WHEN CHEAP IS CHARMING

CW Channel 6’s San Diego Living invited me on today’s morning show to talk sweet nothings to them about ridiculously cheap, but utterly charming dates.

As an enthusiastic fan of all that’s FREE or ALMOST FREE in San Diego, I think a date is the perfect opportunity to experience some of these wallet-friendly activities and score major points for your originality in the process. Like I said to San Diego Living host, Renee Cohen, “The days of the standard and boring dinner and a movie are over. That’s old news.” If you want to be an unforgettable date, give them an experience worth remembering. Read on for the tips I mentioned on-air, plus two more creative ideas that didn’t make the show. Ditch the high-maintenance mate, brush the dust off that black book, and start planning for more creative liaisons.

FREE Dance Classes
Tango del Rey in Pacific Beach teaches you sexy steps on the dancefloor with their FREE tango classes Monday thru Friday at 6pm. (858) 794-9044

Add more flavor to your date with a FREE salsa class at Prospect Bar and Grill in La Jolla. Classes are offered every Monday night at 9pm.

FREE Workout + Post-Workout Fun
For a more casual date, join your date for an outdoor workout and elevate that heart rate with Charity Workouts’ donate-what-you-can bootcamp. This fun, hour-long class combines strength training and cardio and meets at 9:30am at Balboa Park at Sixth and Redwood. Best of all, all proceeds go to Outdoor Outreach, a local charity that helps local youths at risk.

Maximize your time at Balboa Park and afterwards wind down with a visit to the park’s FREE offerings, including the Timken Museum of Art, Botanical Building, House of Pacific Relations International Cottages (there’s almost always free ethnic eats there) and the Spanish Art Village.

ALMOST FREE Icekating
Find a new reason to cling to each other by taking advantage of the $5 ice skating at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center Ice Arena in Rolando. The price is good every Wednesday at 7:15 – 8:15pm and includes skate rentals.

ALMOST FREE Rock Climbing
Bring your dating prowess to new heights with the Ray and Joan Kroc Center’s 30-foot rock climbing wall. For only $5, you and your date can take turns scaling the wall during the center’s public climbing sessions on Mondays and Thursdays 4-6pm and Saturday 10am-1pm. Price includes beginning instruction and harness rental.

FREE Laughs
Nothing is sexier than being with someone who can make you laugh. If you’re feeling short on silly humor, take in one of the FREE live comedy shows on Tuesday nights at Lestat’s West, an intimate venue next door to Lestats Coffeeshop in Normal Heights. Or head west to Moondoggies in Pacific Beach for FREE stand-up comedy every Tuesday while reveling in their $2 Taco Tuesday prices.

Plus, two more creative date ideas to impress your date…

ALMOST FREE Green Fees
Take a spin on golf without the pretense or pricetag with Disc Golf at Morley Field. Aim is to get your Frisbee into the target baskets using the least amount of tries. Plus, the prices will make you want to ditch your clubs longterm. Green fees are only $3.00 on weekends and disc rentals are an additional $1.50.

DOWN AND DIRTY DEAL Happy Hour Hop
Instead of the standard sit-down dinner at one restaurant, do you own appetizer dine around. Even the classiest of restaurants have half-off appetizers during their happy hour. Pick a neighborhood, such as Solana Beach, Hillcrest, or downtown Coronado, and go from restaurant to restaurant trying out one or two appetizers each. Top the night off and splurge on dessert.