FUN AND GAMES
A Couple Who Bends Together, Stays Together
Connect spiritually and physically to that special someone at a partners yoga class at the Dallas Yoga Center. It gets your blood flowing and sets your mind at ease, not to mention the physical benefits. Afterward, tackle the salad bar and tofu selection across the street at Whole Foods Market. www.wholefoods.com.
Cowtown Jamboree
Disc-o Fun
Here’s the problem with golf. It’s hard. And frustrating. And all of those clubs can be unwieldy. Plus, we’ve been known to utter a discouraging word or two at our foursomes, revealing our unsavory sides. Yep, as dates go, golf can be as tricky as a 10-footer left for par. So head out to the B.B. Owen Disc Golf Park, an 18-hole course designed for Frisbee golfers. It’s still a nice walk in the park, it still offers a challenge to competitive people (like us), and tossing a Frisbee can be a lot more fun than throwing your clubs into a lake.
Boot-scootin’ Boogie
If your idea of fun is drinking beer, two-stepping with your partner, and riding an electric bull, look no further than Gilley’s, y’all. This formula for true love worked for John Travolta and Debra Winger (Urban Cowboy, for the uninitiated), and it can work for you, too. The brand-spankin’-new country bar features a rotating lineup from every music genre under the sun. One night, Loverboy; the next, the Oak Ridge Boys or Erykah Badu.
Hang On Tight
Looking for a challenge, but not in a relationship? A day of rock climbing at Exposure Indoor Rock Climbing Gym will test your ability to support each other. Plus, you can get a little physical. The facility has several routes to choose from, all rated for difficulty. If you’re feeling really adventurous—or you want to impress your date—you can attempt the upside-down stairs. No need for equipment or training; the staff provides it. After a hard day of climbing, quell the hunger pains at Genghis Grill.
Private Fly
Ever wonder what it’s like to fly? Wonder no more. The Discovery Flight is the best hour-long adrenaline rush you can get for $80 (both of you get to fly the plane). This one-of-a-kind experience allows you to take control of the aircraft while taking in some of the best views of downtown Dallas. If an hour isn’t enough, the two of you can commit to the seven-step process of becoming a real pilot. If only relationships were that easy.
Thrill-seeker Shangri-la
For a date that’s fast and furious (the activity, not the chick), race to SpeedZone. After a few turns around the slick track, dash over to Zero Gravity, where you can catapult your relationship into the next dimension. Try the Texas Blast Off, a tandem adventure that accelerates you and your date from 0 to 70 mph and 150 feet in the air in about one second. It’s guaranteed to make her scream.
Games of Love
First decide who is the fox and who is the hound, then let the chase begin. Fox & Hound English Pub & Grille does more than offer burgers and cold beer; the music in the game rooms is always rocking, perfect for a casual and fun (not to mention no-pressure) first date. Don’t know him well? You will after a few games of pool or shuffleboard. If you like what you see, order another round and head to Golden Tee. Longest drive wins.
Celebrate Good Times
Still playing games with each other? Engage in a little friendly fire at Celebration Station. Dare your girl to a laser-tag match or throw out a double-dog-dare to a paint ball shootout. Wind down with pizza and drinks. Before you leave, visit the arcade’s Hoop It Up and shoot for a super-size teddy bear that will score major points—and might soften the blow of her defeat. www.celebrationstation.com.
Building a Mystery
Make a reservation at Keith & Margo’s Ultimate Mystery Adventure, where you two sleuths can take part in the Ultimate Mystery Adventure every Friday and Saturday at Pierre’s by the Lake. The package deal includes hors d’oeuvres, dinner, wine, and cold-blooded murder among incognito actors posing as other diners. The thrill will add to the excitement of your budding romance, and you can show off your crime-fighting skills if you figure out “whodunit.” www.murdermysterytexas.com.
Bowled Over
Three nights a week, Don Carter All Star Lanes feels more like a chic disco than a grungy, smoke-filled bowling alley. During Lightning Strikes, the lights dim, the music starts pumping, and you and your date can get your groove on between—and during—games. Get lost in the fog together (just be sure to look out for the cruising beer cart), then check to see if you’re both aglow at the end of the evening.
Bingo Was His Name-O
White-trash kitsch is cool. And we cannot think of anything more fun than hanging out at Ali Cat Bingo. Along with competitive square dancing and First Mondays in Canton, Ali Cat has been a tradition in the lives of every Nana and Papa we know. Pack a lunch, bring your soda pop, and put your bright orange dauber in your pocket. Even if you don’t want to play, the people-watching is entertainment enough.
