Date nights in Montreal aren’t just for weekends. In fact, you might find the best way to treat your date (and yourself) for less is to go to a movie or a museum visit midweek. Not only will you have to deal with fewer people, but you will find that ticket prices are often much lower. You’re also less likely to end your date on an awkward note if you decide to pull out due to morning work.
Movie Mondays
Cost: $14 for general admission (Concordia and McGill students get 25% off).
Where: Cinema du Parc, 3575 ave du Parc
Reason to go: This independent cinema in the Plateau posts its weekly schedule on Mondays so that you can be informed in advance of their latest screenings, whether it’s a new arthouse film , an international release or a must-have classic. Splurge on some popcorn to butter your date, then stroll to St-Laurent afterwards to chat about what you saw.
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Tuesday aperitif on the canal
Cost: $13 for a cocktail, $10 for a mocktail.
Where: 22 Atwater Avenue
Reason to go: If you love big boats and can’t lie, grab a sunset drink with your date aboard the Canal Lounge. The floating bar doesn’t take reservations, so seating is lucky, but you can’t really go wrong. There are outdoor spots in the bow and stern of the boat with a picturesque view of the Atwater Market Bridge. Inside, you’re at the water’s edge and can chat under the glow of the ship’s changing neon lights. Ship-ready cocktails include the Malibu Seabreeze with coconut rum, pineapple and cranberry, or the Perfect Storm with dark rum, spiced ginger beer and lime (both are also available without alcohol). If you get hungry, you can always order a sea-themed snack platter for two. At $25, it won’t break the bank, and the three-tier charcuterie board is pretty impressive. Who knows, maybe you and your date’s fingers will brush romantically as you both grab the crab surimi or the stuffed grape leaves?
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MMFA Wednesdays
Cost: $12
Where: 380 Sherbrooke Street West.
Reason to go: On Wednesday evenings, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., you can get half-price tickets to see the Museum of Fine Arts’ current exhibitions (excluding the permanent collection). That means discounted entry to the main show, “Nicolas Party: The Purple Hour,” which includes a walk through seven halls filled with colorful sculptures, murals, and trippy paintings. You and your date will have plenty to talk about between the fluffy apricot/butt wall and the wide-eyed bust room that looks like an Indiana Jones shrine to shrooms. If you like the date and don’t want it to end, you can always take a tour of the sculptures outside the museum and walk up the museum’s painted walkway to the mountain or walk down Crescent for a bite to eat.
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Planetarium Thursdays
Cost: $8
Where: 4801 ave Pierre-de Coubertin
Reason to go: You have stars in your eyes on your date, so take them to gaze at the constellations. On Thursdays, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., you can attend two half-price shows in French and English at the Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan at half price. Your discounted ticket includes consecutive viewings of the double feature. If you catch the Celestial Chronicles show, you’ll know how to read the night sky together when you return to the subway. Remember that the permanent exhibition is closed and if you are late you may not be able to enter the theatre.
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Swing Fridays
Cost: $10 for DJ nights, $15 for live band nights.
Where: Wellington Room, 625 Fortune Street
Reason to go: Work out with your date on this South West swing dance party. The party starts every Friday at 8:30 p.m. with DJs playing their danceable jazz collections. Once a month you can move to the beats of a live band instead. If you need to learn the basics of Lindy Hop or the Charleston, arrive early for a dance class, then stick around to practice the steps. No food or drink is served, so you can pack a picnic to enjoy. And don’t forget to wear your old fashioned outfit!
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