KELSEY GRAHAM | staff writer
Do you want to “wow” that special person but feel like there is no hope due to your financial situation?
Whether it is for someone you’ve been dating for a while or someone you finally got the nerve to ask out, it can be hard to think of something new and fun to do on a date that doesn’t cost a fortune.
“Dinner and a movie can be great but so cliché,” freshman business administration major Aly Bundrant said. “It shows so much confidence and sparks my interest when a guy plans something out of the ordinary.”
No need to be of the ordinary when there are many creative and fun dates that fit all different interests.
If you are a couple that is interested in the outdoors, take a trip to Azusa Canyon. Go for a hike or a bike ride and stop for a picnic lunch. If you enjoy hiking, hike to the “A” and bring a blanket to watch the sunset. The campus is also close to the beach where you can build a sand castle, check out the tide pools or try fishing off the pier. Bring a kite and see who can keep it in the air the longest, or simply bring a volleyball.
For city lovers there’s Downtown Disney and Universal Studios CityWalk where there are plenty of restaurants, shopping and most often outdoor live music. Get online and check Craigslist where you can find cheap and sometimes free last-minute tickets to concerts, comedy club shows, and other L.A. area events.
If you’re a couple that enjoys art, there are many museums close by as well. In Glendora, you can take a tour of the Rubel Castle , a 1.7 acre castle constructed of recycled materials, for only five dollars. If you like art galleries, there are several in Laguna Beach as well as in Hollywood, such as the Center for Contemporary Art and Photography. Both Azusa Pacific and Citrus College hold student plays and concerts at discounted prices if you are a student.
It can also be fun to get throwaway cameras and take pictures to put together in a book or a collage. It will be something you can always look back at.
“Once, my girlfriend took me on an alphabet date where we did things starting with each letter from A-Z taking pictures along the way,” junior communication studies major Phillip Congelliere said. “It was inexpensive, but it was the creativity that made it something really special.”
There are also many things to try within a few miles of campus. The Acapulco restaurant that is across the street has a karaoke night, and on Grand Avenue a LazerStar that has a “buy one game, get one game free” deal on Tuesdays. Also local is the Brunswick bowling alley in West Covina or Glen Oaks golf course.
There are several parks in Azusa, some of which even have swing sets. Play on the swings, bring chalk and play hopscotch, or have a drawing contest. Bring along the picnic lunch and some extra bread to feed the birds.
With the stadiums close by and tickets prices as low as $9 and $12, it is easy to get off campus and go see either the Angels or the Dodgers baseball teams this season.
Don’t be afraid to get creative.
“Once my girlfriend and I went apple picking and then made apple pie,” Congelliere said. “It was only $5 and by far one of the best dates we’ve had!”
If you are interested in cooking, make dinner together. For dessert have a scavenger hunt and ask all your neighbors for cooking ingredients. After making the cookies, bring one to everyone who gave you an ingredient.
Get tea lights for a romantic theme, or decorations for a theme of your choice from the dollar store. Your crush will love all the extra effort and the home-cooked meal.
“I made my boyfriend a candlelight dinner. It was cheap and easy and he couldn’t have been happier,” senior applied health major Melissa Turley said.
It is important to remember that it is not about what you do but who you’re with, so keep a positive open mind and have fun trying something new that won’t break the bank. You can expect to make new memories that will last a lifetime.
