The only thing better than drinking beer is ... drinking beer on a rainy day, amirite?! For just $15 a person, you can take part in a guided tour of local brewery, Argus Brewery, and learn the ways of the hopmasters while indulging in a few samples. More of a fan of spirits? Chicago has you covered here, too, with a Rhine Hall Distillery tour for $10 each. Learn about the father-daughter business and sample their famous apple brandy.

... literally! Forget the rain and embrace your inner abominable snowman by climbing to the top of Chicago's 30-ft. Ice Tower. (Hey, if you're going to be wet, you might as well be cold, too.) Got your own gear? Admission is just $25/person. Equipment can be rented for an additional charge. With a new hot tub and lodging onsite, it may be a rainy day activity turned weekend outing. Check it out at chicagoicetower.com.

Here we are with another beer recommendation, but this time we've paired it with a nap. OK, not really, but savasana is probably on the menu when you indulge in this yoga class and beer tasting hosted at Temperance Beer Co. Their Trikonasana series combines drinks with downward-facing dog ... all for a good cause. Each month, the class supports a different local charity. So, you can feel good, do good and drink good all at once.

You're in for the treat — or scare — of your life if you're brave enough to tackle 360 Chicago, the observation deck perched 1,000 feet above Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Hosted in the John Hancock building, you can take in 360-degree, albeit rainy, views of Chicago and Lake Michigan for $22/person. Not thrilling enough? Try "Tilt," which rotates you out over Michigan Avenue, from a height of 94 feet.

That's not a typo. It is possible to still see all of the city, without pulling out an umbrella or grabbing an Uber. The Chicago City Model Experience at the Chicago Architecture Center is included with a $12 ticket for admission, in addition to a skyscraper gallery and futuristic look at Chicago in 2050. The City Model was updated in 2018 to include more than 4,000 buildings in an interactive experience ... little to no walking required.

Eight indoor show houses spread over two acres of grounds make the Garfield Park Conservatory a great place to take in nature comfortably. Combine that with the fact that admission is free, and you've got yourself a recipe for a great, inexpensive date. Exhibits focus on tropical and desert landscapes, the Aroid House, which features popular houseplants, and a nod to the past and what Chicago might have looked like in prehistoric times.

... or at least to ping-pong supremacy at SPIN Chicago. For just $8 an hour, you can show your date, your friends or the world who's king of the ping(-pong). There are plenty of menu options and cocktails on tap as well, ensuring you'll never get hungry in your pursuit of domination. And, you don't even have to chase errant ping-pong balls with SPIN's dedicated ball boys and girls.

You may not have a million dollars to spend, but you can still ogle it. Chicago's Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank is famous for its "million-dollar display," where $1 million is on display — an Instagram-worthy photo op. The best part? They'll actually pay you to attend ... sort of. Admission is free, and you can grab about $300 in parting gifts on your way out — in the form of shredded money, of course.

The city of Chicago is outfitted with five miles of underground tunnels and overhead bridges that allow visitors and residents alike to navigate the city — more than 40 blocks total — unscathed by wind, rain and snow. But it's not a creepy tunnel system, so don't be nervous. The path links public and private buildings, including hotels, restaurants and retail stores. You won't have to pay to access it, but you might end up finding some new favorites and making some purchases along the way.

The only thing better than fresh pasta is fresh pasta you learn to make yourself, with the aid of the pros at Eataly Chicago. More than 65,000 square feet of space is devoted to pasta here – eating it, making it and buying it. Eataly has a full schedule of classes on its website – some pricey, some affordable. We're drawn to the "Express" classes where, for $15 a pop, you can learn how to make fresh pasta, arancini and gnocchi.

Logan Arcade will give you all the feels from the 1970s and 80s. With nearly 50 video games and 30 pinball machines, you can spend the night as a gamer — of the old-school variety. Try your hand at Galaga '88, NFL Blitz 2000 or, everyone's favorite, Ms. Pac-Man. You'll have to be at least 21 to get in, though, a nod to the long list of beers on tap. True to real arcade form, games will only run you between a quarter and 50 cents.

Community meal project Soup & Bread is exactly what it sounds like — soup and bread — with a greater purpose. Housed in a Chicago bar known as The Hideout, the objective is simple: Invite people in for soup and bread with a pay-what-you-can donation system. All money raised ($80,000 to date) benefits food pantries and hunger relief organizations. Pro and amateur chefs are behind the soup menu, but guests are encouraged to BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread) or desserts if desired.

Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co. will indulge your childhood fantasies of super spydom. (It's up to you whether you think your date will or not.) This storefront has all the books, gear, disguises and tools you'll need to do your best James Bond impersonation. You can feel good about buying from this store as well, with a portion of every purchase going toward supporting free writing programs for youngsters.

No, a bookstore isn't everyone's cup of tea, but what if we told you some bookstores serve booze? Take a stroll inside of Lincoln Park's Kibbitznest, and your opinion of bibliophiles might just change. This bookstore is loaded with newspapers, books and magazines a-plenty and has a full bar, snacks and even a game room. It's easy to kill a mockingbird, er, several hours here away from the elements ... and the world.

It's not what you're thinking. Blacklight Blackout is a raging dance party that combines blacklights with free UV-reactive body paint for an epic glow-in-the-dark Chicago underground experience. You can attend a host of free events or pay a small cover charge for one of their premium events. Partygoers always have a good time listening to Chicago's local DJs at this eight-years-and-running spectacle. See more at do312.com/blacklightblackout.

Nobody really wants to discuss their past during their current relationship, so we get that this one might sound a bit odd. However, it's not your past we're suggesting you resurrect here, but THE past. Woolly Mammoth is a retail store full of old — and dead — stuff that will surely provoke interesting conversations. Peruse the vintage taxidermy, skulls and bones, and funerary (go ahead and look that one up, we'll wait). It's a weird date you'll be sure to remember.

When you think about animals that race, turtles are probably pretty low on the list ... unless you're recounting the fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare." Turtle racing has become an iconic part of a Friday night at Big Joe's pub. Here, you can be rewarded for, um, your drinking prowess, with raffle tickets that can land you a spot in one of the evening's turtle races. Have the evening's top turtle, and you'll be entered for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas to compete in a head-to-head turtle competition.

The Neo-Futurarium is home to Chicago's most unconventional form of theater, "The Infinite Wrench." Cast members deploy 30 (yes, you read that right) two-minute plays into a 60-minute session. Ticket prices max out at $15 per person — $9 plus whatever a six-headed dice lands on. That's how the Neo-Futurists have been doing ticket prices for more than two decades. Want to ensure you get a seat? You can pre-order tickets for $20/person at neofuturists.org.

Food tours aren't that uncommon, but food tours devoted solely to donuts are pretty unique ... and awesome. Chicago's Underground Donut Tour will take you on a sweet ride through the city, stopping to indulge in donuts at four of Chicago's best donut purveyors. Adult ticket prices are a bit steeper than our $50 max in this article, but for an extra $10/couple, you'll get donut history and sample some interesting flavors — Pistachio-Meyer Lemon, anyone?

If you've ever watched "American Ninja Warrior" and thought, "I could do that," first of all, you're probably crazy. Secondly, now you can put your money where your mouth is, thanks to Windy City Ninjas. Try your hand at Windy City Ninjas' open gym nights for just $20/person. You can climb nets, swing from ropes and test your balance in obstacles designed to mirror the "American Ninja Warrior" obstacle course.

Has it been a long week? We feel you. Treat yourself and your date to an opportunity to take our the week's frustrations by hurling axes (not at each other). There are several axe throwing options in the greater Chicago area, but we like BATL — the Backyard Axe Throwing League. Guests can engage in some "casual" axe throwing (is that a thing?) for $22 per person for an hour-long session. A BATL coach will oversee you, so if you're an axe-throwing newbie, rest easy.

Achieve a moment of zen with a free 60 minutes of meditation alongside your date — and others — at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago. According to the temple's website, you need no prior experience, just comfortable clothing and a powered-down phone. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to get acclimated and then be prepared for a mind-clearing adventure. It may be the quietest date night of your life, but it'll do you a world of good. Meditation has been shown to help with anxiety, stress and self-awareness.

Indulge your inner geek with a unique DIY robot-building experience at Robot City Workshop. For a registration fee of $50, you and your date can choose from one of 12 robot kits and work on building your own Optimus Prime (albeit it on a smaller scale). Two complimentary beverages from Metropolitan Brewing, or soda if you prefer, are included in the price. In the end, you'll have your very own robot to take home and love and care for.

Take it to the stage with an improve test drive at The Second City, an improvisational theater troupe that's been in business in Chicago since 1959. Stage fright holding you back? It shouldn't. This beginner drop-in class is the perfect place to let down your hair and see if you have an inner improv star just waiting to burst out. For $20, you can have some laughs and laugh at yourself. After all, a great sense of humor is one of the most sought-after relationship traits.

In full disclosure, this one will set you back $54, but it was too cool not to include. The "Gangsters and Ghosts" guided tour runs four times daily, but we recommend securing the 8 p.m. slot. See Chicago from the perspective of its former gangsters and ghosts of crimes past as you explore their old haunts and currently haunted sites. Find out more details and make reservations at gangstersandghosts.com.