Dinner And a Movie Is So '90s: Dating Alternatives in LA

Nothing sparks love like a little friendly competition. So get ready to putt on the miniature golf course, batter up at the batting cages, and give your thumbs a workout at the arcade. When you’re all tuckered out you can treat your date to an Icee to show that there are no hard feelings.

In the summer months, Hollywood Forever hosts Cinespia, an evening film series where cult classics are projected onto the wall of one of the cemetery’s mausoleums (it sounds much creepier than it actually is). Attendees come armed with picnic dinners, booze, and blankets—the perfect recipe for a romantic night, that is unless you have a run-in with some zombies. Just kidding.

Get in touch with your inner child as you romp around the zoo. Make faces at the monkeys and then brandish your knowledge of invertebrates (thanks Zoology 101!) Your date will think you’re intelligent AND a loveable goof.

Don’t let the fact that you’re not a championship ice skater hold you back from strapping on some skates. Your date will think it’s endearing when you fall flat on your face. By the end of the evening the two of you will be holding hands and gliding along to cheesy songs— later on, the two of you can compare bruises.

Want to show your date your quirky-intellectual side? Head to the Museum of Jurassic Technology. This curious little spot showcases all kinds of oddities (like a portrait that has been carved into the side of a fruit pit), which will provide excellent food for thought and conversation. Feel free to wear dark-rimmed glasses and elbow patches for effect.

Since it’s not open year-round, the Hollywood Bowl is an excellent option for the warmer months of the year. You and your date can eat a picnic and uncork a bottle of wine (yes, you can bring your own booze) under the stars as you listen to the likes of Gnarls Barkley, Herbie Hancock, or Feist. If you’re on a tight budget, you can get tickets at the back of the venue for under ten bucks—after a beer or two you’ll forget that you have to squint to the see the bassist.

If you and your date are foodies, you can bond over a trip to the farmers’ market. You can grab a tamale, argue over who sells the best apples, AND pick up your groceries for the week. If that’s not multitasking we don’t know what is.

Between the breathtaking views of the city and the cozy planetarium shows, the observatory offers many opportunities to sneak in a kiss or a wee make out session (just remember there might be children present). Feel free to tote a picnic dinner along and eat at one of the picnic benches— the observatory cafe isn’t the most romantic of places.