We don't know whether it's the shorter shorts or the longer nights, but dang - y'all look so attractive in summer. So much so, we think you should all ask each other out on dates right now so you can admire each other's extra special summer hotness. And we know you're more than just a summer sun-kissed pretty face: so here are some suggestions for creative and memorable summer dates to impress your boy or lady-friend.
Sure, this idea has been done before, but the picnic date has got to be up there as one of the all-time, sure-fire ways to get some summer loving. Particularly if you're short on cash, the picnic is the great equaliser: you can woo your date with your sandwich-making abilities rather than which restaurants will still accept your maxed out credit card. 'Be prepared' should be the motto for you boy and girl scouts of lurve: an esky and a sizeable picnic rug are essential to long afternoons of laying about and other great summer non-activities. Check out our guide to becoming a picnic pro for more important tips [link inserted].
If parks and recreation-type activities really do it for you and your lady or gentleman caller, a little game of sport could make your date as
cute as this pygmy jerboa. When selecting your activity of choice, stick with gentle, non-competitive activities like flying a kite or a spot of badminton. Remember: what works for Lleyton Hewitt (smashing a tennis ball at your partner then making a bizarre hand puppet gesture to your own face and screaming "c'mooonnnn!!!") could be a liability in the getting laid stakes here.
Water may be the source of all life, but it's also the backdrop for some of the cheesiest date activities you can think of: long walks on the beach, making out on rowboats and giggling like idiots while you pretend to splash each other in the water. But gosh, people, embrace the lameness of love: if you're not making everyone around you spew with the sugary sweetness of your beach, river or poolside-date, you're not trying hard enough.
Summer foods like ice creams and icy poles are the best kind of date foods to indulge in - we're not sure why, but it's probably got something to do with all the licking and sucking involved. You could take your date to an ice creamery or a gelato bar, or to a malt shop where you can order a milkshake with two straws so you can sit across from each other as you drink your milkshake and gaze into each other's eyes. Sadly, there are no malt shops around anymore and no one ever really does that, which is a human tragedy that should be put right immediately.
Wherever you take your date, you can always bring them home to your very own outdoor cinema. There’s really nothing better than watching a film al fresco with your very own self-mixed signature cocktail and a mountain of mixed lollies. If you've got a balcony or backyard, all you need is an old telly, a rug or couch and an extra long extension cord. Use an insect repellent or a mosquito coil to make sure the only bites you get are of the love variety. Then you can fall asleep outdoors together and look up at the summer night sky, thanking your lucky stars you're both so incredibly fine and your summer date went so amazingly well.
COCKTAIL IDEA: The Marrakesh
Start with a cocktail shaker or sealable container.
seeds of ½ a pomegranate or a shot of pomegranate juice
20ml Schweppes lime cordial
a 30ml shot of gin
ice
Shake the hell out of it, pour into a tall glass, top with Schweppes soda water and stir.
Add a lime wedge and enjoy.
WORDS: Annie Davis
First posted 29/11/11