ROMANCE ON A BUDGET IN BARRIE
The dilemma: You and that special someone want to trip the life fantastic, but the post Xmas bank balance isn’t in a helping mood.
Complications: It’s effin’ cold and you would rather stay inside.
The solution: Find a few inspired indoor outings that will impress your better half while not impressing your credit card provider.
Tricky? Not if you know where to look! And Barrie has plenty of options for romance on a budget.
4 Inexpensive Dating Ideas in January
Brewery Tour Movie Night
Ever wonder just how that delicious golden liquid in your pint glass that begins so many killer nights is made? You can go behind the scenes at some of the best craft brewers in town every week.
Redline offers free tours on Fridays from 4-8pm and Saturday 12-8pm. Flying Monkey’s does the same every weekday at 2 and at varied times during the weekend.
And since you are there anyway…why not pick up a 6 pack of locally crafted tins? Head home and settle in for a movie night with the suds as your liquid accompaniment.
Donairs and Game Night
Scrabble or Monopoly at home are always a good fallback for a low-key date night, but did you know there is a weekly group gamer event?
Boardsters in Barrie meet up every Thursday at PLAY! for a night of board game frivolity. It’s totally free, and you can bring in your own board or join in a game.
Make it full night out with a dinner of scrumptious international cuisine at Ricardo’s (which is just down the street) They specialize in Donairs and Mediterranean nosh. Never had a donair? Even better! It’s a marvelously messy and tasty meal. And when combined with pizza…it puts the O in OMFG.
‘Tis The (Hockey) Season
We are right in the middle of the Colts schedule, and tickets to see the OHL team are far from crippling. $26 gets you good seats in the arena, and the concessions aren’t overly priced.
Suggestion: Make it a double event date with a brewery tour of Redline (located around the corner from the arena) before the game!
If you really want to go grassroots, every weekend plays host to a minor league game or two at either Holly Recreation centre or East Bayfield. Combine attending a game with an open skate and a hotdog and you’ve got a full day of (almost) free fun!
Hit Up An Open Mic Night
Besides the copious amount of live music that happens around town every week, Barrie offers a healthy number of Open Mic Nights.
Open Mics are great opportunities for local artists to cut their teeth (not literally…usually) in front of a friendly audience. There’s never a cover charge, and you can help the artists just by attending and showing support.
The Foxx Lounge, Flying Monkeys, The Ranch, McReilys and the British Arms all open up their stage on a weekly basis, mostly on Wednesday.
If you want to add another dimension of fun, try going to multiple Open Mics in a given week and order a different drink each time. You could even make it a Instagram thread and tag the different artists.
What did you think of our 4 Inexpensive Dating Ideas in January? Any suggestions for our next blog? Let us know! Email [email protected]
Photo by Jasmine Wallace Carter from Pexels
