June 18, 2025
Features
cost, Marble, Marble Date

A Marble Date

By Rose-Ann Lynch

Managing Editor

Photo by Jay Kuntz

What does it cost?

Years ago, I was told that you should put a marble in a jar for every fabulous event you have shared with your loved one. We used to call them “Marble Dates.” Then, later, when you’re having a really bad day with that same person, you’re supposed to take a marble out, to remind you not to waste time. It is interesting when you do something like this. You realize that you treasure each Marble Day, and with few exceptions, your worst day was really not bad enough to remove one of those precious marbles. Thus, your jar remains filled with color, meaning, and memories.

(Quick Editor’s Note: Jay Kuntz’s photo of our fabulous Sr II Latin couple, Anatoliy Shvarts and Tatiana Keegan, serves solely as the attention grabber for this article. In my defense, I can only say…Made you look!!! Now, please keep reading.)

When a couple goes out for a date night, they hope for an enjoyable and memorable experience. They want that Marble! But what are their options? And, what does it cost?

The Movies. According to GOOGLE, the average price of a movie ticket in the United States is approximately $16.00 per person. Ok, maybe not in New York City, but work with me a little. This price gets you through the door. Now let’s add the soda and the popcorn that you know you are going to buy. Before this evening is over you have sat in the dark for 2-3 hours and spent at least $50. Not bad. Hopefully, you enjoyed the movie. By the way, the last Downton Abbey Movie comes out September 23. I know where I will be that night.
How about a dinner cruise? Dinner cruises can be so romantic, and there is usually one nearby…if you live near water. The prices range from $50 – $200 per person, and this typically includes dinner and drinks. Some of these cruises even have live entertainment, music, and dancing. This is a lovely and romantic option.
Spa Night. OOOOOOh, a spa night sounds heavenly. You can even do couples packages. The basic massage is $70 – $150 per person, with specialized treatment like hot stone costing upwards to $200. In the end, you both will be gorgeous, relaxed, and sleep like babies.
Wine Tastings. Wine tastings can cost anywhere from $20 – $140 per person. The price depends on the winery, location, type of tasting, and level of service. Of course, after drinking all that wine, you really need to eat something, so you need to factor some kind of meal in there, but in general, these are fun and happy events, especially if you go with friends. Just remember that you need to have a designated driver to take you all home. Safety always comes first!
Cooking Class. As someone who is not fond of cooking, I can say that this is not for everyone. But, if you are a couple that likes to cook, this might be on the menu. A cooking class date night can run anywhere from $60 – $150 per person depending on the fare, the restaurant you are at, and who is teaching it. You will learn something, and you may eat well…depending on how well you performed the task at hand. As for me, I will say, “It is not nice to poison your friends.” I leave the fancy cooking to the professionals.
Comedy Show. Comedy is not for everyone, but some people love it. Just make sure you both have the same appreciation for the same kind of humor. This evening out will depend on many things: the location, the performer, the show time and date, and the venue size. In general, I am hearing $15 to $50 per person for this evening out.
Classic Dinner. This is a really hard one to discuss because we all have different thoughts on the topic. Plus, as I said earlier, I am far from a Foodie. But I am going to go for it. Going out for dinner can be anything from a $10-$15 burger at the diner to an evening at the Inn at Little Washington, in Virginia, (the most expensive place I know of), which has a surcharge of $750 per table. I’m more the diner person, but you see where I am going with this one. I’ll leave it there.
Local Brewery. Breweries are always fun. The evening likely includes a meal and, of course, the brew produced on location. The average ticket per person is $50-$100. This could vary if the meal is a steak dinner or a burger, and the cost of the beer itself can be a major factor, with craft beers often higher priced than domestic options. If you don’t like beer, this is probably not at the top of your list. Also, with this option, you risk buying extra and bringing it home… extra cost and calories. And, once again safety comes first; a designated driver is important!
Fondue with friends. This sounds like it would be an inexpensive evening, but that is not true. Fondue evenings average around $40-$60 per person, and some of these places charge by the hour. Check it out before you go. Of course, this is a non-starter if you don’t like cheese or it doesn’t like you.
Go get ice cream. I love love love love ice cream! That said, this is a great little pick-me-up, but not really a date-night adventure. You might get away with a $5-$6 cone or shake, but some items can get up to $15-$20. It’s not a great meal, but then again…it is bound to be delicious. You can always pair this option with a meal.
Outdoor concert. This is a great date night and often costs absolutely nothing. You go with your blanket and sit under the stars in the park with a bottle of wine and a picnic basket. It’s wonderful. Of course, some of the better concerts cost money, and not just a little. I checked the price of a ticket at Wolf Trap in Virginia and noticed that Chicago will be there on July 23! That’s exciting. The prices ran from $163 to $1,434 per person. OUCH!!!
The theater! I remember in the 90’s, when $50 could get you into every show on Broadway. Wow, those days are long gone! What’s showing on Broadway today? There are some notable revivals, such as Cabaret, Sunset Boulevard, Chicago, and Gypsy. Then there are the must-sees, like Wicked,Hamilton, Death Becomes Her, and The Lion King. And the list goes on, with Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, Smash, and more! What does Broadway cost today? The cheapest ticket I found was $54.25, and it was not next to anyone you knew, while the most expensive was a whopping $1095.05. It depends on the show, the date, and the time. This might be your Marble moment, but you may have to save up for it.
Museum, aquarium, or planetarium. Some museums, aquariums, and planetariums have free shows and lectures. Most require some admission. So, I will pick one of my favorites for an example – The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York City. If you’ve never been there, you should go. The general cost is $36 for Seniors and $38 for everyone else, but Veterans get in free. What a deal!!! If you have never been there, you should go!
Another option is to stay home and work on a puzzle, play video games, or watch television. Perhaps you catch up on your reading or work on the article you’ve been meaning to write for American Dancer Magazine. Some of us love those types of evenings, but on a scale of 1-10, this type of date night tends to register between 1-5. Then again, we are all different…but it will not likely be a “Marble Date.”
Go out for a Coffee. A lot of people love coffee! It might be pricey for what you get, but sometimes that local coffee shop is just the perfect thing. Face it, that is why Starbucks is doing so well. I just checked their drink menu, and the most expensive drink item was the hot Venti Blonde Vanilla Latte, priced at $7.68, with 320 calories. That sounds yummy, and who can argue with coffee? But is it worthy of a “Marble”?
Fast food. Sorry, you would lose a “Marble” for that one. I’m not going there!

Of course, you can certainly come up with many other options for an evening out. Good for you! These types of date nights all have their strengths and weaknesses. All of them have the potential to be fun, romantic, and exciting. Some are fairly inexpensive, while others are completely outrageous. Some may also add calories or pounds to your waistline, which is fine, as long as you don’t do it too often. These are all things to think about. However, if you are a dancer, you very likely were hoping for something to get your feet moving. That’s a new problem, as many of the above opportunities will fall short in the area of toe tapping.

However, there is another option, and you know where I am going with this. Consider an evening of ballroom dancing hosted by USA Dance at a local studio. It is still one of the best bangs for the buck. Let’s talk about it.

No reservations are required. You can decide to go last minute!!
It is great for physical health.
No partner is required.
It’s great for mental health.
It is great for social life.
There are often good snacks.
You get to be around lovely people.
They are a lot of fun.
It is inexpensive, and even cheaper if you are a member of USA Dance.
A free class is often included.
Sometimes there is a free show by a local couple.
You may dress up or down as much as you wish.
You’re welcome to bring your family members. The more the merrier.
Your shoes don’t need to match your outfit. Basically, we all wear the same shoes.
It’s so much fun!!

Let’s break it down for you. I just visited the USA Dance Members-Forum Facebook Page and pulled down the first advertisement that appeared. It was from the brand-new Mid-Atlantic Chapter #6001, which advertised their July 5^th event.

Here’s what it costs: