Though dining out and seeing a film is a common approach to dating, there are much more interesting ways to go about spending some time with your significant other. Whether your relationship is budding or long-standing doing something out of the ordinary to shake up the dating routine will be appreciated as a sign of care and interest. From the adventurous to the tame, check out the following as alternate approaches to The Date.
Installment #1 considers “dinner and/or a movie” in a different light.
Dinner
If eating is on the agenda, don't stick with the tried and true restaurant on the corner but instead try one of the following ideas:
Pick a different city in which to dine. On a recent date with my husband (yes, it's crucial to continue dating after marriage!) we drove to Estes Park for a late Sunday brunch. For us, this is an hour and half jaunt from home, what most would consider an obscene distance to go for a meal. However, in doing so we were not only guaranteed to discover a new restaurant, we also got the added bonus of the beautifully scenic drive along US-36. With spring foliage coming into full blossom it was an enjoyable ride in and of itself, almost like a mini road-trip.
After dinner at home have a “light” date by going out for dessert. Consider a high-end restaurant you wouldn't typically dine at and order coffee and some decadent sweet to share. Weather permitting another fun approach is to get ice cream from your nearest shop and lick cones while taking a stroll.
Try something new in the culinary world. Pick one day a month to try a new ethnicity or cooking style and make the most of the experience by ordering two new dishes that you're both interested in and then sharing your meals. Quite often cuisine such as Indian, Mediterranean, Southern and even vegetarian is overlooked so this approach to dining not only takes care of your stomachs it provides a sense of adventure, too. There are multiple restaurant guides available on the web to give you a starting point.
And a Movie
Instead of hitting the theater for the latest flick, consider one of these alternative options:
Especially fun for newer couples still learning about one another is the notion of renting movies that were childhood favorites. Consider writing up a short list of all-time or old-time faves and then taking turns each week watching one from one another's lists. Each person in the couple will be exposed to new material while learning something about their mate.
Another fun way to get more out of movie viewing but keeping it simple by renting a flick from the corner store is to make it an alphabet game. This is also fun for groups or double-dates. On movie night the viewers pick the next movie to see based on the next letter in line, moving from A to Z. For ideas if a snag is hit, refer to http://www.imdb.com for a comprehensive list of films and short reviews of each.
If you want to get out and about, try something other than the same old theater and another big budget Hollywood film. Consider something artsy or educational instead. When was the last time you checked out something at IMAX? Check out a list of current films. The Esquire, The Mayan and Chez Artiste are three Denver area theaters that are known for showing lesser known and independent films.
Lastly, if dinner and a movie is truly what you seek, consider combining the experiences at one of the venues that offer film and food fare (and often drinks, too) such as Neighborhood Flix Cinema & Cafe or The Aurora Movie Tavern.
