Ask the Shadchan: Shidduch Date Suggestions (Beyond the Hotel Lobby!)

    Dear SimchaSpot Shadchan,

    I am 29 years old and have run out of ideas for locations to take my dates. I just can’t keep going back to the same lobby. All the people behind the desk know me already and it’s quite depressing to keep seeing them with a new girl at my side. Also, I’m broke. I learn in Yeshiva all day and have no source of income. My parents are willing to help but after 9 years of taking girls out, I just don’t have the heart to spend large. Please let me know if you have any ideas.

    Thanks,

    Burnt out Brooklyn guy

     

    Dear Burnt out Brooklyn guy,

    The beauty of Hashem’s natural wonders is all around, plus, if you’re on a budget, totally free! A nice walk in a park is healthy, providing you with fresh air, a moderate amount of exercise, and pretty scenery, all for nothing. Check out the scenic parks in your area and utilize them for your dates. Preferably it should be a nice green spacious park but not too quiet, namely, there must be other people around. If you happen to live in or near New York City, then of course spacious Central Park or Prospect Park are great choices.

    [Got a question for the SimchaSpot Shadchan? Send all inquiries to SimchaSpot@gmail.com]

    To take your shidduch date to the next level, you may want to consider a picnic.  Picnics are great for dates because you get to ‘eat out’ at a fraction of the price of a restaurant meal. Picnics can be as casual or trendy as you like. You can take along something simple like sandwiches and fruit or upgrade it to some good cheese and wine.  Picnics however are totally weather-dependent so check the weather report in advance. Being too hot or too cold or rainy will definitely put a damper on any shidduch date picnic plans.

    So if it is raining, a local museum is an interesting, inexpensive indoor place to go.  You can walk around, look at, and discuss the exhibits with your shidduch date. This is particularly useful if either of you happens to be on the quiet side since it will provide you with plenty of topics for discussion:

    “You know, that ancient mask there kind of reminds me of my Uncle Heshy!”

    Most people seem to visit the famous historic landmarks in their own city (e.g. The Statue of Liberty) only when they have visitors from out of town.  But famous historic places can also be a very interesting venue for your shidduch date. At the very least, you might learn more about the city you live in. At Ellis Island, you can both search for your family yichus via computer for the year that your ancestors actually arrived in the goldeneh medina:

    “Oh, your family only came over in 1913? Mine was here since 1899!”

    [Got a question for the SimchaSpot Shadchan? Send all inquiries to SimchaSpot@gmail.com]