WHERE TO GO ON A FIRST DATE Houston’s “Best Block”:
You’ve finally met that special someone. Now what?
First dates can be as stressful as that first dance back in the eighth grade, complete with palm sweats, fears about spinach in your teeth and nervous blathering about the annoying things your sister did last weekend. With more than 11,000 restaurants in the city of Houston, choosing the perfect hot spot can seem like yet another overwhelming challenge staring you in the face. Whether you’re meeting someone from Tinder, a friend of a friend, a friend you’d like to pursue romantically, or someone you chatted up at your local coffee shop, we’ve got a few suggestions for you.
TINDER DATE
Congratulations, you both swiped right. Now it’s time to move this connection from your phone screen to the real world with one of these lowcommitment options.
Agora: Coffee is always a safe bet for a first in-the-flesh meeting. That way, if the witty banter you enjoyed via text doesn’t translate to real life, you can take leave after your latte. Try a macchiato or a cold-brew iced coffee. 1712 Westheimer
iFly: Just because Houston is a hotbed for restaurants and bars doesn’t mean you have to restrict your possibilities to a table for two. Take a risk at one of the two new indoor skydiving facilities. The originality of this date will make it memorable. 9540 Interstate 10 and 26860 Interstate 45 N. Show off your local knowledge by planning a cultural crawl through Houston’s “Best Block.” Score breakfast food way after noon at Natachee’s Supper ’n Punch, flip through vinyl records at Sig’s Lagoon and pore over eclectic gifts at My Flaming Heart. 3600 Main
Sunday Funday: Keep it casual by grabbing a beer at your favorite outdoor spot. Toss a bean bag at Crowbar’s cornhole boards in Garden Oaks, try your hand at jumbo-size Jenga and bocce at the Brooklyn Athletic Club in Midtown or give foosball a whirl at Liberty Station in the Heights. Crowbar, 954 Wakefield; Brooklyn Athletic Club, 601 Richmond; Liberty Station, 2101 Washington
FRIEND OF A FRIEND
Your friend insists you’ll hit it off with her other friend, who (like you) loves piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. Explore what else you have in common with these dates that allow you to get the conversation going.
Trivia: Trivia usually works best with at least a handful of people per team, so it’s the perfect way to include that friend who set you up as you explore whether this may be a match for you. Houston has plenty of trivia options. Try Richmond Arms Pub or Little Woodrow’s on Wednesdays, and Flying Saucer Draught Emporium on Tuesdays. Richmond Arms, 5920 Richmond; Little Woodrow’s, 2631 White Oak; Flying Saucer, 705 Main
Brazos Bend State Park: Studies say that physical activity can help boost physical attraction. Test that theory with an early-morning hike at Brazos Bend State Park, which is home to more than 25 miles of hiking and biking trails. 21901 FM 762, Needville
Bingo: If you’re looking for an upbeat atmosphere to laugh for a few hours, head to SPJST Lodge 88 in the Heights, where hundreds of people line up every Thursday evening to mark their bingo cards and sip on $7 pitchers of beer. You’ll have to get there early; while bingo begins at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 5:15 p.m., and finding a seat at this popular spot after 7 p.m. can be as hard as scoring five squares in a row. 1435 Beall
1919 Wine & Mixology: Dying to show off your discerning palate? Try the wine bar and mixology room at 1919, where you can enjoy trendy surroundings while sipping on something that oozes maturity. With custom cocktails and one of the city’s most expansive wine lists, you’re sure to find something that suits you and your date. 2736 Virginia
A FRIEND TURNED INTEREST
You’re ready to ditch the friend zone and dive headfirst into something more. Here are some first date ideas to help you pivot from platonic to romantic without going overboard.
Astros game: Baseball games are a big time commitment for a first date. But if you’ve already known this person for a while and are hoping to make the smooth transition into romantic waters, it’s the perfect way to mix conversation with quiet stretches as you watch the players do their thing. Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford
Butterfly exhibit: Every Wednesday through the end of August, the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science releases between 100 and 200 newly emerged butterflies into its rainforest. Bring your date at 10:30 a.m. to see this subtly romantic sight. 5800 Caroline
Moon Tower Inn: If you think a casual dinner is the best way to shift gears in your relationship, make plans to chow down at Moon Tower Inn. The dive is mostly known for its hot dogs, but the burgers are great, too. In 2013, the Chronicle’s food critic gave their burger, The Cheech, an A+. 3004 Canal
Davenport Lounge: Up the ante at this martini bar, where you can sip on everything from the classic appletini to a peanut butter and jelly flavored drink. Making up your mind with all these options can be half the fun and start a long list of conversations. 2115 Richmond
SOMEONE YOU MET IN REAL LIFE
Your hands touched as you both reached for the last strawberry at last weekend’s farmers market, and you haven’t been able to take your mind off that chance meeting since. After trading numbers and texts, it’s time to see how you’ll fare on a date. Try these spots.
Buffalo Bayou: Book a kayaking outing. Not only will it show that you’re a fun-loving adventurer, but you’ll learn quickly whether you and your date are capable of the teamwork and communication needed to properly propel a two-person kayak. Bayou City Adventures, 1520 Silver
OKRA Charity Saloon: Anyone can make plans to meet up for a glass of wine, but at OKRA, all the proceeds are donated to local charities. When you order a drink, you also get to cast a ballot for which charity will receive funds that month, opening up a great conversation about the issues that matter to you. 924 Congress
Top Golf: Maybe you can beat par after 18 holes. Maybe you don’t know the difference between a slice and a draw. Either way, you can share some laughs over a little friendly competition on the virtual golf course. 1030 Memorial Brook and 560 Spring Park Center, Spring
Backstreet Café: If you’d rather focus on a couple hours of face-toface conversation, grab a table at Backstreet Café and get to know each other over lunch or dinner and a couple cocktails on one of Houston’s prettiest patios. 1103 S. Shepherd