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

Hi!  I’m Val from Columbus on the Cheap, where I blog about free and cheap things around our great city of Columbus.  I’m a big fan of $20 Dates and love how Jess gives all of the details on how recreate their cheap dates!

Looking for some cheap dates this weekend? Here are some suggestions, or check out the Full Event Calendar at Columbus on the Cheap for more ideas!

Thursday:

Enjoy the FREE monthly Wex Drive-In Outdoor Film Screening of The Royal Tenenbaums at dusk at the Wexner Center Plaza at 15th Avenue and High Street.  Bring some snacks, a blanket, and chairs.  There will be beverages for purchase, as well as a food cart and popcorn, or stop into a happy hour on campus on your way.  Anyone have a favorite campus-area happy hour?

Friday:

Hockey Fans won’t want to miss the FREE 2012 NHL Entry Draft Party and Open House at Nationwide Arena on Friday, beginning at 6 p.m.  There will be free parking in the arena garage, and the first 500 people get a free t-shirt.  They will have food and beverage specials, or you can stop into 343 Front Street or one of the many area bars for happy hour.  There are a lot of events downtown on Friday (Draft Party, Comfest, Clippers game, Popcorn w/the Pops), so traffic will be heavy.

If downtown driving sounds like a nightmare, check out one of the wine tastings at Whole Foods Dublin ($5), Kingsdale Giant Eagle ($6), or Meza in Westerville ($1 each).  It’s also 4^th Friday in Westerville, so you can walk around the festival before or after your wine tasting.

Saturday:

It’s going to be hot and possibly rainy – which is perfect for some air conditioning and movies!  Capa Summer Movie Series is showing Cartoon Capers at 10 a.m. and Hello, Dolly! with Babs at 7:30 p.m.  – tickets are just $4 for each!  From Book to Film at Gateway Film Center will feature Peter Pan at 1:30 – admission is free with a Columbus Metropolitan Library Card.  Feeling crafty?  They’ll be making Mason Jar Planters for Crafternoons at OSU Urban Arts Space at 1 p.m. (rsvp required).  Other options include Comfest, Easton Art Affair, and Columbus Clippers game (see below).

Sunday:

It’s gonna be a hot one again, but you can stay cool with FREE admission to the Columbus Museum of Art.  Head up to Earthfare for lunch between 12-3 p.m. for Burgers for Bucks, and enjoy $2 grilled burgers or veggie burgers (additional sides $1).  If you can brave the heat that evening, Captain Morgan & the Pep Boys will be performing at Worthington Concerts on the Green at 7 p.m. or pack a picnic and check out the last FREE outdoor performance of Robin Hood by the Actors’ Theatre at German Village’s Schiller Park at 8 p.m. (performances are also on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).

All Weekend – pick your day!

ComFest and Easton Art Affair will be going on Friday – Sunday….two VERY different festivals, but both with free admission.

If you’re heading to ComFest, you can bring coolers with food and drink (no alcohol!).  Beverage tokens are available for purchase.  This festival is great for some SERIOUS people watching and good music.  Don’t forget a blanket or chairs!

Columbus Clippers are in town hosting Lehigh Valley Ironpigs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – check out the promotions going on for each day.  Tickets start at $6 and you can bring in small bags or backpacks with food and beverage in plastic bottles (no alcohol).

Splurge Date of the Weekend (NOT a $20 date, but still worth it!)

Celebrating something special or have a bit of extra dough in your pockets?  Get tickets for Picnic with the Pops, featuring Idina Menzel (the original broadway Elphaba from Wicked and currently on Glee) at the Columbus Commons on Saturday night.  Tickets are $20 at Kroger ($23 at the gate), but you can pack a picnic and cooler (including booze), so there won’t be any additional expenses other than parking.

Don’t forget, there’s lots more going on this weekend listed on my event calendar.  Follow me on Twitter or Like me on Facebook for regular updates!

Thanks for letting me guest post Jess!  I can’t wait to read about your next $20 Date!

Thank YOU Val! Check out her site, ColumbusOnTheCheap.com for all things awesome & affordable in Cbus!

This weekend if FULL of awesome things to do, and I was reminded of this by Tania, from taniaexplorescolumbus.com! I love love love that Tania puts everything creative, fun & cheap to do each week into one big email–getting the email makes my day! I will direct you HERE to see all her suggestions for this weekend/week along with details of the events!

Here are some highlights from her findings:

Friday:
*Woodlands Tavern Spring Jubilee
*Central Ohio Folk Festival @ Batelle-Darby Creek Metro Park

Saturday:
*A Taste of Hills Market (re: free samples!)
*Clintonville Farmer’s Market
*Grandview Community Yard Sale
*Market-to-Market Bike Ride
*Gallery Hop @ Short North
*Columbus Underground Meet-Up at the (NEW!) Dinin’ Hall
*Pinchflat Bike Blowout @ Wildgoose Creative (free! this is going to be a fun event!)

–>President Obama will be at OSU this Saturday!! How cool?! If you can’t get tickets to see him, avoid all of campus area to keep your driving sanity!

Sunday:
*Spring Flea @ 1024 N. High Street (and then go directly across the street to check out Tomorrow’s Antiques–the Short North’s newest storefront!)
*Artisan Sunday @ North Market
[shop for mom at either of these crafty events!]

Ooo ooo! Tania also reminds us that the next Pecha Kucha is Thursday, 5/10!

Happy Dating & Happy Weekend,

PocketBook Jess

I got an email recently from a super cool blogger Tania, from Tania Explores Columbus. I checked out her site and it is SWEET! She posts about things going on in Columbus that are unique and creative (and perfect for $20Dates!) and even though we’ve only met via email, I have a feeling that we would get along splendidly because she loves Columbus just like I do!

She sent me information on a really cool event happening this Sunday at Wild Goose Creative.

The Pizza Grand Prix is a PERFECT $20Date that is not only unique but is also tasty! Admission is free for 2 if you bring in your favorite pizza or make your own. BYOB and make sure you come hungry!

So again, the details are:
Sunday, April 15
6p-8p
Wild Goose Creative – 2491 Summit Street

Now, which pizza should I bring…

Happy Dating,

PocketBook Jess