Mike... I apologize, but I've been off and on quite a bit recently.

If you guys haven't talked about the event, is it still understood that it's a date?

I think lwb has the right idea. Me personally... I'd invite a friend.. make them pay their half so it's not a "date" if it's a female.

My W supposedly has some symphony thing to go to.. she asked if I would take her. That's come up a few times, but I don't push it. If she wants me to take her.. I'd probably take her.

She'll have to ask though. Not the other way around.

My 2 cents.