20 cheap Detroit date ideas

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Jun 8, 2018 at 5:57 pm

Detroit understands— adulting is hard and money is tight. But don't let a thin wallet keep you from treating bae or bff to a summer date to remember. From art, parks, concerts, and movies the opportunities for flirty fun in metro Detroit are virtually endless for your broke ass.

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Mogo bike rental
43 stations across the city
A $2 million project that brought easily accessible bikes to Detroit is yours and ready for the taking. $8 will get you a 24 hour pass of 30 minute rides. Bike through the Dequindre Cut, a 2 mile greenway filled with murals or take a spin down Michigan Ave. for some tamales in Mexicantown.
Photo via Instagram, Mogo

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New Center Park
2998 W Grand Blvd., Detroit
Movie night under the stars? Yes, please! New Center Park is playing free movies all summer long. Catch feature films on Wednesday nights like Get Out or Justice League on the big screen. Fridays are for the kids with PG favorites like The Iron Giant or Minons Lawn opens at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. so you can take your canoodling
Photo via Facebook

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Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900
With free admission for Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb county residents you can check out artwork from across the globe. Get lost, hangout in Kresge court, and find your favorite part of the Diego Rivera mural. Go ahead and whisper naughty things in front of Van Gogh's self-portrait, you dirty bird, you.
Photo via Facebook

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Eastern Market
2934 Russell St., Detroit; 313-833-9300; easternmarket.com
Flip the script on date night with a trip to Eastern Market bright and early on any given Saturday morning. Though it is a market, you can take pleasure in the sights, sounds, and smells (flowers, fruit, and baked goods — oh, my!) for free. If the date goes well, Eastern Market makes for one hell of a wedding location. Just saying. Photo via Facebook

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Whitney Garden Parties
4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-5700
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to see one of Detroit’s most prestegious and historic properties, now is your chance. The gorgeous gardens are open with live music from some of Detroit’s favorite local musicians throughout the summer for just $5 you and your date can be in the in-crowd.
Instagram, mr_wonky_donkey

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The Heidelberg Project
3600 Heidelberg St., Detroit; 313-458-8414
Tyree Guyton has been working on his colorful outdoor masterpiece since the 90’s. Through many fires, backlash, and perseverance he managed to successfully bring art back to the city. Whether a stroll through the Heidelberg is old hat (or shoe, respectively), we’re sure you’ll spot something you’ve never seen. Why not share that discovery with a date?
Photo via Facebook

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Ford-Wyoming Drive-in
10400 Ford Rd., Dearborn; 313-846-6910
Movie theaters are so cliche. You can’t talk, use your phone, or get down and dirty. Take the show on the road with a double-feature for $10.50 at the largest drive-in movie theater in the world.
Photo via Instagram, emerbachh

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John K King Used & Rare Books
901 West Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-961-0622
Since 1965, John K. King has become a labyrinthian treasure trove that houses a collection of 1 million books in more than 900 subjects. Whether or not you plan on buying a book, a visit through the annals of history and literature is as romantic as it gets.
Photo via Instagram, sunshine0narainyday

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Bakers Keyboard Lounge
20510 Livernois Ave., Detroit;313-345-6300
Founded in 1933, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge is a bit of a jazz mecca as Detroit’s oldest jazz club. They’ve hosted the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, and Sarah Vaughn. Split a peach cobbler ($4) with your sweetie and take in some of the best jazz in the city.
Photo via Instagram, meccahugedeal

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Northland Roller Rink
22311 W. Eight Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-535-1443; northlandrink.com
Be a literal cheapskate at Northland Roller Rink. You don’t have to be hell on wheels to impress your date because for $6, plus $3 for skate rental, the inevitable “couples only” hand holding will be totally worth it.
Photo via Instagram, nellie0508

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African Bead Museum
6559 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-898-3007
A bead collector was looking to draw in a crowd to his new museum so he went outside and went to work building a multi-medium haven of sculpture. The eclectic outdoor maze is free but you may want to stop inside and check out the thousands of beads, and jewelry they have for sale.
Photo via Instagram, mbadafricanbeadmuseumt

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Mural hunting using the guide
Detroit is a living, breathing museum thanks to the remarkable muralists who have colored the city top to bottom. There are so many, in fact, a local recently put together a guide where you can find every damn mural in the city. Wanna play a game? Find them all.
Photo via Pinterest

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Walk the riverfront
It’s long, nicely paved with killer views of Canada, Detroit, all with an unbeatable summer breeze. Mosey through Hart Plaza, meet the Detroit Princess, or take a spin on the seaside carousel.
Photo via Instagram, zachfergus

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Motown Museum
2648 West Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-875-2264
The small house has more history than you can imagine. Items are donated from Motown’s finest musicians to commemorate the beauty that was and still is Detroit. For $15 per person you can experience it first hand.
Photo via Instagram, rivichan

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Karaoke
22628 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-545-8243
Drinks are cheap, singing is free, serenading and/or embarrassing your date: priceless. Check out Sneakers Pub in Ferndale, Mutiny Bar in Southwest, Trixie’s in Hamtramck, or Check Bar Downtown. In metro Detroit, every night is kareoke night.
Photo via Facebook

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Ride the people mover because it’s actually kind of cool
Perhaps one of the strangest modes of transportation in any city ever, the People Mover offers some of the best views of Detroit for a mere 75 cents per person.
Photo via Flickr

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Detroit FC game
Keyworth Stadium; 3201 Roosevelt St., Hamtramck; detcityfc.com
GOAL! Soccer might not be America’s pastime but you can score big by spending a little at a Detroit FC game. For $25 you can attend two matches. Pregame to take your skimping to the next level.
Photo via Instagram, passion.americansoccer

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Pop off at POP + Offworld arcade
POP + OFFworld; 128 Cadillac Sq., Detroit; 313-961-9249; poppizzabar.com
Pizza. Bar. Arcade. For a handful of coinage you can share a slice and show off your PacMan skills for an old school night of retro romance.
Photo via Instagram, popoffdetroit

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