20 Perfect Winter Date Ideas for the Broke Clevelander

Ice Skate at Wade Oval

10820 East Blvd., Cleveland

From now until March 4, one of the most cliched date pastimes returns to Cleveland; Ice skating outdoors, under the twinkle of fairy lights and snow drifts. Wade Oval at University Circle offers free skating for all with $3 skate rentals.

Photo via Scene’s archives

Visit the Rainforest at the Zoo

3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland

It’s too chilly for the outdoor animals at the zoo, but that doesn’t mean all the animals are hibernating for the winter. The Rainforest at the Cleveland Metropark Zoo stays open all winter and only costs $13.25 per person. A tamarin monkey, otherwise known as a golden lion, is one of our favorite animals to see here.

Photo via @Tamarin_Monkeys/Instagram

Coffee and Record Browsing at LOOP

2180 West 11th St., Cleveland

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. Located in Tremont, 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.

Photo via @LarisInParis/Instagram

Cheap or Free Comedy Shows From Accidental Comedy

Multiple Locations

Accidental Comedy is a comedy group made up of up-and-coming local stand-up comedians. They host three regular shows around town; Make Em’ Laugh Mondays at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights every other week ($5), Hilario at Barrio in Lakewood every Monday at 9:30 p.m. (free), and Stand and Deliver with Bill Squire and Cody Cooper every Thursday at East End Bistro and Pub in Lakewood at 9 p.m. (free). They host other shows too so be sure to check out their site for more showtimes.

Photo via @AccidentalComedy/Instagram

Game Night at Punch Bowl Social Club

1086 West 11th St., Cleveland

Punch Bowl Social has it all when it comes to adult fun. From old school arcade games, to shuffleboard to discount bowling on Saturdays, the bar is a playground for grown-ups and an ideal date spot for those looking to escape the cold and relive childhood.

Photo via @PunchBowlSocial/Instagram

Bargain Mondays at the Cedar Lee Theatre

2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights

Cedar Lee Theatre, the historic Cleveland Heights movie theater known for it’s cozy theaters and showing independent and foreign films Bargain Mondays where all movies are just five dollars. Try and see "Ladybird" before it’s too late. There are also a bunch of great food options nearby like Lopez, Marotta’s and Zoma if you want to expand your budget a bit.

Photo via @Liz.RVT/Instagram

Check Out MOCA

11400 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Late fall is a great time to try to become more cultured, or it's a great time to impress a date by pretending you're more cultured. Either way, the Museum of Contemporary Art has several new exhibits like this one by artist Phil Collins (not the former Genesis musician). Collins’ installation is an exhibit that was made by recording random phone calls and turning them into pop music. The best part: ruminating on the artist's sculptures at MOCA is free on the first Saturday of each month.

Photo via moonstruckcle/Instagram

Have a Spiked Hot Chocolate at The Chocolate Bar

347 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

There's always an excuse for chocolate, and quite often an excuse for booze as well. And what's a better reason than date night? Cleveland's Chocolate Bar marries the two with its take on hot cocoa. This version's just not as kid-friendly and ranges in price depending on the liquor.

Photo via @TheChocolateBar/Instagram

Karaoke at Tina’s

5400 Herman Ave., Cleveland

There's no better date than embarrassing yourself with some karaoke. And Tina’s Nite Club in the Detroit Shoreway is a quintessential Cleveland dive bar with the most fun karaoke in town. Karaoke is for paying customers only, but the drinks are more than reasonable.

Photo via @XOXOGarbageGirl/Instagram

Take a Ride on Lolly the Trolley

1101 Winslow Ave., Cleveland

A nod and a smile will get you and your partner a free ride on RTA's free trolley around downtown. Ride it before dinner to get a look at all of the city’s holiday lights and displays. Or, for a longer ride and an official tour, Lolly the Trolley has holiday tours of the Christmas Story House, holiday lights and history tours that are around $15 a person and range between one and three hours long.

Photo via @MusicForever229/Instagram