Date Opportunities!

The Holidays are more than gift giving time – they are date opportunities for spending quality time together.  It doesn’t matter if you are dating, or married 20 years, amidst the “musts” and “shoulds” of holiday preparation, consider some true stress relief by spending intentional time together.

Avoid the stress – look for some great dates! We have a few suggestions for activities around town. Perhaps slip back to a simpler time?  A Victorian Christmas at the Ramsey House (Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN).   Visit the Alexander Ramsey House this holiday season as Christmas 1875 comes alive. Take in a Victorian holiday with heirloom ornaments on the 12 foot parlor tree, period china on the dining room table, and fresh cookies from the wood-burning stove.

The popular “Homecoming” holiday tours run through Jan. 3, 2010. Other special programs include Annie’s Kitchen baking classes, Victorian floral workshops and special carriage rides around Historic Irvine Park. Visitors should make their reservations early for these popular events.

Need a date with a few laughs?  A holiday favorite returns with Triple Espresso – A Highly Caffeinated Comedy.  It is back at the Music Box Theatre on Nicollet Avenue through Jan 9.  Triple Espresso tells the story of three guys whose bid for showbiz fame and fortune ended in 4-minutes of magnificent failure on national television. Hugh Butternut, Buzz Maxwell, and Bobby Bean tell their rags-to-rags story earnestly, with hysterical results. Butternut is a musician, a vulnerable soul with a lounge lizard smile; Maxwell is an uncertain magician with an attitude; and Bean is an irrepressible, all-over-the-map entertainer with big dreams. The laughter is infectious and the comedy appeals to everyone from first graders to college students to baby-boomers to grandparents.

Or perhaps a Nostalgia Date with some charitable overtones. Check out the Riverview Theatre!  In what is becoming an annual tradition, they will have screenings of A CHRISTMAS STORY on December 20-23. This year they will also have IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE on the schedule. Admission to either of these films will help benefit the local Food Shelf.  Popcorn and soft drinks will be available for just $1. Click here for more information. (Advance tickets are now on sale on their website.)

Another intimate date idea?  Consider improve theatre at Stevie Ray’s Improv company at the Chanhassen with a brand new holiday show.

Stevie Ray’s proudly presents its newest holiday comedy with music, O Little Town of Chanhassen November 19-December 30.  Enjoy holiday music and comedy!

Of course the best stress reduction is fabulous easy-to-find-gifts for your special someone – you  can shop for a unique and memorable date to give as a holiday gift! Just shop here – at Out of The Box Dates – see our exciting romantic adventures!  We wish you the best holiday season ever!

Halloween Date Night

Need a fresh idea for date planning around Halloween?  Read on for great ideas around town!

How about the BareBones Theatre,  Friday October 29 to 31st based on Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes!  It is outdoor puppetry and performance art at it’s best. Held at the Hidden Falls Regional Park, just south of Ford Parkway and Mississippi River Blvd in St. Paul, this show features  pyrotechnics, puppetry, stilt walkers, aerial feats, and live orchestral music.  This is set up to be a stellar spooky date night!

All show times are 7pm and tickets are not required for admission (cheap date night!).  A free-will offering of $5 to $20 is suggested to support BareBones Productions and their future endeavors.

If you feel like bringing out your creative side, then create the best couple-combo-halloween-costume you can think of! Strut your duo-stuff at Red Carpet to Hell II at the Living Room and Prohibition  in the fabulous W Hotel, located inside the Foshy Tower, downtown Minneapolis. The event on Saturday October 30th kicks off at 9pm and you can party till closing time at 2am.

Stop by the Living room, have a cocktail and mingle with other vampires, ghouls and beasties. Then head up to Prohibition on the Foshay’s 27th floor for the Dead Celebrity Lounge. Stick around for a chance at some prizes, as thousands of dollars worth will be given away.

Dress up in your most creative or scary (but appropriate) getup for the costume contest for a chance at your piece of the prize pie. You have to be present to win, so if people are coming and going, your chances of winning may be pretty good.

This event is for 21+ and there is no cover. The Living Room is located at 821 Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, in the Foshay Tower.

Spooky date night is a great chance to be in each others arms! How is that for couples therapy? Enjoy these A+ Romantic ideas!

We promised to look for other dates that inspire, by helping out with something larger than both of you.  Our next suggestion is for the two of you to volunteer at ”Feed My Starving Children”…and you don’t have to have kids to be part of this inspiring date!

One of Feed My Starving Children’s  (FMSC) belief statements is:  We believe that our lives are enriched when we graciously give our own time and resources to help others in need.  So why not enrich your relationship the same way?

Find something you both believe in, and a way to support it together.   FMSC makes it super easy – with 3 locations around the metro area (and 5 other states as well), and an online sign up to volunteer,  which allows you to search available timeslots in a date range. (Try signing up under “family” to get 2 or more spots). Sounds like a great date – both cheap and full of value!

FMSC is a  faith-based charity, headquartered in the Twin Cities, that is having an international impact.  FMSC seeks to ensure that every child in the world can receive adequate nutrition for healthy physical development.  In 2009, they were able to supply 96 million meals for distribution in over 62 countries.  The meals provided by FMSC are carefully designed by food scientists to provide the nutrients that malnourished children need and the success stories are impressive. 

Helping to solve the world hunger crisis is great fun at FMSC.  The volunteers (you and your date!)  will arrive for a 1.5 to 2 hour shift and watch a short motivational video,  receive a briefing on how the assembly process works, and then the take their place in the meal packing process.  The atmosphere at FMSC makes the work game-like.  Workers will give a shout when a bag of meals weighs exactly the right amount.  The music is fun and light-hearted competition is encouraged.  At the same time, the work is taken very seriously.  The ratio of ingredients is carefully maintained and the work flow maximizes output and minimizes stoppages.  When the shift is over, a staffer will tell the group what they have accomplished.  The result is always satisfying.  

So don’t delay, sign up on their website, or search out your own charitable challenge that means a lot to both of you, and find your relationship inspired on an unusual and unique date!

A Charitable Challenge

What  better way to embark on an amazing date than by trying The Great MN Race?!  Challenge yourself and your spouse/date to try something totally different in a couple’s teamwork unique date.

The Great MN Race is modeled after CBS series The Amazing Race, with a few original twists thrown in to give a local appeal. The race will benefit Urban Ventures, a faith-based non-profit that works to break the cycle of generational poverty, specifically in the Central and Phillips neighborhoods of South Minneapolis.

The Great MN Race will take teams of two across the metro area of Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota. Teams will be solving clues and performing challenging tasks that are both mental and physical in nature as they race across the city (by foot, by bus, or by train).

The Great MN Race is unlike any race in the area, combining the fun elements of racing, solving clues, and completing tasks all while exploring the urban areas of the Twin Cities.

There’s still plenty of time to find a partner and register your team of two to participate in the race. Register online for $45 before 11:59pm Friday August 27^th.  

Registration and check-in is at 8:30am on Saturday and the race begins at 9:30 at 1199 Midway Pkwy, the north side of Como Pavilion in St. Paul.

For challenge examples, race details, and other information, email info@greatmnrace.com or visit http://www.greatmnrace.com/.

We are so inspired by this charity event, we may look for more A+ romantic idea as date opportunities that allow you to both enhance your relationship on a date and support a fabulous charity. Dates that Inspire! Watch for more ideas….

Summer’s Date Night!

Every summer night can be your Summer Date Night when you start looking around at the possibilities!  Dancing under the stars?  Perhaps some live music? What better way to replenish your relationship than checking out the ready-made date nights in the Twin Cities!

Thursday evenings through August 12th, the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and several partners team up to turn Landmark Center Plaza into a venue for dance.

This Thursday, July 29th is Rock ‘n’ Roll night. The evening kicks off at 6pm with instruction by Arthur Murray Dance Studio, followed by live music  from the Rockin’ Holywoods from 7:30 until 10, giving you some time to practice what you learn and dance the night away.

Beer and wine is available for purchase starting at 5:30, so you can come early and mingle with other couples before class is in session.

August 5th, the schedule remains the same for Ballroom Dance night. Cinema Ballroom will provide instruction and live music is by the Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra.

But if dancing isn’t the way to your collective heart, you and your date could check out some upcoming free movies and music. Loring Park has some A+ Date Night opportunities!

 Tuesday nights starting August 3rd and wrapping up August 24th, the live music starts at 7pm followed by the movie screenings at dusk. Then you can head over to Nick and Eddie for more live music at the afterparty.

The series kicks off August 3rd with a live set from local heroes Communist Daughter followed by a showing of Raising Arizona, written, produced and directed by St. Louis Park natives Joel and Ethan Coen. Then at the afterparty, catch local electro pop outfit Estate.

What could be better than a ready-made fresh date night with no planning required!  So if you need something more spontaneous, on a date night of your choice, visit our website.  And enjoy a summer of unique romantic adventures!

An Outdoor Date!

You can hardly miss the romantic opportunities of an outdoor festival!  Check out the possibilities, and see which are most attuned to both your desires…

Aquatennial Block Party  

 The Aquatennial Block Party will officially launch the 2010 Minneapolis Aquatennial on the evening of Friday, July 16. The festivities will take place from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Nicollet Mall between 3rd and 4th Streets in downtown Minneapolis. The Aquatennial Block Party is one of the largest free annual outdoor concerts. No ticket is required! This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the Block Party, the official kick-off event of the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Night Ranger, the iconic 80′s band famous for songs such as “Sister Christian” and “When You Close Your Eyes,” will headline the block party! Minnestoa musicians, Corey Stevens and Romantica will open the show. The Aquatennial Block Party will offer happy hour pricing from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. with discounts on beer.

 Twin Cities River Rats
West River Road in Minneapolis
1758 West River Rd N
The River Rats perform an hour long show combining various water skiing acts with skits and music. Their acts include Barefooting, Pyramids, Doubles, and more.

The River Rats show site is located just north of downtown Minneapolis on the Mississippi River. The hillside along the river provides excellent viewing for the best show in the Twin Cites.

07/17/2010 3:00 pm 5:00 pm
07/17/2010 7:00 pm 9:00 pm
07/18/2010 3:00 pm 5:00 pm
07/18/2010 7:00 pm 9:00 pm

Star Tribune Beach Bash
10:00 am 4:00 pm
Thomas Beach, Lake Calhoun
The Star Tribune Beach Bash features the beloved events of the Milk Carton Boat Races and the Sandcastle Competition. Join us Sunday, July 18th for the ultimate blast on the beach!

CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade
8:30 pm 10:30 pm
Hennepin Avenue
Come line the streets of downtown Minneapolis for the Aquatennial CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade. Watch as the parade runs down Hennepin Avenue on Wednesday, July 21st starting at 8:30 PM!

If you really aren’t in the mood for outdoor festivals, perhaps a nice quiet poetry reading tonight?

Poets Sharon Chmielarz, Mark Conway, and J.P. White read from their latest collections at the Loft Literary Center and Open Book    just scroll down the homepage to upcoming events, directions etc.  The best things in life are free!

Have a romantic adventure! And you can always find those right on our website!

We wish you a very romantic week…

How to find the perfect romantic gesture!

Sometimes Romance is right under your nose. Look around your hometown. You might be surprised at what you find.  We found several ideas in the Twin Cities to share….

Finding romance, no matter how long you’ve been married, or how long you haven’t been dating, is all about the romantic gesture.  And that gesture can be something as simple as a stroll at sunset on a warm spring evening.

Here are two A+ ideas for some great romantic strolls in your metro backyard.

Top of the list:  The University Avenue Project. It is a six-mile photographic journey!  From May to October, Wing Young Huie’s photographs will transform St. Paul’s University Avenue into a six mile public gallery.  Hundreds of images will be on display in windows and on buildings from the KSTP Tower to the State Capitol.

Wing Young Huie and Tara Simpson Huie

Each night at a Landmark Projection Site, Wing’s images will be shown on 40 foot screens, accompanied by a soundtrack from local musicians. Monthly cabarets will feature live community performances and new media presentations. 

   

This is billed as the Language of Urbanism, but is also a great excuse for the language of love, including walking slowly, holding hands, and having some discussions and experiences you hadn’t considered an hour ago!

  Second on the list has to be a classic:  The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.  It is one of Minnesota’s crown jewels and its centerpiece, the Spoonbridge and Cherry, has become a Minnesota icon. The Sculpture Garden is essentially a free museum in a park.

 

 

How long since you have been there?  Wander freely to your two-hearts content and take in the sculpture, the landscaping, even the mini-arboretum walk-thru.  You will find the pace of life slows, and the pace of your hand-in-hand stroll becomes the best stress-buster you could ever imagine!  Where else can you improve your blood pressure and achieve a romantic gesture all-in-one?!

 

You might as well keep walking, over the Irene Hixton pedestrian bridge, designed by famous sculptor Siah Armajani crossing Hennepin Ave. and dropping you neatly into Loring Park. There you have a choice of 3 or 4 stops to get a bite or have a drink. 

 

 

Try Café Lurcat, Joe’s Garage, or Dunn Brothers Coffee!

  

  

  

  

 A Romantic gesture doesn’t have to be predictable; it can come up on the spur of the moment and be all the more treasured. 

 

Take a stroll and try it! 

 

 

Top 5 Events You Shouldn’t Miss!

1 ~ Spontaneity Skiing  With just a little “thinking cap” effort, you could find yourself with a medal! Surprise your spouse with an unusual outing. 

 It doesn’t really have to be skiing; perhaps you just haven’t gone bowling in years.  Or stretch a little and rent some snowshoes at your county park.  Or suprise him/her with some live theatre tickets. Visit http://www.hennepintheatretrust.org/

 2 ~ Bobsledding for Compliments

Go ahead! Just jump on and go for compliments on ice!  How quickly can you tell your significant other all their best qualities?  They won’t even mind a few sharp turns as you warm up and gain momentum, including things they’ve done that made you proud, or what simply makes them special to you!

 3 ~ Cross-Country Communication

 Communication really is a cross-country event. You need stamina, a strong heart, and lots of practice.  Winning at communication with your significant other means daily practice, not just when you might want something!

It is the art of asking questions, as well as the art of listening.  Some couples do well setting aside a private time, just for them. Whether it is morning coffee before breaking out the newspaper, or a glass of wine over dinner, you just need to make a pact that you will continuously practice, and make time for each other.  An evening walk around the block together is good for the heart, and c-c communication!

4 ~ Inspirational Ice Hockey

 Need a little inspiration to make sure you don’t skate past opportunities in your relationship?  If you’ve had that passing thought, “I should have done that” or “I could do that” but you didn’t go for the next step, then take some inspiration from Out of the Box Dates! These ultimate adventures could be your own personal Olympics! Score a 10 with an amazing date…just check out the Shop link next to this blog! Don’t take our word for it – read the Testimonials!  http://www.outoftheboxdates.com/testimonials.php

 5 ~Figure Skating Fun

 What Olympic experience would be complete without figure skating? Swirling couples in perfect unison, they create the picture of Ideal Romance!

Not an idealist? No problem! Most relationships are strengthened through sheer fun!  Ask your spouse what their idea of a fun outing is. You might be surprised! And it might be easier to create some fun than you think! Challenge him/her to a cook-off! Give him/her a punch card with 5 chances to do what they think is most fun as a couple.  You’d be surprised what a $15 nerf gun battle can do to make you think of nothing but each other! Live it up! You both deserve some fun!

Don’t be a bystander, join the Olympics! Create your own events! And go for the GOLD!  

 What a perfect combination… Out of the Box Dates and a charming bed & breakfast!  We had quite an adventure when Jill Ward, owner of The Pillar Inn, asked us to create two custom adventures for guests staying at her beautiful inn. 

The Pillar Inn, Cold Spring, MN

We explored the quaint town, tasted the beer at the local Cold Spring Brewery, put on a few pounds at the well-known Cold Spring Bakery, climbed to the top of an almost-hidden hill to discover “Grasshopper Chapel,” researched some of the historic homes in town, won some choice-cuts at Grumpy’s Meat Raffle, and so much more!!  We weaved romance in and through Cold Spring, like only Out of the Box Dates can do!

The adventure is something to talk about, but the stay at The Pillar Inn made the weekend perfect.  Our Grand Suite was romantic, and lavishly furnished, complete with a Jacuzzi tub for two.  I think we even had a step stool to climb on top of the inviting bed.  But the best part was that we had the option of having our delicious breakfast served to us in our room on the veranda.  Don’t want to be social?  Breakfast in the room!  Feeling lazy, wanting to lounge in one of their comfy cozy robes?  Breakfast in the room!  Check out the link for more information about The Pillar Inn.

We put together one adventure focused on having fun and being silly together… Let the Games Begin in Cold Spring.  It is similar to the Let the Games Begin date available online our website, but unique in so many ways.  The other adventure that I really want to tell you about is our Pillar of Love Date.  This is ALL about romance!  We’ve got a walking/driving tour guide, wedding cakes, a chapel, kissing cards, and a very special dinner activity that will inspire deep discussion about YOUR relationship.  Details and pictures for both dates are coming soon to our website, but in the meantime, please call 763-383-2900 for more information!

Wishing you a lifetime of love and romance,

LeeAnn Williams

Owner/CEO, Out of the Box Dates, 763-383-2900