DATES

When you consider taking someone out on a date, make sure its fun, yet not too creative or expensive to scare them off. Do something to do that will make them say at the end "I had a lot of Fun!" After a few dates, you will get the hang of it and be more confident and open to other date ideas.When is the time to get serious?... Usually around the second date. Remember, if you can last an entire day together, you may last a lifetime. And whether you keep 'em or lose them, you have to do it with class.

Dating involves creative use of existing city places and establishments for an entirely different purpose than they were intended. For example, a museum is a place for people to discover the past and educate themselves, but know that a museum is merely the background for getting to know their date.

When dealing with anything creative, one must set limits or boundaries as to how far, or to what places, one can go. There are many fine restaurant guides, to cater to every taste. Restaurants are such common date ideas that we decided to focus on non-gastronomical ideas. We think the “ate” should be out of “date.”

Movies do not promote discussion and, as the saying goes, if you don't want to get to know your date, take them to a movie.

There are in essence three types of dates: Walk & Talk, Sit & Talk and Do & Talk. Of course, most dates incorporate all these elements in different ways, and yes, you can go on a date without talking (there is something to be said for shared experiences), though we doubt it would be considered a successful date. A fourth type, Sit & Talk Plus, are dates where there is something occurring in the background of a Sit & Talk place which allows the attention to be diverted when the conversation is running thin.

First Dates

First dates are definitely a class all their own. A first date has one primary function: to break the ice between the daters. To do so requires a date place that is fun and creative, intellectually or at least physically, stimulating. This redirects the pressure of the first date experience off the daters and into the surrounding environment. In English, this means that the place does the entertaining, not the daters. Be aware, though, that while a first date should be a fun date, not all fun dates make for good first dates.

Beside breaking the ice, there are two benefits to a fun first date: First, it gives the "couple" something to talk about lest they have nothing else in common to discuss, and it allows for a distraction if there is "dead air time" - a circumstance many people dread.

Romantic Dates

A Romantic date also has one primary function: to progress or propel the relationship through focusing on it. As this requires talking and discussion, romantic dates require a complimentary atmosphere to promote conversation. Thus ultra-quiet libraries are out, as are any loud-music venues. Proposal Dates have an extra requirement of creativity or beauty and Dump Dates require some bearing of privacy.

Fun Dates

Fun dates just have to be fun. As mentioned in first dates, fun dates require some physical, intellectual or creative stimulation. The datee at the end of the date ideally should say, "I had a lot of fun!" If they don't, don't take it personally - although it probably is your fault it wasn't fun. Better luck next time.

"Saturday Night" Dates

It's often hard to find something to do at night for a date. Most places close early, especially in the winter. As a last ditch place, you can always go to a hotel lobby...

Day-Long Dates

Sometimes a short get together is not enough. You want to spend serious quality time together. This involves going to a place that (1) entails a long distance of traveling together or (2) can entertain for a long period of time.