERE for details.

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Free + $8 parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Click here for map

1. Go Chicken Dancing at Oktoberfest

Chicken Dancing at Oktoberfest
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

The annual Oktoberfest at Old World Village in Huntington Beach is always a good time for friends and family, especially for dates! Where else can you go chicken dancing and get away with it?
Enjoy a beer and brat from Sept. 6th through Nov. 1st, on Wednesdays to Sundays.
Happy Hour is Wednesdays to Saturdays 3:00 - 6:30 PM.
Wednesdays and Thursdays are always free admission.
Sundays are free with the flyer (click here to print).
Fridays before 6 PM are free.
Otherwise, save $5 with the flyer before 7:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Parking is free and easy, especially across the street at the Bella Terra Mall off Beach Blvd.
Cheers!

UPDATE 10/22/10: Click HERE to print the 2010 coupon. Enjoy!

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Can be free! (or $20 on Sat) plus beer and brats.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $30.