The Perfect Adelaide Date...

I love Adelaide. And i love to watch young love bloom in lovely Adelaide. 

That's not entirely true, but i liked how many times i could put 'love' into a sentence. On the whole, young lovers make me feel a little queasy. Damned cheesy couples. That said, i suppose many would say that boyfriend and i are probably the cheesiest of the cheesy. It's fun. 

Anyway, after an exceptional coffee date (with the girls) the other day, i have decided it is important to compile a list of must-dated in Adelaide. We may be small, but we're definitely not boring. 

1. Bracegirdles

Bracegirdles is a chocolate/coffee house in Burnside (Greenhill road, just opposite the Burnside shopping centre). They specialise in turning Belgium chocolate into all sorts of delectible goodies. For example, when we were there, we had chocolate fondue with fruit, and mochas (the best mocha i'd ever had). The chocolate is to die for. Granted, it's not the best date if you're watching your waistline - which all women constantly are - but it's completely worth it for the deliciousness. Aside from the taste, Bracegirdles has a lovely atmosphere; little tables, a fireplace, a delectable coziness... Perfect for a romantic date. 

2. Lookouts

Thanks to Adelaide's small size, the view from surrounding hills means you have a complete nightscape of the city, twinkling with the lights. Granted, Windy Point is a little crowded these days (random bogans being 'cool' and strange old men checking their postage in their cars... true), but being surrounded by hills means that  there are plenty of other good spots to check out. I love shiny things, so this is always fun. Use your handy dandy Street Map to find all the local lookouts and check them out. 

3. Beaches

While insanely busy during a typical sunny day, by the time the sun starts to set things are settling down a little at Glenelg. Long walks along a moonlit beach, gelati on the boardwalk, sitting on the sand watching the firey sun fall into the ocean... completely cliqued, but for a good reason. It just gives that warm, fuzzy, happiness feeling on the inside!

4. Something a little more Out There...

For those couples who are up for something a little more adventurous, i could suggest the more kooky date locations... like Zone3 laser tag on South Road, where you can run around in blacklights defending your base and wearing super cool plastic armour. Or Cross Road Bowl, where they turn on the disco lights and party the night away while people throw heavy balls down an alley. Often fun. Or perhaps you could go paintballing, a la Ten Things I Hate About You (think Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles covered in paint, and falling for one another).

5. Gold Class

For those with a little more moola in their pockets, Gold Class movies are a must. Despite the astronomical and completely ridiculous costs, it's so much fun to be so spoilt and comfy while watching a good movie. Think reclining chairs with foot rests, food and drinks delivered at your lesiure, and only a maximum of about 15 other people in the cinema to annoy you. Tips: see a long movie, because if you're paying through the nose it had better be worth it; the shoestring fries are delicious, as are the sundaes; 3D in goldclass is super fun; and, the experience of being so spoilt is slightly disconcerting. 

I can't think of anythink more right now, but i figure that's enough for a good few dates. You can always do the usual things, like coffee dates at Spats (an old brothel-turned-coffee house), have Sushi at the Sushi Train (how can people resist food coming to them on a little train?!) or go to the Royal Adelaide Show and get your beloved to win you a stuffed toy on the sideshows (a personal desire of mine that is yet to be fulfilled). Don't forget, men get bonus points for coming up with their own ideas instead of just stealing the ideas of a random girl from her blog!

Good luck men. May your women appreciate your efforts. And may you remember that dating is a necessity in any relationship, one that is not to fade into the background once a couple has become comfortable enough with one another to wear their ugly trackies and stop sneaking out of bed in the morning to brush their teeth, and pretending they just woke up like that.