PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

Just because you didn’t get paid this week, don’t think you can’t afford to take someone out on a date. You may have to venture outside the confines of the city, but it’s definitely possible. Just hop on the blue line and take it to the very last stop: Forest Park. It’s here that you can find a few destinations that are not only fabulously romantic, they’re cheap, too.

The other day I met up with my date and we headed over to Todd and Holland Tea Merchants, a one-of-a-kind store located in Forest Park’s famed Madison Street area. I’d been in there once before, and the aroma walking in was enough for me to fall in love. Every kind of tea imaginable can be found here, as well as lesser known flavors that will have you longing for more. Right away, the store’s owner approached and offered us a tea sample. Poured into a small glass, this “Waikiki Beach” Japanese green tea was a unique take on an old favorite. Even without adding sugar, the tea had a sweet taste and an even sweeter aroma, thanks to a bit of pineapple. This lightly flavored delight really did conjure up images of breakfast with fresh fruit on a far-off Hawaiian beach.

My date and I slipped into a calming, tea-induced trance. The owner invited us to open small sample jars of tea and smell them, giving us a better idea of the flavors behind the clever names. Quietly, we perused the spotless, carefully arranged shelves full of high-end merchandise and both wished we had brought our credit cards. But the experience that the store provides (which is free) left us both feeling relaxed and comfortable, and ready for a good meal.

Across the street and down a little ways was our next destination: a charming, lesser-known pub-style restaurant called Skrine Chops. I’d passed this place before and took a look at their menu. Shockingly, this place features a pork chop dinner for $8.00! That in itself caught my eye, and on this night, I was determined to find out what it was all about.

Stepping in, it’s hard to tell if the restaurant’s name fits the atmosphere. With tarnished wood tables, stuffed remnants of hunted deer and other animals, and a miniature train set that runs the entire length of the restaurant, it definitely shouts “rustic cabin,” not-so-much “chophouse.” Right away a waiter came by and gave us menus—consisting of only a page—and in only a few minutes we had chosen from this modest list.

My date and I sipped frothy beers in big mugs and watched families and couples wander in. The crowd was boisterous and cheery, and we didn’t feel we had to speak softly. Minutes later, two hot plates arrived: mine with a sizzling pork chop and a huge helping of mashed potatoes and my date’s oversized grilled chicken sandwich dripping with barbecue sauce. This sandwich has a twist: the mashed potatoes are spread on top of the meat! It seems strange, but it tastes great.

My chop was tender and juicy and everything you’d want from an indulgent chunk of meat. The mashed potatoes were creamy, hot and irresistible. Tangy barbecue sauce finished off the combination perfectly, and before I knew it, I was full.

When the bill came, I wasn’t worried. Even with both of our meals and both of our drinks, the tab was only $25! And I honestly felt that my meal alone would have cost $25 in any other establishment. In no hurry, my date and I sipped the last of our beers and took advantage of the cozy atmosphere.

It’s nice to have money, but don’t let a lack of it hold you back. There’s lots to do in both the suburbs and the city that are fun and romantic and won’t leave you broke. Check out Skrine Chops next time you’re hurting for cash.