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Dating Guide

Four of the Best First-Date Ideas

Avoid an awkward experience with a little planning.
By Marie Carrier |
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I think we can all agree that first dates can be pretty awkward. Exciting and enthralling, too, but mostly awkward. You’re getting to know someone – their hobbies, interests, favorite food and movie, as well as whether or not they’re a cat or dog person – all while making sure you leave a solid first impression. That means no food in your teeth, no lingering gaps in conversation, and not too much inflation of stories to make yourself sound that much more appealing. They’ll figure out the truth, eventually.

It’s a lot to think about. We get it, and picking the environment for one is arguably the most important aspect to consider when planning. You don’t want to choose somewhere that’s so noisy you can’t hear what your date is saying, leaving you ineptly nodding and laughing at what you think may be a joke. But you also can’t pick something so basic your date thinks you’re a total bore. (Lookin’ at you, “classic” dinner-and-a-movie night.)

That’s where we enter. We’ve compiled a handful of the best first-date spots in and near Dallas that’ll put some of your first-date anxiety to rest. (We only ask for an invite to the wedding.)

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1. See if they’re good with their hands. TopGolf is a great casual date destination, and you can gauge if your date is playful, competitive, or a downright bad sport. You’ll have your choice between 74 bays on two floors, clubs included, to show your date what you’ve got. Also, batting cages, mini-golf, and a full bar will ensure a good time for activity-driven, go-getting daters.

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2. Assess the situation at a fast-casual restaurant. These restaurants are a go-to if you’re short on time and merely trying to feel out the other person. At places like Hopdoddy Burger Bar and Yucatan Taco Stand, you get the messy song-and-dance of ordering and paying out of the way, right away, at a stand-up register. But you still have the comfort of lounging in a sit-down atmosphere with wait staff to bring another round of margaritas. It’s a few steps up from Taco Bell, but not necessarily the level of Bob’s Steakhouse – and that’s just fine for a first date.

3. Beer is always a good idea. And kind of a necessity where interesting conversation is involved. Lakewood Brewing Co. offers free taproom tours on Saturdays and Sundays for the penny-pinchers out there, and there’s a 4,000-square-foot beer garden lined with food trucks and stocked with brews available for purchase. There’s also the option of renting out the more intimate Founders Taproom, if you want to pull out all the stops.

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4. Walk and talk aimlessly. It’s good for the soul­­­ and a good way to get to know someone­–especially with the charming North Oak Cliff neighborhood of Bishop Arts as your background. You can stop into Bishop Cider Company to sip on local fruity beverages, peruse the many shops and galleries that line North Bishop Avenue, and share a cheesy, thin-crust pie at the cozy Eno’s Pizza Tavern. Forget the conversation lulls that are bound to happen on a first date. This date will be so plentiful with people watching and trinket-inspecting that you’ll both leave enchanted with this pocket of Dallas and, hopefully, each other, too.

Marie Carrier was a D Magazine summer 2015 intern.

Dallas Dating Guide

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