Budget-friendly date spots

By Logan Linder @ench4ntedl0gan

In between the fast-paced college environment and maintaining a social life, you might find someone you want to get to know on a more personal level. While there are few spots on campus considered dateworthy, the large city of Houston is home to numerous spots perfect for romantic gestures.

Listed from cheapest to most expensive (yet still in a college student’s budget), here are five spots in Houston to bring your date to.

James Turrell Twilight Epiphany Skyspace

Although located in Rice University, The Skyspace is free and open to all, with light sequences occurring during sunrises and sunsets. Food and drinks are not allowed, so no picnics, unfortunately. But the area accommodates 120 people between two levels, making this a quiet and serene first date spot.

The LED light sequences last for approximately 40 minutes and the area is acoustically engineered to host musical performances, if you feel like serenading someone.

Discovery Green

If wanting to impress your date, stay within budget and without taking too much time away from classes, check out Discovery Green’s special events or bring a blanket and some snacks for a picnic. Their events vary, but some upcoming ones include Art in the Park, Tejas Got Soul and a variety of socially-distanced movie nights.

For the perfect picnic, you can easily snag a blanket from your dorm and snacks from the dining hall. However if you want to stray away from Moody’s food, you can stop by The Market, any convenience store, Target and any other place you can grab food. I’d recommend

Coffee Shops

Cougar Grounds and Nook Cafe make for easy spots if you don’t want to trek into Houston, but the city has tons of small cafes and coffee shops filled with items for coffee and noncoffee lovers alike.

Tout Suite has coffee, macarons, brownies, non-caffeinated drinks and plenty of savory options as well. Retrospect Coffee Bar has outdoor seating with locally roasted coffee, a variety of crepes and alcoholic beverages for those of age.

Those suggestions aside, try making an adventure out of this and pick a few cafes and coffee shops to test out, making your own “coffee crawl.”

The Museum District

A staple in Houston’s culture, the Museum District consists of nearly 20 museums, with notable ones including Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural Science. Due to your student status, both of these museums are discounted when you present your student ID.

Also part of the Museum District, the Houston Zoo allows free daytime admission for all students with their Cougar Card. If wanting to do something less adventurous, the Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown shows movies each night, with tickets starting at $18.50. Once checking out, you’re able to use the code “UptownStudent2022” for 10% off of your purchase.

With two movie showings a night and a full concession stand, you and your date are sure to stay full and entertained.