Dating in Los Angeles can be bananas and as much as I truly do love an active hiking first date in Griffith Park or grabbing a happy hour cocktail at The Well, I find myself searching for new and entertaining ways to get to know someone.  Whether you’ve been partnered up for a while or are currently exploring and enjoying something new and exciting, there’s nothing like an amazing fun time t0 relearn about what this fantastic city has to offer. 

Grab an edible and head off to the Museum of Jurassic Technology:

While the first half of this date may not be for everyone, we are lucky enough to live in a state that allows recreational marijuana and there is no better place to visit than The Museum of Jurassic Technology when softly stoned.  Without giving its secret away, MJT isn’t here to celebrate dinosaurs, but rather explores an obsession with the odd and peculiar.  The top floor surprise will truly transport you out of Los Angeles and into the unknown.  Do you dare to take a chance on the unexpected?  For only $12 a ticket, the risk is yours to discover, and a great way to determine how adventurous your date is.  

https://www.mjt.org

Poetry Slam Picnic in your Favorite Park:

This one takes a little bit of prep work, making it an ideal 3rd or 4th date.  Head to Iliad books (or any of my favorite local bookstores found here: 6 Amazing Los Angeles Bookstores: That will make you feel like you’re in a Nora Ephron Rom-Com! | Kate Orlando) choose a random book of poetry, pack a picnic lunch, then mosey over to one of your favorite local parks.  From Barnsdall Arts Park in Los Feliz to the not so secret “Locals Only” Circle Park in Beverlywood. Once you’ve set up your desired romantic spot, release your inhibitions and recite your favorite poems (preferably in iambic pentameter) as you gaze into each other’s eyes. 

Organ Night at the Roller Disco:

Any night at Moonlight Roller is truly a delight, but organ night is special.  Don your black eyeliner and lipstick and skate around to live organ music as if you’re starring in a gothic fantasy.  Once you’ve held hands to a live rendition of The Phantom of the Opera, there’s no going back.  For only $19 you get three hours of fun, plus a food court that has mini donuts and a cup of soup that will keep you rolling into the night!  If you’ve never skated before, or if it’s been since you were 10, never fear.  For an additional $5, you can show up an hour early to the rink on Tuesdays and Thursdays for their tutorial nights!  https://moonlightrollerway.com

Second Hand Thrift Shopping Adventure Time!

Few things are more entertaining than hitting up a thrift/second hand/consignment store and picking out the worst possible outfit for your date to wear.  I’m not saying that you have to purchase the clothes and wear them out into the world (you should 100% purchase them and wear them out into the world), but it’s a great way to get out of your comfort zone and learn a lot about each other! Embrace the awkwardness of dating and let someone else control your fashion for the day.  If you’re in need of a list of second hand vintage, look no further than this fascinating blog post (8 Truly Unique LA Thrift Stores! | Kate Orlando).  Grab that bucket hat and make some 90’s magic happen!

Trivia and … a drink!

OKAY.  Drinking can be fun, why not grab a pint and flex your brain muscles at one of the many trivia nights hosted here in LA; Bigfoot East and West, Cat & Fiddle, and Angel City Brewery to name a few.  Conjure up a clever team name for you and your boo (Tyrannosaurus Sex or Know Eye Deer) and put your beautiful minds to work.  Trivia nights can be a fantastic way to bring your new love to meet your inner circle of friends as they help win the final round with their knowledge that the moon is only 238,900 miles away from the earth.  Grab a drink, share some fries, and know that the real victor is the makeout you’ll have in the parking lot once the festivities are over.