Dinner and... [Date Ideas Thread]

Lucascraft

This isn't a relationship thread. This is a general thread for getting ideas for dates.

I personally do not like the "dinner and a movie" date. Dates to me are a way to get to know a person, and if you spend 2 hours of your time together completely unengaged, it kind of defeats the purpose.

However, I'm also really bad at coming up with ideas that are more engaging. Most of the dates I've been on have come about fairly organically, as in "Hey there's this thing that we're both interested in, you wanna go do that?" But that's after a relationship is already established and there's a level of comfort and trust with the other person.

When it comes to new relationships and finding a common ground, I'm really lost.

So anyway, what are some good ideas for dates in a fairly new relationship? One where getting to know the person and determining chemistry and compatibility is still the primary focus.

Esh

Like, how new are we talking? First dates?

I mean, it's really dependent on where you live and the interests of the other person. I've done everything from pinball and drinks at places like Ground Kontrol here in Portland and Shorty's in Seattle to going to a bookstore and having each person pick out a book for the other. Museums are great, the Zoo, lunch at interesting places (Oh! I've always wanted to try there, blah blah blah). Going to a farmers market, getting food, and just walking around. Berry picking on Sauvie Island. A ferry ride to Bainbridge Island for ice cream. There are just so many mitigating factors here.

Oh, and movies are great for second or third dates. It gives you something to talk about afterwards over drinks.

Sentry

Thrift store hopping, outdoor malls, hiking, honestly, your options are pretty endless.

Lucascraft

Well, in this particular situation it would be a girl who I've known for a long time. 15 years or more. But she's never been much more than an acquaintance. I know who she is, but I don't know much about her beyond who her family is and where she went to school. We went to the same high school and college, but we never ran in the same circles.

Laemkral

Mini golf, bowling, museum, art show, anything where you can talk and have conversations and gauge reactions.

jimb213

Esh wrote:

Like, how new are we talking? First dates?

I mean, it's really dependent on where you live and the interests of the other person. I've done everything from pinball and drinks at places like Ground Kontrol here in Portland and Shorty's in Seattle to going to a bookstore and having each person pick out a book for the other. Museums are great, the Zoo, lunch at interesting places (Oh! I've always wanted to try there, blah blah blah). Going to a farmers market, getting food, and just walking around. Berry picking on Sauvie Island. A ferry ride to Bainbridge Island for ice cream. There are just so many mitigating factors here.

Oh, and movies are great for second or third dates. It gives you something to talk about afterwards over drinks.

one of the best dates I ever had was the bookstore thing.

Esh

jimb213 wrote:

Esh wrote:

Like, how new are we talking? First dates?

I mean, it's really dependent on where you live and the interests of the other person. I've done everything from pinball and drinks at places like Ground Kontrol here in Portland and Shorty's in Seattle to going to a bookstore and having each person pick out a book for the other. Museums are great, the Zoo, lunch at interesting places (Oh! I've always wanted to try there, blah blah blah). Going to a farmers market, getting food, and just walking around. Berry picking on Sauvie Island. A ferry ride to Bainbridge Island for ice cream. There are just so many mitigating factors here.

Oh, and movies are great for second or third dates. It gives you something to talk about afterwards over drinks.

one of the best dates I ever had was the bookstore thing.

I'm glad you liked it. Why'd you have to go and break my heart though?!?!

minirhyder

Ice skating? It shouldn't matter if you both suck. But hey if you don't, you can impress her! Unless she pwns you at it, but either way it'd be great fun and a nice way to get to know each other.

jimb213

minirhyder wrote:

Ice skating? It shouldn't matter if you both suck. But hey if you don't, you can impress her! Unless she pwns you at it, but either way it'd be great fun and a nice way to get to know grope each other.

jimb213

Esh wrote:

jimb213 wrote:

Esh wrote:

Like, how new are we talking? First dates?

I mean, it's really dependent on where you live and the interests of the other person. I've done everything from pinball and drinks at places like Ground Kontrol here in Portland and Shorty's in Seattle to going to a bookstore and having each person pick out a book for the other. Museums are great, the Zoo, lunch at interesting places (Oh! I've always wanted to try there, blah blah blah). Going to a farmers market, getting food, and just walking around. Berry picking on Sauvie Island. A ferry ride to Bainbridge Island for ice cream. There are just so many mitigating factors here.

Oh, and movies are great for second or third dates. It gives you something to talk about afterwards over drinks.

one of the best dates I ever had was the bookstore thing.

I'm glad you liked it. Why'd you have to go and break my heart though?!?!

Because I wasn't that impressed when you picked out Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood.

That is actually what she picked out, although I thought it was cute (although something I would never actually read). I picked out Our Band Could Be Your Life.

piL

I think I would faint from the pressure of picking out a book for a girl on a first date. I like the idea though, I just have no idea what I would pick for someone.

The best first date I arranged was horseback riding, which had the benefit of a thirty minute car ride through the country to talk, an hour long horseback ride of much less conversation to take a break from the heavy lifting, and then another car ride and dinner to further discuss.

For that matter, I think dinner and a movie works, but I think dinner after the movie is better so that you can talk about the movie itself.

Bagginses

I like unusual museums. Natural history, science, and foreign culture museums are in pretty much every city, and most cities have unique museums you can't find elsewhere. Candlepin is also fun.

schuss

My first dates with my current GF involved shooting pool, bowling and walking around the waterfront.