PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

As I finish touching up my makeup before hitting a night on the town, it occurred to me that the classic combo of eating then being entertained has never gone out of style. The standard date consisting of going out dinner, then following it up with a movie afterwards is always a safe bet, but sometimes, you just need to breathe new life into that old standby. (And speaking for myself, it's one of the things that PlanJam helps me out on quite a bit!)

Let's take a look at how to jazz up that mix!

That Whole Eating Thing

It doesn't have to be dinner: it can be breakfast, lunch or even brunch!

With people having such crazy work schedules anymore, finding time to go out at night can be really hard on a lot of people. If you pick an off time, you can bypass the whole reservation deal and take the walk in route!

It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive: dogs and burgers can be just as romantic!

Now granted, sandwiches don't exactly ignite passion with hardly anyone, but sometimes, food is more for nourishment and filling an empty belly than it is for sparking a flame. Besides, no French restaurant I know is going to let you get away with laughing loudly and being silly, and they really seem to have a disliking for jeans for some odd reason.

It doesn't have to be on a Friday or Saturday night: what's wrong with Monday?

If nights work best for you, see if you two can agree on an off night. Not only are reservations a whole lot easier to obtain, but many times, you don't even need one. What's nice about going on a week night too is you can break up the monotony of the work week, giving you two something to talk about at the water cooler the next morning!

That Whole Having Fun Thing

It doesn't have to be a movie: check out a free or inexpensive concert!

With movie tickets going at $9-10 a pop, popcorn, candy and drinks chalking up another $20, and that annoying group of teens chatting behind you nonstop, that 90 minute movie had better be the film of the year! For the same price (or less!) and without the guilty calories, you can hit up a small, local venue, check out a traveling act and maybe even buy a CD as a keepsake. The bands always appreciate your support, and who knows - you may just be the first ones to discover a band before they hit it big!

It doesn't have to be filmed: a live performance can be even better!

Check the paper for something that sparks your fancy, be it a drama, a comedy or even a little creepy, and see the show on stage before it finds its way to a movie producer, the way its writers intended.