Disclaimer: this is NOT a $20Date. It is an idea for something fun to do in Columbus that is beyond $20. End disclaimer.

I first met Bethia at the I Do Artisan Wedding event – she was a speaker too! She’s a wealth of knowledge and her love for Columbus, food and unique food adventures ties perfectly with her company – Columbus Food Adventures! She suggested I try the All Dessert Tour the following weekend and I gladly accepted! {They also offer a German Village Walking Tour, Short North Walking Tour, Taco Trucks Tour, Alt Eats Food Tour, Coffee Tour & Meat Lover’s Tour.

I won’t give away all the stops, but here are some pictures from my 6-stop dessert-induced coma;)

Yummmmm!

Happy Food Adventures,

Jess

A couple Saturdays ago, I had the awesome opportunity to speak at the first annual I Do Artisan Wedding Event @ Oakhurst Ballroom! Sponsored by the lovely folks at Two Caterers, this event had a ton of DIY & local wedding vendors. They also had speakers, and I was offered the opportunity to speak about keeping dating in your engagement/marriage & focusing on saving money while being creative!

I get asked quite frequently what our favorite $20Dates are. So, for the presentation, I made a Top 10 list!

These combinations are a guideline for a successful $20Date. Just add a little creativity!

10. Art + Food {Free Gallery Spaces / Happy Hour}

9. Park + Happy Hour {Columbus Commons / Music in the Park / Summer Movies Series}

8.  Popcorn + Movie {Al’s Popcorn / Drive-In Movies}

7. Beer + Pizza + Movie {Local Brew / Local Pizza / Free Movie }

6. Indoor Pic-a-nic {Candle-lit / Wine / Cook Dinner Together}

5. Mini-Golf + Ice Cream {Summer / Batting Cages Too! }

4. Volunteering {Hands On Central Ohio for Ideas!}

3. The Statehouse {Tours / Monuments / Downtown Happy Hour}

2. Coffee + Books {Unique Local Book Stores / Local Coffee / Read Together}

1. Sunrise +Breakfast {Romantic / Schedule Adjustment / Who Doesn’t Love Breakfast?!}

Rob & I try to go on a $20Date per week, but there are times we are tired and don’t want to be bothered with looking up a fun/creative/affordable date idea. So we keep a FRIDGE LIST with a revolving list of ideas for us to easily and quickly decide on! I’ve attached it The Fridge List  <—-HERE for you to download

Happy Dating!

PocketBook Jess

This week’s cheap & creative date is…

Franklinton Fun!

What: A West side treasure – old warehouse turned art & community space
Where: Franklinton (just west of Downtown) – 400 W. Rich Street
When: Dinin’ Hall = M-Sa 11-2p / Farmer’s Market = 2nd & 4th Saturdays 11-2p
website - 400 W Rich St

Top reasons why this $20Date is awesome (like, really really awesome): 

• Food Trucks (Oh! Burgers & That Food Truck were there when we were) vary daily. Order from them outside, pay inside the warm & cozy cafeteria-style Dinin’ Hall.
• We bought from both trucks and split our lunches – both were DELICIOUS! I’m really becoming a huge fan of food trucks:)
• The positive feel of true community is very present.
• Positive “buzz” of local vendors, products, artists (& yummy smells of all the food/drink samples!)

• {Thunderkiss Coffee inspired me to cold-brew coffee & Franklinton Gardens inspired me to cook dinner that night with fresh produce}
• Live local music & performers
• Cool, cool, cool warehouse space/atmosphere
• I truly could go on & on but I’ll stop. Just go there. This Saturday 3/23. And then in two weeks:)

Total = Varies depending on what food truck(s) are there, but definitely under $20. We spent $15 & we were stuffed. Enough leftover to buy a local good, product or veggie!

Great Food. Great Space. Great Community. I couldn’t agree more.

Happy Dating,

PocketBook Jess

It’s winter & cold outside so…

Host a Game Night!

Ingredients for a fun, successful game night:

1. All your nearest & dearest friends
2. Beer & wine (4 bottles of cheap Kroger wine = $20!)
3. Some snacks, but no need to go overboard!
4. A couple game options for everyone to chose from: charades & Settlers of Catan are two popular choices with our friends this winter:)

Happy Game Night Dating,

Jess

This week’s cheap & creative date is…

Tunes Trivia + Spicy Sauce!

What: Live music trivia + delicious 24/7 pizza establishment
Where: North Campus – Patrick J’s 2711 N. High St / Hounddog’s 2657 N. High St
When: Trivia is Wednesdays 7-9p / Happy Hour M-F 4-9p /
website - Patrick J’s + Hounddog’s

Top reasons why this $20Date is awesome:

• Hounddog’s holds a lot of dear memories for Rob & I – I spent quite a bit of time there throughout college & their pizza remains one of my top favorites. {make sure to get smokin’ joes crust & spicy sauce. Trust me.}
• Hounddog’s is connected to Ravari Room, which has an awesome Happy Hour – M-F 4-9p (late!)
• Happy Hour = $5 domestic pitchers, $1.50 domestic drafts, $1.50 wells AND a 12″ 1-topping pizza + a pitcher of domestic beer = $9.99!
• Patrick J’s & Hounddog’s are literally a hop, skip &  a jump away from each other – which means only parking once!
• Wednesdays = Music Trivia with Mark Dantzer (host of 107.9′s morning show!) We. had. a. blast! The crowd was fun & engaged, we didn’t suck as much as we thought we would with music trivia & Mark was an awesome host! He even shouted out $20Dates a few times and made our team name $20Dates;) Thanks Mark – we will definitely be back! [he also does Name That Tune @ Brazenhead in Grandview on Thursdays, 7-9p]
• Patrick J’s has $2 domestic drafts/bottles until 8p.
• If you want to go on this date again, there are more options! Hounddog’s has multiple pool tables, live music some nights and other events (karaoke, trivia, dance parties). Patrick J’s also has a great menu, live trivia & live music! Two great locally owned and operated places with multiple $20Date options! (we like giving you options )

We

Total = $9.99 for pizza/pitcher + $4 (for two beers) at Patrick J’s + tip at both = $20

Happy Dating,

Jess