First Date Activities: Think Outside the Box

About a year ago I finally had the chance to watch the Will Smith movie, Hitch that came out a while back. In it, Will Smith's character went out of his way to ensure his first date with the leading lady was...unique. For those of you who haven't seen the movie, their first date involved jet-skiing to the museum on Ellis Island, where he'd arranged for the immigration records of the girl's ancestor to be on display. Okay, the ancestor had been a no-good drifter who'd left her great-grandmother pregnant, alone, and penniless, but the point is, Will Smith's character had gone above and beyond the norm for first date activities, and guaranteed that it was memorable.

You need to do the same.

If he or she is special, or potentially special enough for you to ask out, then you really ought to put in the effort to make that first date equally special. Maybe not jet-skiing and Ellis Island special, but more than just a ho-hum get-together. Dinner and a movie is run-of-the-mill, ordinary. Boring. Unless, of course, you both happen to be major Harry Potter fans, and the Half Blood Prince or Deathly Hallows movies are having a special midnight first showing.

But aside from a film event of that magnitude, you really need to think outside the box when it comes to a first date.

How about a cultural event? Museums offer special exhibits all the time, and also have the added benefit of not costing very much to attend. Local colleges often bring in guest musicians for concerts several times a year, and if the school has a theater department, there are always student productions to attend. The opening of a local artist's show at an art gallery, followed by coffee (or tea) and dessert, would impress just about any girl. My first date with my husband Alex was attending a professional road company's production of the musical Camelot. It's one of my favorite musicals, and he knew that. Another guy I dated for a while knew I was fond of folk music, and asked me to accompany him to an informal gathering of friends that met once a month to sing folk songs. One guy invited me to a showcasing of his friend's jewelry at a local gallery, with dessert afterwards next door at a coffee bar/bookstore. Of all the first dates I've had in my life - and there have been legion - those three still stand out in my mind. Why? Because each time, my date took the time to find out what I liked, and found a matching activity for us to do.

For him, how about a hike, a day-long rafting trip, or a couples' barbecue seminar? Or maybe even tickets to a local sports event, especially if you know he's a fan of the home team? If he (or she) has a dog, suggest a romp in the local dog park followed by a picnic lunch, and don't forget to pack a snack for the pooch! After all, if you're going to be serious about each other, you're going to need to learn how to co-exist with his or her four-legged roommate sooner or later. Might as well make it sooner!

A friend of mine was old enough to remember when her mother went on a first date with her soon-to-be stepfather, because she was invited along! They spent the day together at a local renaissance faire, and my friend developed a life-long passion for them! If you or your intended date has children, consider bringing them along - they're a very important part of your potential sweetie's life, and you will win major brownie points by acknowledging that from the beginning.

A little research, a careful read of the arts section of your local paper, and you should have lots of ideas for making your first date an event your sweetie will never forget!