Treat Your Loved One Special

Date Night!!

							Give Your Friday Night a New Look with Eight Twists on Traditional Plans
			This gorgeous cotton jacquard-weave napkin gives outdoor dining a gracious touch. CREAM ANTIQUE JACQUARD NAPKIN www.surlatable.com

Photography provided by ©iStockphoto.com/Audrey Botha.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2012

Written by Ashley Gartland

If you’re like most couples, date night involves some version of a dinner out followed by a visit to the cineplex to catch the latest blockbuster. The dinner-and-a-movie routine is part of an enjoyable night out, but mixing things up on occasion stands to benefit couples, too. Whether you change the theme, the time of day, or the location of your date, replacing your go-to night out with something new can help you bring the excitement back into your relationship and discover new qualities in your significant other. Ready to revamp the traditional night out? Here are eight fresh ideas to inspire a date-night makeover. 

REDEFINE THE DINNER DATE. When your typical Friday night involves a table for two at a fancy restaurant or, conversely, Chinese takeout eaten on the couch, you and your taste buds will likely tire of the same old routine. You can keep the dinner tradition alive but make it more appealing by changing your reservation to a new location. You might drop by the latest hotspot, plan a progressive dinner in which each course takes place at a new restaurant, or head to an eatery with communal tables so you can engage with your date as well as fellow diners. The new scenery, personalities, and flavors are just what you need to get out of a rut.

WORK IT OUT. Say goodbye to sedentary evenings and start using your free time to be active as a couple. Exercise indoors by scaling the walls at a rock climbing gym or practicing poses at a yoga studio. Or head outdoors for new adventures: rent bikes and pedal along a local bike path or tackle a tough hike that offers great views as your reward.

HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL. If you’ve always wanted to learn to scuba dive, collect wine, or make pasta, consider signing up for a class that will teach you that desired skill. Browse the offerings at local colleges and independent businesses and sign up for a class or a series on a topic that interests both of you. Short on time? Take a tour of the art museum or sit in on a public lecture, and you’ll have conversational fodder for days.

TURN BACK THE CLOCK. There’s fun to be had in acting like a teenager again, whether you go roller-skating hand in hand or take your spare change to an arcade for a rousing Pac-Man tournament. You might attend a high school football game and then head to the local drive-in to celebrate the win. A meal of burgers, fries, and milkshakes partnered with your favorite high school tunes will complete the evening’s nostalgic feel.

GO FORAGING. Whether you’re hunting for mushrooms in the forest or searching for the perfect armoire at the flea market, seeking out something special as a couple gives you a shared sense of purpose. Drive to the beach and comb the sand for shells, go antiquing in a nearby town, or visit an old bookstore and search for your favorite titles. And if your foraging adventure takes place outdoors, don’t miss the opportunity to pack a picnic.

ACT LIKE A TOURIST. Taking a trip together doesn’t always require leaving town. Book a night at an upscale local hotel and enjoy a weekend spent playing tourist in your own backyard. You might spend your days exploring the sights or sign up for tours and activities that cater to out-of-towners that will provide you with new insights about your hometown, too.

ATTEND A BLACK-TIE EVENT. If the last time you wore a tux or a fancy gown was prom or your wedding, invite your significant other to play dress up by gifting him or her tickets to a black-tie event. Go all out by arriving with flowers or a corsage and enjoying an aperitif at a fancy bar.

HIT THE BOOKS. If you’re a couple of bookworms, make a date of grabbing coffee and browsing the shelves at your favorite bookstore. Take the time to flip through interesting titles and share new discoveries and then separate for a while to shop for a surprise. Find a book you think your significant other would like and buy two copies so you can read it together and extend the date beyond the bookstore