12 Cheap Dates Ideas for the Broke Clevelander

VISIT THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART, 11150 East Boulevard, FREE

Sure, you may not remember much from that Intro to Art History class you took in college but your date doesn’t have to know that. Cleveland Museum of Art takes the top spot not only as the best free activity in Cleveland but also the best free date in Cleveland because of its diversity of exhibits ranging from the Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse to Gold of the Ancient Americas. Go forth and add some culture to your romance, then take a stroll around the grounds hand in hand. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

TOUR THE TERMINAL TOUR OBSERVATION DECK, 50 Public Square, $6.27 with fees.

Tours run every half hour on Saturday 12:30-5 p.m. and Sundays 12-4 p.m, and offer a perspective unlike any other in Cleveland -- it may also give you a little perspective on your love life. Not recommended for those with significant others who despise heights. The Terminal Tower frequently holds special events so follow their Twitter, @TowerLightsCLE for updates. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Coville Photography)

EDGEWATER LIVE, Edgewater Beach, FREE

Bring a blanket and snuggle up to your significant other as you enjoy free live music FROM 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays as the sun slowly sets on the water of Edgewater Beach. Food trucks are on site but feel free to bring a picnic as a cheaper alternative. (Photo courtesy of Instagram user j_triv_.)

GET THE DISTRICT TICKET AT PROGRESSIVE FIELD , $13 (plus fees)

This season, the Cleveland Indians introduced the District Ticket. The ticket, $18 after all fees, grants access to the new two-story bar, “The Corner,” in right field at Progressive Field and covers your first 12 oz. domestic beer or soft drink and alternatively can act as a $4 off coupon for any other drink. The downstairs bar features flat screen TVs and cover from inclement weather while the upstairs bar has a seating area filled with couches and an outdoor fire pit. Beware, the District Ticket can only be purchased online or at a kiosk outside the stadium and sells out quickly for weekend home games. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

TAKE A BIKE RIDE THROUGH CLEVELAND, $3 AN HOUR.

Zagster, a bike share company, offers bikes for rent at an hourly rate for Clevelanders wishing to ditch the restraints of a car and see the city on two wheels. The program gives you and your date a new way to explore Cleveland while also burning the calories. Feel free to drop the bike off at one of the nine Zagster locations in the city. The only drawback: the embarrassment that comes with a tumble off your bike, but that won’t happen, right? (Photo courtesy of Instagram user plentyofbikes.)

LOOP IN TREMONT, 2180 West 11th Street, UNDER $5

Your date may scoff at the cliché suggestion of a trip to a coffee shop for a date but LOOP isn’t the usual choice. LOOP offers a standard array of artisan coffee drinks and pastries, sure, but LOOP is also a record store. The majority of LOOP’s music selection lives on the second floor and sifting through will cost absolutely nothing. The record collection covers the majority of genres and some selected records feature introductions to the artists with context written by store employees. LOOP also offers ample seating inside and outside if you choose to sit and talk about the hundreds of records, CDs and pieces of art you just experienced. Check out their CD blowout sale July 3-5 when all CDs are 25 percent off. (Photo courtesy Instagram, David Aguila.)

WEST SIDE MARKET, 1979 West 25th Street, Monday and Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., FREE

Grab your date and walk around the historic market and potentially tread the same ground your ancestors did over the past 100 years. As you walk around, you will easily find fresh, local ingredients for a romantic dinner back home. Your romantic dinner will taste that much better knowing you supported a Cleveland institution and visited one of the “10 Great Public Places in America” according to the American Planning Association. (Photo courtesy of Facebook user West Side Market.)

BREWS AND PROSE AT MARKET GARDEN BREWERY, 1947 West 25th Street, PRICE DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH BEER YOU DRINK

Literature and beer. An uncommon alliance with wonderful results much like your relationship. Market Garden Brewery tipped their hat to the well-read beer lovers and created Brews and Prose. The first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m., guest writers stop in to read a selection from their works. If you buy their book, you get a free beer. Best-case scenario? You and your date find a new book to devour together after enjoying a few of Market Garden’s local brews. (Photo courtesy of Facebook user Brews + Prose at Market Garden Brewery.)

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, Beachwood Community Center, 25325 Fairmount Boulevard, Beachwood, Thursdays 6:15-8 p.m, FREE

This summer concert series features a diverse selection of musical styles and instruments including pianos, guitars, violins and cellos. Each concert has a different theme so choose one that fits your significant others’ interests and pile on the brownie points as you both enjoy the beauty of free, worldly music. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.)