Last week we mentioned a cheap date night we found at Belle B in North Side, and we encouraged readers to let us know about ones they’ve discovered. No sooner did the issue hit the street than we received an e-mail from Avenue 805 owner Andy Howell, who insinuates that Belle B stole the idea from his restaurant’s “Cheap Date Night” on Mondays and Tuesdays.
“We did,” admits Belle B owner Lynn Lines. “We totally copied him.” Lines says the deal is an excellent boost to business, which is why they now offer it four nights a week, and says she would encourage other owners to steal it from her.
If it’s just romance, cheap or otherwise, that you’re looking for, head to Café Mandolin, which recently unveiled its new summer menu. Local musician Joshua Walker holds court there Thursday nights, serenading customers with his mandolin. Walker’s pleasant dinner music runs the gamut from jazz to Celtic.
The one-of-kind dinner date on the menu this week takes place at Millie’s Diner. This week Millie’s brings back its irregularly running Sunday Night Concert Series. This always begins with a family-style dinner at 9:30. About an hour after everyone has settled in and had their fill, Cigarbox Planetarium will perform its spacey, instrumental lounge music. So cheap it’s almost free, the event only costs $5, meal included. 643-5512.
Our last-minute reminder this week is the annual Backyard BBQ at Maymont on Saturday. The Dooley Noted Society, Maymont’s young professional group, sponsors this event, which features Buz ‘n Ned’s Real Barbecue and music by Kyle Davis on the Carriage House lawn, 4-8 p.m. $15 (members, $12). Get tickets at 358-7166, ext. 322.
