The good old days of holding hands and sharing an ice cream float in the local Cineplex are over – we’re in college, and it’s time to think about dating. For reals.

As a city, Chicago is unique for its opportunities to have fun. You don’t have to be super-creative or go very far out of your way to have a good time.

If the traditional dinner and a movie aren’t your cup of tea, then consider switching up the arrangement: hors d’oeuvres and an opera, tacos before a concert, barbecue on the beach, etc.

The Old Town School of Folk Music (4544 N. Lincoln Ave.) doubles as a school of folk music (big surprise) and a venue for free or low-priced concerts. Their most recent series, called AfroFolk, featured artists like The Occidental Brothers Dance Band International – an eight-piece ensemble “specializing in Highlife, Rumba, Dry Guitar, and other delights” from Central and West Africa.

For nearby dining accommodations, consider Los Nopales Mexican Restaurant, conveniently located only a block away on Western Ave. Los Nopales is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m., or more generally, the span of hours in which you might desire some tasty Mexican food.

If free African Jazz or beat madness isn’t enough to get you off campus and spending some hard cash, then consider the realm of lame and go watch a laser disk at the library.

Check out the events at Old Town.