So you’ve been flirting with that one girl at your lunch table for close to a month now, and you’re finally getting up the courage to ask her out. You have a bit of a problem, though: You don’t know where the hell to take her on that all-important first date (assuming, that is, that she says “yes” in the first place). Don’t worry: Zephyrus has you covered. Here are a few some creative and classic date ideas that are guaranteed (well, not quite) to impress (almost) any girl.
Go to the lake: This is a great way to spend time outdoors with your date. You could rent a canoe and show off your rugged outdoorsy side. If ruggedness isn’t your forte, just walk around the lake, hopefully hand in hand… (Boat rental info for Lake Calhoun is available at their website)
Go for a bike ride: Again, a fun outdoor date. There are plenty of bike trails aroundthe Twin Cities, so there will always be somewhere new to go. My personal suggestion would be a ride down the Midtown Greenway to the Mississippi River. It’s fairly flat, so she might not notice your lack of athletic ability, and fairly scenic once you get out of Uptown. Special props if you rent a tandem bike and waltz her around town (rental info)
Dinner and a movie: Sure, this one gets overused,But only if you do the whole generic Cheesecake-Factory-and-AMC-theater-schpeal. You care about her, right? Well, put some care into your choice of restaurant and movie (and theater)! Joe’s Downtown Garage is a great inexpensive and casual place, while Tin Fish is a great outdoor experience. As far as the movie is concerned, the Edina Landmark and Hopkins Mann Cinema are probably your best bets. The Landmark shows lots of artsy independent and foreign films, so you can impress her with your sophistication, while the Hopkins is still a nice break from the generic, with it’s movies that have been out of most theaters for months. Added bonus: Cheap tickets.
Make dinner: You’re a man, learn to cook! Not only will she appreciate the effort (and, possibly, even the food if you don’t mess up). Besides, this option is way cheaper than eating out. Pro tip: Don’t just throw some steaks on the grill and hope everything works out. Put some effort into it and make something complicated. Try bonappetit.com/recipes for some ideas. It’s always pulled through for me. Good luck to you, brave sir.
The Zoo: The Minnesota Zoo is a bit of a hike from Edina (you do have to leave the Bubble), but you would definitely score some serious originality points as you enjoy all of our animal friends. You might want to go on a nice day so you can spend some time walking around outside – and seeing the really interesting animals, like the Zoo’s tigers and wolves. This is one of the more expensive options, but it’s sure to be worth it.
Take her to a Saints game: Sure, it’s not the Twins, but tickets are only gonna run you about $12 each (less if you sit in the outfield). Also, between each inning, something interesting happens on the field, like when they have a man dressed as a Viking chase after a pig. As long as your date isn’t a die-hard baseball fan, she won’t mind the lower-quality play, but hopefully will enjoy the theatrics surrounding the game.
