First dates don’t have to be the same-old, same-old outing of dinner and a movie. There’s something to be said for thinking outside the box, taking a risk and planning a creative first date for your new lady or gent. Of course it can be hard to pick a place when you barely know the person, but if you make it fun and romantic you are bound to have a good time. Here are 10 creative first dates you can make happen:

1. Take a Cooking Class: Taking your date to a cooking class is an original idea that he or she will love. Cooking classes are casual, fun and you’ll learn some valuable information that will come in handy when you cook a romantic dinner on the second date.
2. Go to an Arcade: Arcades offer plenty of good ol’ competitive and cheap fun, which is perfect for a casual first date. You and your date can find a game you’re good at and challenge each other, while engaging in some flirtatious smack talk, of course.
3. Go to a Museum: Museums are excellent places for first dates. Whether you choose an art, science or history museum, you and your date will have a good time checking out the exhibits, taking self-guided tours and discussing life as you stroll around.
4. Take a Boat Ride: Impress her or him with a boat ride on the first date. Depending on your location and budget, you can go out on a fishing boat, go sailing, or rent one yourself and go tubing or waterskiing. Don’t forget to make sure your date doesn’t have motion sickness before planning this one.
5. Go to a Comedy Club: A comedy club is a nice alternative to the movie date because you can let loose and laugh together, while having a drink to take the edge off a bit. Guys, you’ll want to do some homework on the comedian beforehand to make sure they aren’t too crass and offend your lady of the night.
6. Take a Dance Lesson: If you are feeling gutsy and want to show off your dancing skills, or lack thereof, take your date to a dance lesson. For extra creative points, go to a salsa, hip hop or country-western dancing lesson, and make sure you practice your moves at a dance club on the second date.
7. Go to a Concert: Concerts are fun settings for first dates, especially if you both enjoy listening to music. Depending on the venue, you may be able to snag a spot on the lawn where you can talk and listen from afar.
8. Go to a Winery or Brewery: Instead of meeting at a bar, jazz it up by going to a winery or brewery for a tour and tasting. Before you go, find out which drink he or she prefers and then you can pick a place. Most tours and tastings happen during the afternoon, so pack a picnic lunch and bring it to enjoy together.
9. Go for a Bike Ride: Going for a bike ride is a great activity to do on the first date. Biking is a casual and informal activity, but you can make the experience romantic by having an outdoor picnic and talking after you exercise.
10. Go to the Zoo: The zoo is a wonderful setting for a first date, as long as you both love animals, and who doesn’t love lions, monkeys and elephants? There, you can stroll around the exhibits, learn about your new furry friends and, most importantly, get to know each other.

Good etiquette seems to be gone with the wind and can rarely be found in any situation.  Whether manners at a dinner, or opening the door for ladies in our midst, and for sure respecting the elderly if for no other reason than their age.  Social graces are rare.  However, even dating social graces can still be found by those who will not settle for less.

A date whether a special night out, or to a movie should be an enjoyable experience.  Treating each other with respect should not have to be an effort on anyone’s part, but a natural byproduct of being a nice person.

I would love to give you the “be” attitudes of dating, but fell short in doing ten.  I did come up with a few like:

1. Blessed is the father who refuses to allow his daughter to go running to a car that has parked on the street or in the driveway, and the driver has just honked the horn!
2. Or like this one:  Blessed is the father who requires he meet a young man before he allows his daughter to go anywhere with him.
3. Blessed is the young man who is willing to come to the door and greet the girl’s parents, dressed appropriately, willing to extend his hand – ready with a strong hand shake, and a “my name is  Joe Blow, nice to meet you.”
4. Blessed is the young man who opens the door for his date.
5. Blessed is the young man who is ready to pay for the meal and the movie and remembers that his date has a curfew.
6. One thing for sure is that College students tend to run in packs as do High School age kids.  Wherever they can crash after a group event is where they land.  They tend to get acquainted with several before realizing that one in the group may be special.
7. Also each one is obligated to pay for his or her own food even when the relationship has progressed.  Going “Dutch” came in with the sixties and women’s liberation.
8. Whether it is more difficult to meet people or if it is the going trend, the Internet did not come in to play where dating was concerned 15-20 years ago.  However now, college age students say they rely on the Internet sites for meeting people.  It appears that the ones they meet at college are friends who may or may not be a potential life mate.
9. Once women and or men dated awhile fell in love and did not pay too much attention to the financial stability of the other.  Now with the increase in an education young people are waiting longer to get married, it seems the trend is moving toward finding someone who is financially stable before getting serious.
10. Not kissing on a first date or going to bed with someone you’ve just met is still in order for many reasons.  It may be the trend, but having close contact so soon can ruin the chance for a better relationship later.  There is something to be said about people who save themselves for that special person.  One thing is the trust that evolves, and that you are not used merchandise, or you have more respect for yourself, therefore gaining the respect of your date.

Considering the fact that dating from my vantage point spans several years, it seems that each decade brings with it an “acceptable” for that era.   There are still southern gentlemen out there who have not given up their heritage of treating a girl with respect and courtesy.  There are still southern girls, who are looking for the southern gentlemen type.  So don’t give up.  Keep up with the proper etiquette instead of today’s trend and you are sure to find your match who is willing to receive your social graces or to extend them, whatever the case may be.

This list could really vary depending on what genre of music you listen to. Across the wide spectrum of music styles, each genre has its songs that provide rhythms that immediately draw your body into movement. It may make you want to get up and twirl around the room or it may be the kind that makes you just want to be held close by the one you love as you sway to the music. Either way, your body just feels drawn to respond to the music. Here is a list of some those songs that have moved people to dancing over the years.

1. Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu. This Johnny River’s song epitimizes the kind of songs we’re talking about here. The fast jazzy beat grabs you immediately. If you can sit still through this one you better check your pulse and make sure you’re still alive.
2. Slow Dancin’.  Another Johnny Rivers song, the title tells it all. Slow romantic music with words to match, this song will draw most any woman into your arms. Turn the lights down low and push play, the music will do the rest.
3. I Want to Dance with Somebody. Whitney Houston got people moving with this dance classic from the 80?s. Of course, the 80?s was the disco era where most everything was geared towards the dance floor.
4. Bille Jean. Of the many Michael Jackson songs that will get your feet moving, this seems to be the one people were most likely to pick when it came to his songs that could get you out on the dance floor. Michael loved to dance, so it is natural that many of his songs were geared for movement.
5. One More Time. Moving up to a more modern sound, Daft Punk has gotten plenty of people bopping and moving with this big hit. This one gets you hopping at the beginning, slows down in the middle to give you a rest and then picks back up again. Very fun.
6. Johnny B. Goode. Chuck Berry’s music is classic rock and roll. This is another song that people just can’t listen to without movement. The guitar and piano keys are dancing. How could people not join them?
7. Love Me Tender. This is one of Elvis’ most romantic songs. We don’t want to leave out these slow romantic songs. The dancing may be slower but its pull to movement is just as strong.
8. Jailhouse Rock. This Elvis Presley hit contains the rock and roll beat that caused Elvis to girate. He couldn’t stand still while singing his music and his fans couldn’t stand still while listening to it either. Rock and roll was all about moving with the music.
9. I’m a Ramblin’ Man. We can’t leave the country songs out of this list. Waylon Jennings is about as country as you get and this is one of his best toe-tappers. Some serious steel guitar going on in this fast moving piece.
10. Hey Ya. In contrast to the country, let’s end with a little hip hop. The duo Outkast came out with this in 2003 and quickly moved up the charts with its funky beat.

This list certainly could not be labeled the top 10 in dance songs but it does provide you a broad spectrum. There is such a variety when it comes to musical taste. What would be considered good dance music by one might cause another person to cover their ears. Regardless of what our taste is in music, there’s bound to be something in that genre that is just meant to be danced to. From the moment we are born our body’s and minds appear to be built to respond to rhythm.