101 Great Dates

By Melanie Medina

This booklet was a tip-in in the February 2005 of Atlanta Magazine. This is perhaps the most fun I’ve ever had on an assignment. Ever.

FIRST DATES

Laugh It Off. Overcome first-date jitters with laughter from the improv team at Dad’s Garage Theater (280 Elizabeth St., Ste. C-101, 404-523-3141, dadsgarage.com). Improvisers make up on-the-spot comedy within different formats, including “TheatreSports,” “Improv Psychology” and “Scandal! The Improvised Soap Opera.”

Djine, Djance and Djrink. Go to Django Gypsy Kitchen & Saloon (495 Peachtree St., 404-347-8648, djangoatlanta.com) for dinner and dancing. The eclectic mix of art on the walls, ranging from carved wooden hands to a grid of painted coconut shells, is as varied as the menu, which features French-influenced Mediterranean cuisine. After dinner, go dancing downstairs, where DJs mix hip-hop tunes and world beats on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Fanfare. Grab your oversized foam finger and make your way to Philips Arena (1 Philips Drive, 404-878-3000, philipsarena.com) for a Thrashers or Hawks game. If you hit it off and haven’t filled up on nachos and draft beer, head to Headlines Bar & Grill after the game and plan your next date.

Coffee Talk. Share a cappuccino and discuss Shakespeare, or maybe Jon Stewart’s new book, at Coffee Buy the Book (1132 Canton St., coffeebuythebook.com), a cozy bookstore/coffee joint nestled in historic Roswell. Then walk down Canton Street and dine at one of the nearby restaurants such as Rice Thai Cuisine or Yellow Fin.

Wine & Dine. Does he go for dry, woodsy flavors? Does she prefer sweeter blush varieties? Find out what your date’s wine choice reveals about him or her at The Grape’s original location in Vinings (4300 Paces Ferry Road, 770-803-9463, yourgrape.com) or its newest one in Phipps Plaza. Choose from more than 120 wines offered by the bottle, glass and half glass. Dine al fresco on the patio where they warm up cool nights with heaters. Come on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night for live music.

Don’t Speak. Rather than tripping over your own tongue trying to find something to say, take conversation out of the equation by listening to singer/songwriter acts at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur (515-B N. McDonough St., 404-377-4976, eddiesattic.com, where the audience is encouraged to stay hushed while performers play their sets. Then, after you’ve loosened up, get to know each other over dinner and drinks on the patio, which offers a great view of Downtown Decatur.

CULTURAL DATES

A Night at the Opera. Break out the tuxedos and evening gowns and head to the Atlanta Civic Center (395 Piedmont Ave., 404-523-6275, atlantaciviccenter.com) for a performance by the Atlanta Opera (atlantaopera.org). Arrive early for the 30-minute synopsis, given one hour prior to show time.

Around the World on Buford Highway. It’s a small world among the Chinese, Mexican, African, Vietnamese and other ethnic restaurants interspersed along a six-mile stretch of Buford Highway. Try Costa Verde Restaurant (6200 Buford Hwy., 770-449-3221, costaverderestaurant.net) for a mix of Peruvian and Ecuadorian fare including the anticuchos appetizer (cow-heart kabob) and the bandeja paisa (steak, fried banana, fried pork, eggs, beans and rice). For dessert, head a few miles south to Mozart Bakery (5301 Buford Hwy., 770-936-8726), featuring Korean specialties like red-bean rice cakes and butter cream rolls.

Fox Trot. Take in a show at the fabulous Fox Theatre (660 Peachtree St., foxtheatre.org). Whether you go for a concert, comedy act, play or ballet, the theater sets a romantic mood under its azure ceiling with twinkling pseudo-stars. Afterward, have cocktails across the street at the swank Georgian Terrace Hotel (689 Peachtree St., thegeorgianterrace.com), where you can sip martinis and people watch from the window overlooking Peachtree Street.

Old South/New South. Start your date with a tour of the Margaret Mitchell House (990 Peachtree St., 404-249-7015, gwtw.org) and see where the Pulitzer Prize-winning author dreamed up the Scarlett/Rhett/Melanie/Ashley love quadrangle set during the Civil War. Then where will you go? What will you do? Make your way to the Ansley Park Playhouse (1545 Peachtree St., 404-875-1193, ansleyparkplayhouse.com), to see Peachtree Battle, a play parodying a present-day Buckhead family.

Art After Dark. Meet each other after work at the High Museum of Art (1280 Peachtree St., 404-733-4400, high.org) on the third Friday of the month for dinner, drinks and live jazz. Or, wind down together and skip rush-hour traffic on the first Thursday of the month for After Hours at the High, where you can snack on appetizers, coffee and desserts while touring the galleries with your date.

The Play’s the Thing. If seeing the Bard’s classic works at a movie mega-multiplex just doesn’t ring true for you (Mel Gibson’s Hamlet, anyone?), check out The New American Shakespeare Tavern (shakespearetavern.com), a throwback theater that aims to capture the feel of Elizabethan-era productions. Besides handmade costumes and live acoustic instruments, you’ll also find a modestly priced British pub-style menu replete with Cornish pastry, shepherd’s pie and “Shakespeare Stout” beer.

Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance. If watching karaoke contestants at the local pub or American Idol on TV isn’t your idea of classic crooning, grab your partner and head to Libby’s: A Cabaret (404-869-4748, libbyscabaret.com), a cozy Buckhead joint that would make Ms. Minnelli proud. You and your date can enjoy cocktails, appetizers and dinner while singing along with proprietor and featured chanteuse Libby Whittemore, an Atlanta musical fave, as she rips through classic (if slightly campy) fare from vocal queens like Judy Garland and Doris Day.

Big Night. The fossil-filled Fernbank Museum of Natural History (767 Clifton Road, fernbank.edu/museum) comes to life on Friday nights with a jazz band that plays in front of life-size replicas of dinosaurs from the cretaceous period. Sip martinis and have a full-course meal in the dining room before catching a movie on a five-story-high screen at the IMAX Theater inside the museum.

Kick It, Cajun Style. Head to the Knights of Columbus Hall (2620 Buford Hwy.) for semimonthly Cajun dance workshops sponsored by Atlanta Cajun Dance Association (mindspring.com/~atlcajundance/index.html). Association founder Robert Kwasha will teach you how to kick up your heels with the Cajun waltz, two-step and city-style jitterbug from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Then have big fun showing off your new moves while jamming to live Zydeco, Cajun and Creole bands, which start playing at 8:45 p.m.

An Artful Evening. Wander through almost any metro Atlanta neighborhood, including Buckhead, Virginia-Highland, Midtown, Decatur and even farther north in Roswell, on almost any weekend night, and you’re likely to stumble upon an opening at an art gallery, complete with wine and cheese hors d’oeuvres. For a listing of events in your area, contact the Atlanta Gallery Association, an organization of nearly 30 of the city’s premiere galleries (404-818-6084, atlantagalleryassociation.com).

Sunday Afternoon Waltzing. Waltz with your partner at Atlanta Waltz Society’s (splittree.org/atlantawaltzsociety.htm) weekly dance on Sunday afternoons at Several Dancers Core Studio (Decatur, 404-373-4154). Never had a lesson? No problem. The group hosts a one-hour class from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. before the dance, which lasts until 7 p.m. You’ll be twirling all the way home.

ACTIVE/OUTDOOR DATES

Take a Hike. Meander together through flora and fauna at the Chattahoochee Nature Center (9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, 770-992-2055, chattnaturecenter.com). Trek more than two miles of nature trails or hike on the half-mile boardwalk running along the river bank.

Hit Some Balls. Practice your swing on the driving range at Charlie Yates Golf Course in East Lake (10 Lakeside Village Drive, 404-373-4655, charlieyatesgolfcourse.com), which also has a par-58, mid-length course that takes about three hours to complete. Afterward, head to Atkins Park Restaurant and Tavern (794 N. Highland Ave., 404-876-7249, atkinspark.com). It’s the city’s oldest, continually licensed tavern and has a wide selection of imported and domestic beers.

Run for Fun. Participate in a 5K or 10K charity run together. Find one in your area by checking out Run Georgia’s Web site (rungeorgia.com), which lists upcoming charity runs that benefit a variety of nonprofit organizations. Most entry fees are less than $20. Try the 4th Annual Chattahoochee Challenge 10K (770-992-2055 x. 224) in Roswell on Feb. 12 or the Irish Rush 5K (770-887-8151) in Cumming on March 12. Or gear up for the granddaddy of Atlanta 10Ks, the Peachtree Road Race, July 4. (atlantatrackclub.org/at02000.htm).

Tour the Hooch. Rent kayaks and set sail on the Chattahoochee. White Water Learning Center of Georgia (3437 Rockhaven Cr., 404-231-0042, whitewatergeorgia.com) offers kayak and canoe rentals and lessons. See how well the two of you work together when you’re paddling downstream in a two-person boat. Or rent separate kayaks and try keeping up with each other.

Take the Plunge. Thrill-seeking couples should head for Skydive Monroe (528 Towler St., 770-207-9164, skydivemonroe.com), about 40 miles northeast of Atlanta. Jealous types beware: First-timers usually jump attached to a certified instructor. (Experienced divers can jump solo.) After falling 13,500 feet from an airplane, you and your partner will land 30 to 40 feet apart and can spend the rest of the date coming down from your adrenaline high.

Go Speed Racer. Race out to Road Atlanta (5300 Winder Hwy., 800-849-7223, roadatlanta.com) for a vroom with a view, as professional drivers whip past you in Corvettes, Lamborghinis and Audi R8s at dizzying speeds during the American Le Mans and Petit Le Mans racing series. If you two are brave enough, take a Hot Lap, in which a Panoz Racing School teacher takes you on three laps of the 2.5 mile, 12-turn course.

Om. Meld into each other’s mind, body and spirit by scheduling a yoga date at Kashi Atlanta near Candler Park (1681 McLendon Ave., 404-687-3353, kashiatlanta.org). A yoga guru will help you transcend the world’s pressures through a one-hour private class where you’ll learn partner poses and synchronized breathing and meditation techniques.

Love is a Battlefield. See which one of you is a better strategist on one of Paintball Atlanta’s 10 fields (Exit 12 off Ga. 400, 770-594-0912, paintball-atlanta.com), where you’ll have to contend with sand mounds, ravines, trenches and trees. Strap on your facemask and goggles, grab a gun and either join the same team, or split up and fight on opposing teams.

Wheels in Motion. Roll on into Skate Escape (1086 Piedmont Ave., 404-892-1292, skateescape.com) and rent some wheels: inline or traditional skates, bikes or scooters. Then skate or pedal across the street to Piedmont Park and wind your way around the main roadway and 10th Street Meadow paths.

Ballroom Dancing. It takes two to tango, and to swing or waltz for that matter. Better get your boogie shoes on and see how in synch you are by taking lessons at Dance City Ballroom (1170 LaVista Road, 678-478-3168, dancecityballroom.com). Choose American, international or novelty dancing, such as swing and salsa. Start with a one-hour class and work your way up to the competitive level.

City Slickers. Slip on some snakeskin boots and mosey over to Georgia Frontiers (225 Wooten Court, Canton, 770-479-9821, homestead.com/rockyridgestables) for some backwoods trail blazin’ around the wooded, rolling hills by Lake Altoona. You and your partner can stargaze while riding on a Full Moon Tour. You can’t share a saddle, but you can cozy up to each other while your trail guide cooks hotdogs and S’mores around a crackling campfire.

Pick a PATH. Pick any entry point on the Georgia PATH (404-875-7284, lightinside.org/bike/silvercomet.htm) for an easygoing afternoon. Try the Arabia Mountain Trail and explore the rock outcroppings along the five-mile trail (park at the Stonecrest Mall or Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Center). Also check out the Rockmart Riverwalk area and carb up for your walk back home at Frankie’s Italian Restaurant (ADDRESS?, 770-684-1611). For something more in-town, walk the Freedom Parkway Trail (starting at the Inman Park Marta Station). Check out the Carter Center and MLK Center while you’re in the area.

Still Standing. Even for longtime Atlanta couples who’ve been there before, Stone Mountain (Highway 78, 770-498-5690, stonemountainpark.com) offers a lot. From outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking and camping, to less strenuous attractions like authentic pre-Civil War plantations, an antique car and treasure museum and the ever-popular “Lasershow Spectacular,” this 25-million-square-foot area’s mountain of activities makes for a multi-faceted date.

Rock Solid. You and your date are all but guaranteed to get hot and sweaty with each other at one of the Atlanta Rocks! locations (770-242-7625, atlantarocks.com). Besides thousands of square feet of climbing surface, the Southeast’s largest indoor gym also has shoes, harnesses and all the other supplies you’ll need.

Beach Bumming. There’s no salt water or lapping tide, but the spring-fed lake at The Beach at Clayton County Intl. Park (2300 Highway 138, Jonesboro, 770-473-5425, thebeachccip.com) offers plenty of fun for beach-bound couples. Pack some towels and lie in the sand during the summer months (from Memorial Day to Labor Day), or take a trek on the walking or bike trails (open all year).

CREATIVE/UNCONVENTIONAL DATES

Cook Up Something Special. Viking Culinary Arts Center (1745 Peachtree St., 404-745-9064) offers couples classes where the two of you can whip up recipes with five other couples. Choose from classes such as “Tamales & Sangria,” “Grilling, Broiling & Smoking” and “Tuscan Dinner.” After the hands-on instruction, couples sit down and enjoy the fruits of their labor with a bottle of Sterling Vineyards wine.

Pull Some Strings. Thanks to cable shows like Crank Yankers and movies like Team America: World Police, puppets aren’t just for kids anymore. Find out why at one of the Center for Puppetry Arts’ (1404 Spring St., 404-873-3089, puppet.org), adult-only shows or classes (for ages 16 and older). Learn how to make a marionette, or see a show such as “Xperimental Puppet Theater,” which tackles topics like Kafka and Venus de Milo’s missing arms.

Excellent Adventure with Ted. Tear yourself away from TV’s 24-hour news and pay homage to the man who put Atlanta media on the map. Start out with a guided tour of the CNN Studios (404-827-2300; cnn.com/studiotour), including behind-the-scenes looks at the control room, special effects and the news desks. Then have a bison burger at Ted’s Montana Grill (133 Luckie St.; 404-521-9796, tedsmontanagrill.com), where Mr. Turner, who has an apartment above the restaurant, often stops by if he’s in town.

’Til Death Do You Part. Take a twilight tour of Oakland Cemetery (248 Oakland Ave., 404-688-2107, oaklandcemetery.com) and meander through more than 80 acres of headstones, many dating back to the mid-1800s. Then head across Memorial Drive to Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House for some lively music and seafood (415 Memorial Drive, 404-523-6664, sixfeetunderatlanta.com). Sit upstairs on the outside deck overlooking the necropolis and slam down some oyster shooters.

Create Cocktails. Learn how to make sophisticated mixed drinks that would make Tom Cruise proud, and discover the finer points of hosting a swanky soiree at one of Cocktail Hour’s(2385 Peachtree Road, Suite A1E, 404-846-4414, cocktail-hour.com) 2-hour classes. Courses include Bartenders’ secrets, Classic Cocktails and Cocktail Parties 101. Get there before class and shop for trendy stemware, table linens and decanters.

Learn and Get Your Vitamin D, Too. Calcium-conscious couples should head to Cagle’s Dairy (362 Stinger Road, Hickory Flat Community, Canton, caglesdairy.com) to take a 1.5-hour tour of the family-owned dairy farm. Learn how milk is processed, from milking to bottling. In the spring, stop by for the Stock Dog Trials and watch border collies herd sheep, cattle and ducks. In the fall, wander your way through three miles of a cornfield maze and snuggle up for the hayride through the farm.

Call it Puppy Love. Take your date to the Holiday Inn Select (130 Clairemont Ave.) in Decatur on the second Thursday of each month for a night of BINGO with P.A.L.S. (Pets Are Loving Support, 404-876-7257, palsatlanta.org). With drag queen extraordinaire Bubba D. Licious as the host(ess), you can rest assured this isn’t your grandmother’s BINGO. P.A.L.S. organizes the even to raise money to care for pets of people with AIDS and other illnesses.

Good Will, Honey. Spend an afternoon with your date doing a good deed for others: Join 25,000 other Hands-On Atlanta volunteers (handsonatlanta.org) and deliver meals, spend time with seniors, create hiking trails or tutor children. Or help the local Habitat for Humanity chapter (http://habitat.org) and build a home for low-income Atlanta families. You and you partner don’t need experience with a hammer—just a desire to help.

Get Spooked. If you scare easily, you’ll have the perfect excuse to latch on to your date during the Ghost Talk Ghost Walk tour of the Historic Roswell Square (intersection of Hwy. 9 and Hwy. 120, 770-753-0037). A guide will take you through a 1.5-hour, 1-mile stroll while sharing frightful tales of the Confederate souls who are said to haunt the area’s mansions and retail establishments. Tours start at 6:15 at the bandstand in the square on most Friday nights throughout the year. For a frightfully fun ending, have dinner on the upstairs balcony at Pastis (936 Canton St., 770-640-3870).

CHEAP DATES

Bowling for Kitsch. Make your way to Express Lanes (1936 Piedmont Circle; 404-874-5703) for a night of anti-cosmic bowling. This no-frills joint, open 24 hours, is for hard-core bowlers who don’t need neon lights and blaring music to have a good time. At just a buck-fifty per game (Sunday through Thursday nights), you can afford to take your date next door to Sugar Daddy’s Lounge and Pro Shop and have a beer.

Dinner & A Movie at Cold War Prices. Girls, get your poodle skirts on. Guys, grease up your pompadours and cruise to The Picture Show (4400 Roswell Road, Marietta, 770-977-2977) on Tuesdays for 50-cent tickets to second-run movies. Other days, flicks are just a buck for matinees and $1.75 after 6 p.m. Skip the popcorn and save some change for a snack at Johnny Rockets (4475 Roswell Road, 770-509-0377, johnnyrockets.com), the 1950s-themed diner with good, cheap grub such as old-fashioned malts and cheese-smothered French fries. Throw a nickel in the tabletop jukebox and dine to Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino tunes.

A Play for Peanuts. Make a date to see up-and-coming actors at one of Alliance Theatre’s (1280 Peachtree St.) “The Players” productions. These performances cost a mere $8 and feature less-seasoned thespians. “The Players” perform once in the spring, summer and fall, so check out alliancetheatre.org or call 404-733-4600 for show times.

Jump, Jump for Your Love. Animal-loving couples should hoof it to Wills Park Equestrian Center (11915 Wills Park Road, Alpharetta, 678-297-6120) and take in the free dog-agility trials or horse shows, featuring dressage and jumping courses, on just about any weekend of the year. Or check out the bull riding competition on June 3-4 and the rodeo on Aug. 13-14 ($15 for adults/$12 for kids under 12).

Stellar Date. Test each other’s star power by pointing out constellations at Fernbank Science Center Observatory and Planetarium (156 Heaton Park Drive, Decatur, 678-874-7102, fernbank.edu), open Thursday and Friday nights from 8-ish (when it gets dark) to 10:30 p.m. Explore the moon, star clusters and planets through a 36-inch reflector telescope. On cloudy nights, go inside the planetarium and see stars projected on a domed screen for $4 a person.

Drink to a Good Time. Put some excitement in your suds with a Monday or Thursday afternoon tasting tour of the Sweetwater Brewery (195 Otley Dr., 404-691-2537, sweetwaterbrew.com), a popular local microbrewery with 15,000 barrels of bold beers. With a tour cost of only $5—a price that includes four free samples of draft and a take-home pint glass—you’ll laugh all the way to the bank. Just drink responsibly and take a cab.

Rock On at the Park. Leave work early on balmy Friday afternoons and beat the traffic to Centennial Olympic Park for a $5 concert. You and your date can rock out to the line-up of bands presented during the Aquafina On the Bricks (onthebricks.com) 12-week summer concert series, which spans from May through August. Musical acts range from Southern blues and classic punk rock/wave of the 1980s to adult cotemporary rock and hip hop.

Be a Sport. Go to a fight at the Gwinnett Center Arena and see if a hockey game breaks out. The Gwinnett Gladiators (6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth, 770-497-5100, gwinnettgladiators.com), East Coast Hockey League Central Division Champs, will ensure both happen. Tickets range from $10 for mezzanine seats to $19 for club level seats. Or go to a Braves game—the Rome Braves, that is—to see a great minor league baseball game. Tickets to see this class A, minor-league team range from $4 to $10 (755 Braves Blvd., Rome, 706-378-5144, romebaseball.com).

LIGHT-HEARTED DATES

 Get Your Motor Runnin’. Fulfill your need for speed at Andretti Speed Labs in Roswell (11000 Alpharetta Hwy., andrettispeedlab.com). After watching a 15-minute crash course racing video, you’ll don authentic racing gear (helmet and all) and strap yourselves into 6.5-horsepower SuperKarts. Can’t handle the hairpin turns? Try the indoor rock-climbing wall instead. Or, take a pit stop at the Fuddrucker’s next door.

Animal Attraction. Discover lions and tigers and love (oh, my!) after sunset at Zoo Atlanta (800 Cherokee Ave., 404-624-5600, zooatlanta.org). Take a Twilight Tour, a two-hour guided tour during which you’ll see the animal diet kitchen, reptile house, bird and lemur habitats and other nocturnal-animal exhibits.

Dinner, Movie and Free Pool. Enjoy a late-night dinner or coffee on the patio at Apres Diem Café & Bistro (931 Monroe Drive, 404-872-3333) before catching an indie flick at Midtown Art Cinema’s (678-495-1424, landmarktheatres.com) Midnite Madness Series, when audience members compete in contests based on whatever cult classic is being screened that night (think Office Space, Clerks, The Princess Bride and Pulp Fiction.) Your movie stubs will get you 30 minutes of free pool at The Independence, just upstairs from the theater.

Eighties Karaoke. Put on your old pair of tight-rolled stonewashed jeans, tease the hair, and head to the 10 High Club (816 N. Highland Ave., basement-level of the Dark Horse Tavern, tenhighclub.com) for Metal-Some Monday. A live band will play backup as you karaoke to eighties hair bands like Guns & Roses, Whitesnake and Poison. Not in the mood to be rockin’ like Dokken? Try Tuesday nights’ Karaoke Dokee for classic country tunes to a live band.

Cenar y Bailar. Share some spicy Spanish tapas and split a pitcher of sweet sangria at Café Tu Tu Tango in Buckhead (220 Pharr Road, 404-841-6222, www.cafetututango.com). Spice it up even more and head to Tongue & Groove for free salsa lessons on Wednesday nights from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. (3055 Peachtree Road, 404-261-2325 tongueandgrooveonline.com). Practice your muy caliente dance moves to the Latin house music that plays until 3 a.m.

Cool It. Make like Brian Boitano and Michelle Kwan and pirouette over to the Marietta Ice Center, formerly Parkaire Ice Arena (4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, 770-509-5067, themicice.com). If your rear-ends are still intact, put your street shoes back on and cool down with an ice-cold frozen Top Shelf Margarita from Tijuana Joes (690 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, 770-321-1233).

Amore at the Amusement Park. What better excuse to hold on to each other tight than the looping, twisting roller coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia (275 Riverside Parkway, Austell, 770-948-9290, sixflags.com/parks/overgeorgia)? If the thought makes you more queasy than flirty, see a show, like Red Hot Country, which features live performances of country hits. For extra fun, go during one of the park’s festivals like Latin Fest in September or Fright Fest on weekends in October.

Relive Xanadu. Let the twinkling lights bouncing off the disco ball at Sparkles Roller Rink (multiple locations, sparklesrollerrink.com) inspire you to show your date all those smooth moves you used back in the seventies and eighties. Take your date for a few spins around the maple wood floor, or kick back on the carpet-covered benches and watch a new breed of teenage jam skaters groove to hip-hop beats blaring throughout the room.

Comedy, Cinema, Arcades and More. When the weather’s nice, practice your putting skills with a round of miniature golf or race go-karts at StarTime Entertainment (608 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, 770-993-5411, startimeentertainment.com). For indoor fun, create your own roller coaster ride and strap yourselves in the Max Flight VR2002 Roller Coaster Simulator. End the night with a movie or by chuckling together at the Funny Farm Comedy Club, where comedians will crack you up Thursday through Saturday nights.

Know When to Hold ’Em. Put on your best poker face and compete in a Texas Hold ’Em tournament a Fado (3035 Peachtree Road, 404-841-0066, fadoirishpub.com). Sit at the same table and play against each other, or sit apart and try to beat the team at your own tables. If it’s time to walk away, or run, have a pint of Guinness and watch a soccer match on TV at the bar.

Attic at The Inn. Walk up the creaky old stairs of Old Vinings Inn [3011 Paces Mill Road 770-438-2282, viningsinn.com), where General Sherman once slept, and stake out a table at the Attic Bar. There’s no need to make reservations to this quaint, cozy room where most of the light comes from the glass-encased tea lights on each table. Come early for the filet mignon, New York strip steak or Atlantic salmon, and stay late to hear live music, which ranges from acoustic solo acts to full jazz bands.

Mediterranean in Marietta. Share a gyro and be entertained by a belly dancer in full gypsy garb, dancing to Middle Eastern beats inside Efes (113 Northpark Square, efesrestaurant.com) on Friday and Saturday nights. Maroon and gold velvet tapestries line the walls, and ornately woven carpets cover the hallway of this dimly lit restaurant where couples can share Turkish fare.

College Night. Park at The Varsity (61 North Ave. 404-881-1706, thevarsity.com), which sells more than two miles of hot dogs daily, and chow down on a Heavy Weight chili dog and a Frosted Orange. Work off the caloric overload by walking across the North Avenue bridge to Georgia Tech, where, depending on the season, you can cheer on the Yellow Jackets (or their opponent, if you’re not a fan) to victory in a football, basketball or baseball game (ramblinwreck.collegesports.com).

EASY DATES

A Taste of Italy. Bring home a taste of Rome—or the next best thing, pasta from Via Elisa (1750-C Howell Mill Road, 404-605-0668, viaelisa.com), where you can get it handmade from Elisa Gambino, the Italian-American chef who supplies Atlanta’s most upscale restaurants with fresh versions such as tortelloni with ricotta, green peas and shallots. Walk-in customers can pick up the day’s special, or call 24 hours ahead for custom-made cuisine. Take it home and serve over candlelight with your favorite wine.

Heavy Petting. Let Scruffy and Spot run free in the off-leash area of Piedmont Park (10th St. and Monroe Drive, piedmontpark.com) while you mingle with other dog-loving park-goers. Then trot over to Park Tavern, which has tie-ups for pooches on the patio, and have a beer with your date while your four-legged friends play together.

Monkey Around. Head to JavaMonkey (205 Ponce De Leon, Decatur, javamonkeydecatur.com) every other Thursday night for the Wine Series, which features wine tastings, hors d’oeuvres, live music on the patio and massages from SunSmith. Enjoy live bluegrass on Wednesday nights and singer/songwriter acts on Friday and Saturday nights.

Budding Romance. Wander through 15 acres of outdoor display gardens at Atlanta Botanical Garden (1345 Piedmont Ave., 404-876-5859, atlantabotanicalgarden.org). Stop by for “Cocktails in the Garden,” where, on the last Wednesday of the month, an Atlanta restaurant serves light hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in a different part of the garden.

Start a New Chapter. You can’t judge a book by its cover, but can you judge a date by his choice in books? Take your date to browse the vintage and used books crammed onto the rickety old shelves at Atlanta Book Exchange (1000 N. Highland Ave., 404-872-2665) and find out. It’s an ambiance of the past––and the narrow aisles just might encourage getting closer as you peruse the titles for a first-run copy of your favorite novel or volume of poetry. Afterwards, walk next door for a cup of java at Aurora Coffee (992 N. Highland Ave., 404-892-7158) and further explore what your date’s reading preferences revealed.

Browse and Indulge. Stroll through Virginia-Highland’s eclectic mix of boutiques and eateries. Peek inside Metropolitan Deluxe (1034 N. Highland Ave., 404-892-9337, metropolitandeluxe.com) for funky home décor and gifty items. And make the date a little sweeter by ending it with gelato italiano from Paolo’s (1025 Virginia Ave., 404-607-0055, paolosgelato.com). Don’t insult it by calling it ice cream. Gelato is a much softer, flavorful (and less fattening) treat, and Paolo serves it up in 72 flavors like Grand Marinier, hazelnut and jasmine, which are made fresh every day.

Brush Up On History. Take a trek through history together at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (Stilesboro Road at Old U.S. 41, Marietta, 770-427-4686, nps.gov/kemo) and see where Union soldiers defeated the Confederates not long before the fall of Atlanta during the Civil War. Check out cannon emplacements and monuments along 17 miles of walking trails. Or, bring your binoculars and watch for songbirds, especially during the spring and fall migration seasons.

Have a Cold One. Tourist-populated though it is, the World of Coca-Cola (55 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, 800-676-2653, woccatlanta.com) still offers visitors a fun tour of the creation and marking of the world’s most recognized soda. See three stories of Coca-Cola history, including vintage commercials. Stop by the “Tastes of the World,” exhibit, where you can sample 23 Coke products that aren’t available in the United States.

At the Drive-in. Mix a dose of nostalgia with your love of cinema: Get in the car and head for Starlight Six Drive In (2000 Moreland Ave., 404-627-5786, starlightdrivein.com). It’s cash only, but you won’t need much of it—tickets are just $6 a person. Make sure your radio is working so you can tune in to hear the movie.

We’re With the Band. If you and your honey love live music, make your way to the stage inside Tower Records (3232 Peachtree Road, 404-264-1217, towerrecords.com), which brings in live talent, ranging from acoustic guitarists to hip-hop groups and gospel acts, several times a month. Check the store’s bulletin boards or Web site for a schedule, and once you’re there, get an autographed copy of the act’s CD for your date.

Easy like Sunday Morning. Enjoy an outdoor brunch on the deck of Treehouse Restaurant and Pub (7 Kings Cr., 404-266-2732). Have a mimosa or bloody Mary while dining on eggs Benedict, frittatas or breakfast burritos under canvas umbrellas. Geraniums and impatiens planted in terra cotta pots lining the deck rail add charm to the laid back ambiance. You can even bring your dog.

Urban Renewal. Stroll through the historic Fairlie-Poplar district downtown and check out the Henry W. Grady and S. Truett Cathy monuments. Then sample some of the area restaurants. Have a slice of New York-style pizza at Rosa’s Pizza (62 Broad St., 404-521-2596), then satisfy your sweet tooth at Jake’s Ice Cream and Muncheteria (in the Flatiron Building, 84 Peachtree St., 404-844-JAKE). If you’re up for shopping, stop in Tribeca (66 Peachtree St., tribeca-fashions.com) for men’s and women’s clothing.

Love in Little 5. Stroll through Atlanta’s bohemian Little Five Points neighborhood, which is packed with vintage shops and boutiques. Stop by the Atlanta Freemarket, where a hodgepodge of local artisans sell handmade jewelry and apparel. Grab a bite at Babette’s Café, a European style bistro, and wrap things up with a play at the 7 Stages Theater (1105 Euclid Ave., 404-523-7647, 7stages.org), a nationally recognized playhouse that showcases work from playwrights nationwide.

Find the Fairgrounds. Pick any festival, carnival or county fair and browse the aisles of arts and crafts while munching on corn dogs and funnel cakes. Try the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, March 19-20 (conyerscherryblossom.com), or on Mother’s Day weekend, drive to the Historic Roswell Square for Annual Colors Festival of Arts (cvb.roswell.ga.us/festival2.html). The Decatur Arts Festival and Garden Tour (decatur-ga.com/events.aspx), May 28-29 at the Old Courthouse Square, is another option, complete with performing arts shows, garden tours and pony rides for kids.

ROMANTIC DATES

Horsing Around. Clomp through downtown Atlanta in a carriage pulled by Percheron and Belgian horses. Inshirah Carriages (316 Walker St., 404-523-3993, atlantacarriages.com), will take you and your date on a 15-, 30-, or 60-minute tour of the city, including Underground Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Dome. Look for the carriages parked in the downtown hotel district and hop on board, or call ahead for reservations.

Sounds of Music. Let the sounds of classical music from Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (1280 Peachtree St., 404-733-5000, atlantasymphony.org) put you in the mood. ASO teams with Spelman College and Morehouse Glee Clubs to perform Porgy and Bess, March 3–5 at 8 p.m. For something less tragic, try the Concerto for Water Percussion, March 10–12, or listen to pop composer Burt Bacharach April 1–2. Stop by Park 75 at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta (75 14th St., 404-881-9898) afterward for the Chocolate Lover’s Buffet on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Moroccan Feast. Shed your shoes and dine on authentic Moroccan cuisine like Cornish hen, lamb and chicken shish kebabs and vegetable couscous while nestled next to each other among embellished pillows and intricately woven carpets at Imperial Fez (2285 Peachtree Road, 404-351-0870, imperialfez.com). Gyrate with bejeweled belly dancers in the tented, communal dining area, or reserve a private nook secluded by draped veils.

Touchy Feely. Enjoy a relaxing, therapeutic massage at one of Natural Body’s multiple Atlanta locations (naturalbody.com). Let the massage therapist teach you and your honey how to rub each other the right way with their 90-minute couples class, a hands-on education that helps you find each other’s stress points and learn the right amount of pressure to apply.

Sit and Spin. As far as cocktails with a view, The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View (sundialrestaurant.com) stands above the rest—literally. The longtime attraction is enjoying a new popularity for those who want an excuse to do something touristy. Dizzy up your date by taking an 83-second elevator ride to the rotating restaurant, which sits atop the 723-foot Westin Peachtree Plaza, the Western hemisphere’s tallest hotel. Order a drink and find good seats for a 360-degree aerial view of the city.

Now That’s Good Music. Teeny-bopper pop music not your cup of tea? Enjoy a decidedly adult musical flavor at Clayton State’s Spivey Hall (spiveyhall.org), home of stirring jazz and classical performances from some of the country’s most renowned musicians—not to mention a stunning 4,413-pipe organ. Music at Spivey sounds oh-so-sweet, thanks to the hall’s critically acclaimed acoustics—and best of all, you and your date won’t have any sweaty teens pushing you aside for a front-row view.

Go Park-ing. Warm up chilly spring nights by packing a couple of blankets and a bottle of wine in the car and swinging by EatZi’s Market & Bakery (3221 Peachtree Road, 404-237-2266) for a couple of gourmet packaged meals like coconut chicken and poached salmon. Then head to Piedmont Park (park near the Park Drive entrance off Monroe Drive, piedmontpark.org), which celebrated its centennial anniversary last year, and settle in a quiet spot on the banks of Lake Clara Meer. Cuddle up under the blankets and enjoy your picnic dinner as you watch the stars reflect off the water.

Live Jazz on Peachtree. Go under the deep red archway leading into the intimately sophisticated “whisper room” of Churchill Grounds (660 Peachtree St., 404-876-3030, churchillgrounds.com). Listen to live jazz in a dark room decked in Moorish and Egyptian accents leftover from when the venue was still part of The Fox Theatre. This isn’t a place for boisterous banter, so if you have something to share, you’ll have to lean in close and whisper it in your date’s ear.

SPLURGE DATES

A Mid-City Night’s Dream. Great food can be truly romantic, so perch on the terrace at MidCity Cuisine (1545 Peachtree St., midcitycuisine.com), where you can overlook passersby on Peachtree and indulge in fabulous brasserie fare. Next, the play’s the thing at the Alliance Theatre (1280 Peachtree St., alliancetheatre.org), which presents several shows from Southern playwrights this season. To end the evening, book a room at Four Seasons Hotel (75 Fourteenth St., fourseasons.com/atlanta), where they offer a Shiatsu massage for two.

Magic ’Copter Ride. Love is in the air—at about 500 to 1,000 feet above the city. That’s how high you’ll be during a 30-minute helicopter tour from Prestige Helicopters (DeKalb-Peachtree Airport; prestigehelicopters.com). For $100 per person, you can get a lovebird’s-eye-view of the skyline. Schedule a tour at dusk and bring up a bottle of Dom Perignon and watch the city lights come alive below.

Dinner and String Ensemble. A home-cooked meal becomes out-of-the-ordinary with a string ensemble playing “All I Ask of You” live in your dining room. Amadeus String Ensemble (770-971-3176, amadeusstrings.com) will do just that starting at $995 for the first hour. And leave the cooking to a personal chef, like Matt Johnson of Gourmet Infusion (PHONE #?, gourmetinfusion.com), who prepares delectable dishes such as rosemary roasted rack of lamb, or chocolate souffle with Grand Marnier custard for dessert, for between $175 and $250.

Intown Escape. Whisk your date away to Gaslight Inn (1001 Saint Charles Ave., 404-875-1001, gaslightinn.com) and stay in one of several quaint cottages featuring charming 18-century-style four-post mahogany beds. Bring a bottle of wine from Sherlock’s Wine Merchants (3401 Northside Parkway, 404-233-1514, sherlocks.com) and share it while cozied up in front of your room’s fireplace or in your private, 2-person whirlpool. Have breakfast on your patio overlooking the inn’s walled flower garden.

Come se dice Amor? If you and your partner aren’t speaking the same language, try a new one altogether by enrolling in one of the Evening at Emory language classes (http://cll.emory.edu/index.htm) such as Spanish I, French I or Polish for Beginners. After you’ve completed the fast-paced classes focusing on basic grammar, test your new tongue and surprise your fellow student with airline tickets to Spain, France or Poland (www.delta.com) as a reward for your hard work.

Luxury Getaway. Spend a weekend at Atlanta’s new five-star hotel, InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta (3315 Peachtree Road; 404-946-9000; ichotelsgroup.com). Start out with cocktails at the XO Bar, a cognac bar where you can buy a bottle of brandy and reserve a locker to store it until your next visit. Dine at Au Pied du Cochon, a 24-hour French-style brasserie. Then pamper yourselves at the Jurlique day spa inside the hotel before retiring to a luxurious room.

Up, Up and Away. Float off together in a hot air balloon ride over Atlanta. For about $400 per couple, an FAA-certified balloon pilot from Adventures Aloft (770-963-0149, Lawrenceville, ballooningamerica.com) will take you on a one-hour flight at dawn or dusk, any day of the week (weather permitting). The crew will even treat you to a post-flight celebration with a continental breakfast or light hors d’oeuvres and champagne or sparkling cider. Family rides (two adults and two children) start at about $125 per person.

Get Outa Town. Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and book a weekend package at Chateau Elan (100 Rue Charlemagne, Braselton, 800-233-9463, chateauelanatlanta.com). Pamper yourselves with facials and Swedish massages at the spa, or schedule a tour of the 75-acre vineyard, which produces some 20 wine varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Have a wine-label expert design your own label and take home a personalized souvenir of your romantic getaway.

BOLD MOVES

Home, Sweet Home. Put yourselves in the nesting spirit by going on a tour of homes. Try the Inman Park Tour (770-242-4895, inmanpark.org), April 22–24, complete with a parade and arts and crafts festival. Or go on the Grant Park Home & Garden Tour (gpna.org), September 24–25, which includes cooking, home-improvement and gardening demonstrations. When you head back to your place, have a welcome mat waiting with the words “Will You Move in with Me?” printed on it. Look for personalized mats at horchow.com (click on “Garden” then “Doormats”) or simply-sublime.com (choose “Floor Mats”).

Hide in the Cellar. Make reservations for the romantic wine cellar at Aria (490 E. Paces Ferry Road, 404-233-7673). You’ll get the same slow-cooked comfort foods—like foie gras and jumbo sea scallops—that you’d get in the main room, yet your meal will be set in an intimate wine cellar lit with 30 candles. Only one reservation is granted per night, so take your time. Go in single, come out engaged—or, at a minimum, having had a wonderful meal.

Go Antiquing. Head to Miami Circle and visit the 75 or so antique boutiques. Try Dover-Calais Antiques (631 Miami Circle, #12, 404-261-7609, tias.com/stores/dover/) for majolica, Foxglove Antiques (715 Miami Circle; Ste. 200, 404-233-0222, foxgloveantiques.com) for French and English armoires and chests, and Inner Space (690 Miami Circle, Ste. 300, 404-264-9893, innerspaceusa.com) for contemporary European furniture. While sharing tapas and cocktails at Eclipse Di Luna (764 Miami Circle, Ste. 138; 404-846-0449, eclipsediluna.com), tell your partner to choose one piece from your shopping spree and ask him or her to help move it—along with all his or her other belongings—in with you.

Paper, Scissors . . . Rock. Paper may be the gift of first anniversaries, but the folks at Atlanta Scrapbook Connection (1155 Mount Vernon Hwy., Ste. 450, 770-551-9595, atlantascrapbooks.com) aren’t counting. Bring in snapshots of your vacations together and assemble pages at a scrapbook-making class. Use stencils, die-cut paper shapes and themed paper to create an album of your memories together. At the end, paste a picture of a diamond ring to the last page and ask her to marry you.