Retro Dating

[koopkooper]

So if a couple of Fedora loungers got together what would be your idea of a perfect date.....where would you go, what would you wear and how would you get there?

 

[PADDY]

And who/what would be your ideal vintage date...

Your date could be a vintage guy or girl from the golden era, or it could be a guy/girl you know in real life who would appreciate a vintage, romantic date. So who might that be...?

OK, Always leading by example, here goes for me...

I like to do things with a "wee" bit of a twist to them.

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So, I'd charter a boat or yacht (I love Bogarts and Flynn's boats) and take my gal for a good day's sailing, showing her the ropes and the sheets, how to tack, jibe..etc. So any nerves she might have will be lost in the physical fun of sailing the boat. It really would be such fun, the sun beating down, the wind against your face, the laughter when really getting the speed up and the spray coming over you.

I'd be wearing a white linen shirt, off white trousers with brown leather sailing shoes and vintage sunglasses. Wear my vintage styled swim trunks underneath for any swimming opportunities later.

[/IMG]

Dropping anchor at midday. We'd go for a swim in the azure water, maybe fish a bit off the stern of the yacht and open cook the catch over some heated charcoals, suffused with natural herbs and olive oil, some chunks of rough country bread and washed down with crisp, sharp, chilled white wine.

Then we'd sail to a little island I know. Berth the schooner (yep, I've upgraded it now!) in the sheltered cove with the sea rippling over the rocks and white sand (this could be the West Coast of Scotland or Ireland, with sands as white as any Carribbean beach! and totally deserted).
After showering and freshing up, faces healthy aglow from a day on the high seas, we dress for dinner, black tie for me, and appropriate attire for the lady, and we row ashore, to find as we approach the beach, a scene from a Jack Vettriano painting.

1930's music drifts across the bay and as we come around the corner of the rocks, we see a three piece band playing. A table is layed out with starched linen and silver, reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun, as it descends to allow the moon to ascend...

We are greeted by a gentleman in tails and led to our table.
The chilled non-vintage Krug champagne is popped and poured, as the strains of "At Last" drift across from the musicians. The Waterford crystal glasses 'ching,' the sea gently laps soothingly up the shore, there is a warmth in the air, cocooning us at this table on the shore...and we feel we have come home 'at last'...(I feel a dance coming on

 

[farnham54]

Paddy,

If I were to hold the 'perfect' date, I couldn't agree more with you! That sounds great!! :eusa_clap

However, if it were a date I'd have to pull off myself, I'm afraid I'd have too many concerns with that setup--please don't take this as me being critical, au contraire! I just don't have the pinache to pull something like that off what if it rained! Also, in that environment, I'd have "Trying Too Hard" written all over me. Still, Paddy, if you are willing I'd let you take my sister on that date (Just so long as I could tag along to enjoy a day of sailing off the coast of Ireland! )

The perfect date, in my opinion, is all about comfort zones. It's about slightly stretching HER comfort zone for sure--if you don't, she'll be bored. The variable is whether or not to do the same to YOUR comfort zone--if you push it, it'll be written all over you.

Comfortable clothes, comfortable surroundings equals comfortable YOU, comfortable (and easy flowing) conversation, good repetoire, and overall, a good first impression! Bottom line, for me, is an environment where both parties can be themselves. That doesn't mean flip flops and grubby jeans and a local McDonalds--turn on the class, no matter what, but not so much that you outclass yourself (and if anything above flip flops is outclassing yourself, there are some fine gents in the Suits section that will help you out!)

For me, that involves a dinner at any one of a number of local restaurants--depending on the girl, it could range from Georgian Creed's fine dining (a gourmet restaurant with a fantastic vibe) or Medival Times (A restaurant that re-enacts a bunch of battles and chivalrous tasks from the middle ages) or perhaps catch a Blue Jays game. Cap it off by doing something neither of us have done before/in a long time--a trip to the top of the CN Tower, perhaps, or maybe a meeting with the Blue Jays after the game (All things easily accomplished, just takes a good personality and a smile!)

Another token of a good date is flexibility--I am wholeheartedly against the idea of copping out on a bad date (ie. Having a friend call you with an emergency). So lets say you feel very unsure about a person--I would take them to a restaurant at 7:30 that features live music at 8:00--You can get through 30 minutes of small talk easily enough, and if it's REALLY bad, theres good music you can both listen to. I've had a date that went like this which then blossomed into a really good relationship, so it's not all bad!

Before I turn this into a novel, I should say that the perfect date is a very flexible idea as far as events, but what shouldn't change for the perfect date is it should be FUN, INTERESTING, and leave both parties with a taste for something more!

Cheers
Craig

 

[herringbonekid]

two light ales and a quick snog.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

If I was in the dating scene, I'd want the fellow to pick me up in his classic hotrod, and we'd go to the drive-in. After we would get burgers at the diner even though I'm watching my figure. I may or may not kiss him after he dropped me off at home depending on how it went. I would expect him to open and hold all doors for me and pick up the tab if he is the one who asked me out. I would dress nicely in square girl fashion. I think I would wear my nerd glasses during the date.

 

[Burma Shave]

Pretty Square Girl: I'm with you...

...on the drive-in and hamburger kick. However, the only times I ever suggested such a thing to a date (when I was dating, that is), they assumed I wanted to go to a drive-in for, um, ulterior motives. Too many people have seen too many movies about non-movie-related activities in the backseat. Scared off some "square girls" that way, unfortunately. I just wanted to see the movie! Really!

You'da thought I'd suggested something like Herringbonekid's "two beers and a snog."

[Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering about your name: Are you a square girl who happens to be pretty, or do you consider yourself a pretty (meaning fairly) square person? One of my grandparents' running jokes was a twist on that: Grandma would say something like, "That's a pretty old car, isn't it?" and Grandpa would respond, regular as clockwork, "Well, it's old, but I wouldn't say it's pretty."]

 

[Irena]

I think I would like a nice picnic.

We would walk a ways from the road where we parked our car (vintage, of course) to a lovely little stream lined with trees. We'd sit silently and enjoy the scenery for a bit, then eat our meal.

The meal would consist of little sandwiches, fresh berries, and lemonade. It would be in a wicker picnic basket with a pretty cloth tablecloth (with a plastic back). After eating, we'd take off our shoes and wade in the stream, then take a walk through the woods on the other side. Later, we'd eat our dessert (lemon shortbread cookies), pack the car, and take a drive through the countryside, ending with an early supper in a quaint cafe. Of course, I'd have to have my ideal man for this date, but that's another story.

 

[Jack Scorpion]

A baseball game, for sure. Talk about vintage. Wrigley's a great field for that kind of thing. PacBell, too, since it is a carboncopy of Wrigley. Maybe Dodger Stadium, but with the traffic and all, maybe not. Have a beer, some peanuts and a dog. Play goofy games between innings ("If the ball stays on the mound at the end of this inning, you have to go get the hot dogs.")

A picnic sounds good, but I'd go more for take-out at a local restaurant and eating off the hood of my car by the docks/beach. I'm a California-boy all the way. Conducive to a post-meal walk.

Drive-In movies sound great because you can watch the movie and chat at the same time. Plus, you have the private space, but it isn't as uncomfortably private as a rented flick. However, I've never had the pleasure and I wouldn't even know where to find one. Where are they?

 

[PrettySquareGal]

[Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering about your name: Are you a square girl who happens to be pretty, or do you consider yourself a pretty (meaning fairly) square person?

I consider myself *mostly* square, so I mean "pretty" in that sense. Otherwise I would have called myself BombshellSquareGal. No. I'm kidding! But thanks for asking.

 

[Burma Shave]

Jack Scorpion: A database...

...of drive-ins is available at this site: http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/catvine

You're in California, I believe, so you should have no trouble finding one reasonably nearby.

You're right about the "private, but not too private" aspects of the drive-in. Conversation is possible, but without the uncomfortable nature of two people who don't know each other very well sitting on a couch in the dark.

And PrettySquareGal: thanks for the response to an honest (though off-topic) question. I'm a writer, and I guess I pay more than the usual amount of attention to word meanings.

 

[ITG]

I like the drive-in movie idea too. Oh and Paddy's idea is probably an ultimate one...would love to see that one pulled off. There's also a dinner movie theater in Dallas that has some really good pizza. You basically sit down at a dinner table, order dinner, and enjoy the movie.
www.studiomoviegrill.com

Farnham, Medieval Times is awesome too! I didn't know they had those up in Canada.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Pure fantasy . . .

If I could really let my imagination run wild . . .

I'd pick up a young Rita Hayworth in a dark blue '48 Buick convertible, and take her out to Doyle's Seafood Restaurant at Watson's Bay. I'd wear my best dark blue pinstripe suit, black and white spectators, and grey Akubra CEO, and Rita . . . well, she could wear anything!

After wining and dining, I'd cruise over the Bridge to Cremorne and take her to a night of dancing at the Hayden Orpheum, one of those nights they have that feature the Mell-o-Tones along with a classic movie feature. And at the end of the evening . . .

 

[farnham54]

ITG,

Yes mam! I've never been, and we only have the one in Toronto, but one of these days I'll check it out. I do like the idea of a dinner movie theater--I assume the prices are better then the usual movie theater food, which charges 50 bucks for each nacho chip?

Cheers
Craig

 

[Lauren]

I'm opting a lunch at a mom and pop's joint followed by one of those matinee's of old movies they play in the old movie houses from time to time. Maybe desert or coffee afterwards with a nice stroll at twilight. No kisses but a really great hug at the end.

 

[MudInYerEye]

Hot dogs and beer on the Staten Island ferry followed by a cab to my place, doublequick.

 

[scotrace]

Hell Paddy, I'LL go out with ye...

Arms length at g'night tho.

 

[CWetherby]

WELL!! I have nothing constructive to add. Having read Paddy's dream date, nothing I can think of sounds half as romantic. I didn't think men ever thought that way. I'm having trouble stringing coherent thoughts together....to put it in the vernacular, Paddy, your post has blown my mind!

CW

 

[Zemke Fan]

Well, CW...

... to bring you back to earth a bit -- and with an upfront apology to my dear friend "across the pond" -- I did a first date not unlike the one Paddy describes back in college. We went sailing on the Charles River in one of the "Tech Dinghies" that were just made for two. Although I was a proficient sailor, the wind was a bit brisk and there was a bit more water in the boat than normal. At the end of the date she stepped out of the boat and her shoes were wet. She sat down on the grass, pulled off her shoes... and *gasp* her feet were stained BRIGHT blue. Moral of the story? If you want a fairy tale ending, advise your sailing partner to leave the blue suede shoes at home!

 

[Tudor]

If I was in the dating scene, I'd want the fellow to pick me up in his classic hotrod, and we'd go to the drive-in. After we would get burgers at the diner even though I'm watching my figure. I may or may not kiss him after he dropped me off at home depending on how it went. I would expect him to open and hold all doors for me and pick up the tab if he is the one who asked me out. I would dress nicely in square girl fashion. I think I would wear my nerd glasses during the date.

Classic Hotrods… now that is my kind of gal! My wife and I love taking our ’48 Ford to the drive-in especially when other rodders are there. It is simple fun, you can meet other vintage minded people, enjoy a burger, laugh at each other’s stories of running out of fuel because the gas gauge didn’t work and other minor break-downs (these are 58+ years old machines that we have lovingly modified after all) or… you can claim a booth for just the two of you and enjoy being with your special person.

I love treating a lady like she is special. My Mom even taught me to walk on the street-side of the sidewalk to protect the lady from a passing car splash (somewhat). It does not always work as planned. It is amazing to me that most women do not know what I am doing when I cross behind them to walk on the street-side.

I remember taking a girl home wondering if I would get a kiss after walking her to the door. Most of the time I got that kiss though sometimes it was on the cheek. Funny… I remember the wondering more than some of the kisses.


Dennis

 

[CWetherby]

... to bring you back to earth a bit -- and with an upfront apology to my dear friend "across the pond" -- I did a first date not unlike the one Paddy describes back in college. We went sailing on the Charles River in one of the "Tech Dinghies" that were just made for two. Although I was a proficient sailor, the wind was a bit brisk and there was a bit more water in the boat than normal. At the end of the date she stepped out of the boat and her shoes were wet. She sat down on the grass, pulled off her shoes... and *gasp* her feet were stained BRIGHT blue. Moral of the story? If you want a fairy tale ending, advise your sailing partner to leave the blue suede shoes at home!

lol lol lol

Great story, but you're ruining my daydream! Maybe if you'd had the musicians waiting....or a larger boat....oh, well! I'm going back to my daydream.
(humming: "someday, my prince will come...")