Cheap date ideas: Open mic | Patriotism | Free film festival | Chili cookoff | Book reading

Looking for a cheap date idea? We’ve got you covered, offering up a few options every week that are suitable for a variety of tastes. All of our dates are $40 or less — many of them are free. And they all require you to get off the couch and out of the house. So, here you go:

Eddie's Attic has $5 Open Mic night on Mondays. Credit: Rodney Ho

You be the judge

The nights of music in the park are just about behind us. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean we have to turn our back on live music as a cheap date idea. Take for instance this option I discovered this week. Monday at Eddie’s Attic is Open Mic night. Every week, a songwriter with big ambitions takes the stage. You never know whom you might be listening in on; it could be the next great one. You and your date can always say, “Remember when?” But even if the lineup never amounts to much, you’ll have had a good time — for only $5 per person. Eddie’s Attic is located at 515 N. McDonough St., Decatur.

Salute to Veterans

Photo credit: Vino Wong

There are lots of different kinds of dates, and they don’t always have to be after dark or in a romantic setting. Sometimes, it’s just spending quality time together. We are coming up on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, and that seems a perfect time to visit the National Museum of Patriotism. Tickets are $15 each, but if you know this is something you’d enjoy more than once and you’re interested in a family pass of four, you can go to Atlantahalfoff.com, and buy an annual pass for four people for $30 (regular price is $100).

Free Film Festival

The public library system is incredible for many reasons, including the fact that it hosts a number of free activities for children as well as adults. I found two adult events this week that would also serve as great dates. First, the Black Man Film Festival is Saturday at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. It will showcase seven consecutive films, starting at noon, including ‘Blacks Without Borders: Chasing the American Dream in South Africa’ and ‘Saggin’ In The ATL.’ The films are followed at 9 p.m. with a salute to women, and a number of the filmmakers will be on hand to discuss their work afterward.

A second free cultural activity offered by the Fulton County Library on Saturday is the Fifty Wonders of Korea: Hidden Treasures of Korean Art exhibit at the Northeast/Spruill Oaks Branch Library from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. The program will feature a documentary film screening of 5,000 years of Korean culture.

Feel the burn

Stomp and Chomp. Photo credit: Frank Niemeir

I’m not a big fan of spicy foods, but maybe you don’t have to be to enjoy the Stomp and Chomp chili cookoff in Atlanta’s Cabbagetown neighborhood. It’s free, too. What can be better than delicious chili samples on what might be a cool November afternoon. Even if the weather borders on the warmer side, this is sure to be a lot of fun.  If chili isn’t your thing, there are a number of November fall festivals happening around town, including the Pow Wow and Indian Festival in Stone Mountain.

‘In the Heights’

This is a date worth bookmarking. You’ve likely read the wonderful reviews of the musical ‘In The Heights.’ Now, you can meet the playwright of the Tony Award winning musical. Quiara Hudes will hold a reading and booksigning at the in the Joseph W. Jones Room of the Woodruff Library at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 16. Additional works by Hudes include “Yemaya’s Belly,” “Elliot,” “A Soldier’s Fugue,” “26 Miles” and the musical “Barrio Grrrl!” Her awards include a Tony nomination for Best Book, the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the HOLA Award for Achievement in Playwriting, and the Paula Vogel Award in Playwriting.

Check out other cheap date ideas here.

Have other cheap date ideas? Email rcash@ajc.com or comment below.

Follow me on Twitter @atlbargains