10 Creative Dates

Let me start by crediting men with extreme courage. I applaud all of you who risk everything when you come up to a woman and say, “Will you go out with me?� In return for your bravery, and to just help out those already dating, here are ten creative dates you can consider because “dinner and a movie� just doesn’t cut it anymore.

A Romantic Date

For more romance, take her on a horse-drawn carriage ride with a picnic in a park. This is especially romantic in the city because it brings a suburban touch unique from your usual environment. If your buggy did not take you very far from your houses, walk together and sightsee like you’re tourists. Chances are there are many things in your own backyard that you did not notice amidst the hustle and bustle of life. I do stress a horse-drawn carriage. Unless you are both experienced riders, don’t take the risk of having sore bottoms the next day.

A Special Interest Date

What common ground do you share with her? Find a hidden or unknown locale that you would both enjoy. It may be a comedy club, an open mic café, a karaoke bar, or a museum. Don’t opt for the popular places because she has probably been there before or it will be crowded. A hidden gem would also be more intimate.

An Adventurous Date

Want some activity in your date? Take her ice-skating! You can also go roller-skating or roller blading. It’s fun, even if you’re not a veteran skater, or maybe especially if you’re not a veteran skater. You can help each other and laugh with each other. Do I have to spell out the implications of skating? Well here it is: you can skate together hand in hand, and during couples’ only skate you have to hold hands. It’s the rules.

A Mystery Dinner Date

Mystery dinner does not mean the kind of food you get from the cafeteria. It also does not mean you’ll be cooking. It means, you don’t know where you’ll be eating out for dinner. Here’s how it works. Make sure you have a full tank of gas and a coin. Start at your date’s house. Before you get to an intersection, flip the coin. Heads you turn right, and tails you turn left. Use this technique to decide where to go to dinner. You stop at the first restaurant as determined by the flip of a coin. This is a nice icebreaker for first dates because it gets both of you talking in the car. On the other hand, it may produce a queasy stomach for those who don’t like going out without a solid plan. Use this idea with caution.

An Inexpensive Group Date

Group dates offer the comfort of friends while still being on a date. This group date is inexpensive and offers a way to have some alone time between the couples. Have a photo scavenger hunt. Ask a friend to jot down 10 random objects or ideas. Give the list to each couple. Find out who can get the most interesting shot of the same subject. Gather together as a group, and share photos over chips and soda in the park or somebody’s house. Using a digital camera or a Polaroid camera is a fast way to share photos. You can use a disposable camera and develop the film through 1-hour processing. If you do so, modify the hunt by adding more ideas, taking multiple shots of the same idea, or have a competition on which couple can be the most creative with one roll of film. Keep the pictures for memories!

:: Angela Sangalang

A seasonal date
Take advantage of the bounty of fall festivals happening these next few months. The weather is gorgeous, the foliage is stunning, and entertainment abounds at all sorts of gatherings. Scan your hometown’s newspapers to find harvest festivals, ethnic festivals, arts festivals, carnivals. Spending a weekend afternoon at one of these could encompass a plethora of culture as well as adventurous cuisine (from kettle corn at a carnival to a spicy tikka masala at an Indian festival). OK, so the kitsch factor is high, but you can discover each other’s sense of humor via dance, live music and cheesy rides and games. Ferris wheel, anyone?

The Risky date
Rock-climbing, go-carts, or paintball are all great ideas if you and your girlfriend have an adventurous streak. What better way to find out? Most cities have indoor climbing facilities that will show you the ropes and let you try climbing for a fee. Ditto with go-cart tracks, where the speed can be a real rush. Horseback riding or whitewater rafting also fall into the risky category, although they are much more expensive. Risk-taking activities fire up your adrenaline and energy, so how can you not have a blast? Afterward, grab some pizza and ride out the natural high.

A Date Far Far Away
Try surprising her with an authentic experience at a true ethnic restaurant. We’re not talking pasta at the local Italian joint or the fake Japanese steakhouse experience. Think exotically outside the box, like Moroccan, where you take part in a sumptuous feast eaten with your hands while half-reclining on comfy floor pillows. Ethiopian, Middle Eastern and South American (not Mexican!) cuisines also offer spicy, out of the ordinary dining experiences. It’s a plus if the restaurant offers live music and/or dancing native to the region. If you go for lunch, you’ll have time to hit the local art museum to round out an afternoon of cultural awareness.

The "get to hold her" date?
Taking a dancing lesson together can be a novel experience to a generation who grew up dancing alone to a techno beat. Discover why generations of people loved to dance in pairs. It’s fun, it’s romantic and you get to touch each other. You don’t have to patronize the staid ballroom dance classes with the oldies. Be a sport and try Latin-style lessons where the dances (like the salsa and the meringue) are all hot, hot, hot!

An old school date.
A tandem bicycle is a little different at first, but it forces you to cooperate in order to move forward. Plus, it’s much easier and more fun to talk as you ride. If your city has bicycle trails where cars aren’t allowed, that’s the ideal place since you might be a bit wobbly at first. Think a step ahead of your date and have the picnic already packed with great food. You don’t have to actually cook anything, just buy some good French bread, some cheese, olives, some grapes, cookies and your beverage of choice. Stash it in a backpack you can wear while riding, and when you find the perfect spot to stop, whisk out a small tablecloth and “bon appetite�. She’ll be extremely impressed by your thoughtfulness.

:: Jennie Duncan

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