Creative Dates

Creative Dates Dinner and a Movie

•  Go out for pizza -- ask them to cut the pie into the shape of a heart

•  Try live such as a band at a local bar, instead of a movie.

• 3. Pick a TV show, get a season's worth on DVD and make a running date to watch it together every night.

•  Head out to a midnight cult movie, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Showgirls or Donnie Darko.

•  Stargazing at the planetarium's evening show?

•  Try brunch and a matinee; fancy restaurants are way more affordable in the a.m.

•  Pick up a bucket of fried chicken and head for the drive-in.

•  Take a dinner cruise: The motion of the ocean sets off sensuous signals inside us

• Gooey, sexy, delicious: Get a fondue pot and have a feast. Add a French movie and French-kiss all night

Cheap Dates

• Museums usually have one free night a week, so hit one then.

• Find a happy hour with 10-cent wings and two-dollar draft beers.

• Sample international food at a street fair.

• Hit the local video arcade.

• Go to the library or a bookstore and page through the coffee-table art books.

• Suit up and spend a late afternoon at the indoor pool of the Y.

• Head to the highest point in town. Spend an early evening watching the twinkling lights turn on.

• Visit the hothouse at your local botanical garden.

• Fly a kite.

• Sign up for a one-night class at your local college.

• Hit a farmers' market and scavenge for your dinner.

• Get an easy-to-operate remote-control plane, go to a park and take turns trying to avoid the trees.

• Take a hayride.

• Try an afternoon an indoor climbing gym.

• Head to an ice skating rink and strap on skates for some icy fun.

• Poke around an antique shops in a nearby small town

• Take a test-drive of a fun sports car

• Head to a batting cage and swing at some balls.

• Try a night at the bowling alley.

• Get in the saddle for a horseback-riding lesson.

• Map out a long bike ride through a local park.

• Fire up the grill for burgers and sticky s'mores.

• Check out the action at the nearest racetrack.

• Hit the golf-ball driving range.

• Unleash your inner pool shark and hit a dive bar or a pool hall.

• Check out the talent at a small local art gallery.

• Get up and move: Try swing dancing, tangoing or square dancing.

• Amateur theater is fun to see -- and even more fun to try out for.

• Find out if a nearby wine store throws free wine tastings. Or try wineries, which often open their doors to curious customers.

• Same goes for cheese shops. Call and ask if they have regular tasting parties.

• Hit a hiking trail near you.

• First snow?  Spend a day skiing on the slopes

• Take a walk on the beach.