PlanJam.com - Dating Tips, Ideas, and Relationship Advice » Unique Ideas

Breathing New Life Into An Old Standby

Lori Dake — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:59:44 +0000

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.

Summer Date Ideas

Ron Zvagelsky — Fri, 18 May 2007 07:06:27 +0000

With summer right around the corner, dating is about to heat up. There is no reason to keep up with those old and tired date ideas that you have been using for so many years. Don’t get me wrong, I love bowling as much as the next person, but it does tend to get boring. Summer time offers a great opportunity to do some fun and creative things that can leave an impact on your date. After all, people just want to have fun on dates. Choosing something far from cliché is a great way to make sure this happens.

Because the weather is warm and the water is great, heading down to the beach or lake is always a good summer date idea. If you happen to live near the beach, drive down there, have a meal, and enjoy the setting. The lake is also a good option, especially if you have a boat. Invite your date and some of your mutual friends to head out on the water and have a great day.

Most people agree that dinner and a movie is simply played out in today’s society. Instead of going to dinner, why not go and grab ice cream at a local shop. This will make for an informal date setting that is comfortable for everybody. Most people love ice cream, so this is a good way to come together.

During the summer, there are baseball games each night all over the country. If you are lucky enough to live in a major league city, then a major league game makes a great date. Minor league games aren’t shabby either. Baseball is a game that can be enjoyed by men and women; even non-sports fans seem to have a good time at the park. This also gives you an opportunity to enjoy some cold beer and have a good time in a laid back setting.

These date ideas are perfect for summer and will show your significant other that you are more creative than the average date. Don’t be afraid to try something new and different.

Browse through more date ideas

A Romantic Helicopter Tour

Ron Zvagelsky — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:08:30 +0000

We always wondered how many people actually end up doing the things we suggest…so this was really refreshing.

Last week we received an email from one of our users, Alan Oratovsky, thanking us for helping him plan his date. Alan works as a paramedic in Riverside, California and he wanted to do something really special and romantic for his girlfriend. He began by taking a 45-minute helicopter tour of Los Angeles at sunset and finished it off with a candlelight dinner by the beach.

Here are some photos that Alan included from his helicopter ride:

If you had a great date and want to share it with others, send us the details and we’ll put it up

Destination Dates

Ron Zvagelsky — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 10:50:12 +0000

When you first start to date someone you usually meet in the usual locales such as restaurants, the movies, museums, a coffee shop, or even the ice cream parlor. However, as you move on in your relationship, you may want to try a longer date, such as a weekend date.

You can tell so much more about a person if you go on an extended date with him or her. You’ll find out really quickly what their temperament might be over a longer period of time, or if they are a morning or night person. Use this time to really get to know them. Here are just a few ideas on where you may consider going on a destination date.

Once thought of as a place for children, Walt Disney World can be a great experience for a couple getting to know each other. Depending on where you live you can go to Disney World in Florida, or Disneyland in California. Both trips are just a short flight away, and they hold a great deal of excitement and fun. Holding on to each other’s hands while you ride a roller coaster, or getting soaked on a flume can lead to exhilarating opportunities to grab a kiss.

Las Vegas is the original sin city, and this destination can provide you with more thrills than any other. Whether your date consists of gambling, shopping, or just swimming in the hotel pool there isn’t a more stirring place than Las Vegas. Of course, if your date goes really well, you can always run to the wedding chapel to make your date a permanent one.

If you are looking for more of a relaxing weekend, you can take your date to the beach. There are plenty of romantic beaches where you can be lazy and talk all day sitting on the sand, playfully splashing in the water, or enjoy dreamy looks at each other while you dine on sumptuous lobster and shrimp. After dinner you can take that romantic stroll on the beach that you have daydreamed about forever.

The most important concern is that you go on this weekend date with someone you completely trust. Getting separate rooms is a wise decision at first. Not only does it give you security, it gives you a place to be alone if the weekend doesn’t quite turn out to be what you thought it would.

Creative Ideas For Your Date

Ron Zvagelsky — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:00:24 +0000

When you have been dating someone for a longer amount of time, you may find yourself bored and lacking ideas to spice up a date. It can be as simple as finding new, exciting places to go. Take the time to think up some new ideas for dates to give a little spark to an otherwise boring evening. Here are some ideas to help you conjure up a creative date.

Take your date to the playground. You might think it is for kids, but running around, playing on the swings, and sliding down the curvy slides can lead to a daytime or nighttime full of laughs. It also leads to great conversation as you sit on the seesaw and just look at each other. A simple but unusual date can be going to an Art museum, or gallery opening, and then taking a large pad of paper, crayons or markers, and trying to recreate what was hanging in the museum. If neither of you has any art ability, you can at least laugh about it for hours.

You could consider taking lessons in something that you both enjoy, such as horseback riding, sailing, or tennis. That way you can learn something new while you spend time with each other. Try a local rock climbing wall, aerobics class, or a spa. All of these ideas can inspire not only your love life, but they can keep you in shape. A planetarium can be an atypical date. It is a wonderful place to sit in the dark, hold hands, and enjoy a little bit of what the earth has to offer. Some planetariums have laser light shows that are set to music, to make looking at the stars more exciting.

For a really unusual and unknown date, try a “coin flip date”. You go to a downtown, historic, or touristy area and park somewhere. You then flip a coin to see which direction you go in. Heads you go left, tails you go right, and see what interests you. Every stop you make, flip the coin again; let the date take you wherever the coin flip leads you. There is no planning, and you can find out what a person likes or dislikes by the type of museums, stores, or restaurants they want to stop at. You can make any date fun and creative, just put a little a bit of yourself into it.