Date doctor is in

Catherine E. Toth, Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu Advertiser

Friday, June 3, 2005

No need for "The Sims: Hot Date" tonight.

It's Friday and you've (actually) got a date.

The outfit's picked. You've brushed your teeth. You've even taken out money from the ATM.

But you're stuck.

The problem?

You have no idea what to do.

Dinner and movie?

Nah, such a cliche.

Watch videos at home?

Too boring.

You need a plan, and time is running out.

This is our advice: Know yourself, then plan accordingly.

If you love the outdoors, organize a hike. If you love eating at new places, make reservations at a restaurant that just opened. If you love playing poker, well, you know what to do.

Picking something you enjoy will ease your nervousness about the night and open your date to a different (and, you hope, enjoyable) experience.

Here are our suggestions for dates this summer, all based on how you live your life.

Partier? Early riser? Completely broke?

We got you covered.

So grab your date and get going.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.


If you're artsy:

• Invite your date to ARTafterDARK, a kind of themed party at the Honolulu Academy of Arts on the last Friday of every month. June 24 is Art Smart, featuring a poetry slam and live music. July 29's event — Cool Nights, Hot Jazz — boasts local jazz and blues musicians and a Starbucks cappuccino bar. Havana Heat on Aug. 26 is headlined by Grammy-nominated Latin band Son Caribe, salsa lessons and Mexican-inspired food. Party starts at 6 p.m. Cost is $7 for nonmuseum members. Call 532-8724 or visit www.artafterdark.org.
• Ditch work early and hit First Friday: Honolulu's downtown gallery walk starts at 5 p.m. today. This self-guided tour of two dozen art spots in Chinatown is leisurely enough for chatting and interesting enough to enjoy. And it's free. Call 521-2903 or see www.artsatmarks.com.
• Head for ArtSpree 2005, a free, all-day event at the Contemporary Museum July 9. It will feature workshops, demonstrations and performances. Call 526-1322 or visit www.tcmhi.org.