New York City is a land full of cheap dates. Where else can you make a perfectly entertaining and even romantic outing out of traipsing over a bridge, catching a ferry, going on a long, meandering walk through neighborhoods known and unknown, maybe stopping in a bar or restaurant for some drinks or food, maybe packing your own to take along with you and stopping at a green spot to snack? A favorite of ours is taking the cheap (free on weekends) Ikea ferry from Pier 11 at Wall Street to Red Hook, Brooklyn, on a sunny day. Jump off the ferry and head down to Van Brunt Street, where you can browse boutique wine stores and art galleries, relax with a pint at the taxidermy- and tchotchke-filled bar Bait and Tackle, have a proper dinner (less cheap, equally delicious), or just a drink at The Good Fork or Fort Defiance, or get fresh lobster rolls at the Red Hook Lobster Pound and enjoy them sitting on a bench outside the store. For dessert, if you have cash left, head to Baked. All on Van Brunt Street: nywatertaxi.com/tours/ikea, redhookbaitandtackle.com, goodfork.com, fortdefiancebrooklyn.com, redhooklobster.com, bakednyc.com