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December 08, 2017

20 genuinely fun winter date ideas for cash-strapped Detroiters

By Metro Times Staff

It's winter in Detroit — a time when we often consider whether leaving the house is really worth it. These super cheap date ideas are an excuse to brave the elements, and you won't come home broke.

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Planetarium show at Michigan Science Center 5020 John R St., Detroit; 313-577-8400 Want to take your beloved on a date that's out of this world? Planetarium shows are an awesome way to utilize the Michigan Science Center and learn a thing or two. The center offers awesome shows for cheap and you can always look around the museum afterward. Their After Dark series, a 21-and-older-only nighttime event, is also a huge hit. This month's theme is Star Wars. Check that out on Dec. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. Entry to that event is $15. General admission tickets to the center are $15.50 for adults and they include general admission to the museum. Photo courtesy of the Michigan Science Center.
Planetarium show at Michigan Science Center
5020 John R St., Detroit; 313-577-8400
Want to take your beloved on a date that's out of this world? Planetarium shows are an awesome way to utilize the Michigan Science Center and learn a thing or two. The center offers awesome shows for cheap and you can always look around the museum afterward. Their After Dark series, a 21-and-older-only nighttime event, is also a huge hit. This month's theme is Star Wars. Check that out on Dec. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. Entry to that event is $15.
General admission tickets to the center are $15.50 for adults and they include general admission to the museum.
Photo courtesy of the Michigan Science Center.
Tour the Fisher or Guardian with Pure Detroit 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Suite 101, Detroit; 855-874-7873 Known for their superlative beauty and transcendent design, the Guardian and Fisher buildings are considered works of art, inside and out. Pure Detroit offers hour-long tours through both of these building every Saturday and Sunday — and they are totally free. Photo via Facebook
Tour the Fisher or Guardian with Pure Detroit
3011 W. Grand Blvd., Suite 101, Detroit; 855-874-7873
Known for their superlative beauty and transcendent design, the Guardian and Fisher buildings are considered works of art, inside and out. Pure Detroit offers hour-long tours through both of these building every Saturday and Sunday — and they are totally free.
Photo via Facebook
Belle Isle Conservatory and Aquarium 900 Inselruhe Ave., Detroit; 313-821-5428 Need a micro-dose of summer? Take your date on a tour of the Belle Isle Conservatory — the green house is filled with lush, verdant flora and fauna that will give you both warm weather vibes. When you're done, walk over to the Belle Isle Aquarium and peep some electric eels and Great Lakes sturgeon. The conservatory is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Admission to both is free. Photo via Flickr, Sara Hattie
Belle Isle Conservatory and Aquarium
900 Inselruhe Ave., Detroit; 313-821-5428 Need a micro-dose of summer? Take your date on a tour of the Belle Isle Conservatory — the green house is filled with lush, verdant flora and fauna that will give you both warm weather vibes. When you're done, walk over to the Belle Isle Aquarium and peep some electric eels and Great Lakes sturgeon.
The conservatory is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Admission to both is free.
Photo via Flickr, Sara Hattie
Visit a marvelous mechanical museum 31005 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-626-5020 This bizarre arcade is home to a cornucopia of delightful attractions, games, and even rides. While Marvin Yagoda was alive, he traveled the world looking for old arcade games and mechanical objects — this place is filled with the treasures he unearthed. A visit to the museum is about as cheap as it gets — admission is free and all the games operate on quarters. Photo via Flickr, Jamie Bernstein
Visit a marvelous mechanical museum
31005 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-626-5020
This bizarre arcade is home to a cornucopia of delightful attractions, games, and even rides. While Marvin Yagoda was alive, he traveled the world looking for old arcade games and mechanical objects — this place is filled with the treasures he unearthed. A visit to the museum is about as cheap as it gets — admission is free and all the games operate on quarters.
Photo via Flickr, Jamie Bernstein
Go ice skating at Campus Martius 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-963-9393 Campus Martius is the perfect place to go any time of the year, but the holidays are when this Detroit gem really comes alive. Ice skate beneath a towering 60-foot Christmas tree and take advantage of nearby coffee shops when it gets a little too chilly. Adult admission is $8, children younger than 12 is $7, and seniors over 65 years old are $7. Skates are available for rental for $4. The rink is open everyday including holidays, but hours vary. Photo via Instagram user @simon_olga_
Go ice skating at Campus Martius
800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-963-9393
Campus Martius is the perfect place to go any time of the year, but the holidays are when this Detroit gem really comes alive. Ice skate beneath a towering 60-foot Christmas tree and take advantage of nearby coffee shops when it gets a little too chilly. Adult admission is $8, children younger than 12 is $7, and seniors over 65 years old are $7. Skates are available for rental for $4. The rink is open everyday including holidays, but hours vary.
Photo via Instagram user @simon_olga_
Catch a classic flick at the Redford Theatre 17360 Lahser Rd., Detroit; 313-537-2560 If you’re looking to see a classic movie, the Redford Theatre offers great selections and tickets are just $5 a pop. Their current schedule includes Christmas favorites such as The Polar Express, White Christmas, Elf, and more. For more movies and times, check out the website. Photo via Instagram user @redfordtheatre
Catch a classic flick at the Redford Theatre
17360 Lahser Rd., Detroit; 313-537-2560
If you’re looking to see a classic movie, the Redford Theatre offers great selections and tickets are just $5 a pop. Their current schedule includes Christmas favorites such as The Polar Express, White Christmas, Elf, and more. For more movies and times, check out the website.
Photo via Instagram user @redfordtheatre
Visit a museum 5200 Woodward Ave.,Detroit; 313-833-7900 A date at any museum can score you major “culture vulture” points, but make sure you know your stuff. The Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright, and Motown Museum all have interesting art and displays you and your date will love. General admission and hours vary at each museum. DIA: Free for residents of Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties). The Charles H. Wright Museum: $8 per adult. The Motown Museum: $15 per adult. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Visit a museum
5200 Woodward Ave.,Detroit; 313-833-7900
A date at any museum can score you major “culture vulture” points, but make sure you know your stuff. The Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright, and Motown Museum all have interesting art and displays you and your date will love. General admission and hours vary at each museum. DIA: Free for residents of Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties). The Charles H. Wright Museum: $8 per adult. The Motown Museum: $15 per adult.
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Go Puff, Puff, Painting Locations vary and held at private locations; 248-804-5984 Puff, Puff, Paint is like Painting with a Twist, but with pot. They offer art therapy, infused with the magic properties of marijuana. The group hosts events at private locations so times and places will vary. While the events do allow and encourage toking, they will not provide the bud, and a medical marijuana card is mandatory. Photo via Instagram user @puffpuffpaint
Go Puff, Puff, Painting
Locations vary and held at private locations; 248-804-5984
Puff, Puff, Paint is like Painting with a Twist, but with pot. They offer art therapy, infused with the magic properties of marijuana. The group hosts events at private locations so times and places will vary. While the events do allow and encourage toking, they will not provide the bud, and a medical marijuana card is mandatory.
Photo via Instagram user @puffpuffpaint
Go fowling 3901 Christopher St., Detroit; 313-264-1288 If you've never been fowling, the hybrid sport is a fun combination of bowling and football — it's difficult but a total blast. This Hamtramck establishment offers open fowling for $10 per person for those 21 and older Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight. Photo via Instagram user @j_michael_rad
Go fowling
3901 Christopher St., Detroit; 313-264-1288
If you've never been fowling, the hybrid sport is a fun combination of bowling and football — it's difficult but a total blast. This Hamtramck establishment offers open fowling for $10 per person for those 21 and older Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight.
Photo via Instagram user @j_michael_rad
Do some Painting with a Twist 200 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-397-5856 Want to show off your artistic side? At drink-while-you-paint venues like this one, you can swirl your brush around on a canvas while also swigging some wine. Classes are $35 and you have to bring your own wine and snacks — but you leave with a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Photo via Instagram user @ladytia_xoxo
Do some Painting with a Twist
200 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-397-5856
Want to show off your artistic side? At drink-while-you-paint venues like this one, you can swirl your brush around on a canvas while also swigging some wine. Classes are $35 and you have to bring your own wine and snacks — but you leave with a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
Photo via Instagram user @ladytia_xoxo

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