“Dinner and a movie” loses its luster fast. Dinner alone especially. Some say “dating is dead,” and while it very well may be, that doesn’t mean women are happy about it. When he’s truly smitten, a man will chase after a woman. Head over heels, he’ll schedule his plans around hers (in a convenient, not “nice guy” manner), text her just because, and want to spend time with her regardless of what they’re doing. Here are some ways to spend time with her, still court, and get out of the movie theatre:
1. Play sports together
Keep basketball on the courts with your boys (exception: Love & Basketball), and invite your lady to engage in lighter sporting events. For example, golfing, hiking, and playing tennis are all activities that you can do with your lady, where she can still look, feel, and act like she’s on a date and not at the gym. If that’s too much, (for her…or you) make it even lighter. Try taking the lady on a miniature golf date or on a walk across one of Portland’s many bridges. Engaging in light activity while hanging out will allow easy conversation, without awkward pauses.
2. Cook dinner together
Don’t just cook dinner together and call it quits… Get into it. Foreplay it (pick out the meal together, and grocery shop). Make it last (cook while drinking wine and listening to good music). And end it with a bang (set the table and eat at it together, instead of in front of the TV).
3. Attend a live performance
If dinner and a movie is your style, but it got stale…freshen it up a bit! Do dinner and a live performance—a play, the symphony, the ballet, a concert, or a comedy show.
4. Take a day trip
Hop in the car and take a day trip together… Go somewhere just far enough that you’re out of your city, but just close enough that you don’t have to stay the night and you can still call it a date. Go to the coast (we don’t call it the beach in the NW). Go to a nearby major city…Seattle, I see you. Head up to Detroit, down to a festival in Ashland (kidding, unless you want to), or over to a fair in Eastern Oregon. Day trips are great—not too long, not too short…
5. Bar hop in a cool part of town
Grabbing a drink is fun, but bar hopping is more fun. Bar hopping is something you’d do with your amigos, making memories you’ll never remember… Why not share such an experience with your significant other? Dating should be fun. One drink at a boring bar is not.
6. Get tickets to a game
If she’s from the NW, she likes football. Huskies, Ducks, Beavers…oh, the rivalry. Let her get decked-out in her team’s colors, compliment her. Take her to a tailgate, shotgun beers with her. Be rebellious and sneak beers into the stadium via her handbag; drink those beers, and then buy more beers. Eat messy stadium game food. Cheer loud. Jump up and down / high-five / hug when your team scores. If she’s a Duck, ask to see her “O” face.
7. Test drive cars / go to open houses
Test driving cars and going to open houses gives women butterflies in their stomachs. Women love the future. Women love big, expensive things that they can’t afford. Even if they don’t actually like commitment, women love the idea of commitment. Suck it up, play house, and tell ‘er a few little, white lies…
8. Act like kids again
Go to: the zoo, Chuck E. Cheese’s, OMSI, an arcade, Bullwinkle’s, Big Al’s, bowling, to ride bumper cars, to the State Fair, to play pool, or to a water park.
9. Get manicures / pedicures together
This is a very selfless date, and it takes a very confident man to do it. Just like you taking your gal on a date to bar hop; letting her take you on a date to the salon is something she’d normally do with her friends, but is a fun experience to do with your significant other. If you give it a try, you just might find that you actually like it… (Note: You can use this line on her down the road.)
10. Dinner and a movie
If all else fails…stick to dinner and a movie, but find a way to make it better. Dress up like you’re going on a fancy date. Meet her in the parking lot and act like it’s the first time you’ve met. Sneak an entire meal into the theatre (I did Olive Garden once!), instead of just snacks. When your movie is done, sneak into another movie. Drive to a different city and go to a restaurant and theatre you’ve never been to. Go to the drive-in. Fool around in the back row. Fool around in the front row.
A few additional ideas of things to do #inPDX and Seattle.