More Great Dates: Beyond the Dinner Date
Submitted by krisna on Saturday 27th November 2010- Ideas for first dates.
- Tips for romantic evenings.
- How to create romantic days.
In past issues, SharpMan.com has made a case for why taking a woman to "dinner-and-a-movie" is a first date dud (See The Case Against Dinner & A Movie). In this article series we provide you with a few alternatives to the old standard…
So you've finally managed to ask that special SharpWoman out, and she's said yes. Great. What now? Dinner and a movie? Too boring. Just dinner? She’s probably done the dinner date routine as many times as you have, and no matter how great the restaurant, she’ll probably feel like she's been there too many times before. So what, then? Check out these SharpDating alternatives:
First Dates Are Killers
The first date with a SharpWoman is likely to be the most important — the one where she decides, at least for now, if you're interesting enough to get to know better. A creative date can let her know you’ve taken the time to make sure she'll enjoy herself — and SharpWomen just love when you work at it. Plus, suggesting something fun makes it more likely she'll accept the date in the first place, giving you a chance to work your Sharp charm (did you miss SharpMan Charm School: How to Be Charming?).
Doing Your Homework
Now that you’re determined to plan a more interesting date, do your homework. Sure a creative date is great — but not if your poorly researched activity runs into external logistical problems. Let’s face it, first dates are hard enough as it is.
Sure an evening picnic sounds romantic, but not if your date doesn’t know you well enough to be comfortable with you alone, or if early fall still means the picnic spot of your choice is a bug haven. Similarly, a "great" view can quickly turn not-so-great if the hike up the hill leaves your date’s dress in shreds or if the rowboat you planned to rent is unavailable on Sunday nights.
Take the time to plan a date that will come off smoothly. Be sure to consider that wherever you take her must be safe, clean, and accessible. If an event requires her to avoid heels, skirts or lightweight clothing, tell her. She’s more likely to enjoy her time with you if she feels prepared.
Romantic Evenings
Evenings are a hard time for non-traditional dates, which is why it often seems so obvious to go out to eat and then see a movie. The SharpMan, however, should have other options in his dating playbook. In fact, almost any good daytime activity seems highly creative — and intensely romantic when executed after dark. Check out these ideas:
Picnics. As mentioned above, evening picnics can be very romantic. Pack up some cheese and wine and take your SharpWoman somewhere where she can see the stars or the city lights. A park where you can take a
moonlit walk is a great idea. For urban SharpWomen there may be extra appeal in sitting on a rooftop and looking down over the city.
Great Walks. Ever taken a walking tour while abroad? Consider picking up a traveler’s guide to your own city and exploring a small part of town "by the book." Guidebooks frequently include interesting historical facts about the areas they cover, making your walking tour the perfect way to get to know a new area — and each other — while having an "adventurous" date.
Wild Side. You’ll be surprised to learn how many local zoos have evening hours — particularly during summer and early fall. Consider a walk-through and a bite at your city zoo. Again, an easy way to get a conversation going while external entertainment helps you out. A word of caution, this date may not fly so well with dates who have strong views on animal rights.
Get Culcha’. As with city zoos, many local museums keep their doors open at least one night of the week. Plan to hit a local gallery or a museum exhibit (preferably one you know she has an interest in), followed by a casual dinner or picnic nearby. This date provides stuff to talk about while making you look pretty "upper crust."
Other stuff. OK, this doesn’t fall into the category of "daytime activities at night," but it’s a real winner:
SharpWomen everywhere love dancing, and most of them aren't any better at it than you are. Taking your date out for a night of swing or tango is an excellent way to get to know her. You'll have a chance to talk between sets, and something to break things up if conversation dies out. Most cities have a number of clubs charging $10-$20 for dance nights, including a half-hour of lessons before the music starts.
Your willingness to try something new and look a little silly with her could
be just the thing. Just make sure — before you go — that she is an amateur. After all, women will find it "sweet" when you're clumsy, but only if she's stepping on your feet too.
Romantic Days
The nice thing about asking a woman out for a daytime date is that there’s less pressure on both of you. Plus, when you do end up pulling something great out of your hat, you look like a SharpMan. To avoid a boring lunch date, consider looking around your home turf. If you're as busy as most people, you probably haven't thoroughly explored your own hometown, much less the surrounding areas. There's good stuff out there. Again, here are just a few ideas:
Water dates. If your city is on the water, take your date for a ferry or motorboat ride, then buy fish and chips from a dive seaside restaurant and take a walk along the coast. This is a great opportunity to get the conversation going as you watch the scenery. Plus, on the date-expense-o-meter, it’s pretty affordable.
If you don't have an ocean or lake large enough to support ferries, try renting a canoe or rowboat. Unless you're sure of your skill with the oars, make sure she's a good swimmer. Being "rescued" isn’t romantic when she's got a lungful of water.
Unconventional food dates. Most cities have a number of wine expos and chefs’ fairs each year. In the summer and fall, they're often casual, outdoor events, but more formal affairs in convention centers or hotels in winter. Such events, which often support local charities, may be pricier than other ideas mentioned here, but are rarely more expensive than a nice dinner.
This sort of date invokes the traditional romance of excellent food and wine without the stuffiness. In general, you don't sit down and have courses brought to you. Instead, the two of you can wander from booth to booth sampling local chefs’ fares. To find these food fairs, check your local paper or ask a maitre d’ of any fine restaurant if the chef is participating in one of these in the near future. Chances are, you’ll get plenty of good date-planning information this way.
Getting "out there." An easy way to plan a "creative" date is to remove your date from the environment she’s used to. This way, everything you plan will be "creative." Where, you ask?
Outside of every city, there are towns trying to bring in tourist dollars. Each of these towns is generally quaint in its own way, and may even feature nostalgia-invoking events like yearly pumpkin fairs and pie-eating contests. Face it: SharpWomen love this stuff. And if you get bored watching the world’s-largest-watermelon awards ceremony, there are likely to be many other things to do. You’ll find that most of these "tourist" towns have lovely parks, and many have trails for horseback or bicycle riding (and places to rent horses and bikes). Remember, though, as with the dancing, if you're both amateurs, you'll end up laughing a lot, but if one of you actually knows what you’re doing, the other is bound to look a little foolish.