Hey you!
Yeah you!
You look like you need a date (no offense).
A fun date! It’s good for the body, mind, and spirit. Work is long and school is stressful, so get out there and have some fun! If you work hard, then play hard too.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner (February 14th!), so here are 14 date ideas you should try this weekend, or any weekend. Whether it’s with a special friend, a group of friends, or your lifelong friend and partner, grab yourself a date and have a blast. You deserve it (I can tell).
24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 NLT
1. Get jiggy with some live music
I’m actually not sure what it means to get jiggy, but for now let’s pretend it means to get tickets to an upcoming concert. Check out Ticketmaster if you don’t know where to look.
Or you can put on your glad rags and cut a rug with a jive quartet at the Cat’s meow. That’s jazz-slang for for wearing your nicest clothes to a jazz club. Live jazz is cool, very cool. Search online for cool cafes that feature local musicians.
2. Put on your cap & watch the game
The Sharks, A’s, Giants, Warriors, Earthquakes… the list goes on. Bay Area sports are worth watching. Find a Saturday night game and don’t forget your cap.
3. Shoot some pool
Billiards is a timeless game that the young and old can (and should) enjoy. Dinner and pool is a classy combo. It makes for some low-key competition and good conversation.
4. Make a picnic (that’s how the English say it)
Checklist:
- Checkered blanket
- Thermos with tea
- Frisbee
Cheers, I’ll see you there at 2:00.
5. City Trip!
This is for the all our Bay Area readers out there. Plan a trip to the city. Do it often. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Hang out at the pier. Ride elevators at tall hotels and look for nice views. The possibilities are endless.
6. Beach Trip!
This is again for our Bay Area readers. Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, or even San Francisco. Take your pick, but don’t forget your jacket. Oh, and remember: fish tacos is always the right choice on a beach trip.
7. Skate Ice
Or ice skate. Whichever your date prefers. Perhaps you can hold hands too. Or have your hands held. But again, check to see what your date prefers.
8. Make a mess in the kitchen
You see, the challenge with planning a date is almost always figuring out what do before or after dinner. And that’s why you should try staying in and cooking dinner together instead. Between shopping, cooking, setting off the fire detector with the burnt chicken, chowing down, and cleaning up, you’ll already have all the adventure you need for one night.
Try something exciting, like Chimichurri Chicken or Salmon & Nectarines.
9. Alas! ‘Tis Adventure Time!
If you’re up for it, take a lucky date out on an adventure. Try Livingsocial, Groupon, or Amazon Local, and find a deal (adventures can sometimes be expensive). Example adventures could be horseback riding, paintballing, zoo-sauntering, or hot-air ballooning. You’re limited only by your own imagination (and what is available near you and in your price range).
10. Have a night on the town
Pick a town, any town. Ok, maybe not any town. Pick a fun downtown that you heard is charming, but may not have spent much time at. Yelp a good restaurant and take a stroll. I’d recommend ice cream while strolling.
11. Get active
Americans sit too much. And we know we sit too much. We can’t stand how much we sit (pun somewhat intended). The solution? Take a hike. Or a jog. Or a bikeride. And do it together on a date because it’s more fun that way.
12. Win at all costs
Find a group of friends, a date for yourself, and get ready to intensely compete at a silly game that must have peaked in popularity 30 or 40 years ago. Bowling or mini-put golfing strongly recommended.
13. Take it easy with a chill date
Long week for you and your date? Don’t cancel the date, just make it a chill date. A coffee shop, a deck of cards, and a walk might be just what the doctor ordered.
14. Let’s do dinner & a movie
It’s classic. It’s timeless. It’s getting surprisingly expensive. But you can’t go wrong with dinner and a movie. The silver screen won’t let you down, especially if you check the movie review beforehand on Rotten Tomatoes and take a glance at Common Sense Media to make sure it doesn’t have an awkward, inappropriate scenes.
If you want to mix it up, find a theater that plays old movies or one that has couches instead of chairs.