Help yourself! First dates that lead to seconds
Even if you flunked high school science and you can't pronounce "phenylethylamine," let alone spell it, you ought to know that it's the secret ingredient for concocting a truly tasty first date.
Phenylethylamine (PEA) is the natural "love drug." It controls all those powerful brain chemicals that create the heart-fluttering sensation of attraction. All you have to do is pump up the PEA—in the right circumstances, of course—to make your date crave more.
Since the structure of PEA is much like amphetamines, you should plan a date that's reasonably active and stimulates the senses. No, not videogames! It should be something that gives you plenty of opportunity to interact with each other. That way, your date will associate all that pleasant stimulation with you.
This is also why those same-old same-old movie dates don't cut it. Dinner's nice, but the first time out, it can be a strain to maintain conversation face to face with somebody you don't know very well. Dancing is perfect—but only if the music isn't so loud that you can't talk. If it is, you're only stimulating half the package.
Check your local newspaper to find out what's going on in your area. You may be surprised by the variety of free entertainment you can find. The possibilities are practically endless if you don't mind the price of admission. Here's a list to get you started.
Spectator sports
- Air show
- Auto rally
- Ball game: softball, soccer, rugby, baseball, basketball, football . . . Look for local teams, high school games, spring training, exhibition games.
- Balloon race
- Boat race
- Outdoor concerts. Check the newspaper for free ones. Churches often host concerts, too.
Interactive playtime
- Amusement/theme park
- Antique auto show
- Antiques market/show
- Aquarium. Water is sexy.
- Carnival
- Community festivals & street fairs
- Conservatory/botanical gardens. Stop and smell the roses!
- County fair
- Dog & cat shows. First make sure your date isn't allergic!
- Flea markets & yard sales
- Museums. Look for a featured exhibit or share your own personal favorite.
- Wine tastings. These are often very inexpensive or totally free.
- Zoo. Good place to observe human behavior . . .
Active involvements
- Beach/water park—as long as your date is comfortable, first time out, in a bathing suit. Of course, beaches are good for walking, jogging, horseback riding, kite flying, people watching, picnicking . . .
- Bike riding. Find a bike path or trail in your area and go for a ride.
- Billiards/pool. Unless you're a pool shark, this can be an easygoing game that allows plenty of conversation and diversion at the same time. If one of you doesn't know how, the other can teach (obvious contact advantages).
- Bowling
- Canoeing
- Cooking lesson. Department stores, cookware and gourmet shops often give one-time cooking lessons. When you're done playing with your food, you get to eat it!
- Dancing. The trouble with clubs is the noise level. Why not take a dance lesson together?
- Hiking. City, state, and national parks usually have hiking and nature trails. Pack lunchthrow some drinks or a lunch in a backpack and have fun.)
- Horseback riding
- Ice skating
- In-line/roller skating
- Kite flying
- Miniature golf
- Photography. An instant camera (such as a Polaroid), a digital, or even a couple of disposable cameras; an interesting location; and each other for models . . . picture it!
- Sailing
- Skiing—or how about sledding? (It's cuddlier!)
- Tennis
- Water skiing
- Work out together: jogging, weight training, yoga . . . find out if you have similar tastes in physical exertion. Why not take advantage of a free gym tryout? Finish up in the hot tub. (Water is sexy!)
Old standbys, but with a kick
- Picnic. Go together to a gourmet or specialty food store and choose a few things you've never tried before, or maybe just one fabulous chunk of cheese or honey-dripping hunk of baklava. A farmer's market or even the local grocery offers plenty of options. Take your bounty someplace comfortable and dig in. Just don't forget the chocolate!
- Movie. Movies aren't really the best idea for first dates, since you spend so much time sitting side by side, looking straight ahead and not talking. Just doesn't stimulate the right attraction-chemicals in the brain. But in the summer, some museums and park districts show movies outdoors, often for free. Take a picnic and something comfortable to sit on, people-watch, and talk to each other.
Don't knock it till you try it
- Reading aloud. Poke around a used-book store or the local library. Depending on your tastes, pick something very funny, slightly steamy, or silly romantic. (Sometimes it's all the same thing!) Don't hesitate to comment, use appropriate voices, and take turns. Try reading the dialogue to each other; role play. See what develops
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