Inspired Evenings

Spice up your love life with these creative date ideas

by Brooke Williams

Whether trying to woo a crush or spice up a marriage, dates are an important part of any romantic relationship. In the early stages, they're all about deciding if the other might become a "significant other." After the relationship is off and running, dates help carve out time to remember just how significant you are to one another.

The standard "dinner and a movie" is great, but when you find yourself longing for a decidedly more romantic rendezvous, consider these 14 imaginative alternatives, or use them as springboards to your own inspired event planning!

First dates they haven't already been on a thousand times

Thirst for Knowledge: Show your first date a little sophistication by taking them to a wine tasting. Shane's Gourmet Market (shanesgourmetmarket.com) in German Village and the Short North's Vino 100 (vino100.com) host intimate, affordable wine-tasting events on a regular basis. It takes the pressure off making continuous conversation for hours, but gives you a chance for intermittent talking... and flirting.

Fondue Fun: Provided you're willing to shell out some cash on the first date, there's really nowhere better than The Melting Pot (themeltingpot.com) at Easton Town Center. Much of the multi-course meal is prepared right at your table, and it's built for two. The DIY approach (you cook your own meat in a tabletop pot) will give you plenty to discuss. Don't forget about dessert—feeding each other chocolate-covered strawberries is the best part!

Get Things Cooking!: What's better than cooking for your date? Cooking with your date! Invite them over and decide on the night's theme, like native dishes from a country you'd love to visit. Look for recipes together online, visit the market together to gather ingredients and start cooking. For extra fun, give them a fun apron that says "Kiss the Cook" to wear during preparations (available at Bed Bath & Beyond, bedbathandbeyond.com). Then, enjoy your creations.

Date by Chocolate: If you already know you have a chocoholic on your hands, take your sweet-toothed-someone on a free tour of the Anthony Thomas candy factory (anthony-thomas.com) on the West Side. Make sure to buy them a nice big box of chocolates in the gift shop, a sweet gesture to be sure.

You Drive Me Crazy: The driving range makes a good first date for several reasons. It's lighthearted, there's enough activity to keep conversational pressure low, and it can be a short date or a long one. The Westerville Golf Center (westervillegolfcenter.com) is big enough even for group dates, and it's affordable.

Going out for a second (or third or eighth) time? These are great ways to go deeper than surface level.

The Couple that Flambés Together, Stays Together: Although slightly pricier than your average date (most one-night classes are $45 to $75 a person), cooking classes are interactive and thoroughly enjoyable. Plus, if things don't work out between you and your sweetheart, you'll know how to cook for the next one. Easton's Sur La Table (surlatable.com) offers a plethora of classes, including some specifically designed for a date night.

Dress to Impress: Visit a thrift or vintage store like Clintonville's Rag-O-Rama (ragorama.com). Purchase ridiculous outfits—it helps to have a theme, like '80s night. After all the fun of trying things on, continue the date in another public place where you can model your new look! (This is also a great double or group date.)

Say Cheese!: Buy a couple of disposable cameras. Visit a favorite park or neighborhood, like The Short North or Schiller Park, and take pictures of everything you see. Tell your date it's your way of seeing the world through their eyes. Drop off the cameras at a one-hour developer while you eat, then share the pics over drinks! For bonus points, frame one of the new photos for each of you to remember the day.

Service With a Smile: Service projects are a great way to share your passions. Staff a soup kitchen, volunteer at a pet shelter, or ask neighborhood organizations if they need any help, like Downtown's Faith Mission of Ohio (faithmissionofohio.org) or United Way of Central Ohio (uwcentralohio.org). You'll be able to see who your date really is once their sleeves are rolled up.

Slip & Slide: Check out the East Side's Fort Rapids indoor water park (fortrapids.com) for some wet and wild summer fun, even in the winter. At the end of the night, check out the great attached bar for a Bailey's and coffee to warm up after hitting the slides!

Already have someone special? Keep things spicy!

Soothing Touches: Looking to spice things up with a long-time love? Create a mix of relaxing songs. Dim the lights and fire up some candles. Lay a clean sheet on the bed or floor (careful: massage oils stain). And tell them how much you're attracted to various parts of their body as you gently massage them.

Choose Your Own Adventure: Has Loverboy been dying to see the new action blockbuster, but it's not your thing? Treat him to the movie that you normally wouldn't see with him. Smile sweetly as he points out all the awesome explosions. Guys, this is the time to suck it up and take in a romantic comedy without one complaint.

Weekend Getaway: The nearby Hocking Hills (hockinghills.com) offer breathtaking hiking trails and cozy cabins. And if you're thinking outhouses, think again. Many of the accommodations include amenities like DVD players and private porch hot tubs. It's the perfect way to recapture the romance with your favorite person.

Anything But Routine: The website Learning to Love You More (learningtoloveyoumore.com) is perfect for mixing things up. The site owners regularly post creative "assignments" and encourage readers to send in documentation of their completion for posting on the site. Assignments range from "Braid someone's hair" to "make the saddest song." This is also a great group date, where everyone can share the finished products.

February 8th, 2007