Her plan by Katie Barry
So, I haven’t been on a date in longer than I would personally like to admit, but that doesn’t mean a girl can’t dream.
And while snuggling on my couch watching an awesomely bad movie sounds great, sometimes, to set the mood, you actually have to leave the 10-block.
The perfect date – where to begin? Bridgeport, obviously.
The Bridgeport Beardsley Zoo offers a wide variety of exotic animals and exhibitions.
You and your date could stroll hand in hand, marveling at the endangered Siberian tiger or giggling over how cute the Andean (spectacled) bear is.
Awkward conversation becomes a thing of the past when there is a prairie dog exhibit with “pop up” viewing exhibitions to experience or a “hoofstock” trail featuring bison and deer to walk down!
Before you leave, you can grab a bite at the Peacock Café – a candle light dinner has nothing on a lunch where actual peacocks roam the dining area.
After your exciting zoo adventure, you could wind down by taking a walk through town, choosing one of many restaurants to dine at.
My personal favorite? Bravo, a low-key restaurant with great food at 1418 Post Rd. – just a few blocks down from the University. It is far superior to grabbing a sandwich at the Stag.
Following dinner you can go next door to the Community Theatre and enjoy a $5 movie with $1 popcorn because hey, the zoo and dinner can get expensive.
How to end the night? Go back to Bridgeport and bring your date to The Clubhouse Cafe. Take it from me, nothing says “new love” quite like $2 pitchers and random townies pouring shots of tequila (straight from the bottle) down your throat.
If the club scene is not your thing, a moonlight picnic on Fairfield beach screams romance. Just make sure it doesn’t involve cans of Keystone Light or boxed wine or the new “zero-tolerance” policy may result in both of you behind bars. After all, no one wants to end a date in the slammer.
His plan by Bill McBain
Women of Fairfield often lament that the males here don’t understand the concept of a date. An invitation for a tour of the upstairs of a townhouse that includes PBR served in a Solo cup does not qualify.
Every date needs to have food, as well as an involved activity and a passive activity that allows for conversation.
Hint for freshmen guys: Don’t ask a girl to come over to watch a movie.
Hint for freshmen girls: No guy really cares who’s on Conan when he invites you over to watch Late Night on NBC.
The freshman experience:
You don’t have a car. She probably doesn’t have more Barone swipes and Dining Dollars left, so the Stag is out. Get yourself onto Campusfood.com and order two meals from Ricky and Sammy’s Deli. I like the Little Italy for myself and a Basil chicken for my lady.
When the sandwiches arrive, pack them up in a backpack along with that Fairfield U. sweatshirt blanket your parents bought you. Take your date by Bellarmine lawn, sit on the manicured grass and enjoy the sight of our most beautiful building.
While you are there you can pull out a Frisbee and talk about how you and your friends used to play last summer. If she bites at the idea, you two can play catch or make use of Fairfield University’s nationally-ranked Frisbee Golf Course.
On your way back, venture through the Japanese gardens on the right of Bellarmine and contemplate why anyone would move admissions (and prospective students) away from this castle.
Sophomore Stylin’:
Okay, now you’ve got a car. A nice, easy date is grabbing coffee. There are now Starbucks coffee stores on Blackrock and Post Road, but a less cliché choice would be to take your date to Las Vetas on Post Road
Las Vetas is an independent coffee shop that provides quality coffee without pretension. Get your drink of choice to go. My personal favorite is a hot mulled apple cider.
Once you’ve got the coffee, go to Sasco Hill Beach. To get there, take Post Road toward Southport. Take a left at the light before you cross the bridge into Southport. Take this (very rich) street to the end, and head down a hill to the beach.
You’ll enjoy nice view of the Long Island Sound and the Country Club of Fairfield’s golf course. You can take a walk on the beach or just sit at a picnic table. The distance from industrial areas provides one of the best locations for Stargazing in our little suburban bubble. Junior Achievement:
You have a kitchen in your townhouse. Use it.
Go to Stop ‘ Shop and pick up a bagged salad, a starch and some charcoal for the grill outside your townhouse.
Then hit up A’S Fine Foods on Blackrock for the best meat off Arthur Avenue. Do your research on the Weber Web site for a great recipe. Sal at A’S will tell you how to cook it just right.
After you’re done, take her out to Sunny Daes Ice Cream Parlor for fresh homemade ice cream. I like the pumpkin and eggnog seasonal flavors. Get it to go and head toward Southport via Post Road.
Once you cross into Southport, take your first left (just before Southport Brewing Company). This street, Harbor Road, is home to some of the nicest homes in Fairfield County.
Continue on this road until you pass the Pequot Yacht Club and see an open park. You can get out here and sit on the benches while watching boats go by.
The site of the boats moored in the harbor, the swans swimming by and the dogs in the park is corny, but it also reminds me of home. It’s a great place to start a conversation and actually get to know someone.
Senior Success:
Integrate several of the former date ideas. The challenge is that you must use destinations outside the town of Fairfield.
Food suggestions: Go for sushi in Westport at Sakura. A classy dinner on Forest Street in New Canaan is also perfect for celebrating a special occasion. Even a jaunt to Wendy’s in Norwalk (Exit 14) can be fun if your date isn’t expecting much.
For activities you should know what’s going on in the area. Apple-picking in Bethel is fun and somewhat goofy/romantic around this time of year. Shopping at IKEA, in New Haven, or hitting up a small concert at The Space, in Hamden, or Acoustic Café, on Black Rock, are also good ideas.
Going out for a drink to the Seagrape Cafe is not a date; it’s a Thursday night. Going to Blackrock Oyster Bar for some appetizers and a few cold ones at its nautical bar is the way to shape a happy memory.
No weekend in Fairfield is complete without a trip to the diner. Circle Diner is close, and Athena gets the “Best of Fairfield” ranking annually, but the best diner in the area is slightly further down Post Road.
In Westport, Sherwood Diner provides an impressive menu 24 hours a day in a cozy New England setting. The waiters will recognize you after a few visits.
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