[Si] TV

It’s Friday night – you’re dressed, looking fine, and you’re ready to go out with the cutie you met last week. You haven’t checked movie times yet and there’s not a single dinner reservation with your name anywhere. But no worries – you plan to charm your way through this one. Stop right there! Without a plan you’re headed for disaster.

“I once went out with this guy I was really feeling but on our first date we ended up sitting in his car at a Denny’s parking lot because he hadn’t thought of anything fun to do,” recalls Antonia Tavares, a medical biller from Riverside, CA. “After two hours I just asked him to take me home, and I never called him again.” So to help you avoid a tragic first date like Tavares’, [Sí] Entertainment has put together some fun ideas to rescue you and your potential sweetie from first date hell. No worries, you can thank us later.

Tip #1: Skip the Movie
“The purpose of a first date is to see if there’s any chemistry there,” says Steve Ward, Vice President of Master Matchmakers, a dating service based in Philadelphia. “I would suggest doing something that makes it easy to converse with them.” In other words, skip the movie! It’s too typical and a total conversation killer. Instead head someplace where the two of you can talk and get to know each other. Meet for coffee or ice cream, or share a picnic at the beach or botanical garden.

Tip #2: Walk It Out
A walk in the park is a nice way to spend the day with a new love, but it could get boring. “Try to make it interesting, whatever it is,” Ward suggests. Skip the monotony and take a walk at the zoo where the animals can entertain you and the conversation can flow. No local zoo? Try an aquarium, it’s just as fascinating. You can also expand your horizons with a little culture. Ward recommends galleries, art exhibits and museums as a fun way to show your appreciation for the arts. Bonus: if you can catch a play or exhibition on opening night you might be able to hang out and crash a happenin’ after-party—Read: free cocktails!

Tip #3: Learn Your Lesson
And speaking of crashing, taking a crash course together is not only a creative first date, it’s also a great way to start building intimacy with your new romantic interest. Learning a new skill together, like cooking, wine tasting, or salsa dancing, can help to put you both at ease because it gives you a common goal and lets you focus on something else, not the fact that it’s a first date. Just make sure you keep your date’s interests in mind. “When planning a first date, remember, it’s not about you it’s about them,” Ward advises. Check your local newspaper or community college’s website to find fun classes in your area.

Tip #4: Laugh Out Loud
If you want to tickle your date’s funny bone, head to a comedy club—you’ll score major cool points with your prospective honey for having such a great sense of humor. Plus, most joints are pretty intimate so the two of you can get a little closer over cocktails and a few laughs.

There’s more to do besides the mundane “dinner and a movie” combo for the first outing, or any other date for that matter. Just relax and be your amazing self. “For men, it’s important to focus on being themselves,” Ward says. “Women should keep an open mind and allow the guy to demonstrate what he’s about.” Most importantly, no matter what you do, have fun! After all, this could be the start of the perfect romance.