Affordable romance: Dates in the city for less than $40

Despite the many parts of you that benefit from being in a relationship - your heart, your mind, your - you know - there is one part that may suffer: your wallet. But it doesn't have to. While the occasional splurge is expected (and, ahem, appreciated), there are plenty of ways to enjoy your time together without breaking the bank, even in the big city. Check out these ideas for memorable dates in Chicago, all less than $40.

Brew and View

Forget shelling out more than $10 each for a movie at the multiplex. The Vic Theatre (3145 N. Sheffield Ave.) shows second-run and classic movies every night that there is not a concert for $5 a pop. Best of all, they serve beer! You must be 18 to enter and, obviously, 21 to drink. Recent date-worthy flicks include "Sex and the City" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." See brewview.com for upcoming movies and other info.

Two tickets + two drinks each = $30

Into the Wild

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a trip to Lincoln Park Zoo (2200 N. Cannon Drive). A state-of-the-art ape house has replaced the dark, smelly building you may remember from your youth, and this summer marked the first appearance of flamingo eggs in the zoo's history. Since admission is free, spend your money on lunch at the nearby R.J. Grunts (2056 N. Lincoln Park West), where the famous salad bar starts at $10.95.

Zoo admission + lunch = $30

Dine on a dime

It's entirely possible to have a truly romantic meal without wincing when the bill arrives. Many of Chicago's ethnic restaurants are quiet, charming and BYOB, saving you a lot of money on drinks. For Indian, try Lincoln Park's Indian Grill (2258 N. Clark St.); Lakeview's Satay (936 W. Diversey Ave.) is a good bet for sushi and pan-Asian cuisine; and gyros, kebabs and other Mediterranean dishes are delish at Andies (two locations, 5253 N. Clark St. and 1467 W. Montrose Ave.).

Bottle of wine + dinner for two = $40

Touristy fun

You may be from Chicago, but that doesn't mean you can't act like a tourist for a day. Head to the always-stunning Millennium Park and take self-portraits with the Bean (officially named Cloud Gate) and those fountains with the creepy faces on them (a.k.a. Crown Fountain). Five sculptures by renowned artist Mark di Suvero are on display through Oct. 12. You can also catch free performances at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion: The 10th annual World Music Festival takes place at 6 p.m. Sept. 19 and 25. For a romantic picnic in the park, grab a sandwich or salad to go from Park Café (11 N. Michigan Ave.).

Fun in the park + picnic = $20

Get active

If you and your special someone would rather be sweaty than sedentary, grab your helmets and head to the lake shore for a fun-filled day on wheels. Bike Chicago rents bikes and Rollerblades at five locations along Lake Michigan, three of which are open after Labor Day. Reserve online in advance and save up to $10 each: Two different bikes and Rollerblades are $20 each for a half-day and can be picked up at Millennium Park, Navy Pier or North Avenue Beach. For details, see bikechicago.com.

Two half-day rentals = $40

Another money-saving tip: Take the Metra or the CTA. Find routes and schedules at metrarail.com and transitchicago.com.

More to do

Just lunch

Not sure you want to spend an entire evening with someone you just met? Try a 90-minute Oktoberfest River Cruise Saturday, Oct. 4, at noon at Navy Pier. A docent will discuss German contributions to Chicago. Of course, there will be beer and brats. See www.shorelinesightseeing.com for more info.

Single scene

Catholic Alumni Club of Chicago: Dinner Friday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Giordano's, 10410 W. Cermak Road in Westchester. Call Marlene at (708) 450-8280 for reservations. For more information and events, see www.caci.org/chicago.html.

New Beginnings: Grab your basket and hit the Long Grove Apple Festival Saturday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. for a tour of the shops and dinner and drinks (around 5 p.m.) at the Village Tavern. Call Paul (630) 253-3787. If you're not into apples, try hitting the theater for "Beehive - the '60s Musical," Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. at Prairie Lakes Theater. 515 E. Thacker Street, Des Plaines. Call Dena at (847) 891-8015. For more info and events, see sainthubert.org/Parish_Organizations/New%20Beginnings/new_beginnings.htm

Rollin' along

Lace up your skates, load your iPod up with disco tunes and head to the Windy City Fieldhouse (2367 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago) Saturday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m., to see The Outfit, Chicago's flat track roller derby team, take on the Hammer City from Ontario. Tickets are $15 in advance (brownpapertickets.com) or $18 at the door. What's better than seeing chicks duke it out on blades for a romantic evening with your SO? See chicagooutfitrollerderby.com for more info.