Photo-Scavenger Date

date idea: Create scavenger-hunt lists for each other to find and take pictures of throughout the date!

You and your date each create a list for you both to scavenge during your date. Pick 5-10 list-items each. They can be anywhere from date-centric ideas ("Picture of Chinese food") to totally random ("Find a fish!"). Bring along a disposable camera to capture the fun! At the end of the night, get your film developed at a one-hour photo while you two get dessert!

ideas:
-Somewhere neither of us has been
-Something embarrassing
-A picture of you in an ugly hat
-A famous movie pose
etc...

status: SUCCESS!
-I actually went on this date some time ago, but have just barely got around to posting it now! I actually created asked her to create the list without her knowing what it was for. This added an extra challenge! Here's a couple pictures from it: 

So, this one came from the list-item, "a meaningful place":

The Online Date

date idea: Go on a date with someone without ever leaving your respective houses! Stay on your computers and go out at the same time!

So, in this date you and a partner will sign on to Skype or another site and start your date there! Still attempt to do "normal" dating activities, but don't leave the house!

ideas:
-Watch the same movie at the same time.
-Order food together from a restaurant that delivers.
-Play a game (cards, chess, etc.).
-Cook a dessert!

This is obviously a date that long-distance couples do often! However, there are SO many ways to be creative with it.

for example:
Dress up in nice formal wear. Meet for Skypin' at 7pm; don't be late!
Travel online to exotic destinations (Paris, Rio, Hong Kong, etc) via informational sites.
Have a friend drop off food that you made at your date's house around 7:30pm.
Watch a movie together (have a friend drop off a copy with the food).

status: UNATTEMPTED.
Now I've made online dating even more lazy. Go me.

The Silent Treatment

date idea: The entire date you spend in silence, finding different ways to express yourself than talking!

You go out on a date with everything planned out in advance like where you're going and what you're doing. Then on the date you go out of your way NOT to talk to each other, instead try to communicate in other ways. Try to avoid using the written language as well.

ideas:
-charades
-hand gestures
-drawings
-maybe if you're really adventurous/creative, you could bring a small instrument to express yourself.
-sound effects
-fake languages/languages the other person doesn't understand
BE CREATIVE!!!


bonus: If you DON'T plan on what you're doing in advance. This will force you to get creative about ways to express yourself and figure out what you're doing next!

extra-bonus: if you can figure out ways to communicate with other people (servers, etc) without talking!

status: UNATTEMPTED
-I've had many an awkward-silent date, but it's never been intentional.

Date Against The Grain

date idea: Your date consists of trying out the unusual or atypical aspects of normal date locations!

So, you and a date decide on some cool date spots: a hip restaurant, a dive bar and/or a cool movie theatre. Then, you try out the things that those places AREN'T known for! Basically you're going against the grain at the common locale.

for example:
-Going to a movie theatre and playing video games in their arcade!
-Going to a bar and ordering custom non-alcoholic mixed drinks!
-Going to a fancy restaurant and ordering from the kid's menu!

status: UNATTEMPTED
-I'm pretty sure that these are all activities that I do on a regular basis anyway, so I guess it's sort of attempted!

Scavenger Date [DOUBLE DATE]

date idea: So, you and your mate find a friend and a friend's mate and go on a scavenger hunt doing date activities that the other team picked!

Each couple will be a team and each team will make a list of date activities for the other team to accomplish in one night. Unlike a regular scavenger hunt, the activities are date-centric, or at least date related. Set a time frame and a number of items, then both teams will see who can get the most accomplished in the course of the date. Bring a camera and document the adventure to see which team had the best stuff!

date scavenge ideas:

• eat at a restaurant that doesn't have tables
• dance to a live band
• watch a Tom Hanks rom-com
  
• take a couples picture at a landmark
• play a windmill hole at a mini-golf course
• etc...
  

status: UNATTEMPTED
-I'm just going to turn my next scavenger hunt game into a date, unbeknownst to my fellow scavenger hunters...

An Ugly Date

date idea: This date explores ugliness through activities of the daters that are traditionally found unattractive.

You and your partner both wear outfits that are commonly found unattractive (sweatpants, etc.). Then, you go out to a dinner that's really messy. Then you do a date activity that is far from sexy (playing saxophone, etc).

ideas:

• ugly sweaters
• eating ribs
• doing squats
• watching Youtube videos
• finger painting
  
• Crocs

The point of this date is to turn the tables on the typical date idea of being the most attractive for your partner, instead you'll be the LEAST attractive for the other person!

status: UNATTEMPTED
-I'm sure I've looked pretty ugly on dates, but never intentionally, so it hardly counts!

Date Libs

date idea: Create a 'Mad Lib' that tells a story of the date you're about to go on!

Basically, you're creating your own Mad Lib, but this one is about you and your date. You write it out, then ask your date for adjectives, verbs and nouns accordingly. Once completing the story, you read it back and then attempt to do the date!

for example:

A Date Story Definitely Not About Anyone We Know

[name of person in room] and [name of other person in room] love dining at the [adjective] [name of local restaurant] every time they go out. Before their [adjective] date, they often like to hang out and play [name of a game] at their house. Then, after they [adverb] play games and [adverb] eat dinner, they often like to go out to see [name of movie currently playing] at the [adjective] [name of local movie theater]. At the end of the night, the couple heads home to [verb] on the couch and watch [name of television show]. What a/an [adjective] time they must have!

Of course, depending on how good of a Mad Lib writer, the date could be too hard or too easy to really complete, but at least it's a fun way to pick date ideas... especially if you are bad at picking them yourself!

status: UNATTEMPTED.
-Sadly, no one is quite [adjective] enough to do this with me!

Datecades. (or Dates of Decades is probably a better title)

date idea: This is a series of date ideas where each date reenacts a different decade.

Your date and you pick a decade and dress accordingly (poodle skirts for the '50s and other stereotypes). Then, you go to a restaurant that has been around since that decade (est. 1977, etc.). Then do an activity that relates to a particular period (like listen to jazz from whenever that was cool).

for example:

• One person wears hippy attire, the other wears a nice suit from the '60s like a total square.
• You go to a diner established in the '60s where one orders vegetarian and the other orders steak and potatoes.
• Watch a movie like 2001: A Space Odyssey or another famous '60s film.

OR

• Wear bell-bottoms and do nothing like in the 1970s.

There is a whole TON of possibilities, so be creative about it!

bonus: If you set up a series of dates where decades are attempted in order from 1950-present! So many dates!

status: UNATTEMPTED
-I think the 1980s date would be the most fun. You get to dress like punks and break things just for the hell of it.

The ULTIMATE First Date

date idea: You take your date out to ALL of the best first date spots... in one night!

Tell your date to dress-up for the occasion and pick them up with flowers or a gift. Then, combine as many first date ideas as you can to create a great first date.

ideas:

• Mini-golf
• Bowling
• Pool
• Movie
• Dinner
• Ice Cream
• Drinks
• Walk In The Park
• Make-out Point/Scenic View
• etc, etc, etc

You probably don't have time to do everything to its fullest potential, so you'll have to cut things short. Like only ONE game of bowling and maybe 9 holes of mini-golf. Also, plan to have ample driving time between activities, so make sure date spots are close together!

status: SUCCESS!
-I took someone out on this date because this was her FIRST First Date ever. It was super fun and I even wore a suit and showed up at the door with roses. We did mini-golf, bowling, movie, dinner. It was too late and we were too tired after dinner to do pool, but if I had planned a little better, we could've done it!

WARNING!
This date is great, but it costs more money than you'd think! Each low-priced activity adds up in the end, so watch out! Coupons and discounts are key, so make sure that you plan ahead. Also, it's a bit of a gamble on a first date to know if your date will be down for so much running around and different activities... but go for it anyway, it'll at least be something to remember.

The Drive To Nowhere

date idea: Your entire date is spent inside the vehicle you pick your date up in.

First, you pick up your date promising dinner, movies, music, etc. Then, you spend the entirety of the date doing activities that can be done from inside the car.

for example:
You pick up your date and go to a drive-thru restaurant (hopefully something classier than Wendy's, maybe Eegee's?).

Then go on a pleasant drive through a scenic part of your city (maybe a skyline, or somewhere with natural beauty).

Finally end your night with a drive-in movie or at least a drive-thru car wash.

bonus: Driving to a romantic somewhere outside of your city. Not TOO far because you have to drive back, but maybe like a nearby lake or landmark. Even better if you don't tell your date at all... even worse if they think you're a kidnapper.

status: half-attempted?
-Well, this wasn't so much a date as it was a drive around the city showing off my favorite sights and overlooks. It was even less of a date because two of our friends were there with us. However, the event was a success and inspired this idea, so I gotta give myself some credit!

Themed Dating

date idea: Take your mate on a date with a theme... simple enough.

The date involves activities that are all related in one way or another. They could be based on the type of activities or something connecting all activities like a word or idea. Really, the theme could be anything and what makes the date interesting is that there is endless variation to the event.

For Example:
1. You serve your date either chicken or fish (or chicken or fish substitutes) that you have prepared yourself in a seemingly pre-packaged tray covered in cellophane.
2. Then, you go out to listen to music or go dancing at your nearest sky bar.
3. You end the night by taking your date to an overlook of the city at night.

[answers: 1. airline food, 2. sky bar, 3. skyline]

status: unattempted
-I want to take someone out on this date and not tell them the theme of the date. Then at the end of the date make them guess the theme. If it's a first or second date, maybe a kiss would be a good prize for the right theme...

A Streetdate Named Desire...

date idea: Take your date out for a night literally "on the town..."

The evening is spent doing fun date activities, but doing them on the street instead of in proper venues (i.e. setting up a candlelight dinner in the middle of a pedestrian area). This date is sweet because it can be very inexpensive, but still very, very fun and memorable. It just requires some planning and timing!

activity ideas: 

-Dinner on a sidewalk

-Dancing to street musicians

-Outdoor movie, drive-in style (or with a laptop)

For Example:

I'd set up a nice outdoor dinner somewhere downtown or in a moderately public place. It can't be too busy because it'd be too distracting. Then, after an outdoor dinner, we'd go dancing to either street musicians (make sure to bring some money for them!) or even to the car stereo. The more public of a place this one is, the more fun it would be. Finally, I'd set up a movie to watch outside and have the sound coming out of the car stereo... real nice.

bonus: 

-You set up a screen and projector for the outdoor movie like a real drive-in theatre. 

double bonus:

-You convince friends to be your waiter outside at dinner. Classy.

status: unattempted

-It's hard to find the time to plan out this sort of date. Plus, there is the possibility of it going horribly wrong because of all the external variables such as weather, crazy/annoying passerbys, etc... still, it would be TOTALLY worth it.

The Date From The Future

date idea: go on a date with "futuristic" activities...

Basically, you and your date would spend the evening doing things that seem "futuristic." Anything you do that night has to seem like it's high-tech or reminiscent of the romantic notion of the future.

activities:
-ride on segways
-eating astronaut food
-Sci-Fi movie

or any number of other space/future/scientific/technological related events or activities.

For example, rent segways, eat space ice cream or at least Dippin' Dots, rent Forbidden Planet to watch.

bonus: if you know of a space-themed restaurant or can eat in the Space Needle in Seattle.
double bonus: if you and your date wear silver jumpsuits or at least tinfoil hats the entire date.

status: unattempted
-I have yet to find someone bold enough to go where no date has gone before... to the future!

Date to Dateland

date idea: to take a date to Dateland, AZ simply for the novelty of going on a date to Dateland.

So, there's a city in Arizona called Dateland because they grow dates near there. It would be awesome to take a date on a date in Dateland.

Activities include: dinner under the desert stars, sharing a date shake (it's like a milkshake made with dates) and anything else there might be to do in the tiny, tiny town of Dateland. I'm not even sure if they have a hotel there, but if so, that might be a good end to the evening as to not drive back tired.

It might be better if you could find something to do around Yuma or somewhere else along I-8 to make the trip a little more fun than just the novelty. (Possibly buying each other a religious icon gift from that Shell gas station that sells ceramic Jesus' as part of the date).

date status: unattempted.

-This is a complete novelty date, so your mate would have to be down for something goofy like this in order to make it worthwhile. It's definitely not a first date sort of date, but if you feel like a mini-road trip, this could be fun!

The Reverse Date

date idea: To perform date activities in reverse order of their normal operation.

First of all, dessert is in order. Go to your favorite ice cream, pastry or dessert shop and chow down on some delicious delicacies.

Second, go out for an activity. Movies, mini-golf or another standard date activity will work, just make sure it's not too long for the sake of the rest of the date.

Third, dinner at a casual restaurant. Nothing too fancy as to not out-do the fourth step.

Fourth, appetizers under the stars. Plan a picnic with only appetizers (cheese, crackers, wine, etc.) and have it under the stars.

date status: unattempted.
-I was planning on trying this date out with someone on Valentine's Day of 2009, but last minute we had some plans change. I would have done cake, quick round of mini-golf, mexican food and finally crackers and sparkling cider under the stars in the dessert. Oh well, next time...

The Trio

date idea: 3 different events, each unbeknown to your mate.

You pick 3 events that are all different activities. One should be passive, one should be active and the other is likely a meal or something light to separate the other two. Basically, each activity is supposed to be a surprise to your date to create some sort of intrigue. It's nothing super special, or creative, just a different way to go about a regular date.

For example:
-Tell your partner to dress in active clothes, but still look fancy.
-Then, take them bowling.
-Then, take them out to eat somewhere. Nothing too fancy, but definitely nicer than bowling alley standards.
-Afterward, see a local play at a theatre where fancy clothes are the standard.

date status: Partly attempted with some success.
-I took a girl I was dating on this date with some difficulty. My plan was to go to a pool hall, then to a restaurant with music and then to a movie. However, we got a late start, so we went to dinner first and I couldn't remember where the restaurant was so I had to ask her which killed the surprise. Then we went to see a movie and by the end of that, it was too late and we were too tired to play pool.

So, The Trio ended up just being the classic dinner & a movie.

The San Diego Outing

date idea: This date is a weekend trip to San Diego!

Included in this excursion is:
-a hotel in Hotel Circle
-walks on the beach
-trip for 2 to Sea World
-trip for 2 to see the pandas at the San Diego Zoo
-a concert to dance the night away in fancy clothes.

date status: SUCCESS!
-I took a long-term girlfriend of mine on this trip for Valentine's Day in 2008. We had a great time exploring San Diego. Meals included rad pizza joints, late late late night Denny's and lunch with Shamoo at Sea World. It was an expensive trip with all the gas/amusement park/other expenses, but it was TOTALLY worth it. Highly recommended, if you can afford it.