This week’s cheap & creative date is…

Local Pizza + Local Art!

What: Columbus College of Art & Design gallery space + delicious pizza joint
Where: (CCAD)Downtown – corner of Cleveland Ave & Gay St / (YBP)Olde Town East – 892 Oak Street
When: CCAD- Tues-Fri 10a-7p, Sa-Su 12-5p / YBP-Mon-Thur 11a-11p, Sa-Su 11a-12a
website - Yellow Brick + Canzani Center

Our own (cold!) photo shoot around CCAD

Top reasons why this $20Date is awesome:

• CCAD has such a neat campus area, with many different outdoor art pieces {& many different photo shoot locations:)}
• The Canzani Center always has an art exhibit that’s FREE. We went while they were installing the latest (that is now open for the public) exhibit-WALL. (we peeked in, it looks really sweet)
• The large gallery space also includes a smaller gallery space, The Room, which is what Rob &  I were able to spend some time in
• Yellow Brick Pizza has a laid-back, cozy atmosphere with DELICIOUS pizza with fresh ingredients (oh, and also friendly staff, cool beer selection, ample off-street parking, etc;))
• Happy Hour is M-F 4-7p & includes 1/2 off all drafts
• Twin Peaks Tuesday extends Happy Hour until 8p. Also episodes of Twin Peaks playing throughout your dining experience:)

Total = Free entry to Canzani + $10 10″ Big O Pizza + $2.25 + $2.75 (happy hour drafts) + tax/tip = $20!

Happy Dating,

Jess

This week’s cheap & creative date is…

Based in Brooklyn!

What: Building 92 + Ted & Honey at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Where: 63 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205
When: Free Admission Wed – Sun 12p-6p
website - BLDG 92

Top reasons why this $20Date is awesome:

• This museum contains a ton of NYC history and the role the Brooklyn Navy Yard had throughout the years
• Rob’s dad came along with us & it was really cool to see father & son interact about their hometown, its history & their family’s history. (Rob’s grandfather worked at the Navy Yard!)
• There is a delicious (and friendly!) cafe on the rooftop – Ted & Honey, an organic & locally-focused cafe.
• They also have bus & bike tours of the whole navy yard as well as factory tours – we will definitely be back this summer.
• It IS possible to save money while dating in Brooklyn, NYC!

Sunset from the rooftop cafe

Total: Lunch at Ted & Honey’s {ginger ale, beer, sandwich & soup to split} + free admission = $17!

Happy Brooklyn Dating,

Jess

This week’s cheap & creative date is…

Pizza + Picnic!

What: Wintery indoor living room picnic – romantic date without leaving the house!
Where: Your home!
When: Whenever you want!
website - n/a

The ingredients to make a successful indoor picnic:

• At the grocery store, buy the ingredients for homemade pizza dough (see below) + a bottle of wine
• Cook pizzas together – a couple that cooks together, works together! {Rob’s personal favorite quote}
• Move any coffee tables out of the living room & lay a picnic blanket on the floor
• Gather all candles from around the house and light them around the picnic area
• Put on Frank Sinatra Pandora radio station (mood music per your discretion:))
• Turn off lights and let the candles illuminate your romantic indoor picnic!
• After wine & pizzas, you can also play cards by candlelight & continue to enjoy each others company at your indoor pic-a-nic!

Rob’s recipe for homemade pizza dough:
{3 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp sugar, 1 pkt active dry yeast, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 1/2 cups water (110 degrees), 2 tbsp olive oil}

1. Combine flour, sugar, yeast, salt in bowl. While mixer is running, add water and oil. Beat until ball forms.
2. Remove from bowl. Knead lightly into ball.
3. Oil inside of clean bowl. Place ball inside and cover. Let sit for 1 hour.
4. When breaking dough into pieces to knead flat, keep the remaining dough covered in bowl with a moist towel.
5. Add toppings, like mozzarella & ricotta cheese, pepperoni, onions, peppers, mushroom, sauce, tomatoes – go crazy!
6. Bake individual pizzas at 425 degrees for approx. 12 minutes

Total: Pizza ingredients + wine = $20!

Happy Indoor Picnic Dating,

PocketBook Jess

This week’s cheap & creative date is…

Local Beer + Local Art!

What: Local brewery/restaurant & local art gallery/learning center
Where: Downtown – EB 161 N. High Street; CAC 139 W. Main Street
When: Elevator Happy Hour – Monday – Friday 3p-7p; Cultural Art Center – Monday-Thursday 7p-10p (earlier hours as well)
website - Elevator & Cultural Arts Center

Top reasons why this $20Date is awesome:

• The Elevator is one of our most favorite restaurants in all of Columbus. It wasn’t until recently that we were able to try their Happy Hour! (which is amazing!)
• Happy Hour = $3 drafts, $5 appetizers
• You can sample their draughts before committing. All of their Columbus-made brews are delicious, but my favorite is the Nut Brown Ale & Rob’s favorite is the Dark House – yum!
• After enjoying a great Happy Hour in a really neat (and historic) restaurant, we drove through Downtown to the Columbus Recreation and Parks Cultural Arts Center, also a historic building (formerly the Ohio Arsenal!)
• Free entry, this building carries charm and character.
• Galleries on the 1st and 3rd floor, all local artists and artisans.
• You can easily observe any of the classes going on, and there are many! We spoke to two different instructors – Rob wants to now take a sculpting class and I want to take a weaving class

Total: $5 Elevator Pizza + $5 Corn Brats Appetizer + $3 Draft + $3 Draft + tax/tip + free entry to CAC= $20!

Happy Dating,

PocketBook Jess

{As seen on Fox28′s Good Day Columbus}
This week’s cheap & creative date is…

Gyros + Bowling!

What: Fun, affordable bowling alley + family-owned authentic Greek food
Where: North Columbus – TCL – 5860 Roche Drive & YGG – 6196 Cleveland Avenue
When: TCL- Sunday-Thursday 9p-12a = specials! YGG – M-Th 11a-9p, F 11a-10p, Sa 12p-10p, closed Sunday
website - CapriBowling.com

Top reasons why this $20Date is awesome: 

• Mondays-Thursdays, 9p-12a = 90′s at 9:00! “Bowl at 1990 prices” $2/game, $3 shoe rental
• Mondays-Thursdays, 9p-12a ALSO = College ID nights! $8 gets you 2 games, shoes, slice of pizza & a beer! What?!
• Fridays & Saturdays = Rock ‘n  Bowl! 10p-2a, $3/game, $3 shoe rental
• Yanni’s is delicious! And family owned & operated with authentic yummy food. Making this local establish and must-try! {alas, I did not have my camera at Yanni’s…no pictures of delicious greek food}

Total: $10 to bowl for 2 (which includes 1 game & shoe rental) + 2 Small Gyros $3.95 each = $20 with tax!

Not to brag, but I won;)

Happy Dating,

PocketBook Jess