Great Dates: Part 1
By Casey Gillis on Jul. 12, 2007
I know, I know.
We’ve heard it before: there’s nothing to do in Lynchburg.
And what if you have a hot date?
Where can you possibly take him or her that will keep your summer romance sizzling?
It’s not that hard, boys and girls.
Contrary to popular belief, there’s plenty to do in the Burg — you just have to be a little creative and willing to venture beyond the city limits in search of a good time.
Mr. Busdeker and I have come together — joined forces if you will — to give you enough date ideas to make your head spin.
We originally conceived this as a he said/she said type of story, but I think you’ll find that our ideas aren’t all that different. We’ve both included several dinner date ideas, plus a breakfast date and a few outdoor activities to get the sparks flying between you and your potential significant other.
Thursday
My perfect Thursday night date recommendation is to hit up karaoke night at one of our lovely local establishments.
There are plenty of places to choose from — no less than five area restaurant/bars do it on Thursday nights: Faria’s Twin Oaks Restaurant (14175 Forest Road) in Forest, Leesville Sports Grill and Deli (502 Leesville Road), Lucky’s Irish Pub in Altavista (428 Main St.), The Local Pub (1825 12th St.), and The Cellar, the downstairs part of The Dahlia (2231 Bedford Ave.)
I mean, seriously, who doesn’t love a little karaoke?
It might sound silly for a date idea, but watching it can be a great icebreaker.
Maybe you’re slightly nervous about keeping the conversation going and avoiding awkward silences. At karaoke, there are plenty of built-in conversation topics, not to mention tons of comic relief. You can bond with your date over the wretched singers belting it out on stage and be impressed by the talented ones.
Plus, if you’re feeling brazen, one or both of you can even take the mic yourself.
But keep this in mind: if you need booze to be brave enough to get up there, don’t do it. Getting tipsy — or worse, flat out drunk — is a huge turnoff on a first date.
Friday
Why not go traditional for a Friday night date with a nice dinner and some live music?
I’d stay away from chain restaurants and dine at a locally owned establishment. There are so many wonderful ones, and we need to support them.
Vines Wine Merchant and Café (3225 Old Forest Rd.) is a little on the pricey side, but the food and ambiance are totally worth it. They’ve also got an excellent selection of wines and imported beers that pair up nicely with your meal.
Traveler’s in Amherst (202 South Main St.) has a similar small, intimate and romantic atmosphere.
If the weather’s nice, sit out on the deck and order a steak at Benjamin’s in Forest (14900 Forest Road), which has arguably the best mountain view in town.
If you want to taste the most tender chicken you’ve ever had in your life, have the Alice chicken at King’s Point Pub, which is right on Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta. You will not be disappointed.
Other great date spots include Jazz Street Grill (3225 Old Forest Road), The Depot Grille (10 9th St.), Neighbor’s Place in Wyndhurst (104 Paulette Circle) and Olde Liberty Station in Bedford (515 Bedford Ave.).
After dinner, it’s time to have a few drinks and check out some live music.
Some of the places I mentioned above, like King’s Point Pub, Jazz Street and Benjamin’s, have live music pretty regularly, so you can get it all in one shot.
For more live music listings, check out The Burg’s calendar before your big date and see what’s going on where.
And while we’re talking live music, I’ve got to give a shout out to my favorite local band, Mike & Casey (http://www.myspace.com/mikeandcasey
music).
These guys, an acoustic duo that do mostly covers, know how to put on a great show, so keep an eye on their MySpace site and our calendar for when they’ll be playing around town.
You and your date are sure to have an incredible time with these two strumming in the background.
Saturday
OK, it’s time to class things up a little by checking out Starry Nights at Veritas Vineyard & Winery in Afton (145 Saddleback Farm.)
As clichéd as it may sound, the Nelson County winery really is nestled right at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with breathtaking views that will certainly ratchet up the old romance factor.
“It’s perfect,” business manager Molly O’Halloran says of Starry Nights’ date potential. “We usually have a bonfire, and there are always couples getting romantic by the bonfire. … People are ready to dance and watch the sun set.”
At the bargain price of $10, you can bring a picnic, enjoy live music and sample Veritas’ wines. Or, for five bucks more, you can forget the picnic and eat meals specially prepared by the winery’s chef.
Wine is available by the bottle or glass (a complimentary glass is included in the $10 cover), and there’s also a cash bar.
The event, which usually runs from 7 to 11 p.m., is only held once a month, so make sure you plan ahead by visiting http://www.veritaswines.com. You must make reservations if you plan to eat.
There just so happens to be one scheduled for this Saturday, featuring the music of Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, and a menu that includes grilled Angus beef burgers and a fruit and mango sorbet for dessert.
Also on the schedule this summer: Ban Caribe, a band that specializes in Caribbean music, on Aug. 11 and Thompson D’earth Band, a jazz septet, on Sept. 8.
Sunday
All that wine you drank last night is probably still sloshing around in your stomach, so it’s time to refuel with a little brunch.
The Starlight Café (512 12th St.) serves breakfast all day on Saturday and Sunday, and they’ve got an omelet you’ll go crazy for. Plus, most of their breakfast dishes come with delicious, perfectly seasoned hash browns.
If it’s a buffet you’re looking for — and really, what beats an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet? — check out The Fox and the Hound in Forest. They’ve got two different options: a breakfast buffet or a brunch, and to be honest, you can’t go wrong with either one.
After eating (and soaking up all that wine), you should both be ready to go for the afternoon.
How about a couple rounds of mini golf (Putt Putt Golf, Games & Go Karts, 8105 Timberlake Rd. or Tiny Town Miniature Golf, 7427 Timberlake Rd.), followed by a nice afternoon snack?
It’s summer, so there’s really nothing better than a snow cone. And, in my humble opinion, the best snow cone in town is at Bahama Sno Shack (7705 Timberlake Rd.). The ice is perfectly shaved and not too crunchy, and there are plenty of flavors to choose from (I’m a blue raspberry gal myself).
After the date is over, make sure you thank your companion and see if another date is in your future. After a weekend like this, how could she say no?
COMMENTS
Wine stems from an extended and rich history dating back about 8,000 years and is thought to have originated in present day Georgia or Iran.
Going to a karaoke club is not the best idea ever. Imagine your date singing terribly some song, everybody is laughing and you start to feel so guilty for almost forcing her to sing.