Endless Summer Fun: With Your Sweetheart

: Illustration by Ryan Snook

Take in a movie

Shankweiler’s, the region’s last remaining drive-in movie theater — open continuously since 1934! — is still showing movies (and hosting hot makeout sessions) at $7.50 for grown-ups. Cost: $$. 4540 Shankweiler Road, Orefield, 610-481-0800, shankweilers.com

If you can’t even scrape together that much, head for the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing on Thursday nights throughout July and August for free Screenings Under the Stars. First up: Mamma Mia, on July 2nd. Cost: $. 215-922-2FUN, delawareriverevents.com

Get away from it all
Reserve the Four Seasons’ Liberty Suite — with panoramic views of Logan Circle and the Parkway, Federal furnishings, two flat-screens, a marble bath and a breakfast table for six — for $1,700 a night, and for once, be assured that your surroundings are in keeping with your consequence. Cost: $$$. 1 Logan Square, 215-963-1500, fourseasons.com/philadelphia

Tuck yourselves in at Marney Hague’s lovely Victorian Burbridge Street B&B in Germantown — steps from Wissahickon Creek Park — and enjoy a landscaped garden, porch swing, antiques, wireless, AC and breakfast, for $90 a night, double occupancy. Cost: $$. 6324 Burbridge Street, 215-843-0886, burbridgestreetbandb.com

Or grab a cheap sleep: Stay in historic Chamounix Mansion in Fairmount Park for a low, low $23 per person, per night! Of course, it’s a hostel, and you’ll be in bunk beds, but there’s a kitchen on the premises — and the rec room has ping-pong and foosball. Cost: $. 215-878-3676, philahostel.org

Dance, you fool

Looking for something more intimate? Brandywine Valley Talent will send you solo violinist Carole Armstrong for two hours minimum for $550 — no tipping required.Cost: $$. 610-358-9010, brandy-winevalleytalent.com

Get some cul-chah

Prefer to stay in town? Pick a trio of “Enchanted Evenings” classics at the Mann Center — options include the Philly Pops, the Orchestra performing Verdi and Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky with fireworks — for just $60. While you’re there, enjoy a three-course meal beneath the white tent at Stephen Starr’s new Crescendo for $45 each. Cost: $$. 5201 Parkside Avenue, 215-546-7900, manncenter.org

Put on a picnic

The “Steaks and Chops Family-Style Plated Dinner” from Stephen Starr Events gets you tiered royal shellfish platters (shrimp, oysters, clams, Alaskan king crab, jumbo lump crab and curried shrimp salad), wedge or tomato-and-roquefort salad, and entrée choices that include Premium Gold Angus filet mignon, sustainably sourced Alaskan king salmon, Colorado lamb chops, and prime wet-aged New York strip. Have it all for $110 per guest — staff, rentals and beverages not included. Cost: $$$. 267-238-3677, starr-restaurant.com/events

If that sounds too rich, pack up at the Italian Market — fresh mozzarella from Claudio’s, sopressata from DiBruno’s, warm bread from Sarcone’s, melon and grapes courtesy of Giordano’s, and cannoli — or cookies — from Isgro’s. Or go whole-hog — literally — with a roast pig (30 to 100 pounds) from the Hollywood Meat Market. You can do the deal — even the pig — for between $30 and $50 a head. Cost: $$. 9th Street from Wharton to Fitzwater.

Wawa does a really nice chicken salad sandwich for around $4 (but let it warm up a little). Throw in a 99-cent bag of Herr’s chips, an iced tea ($1.19) and Tastykakes ($1.29), and you’ve got a bag lunch Yogi Bear would kill for, at less than $8. Cost: $. Various locations; wawa.com

Originally published in Philadelphia magazine, July 2009