Fast Fiction

This week’s LA Insight topic is dating in LA. This is something I know positively nothing about. Not only that, I have very little dating experience, I mainly have had boyfriends (well, now I have a husband) and never really went through dating thing except for about five months in grad school (before I snagged the above-mentioned husband).

So, I’ll limit this to my observations and not my experience.

1. Best place to meet someone new?

I think online is a great place to start meeting people. I really think it levels the playing field and you concentrate more on what you have in common before you go off making judements about their clothes or shaving habits.

2. Best place to take your first date?

I think a fun restaurant that isn’t too loud and has a really diverse menu is ideal. A diner style restaurant like Fred 62 in Los Feliz or brunch at Newsroom over on Robertson is pretty good - it’s casual and I think that first dates should be. It’s stressful enough to date, don’t go throwing a lot of stuff on top of it like “what if I pick the most expensive thing on the menu?” and “I don’t have anything to wear!”

I think movies are good, but I never really cared for them as a date outing. Theatre is nice, especially because it gives you a shared topic to discuss later on over drinks or coffee.

3. Your worst first date?

I can’t think of any truly bad dates I’ve been out on.

4. Great date on a budget?

Hmm. I’d pick a weekend afternoon and go to Trader Joe’s with a crisp $10 bill and find some nice bread, a little cheese and a little fourpack of those Crystal Gyeser juice squeeze sodas. Pack them up in a little picnic thingy and go off to get the date - head up to Pt. Dume and if you’re lucky you can park up on top of the bluff and not even have to pay for parking. There’s an easy trail (in case your date didn’t dress like you suggested) and near the point there’s a little deck with benches and an awesome view. Stop here and eat. Take out the binoculars and look at the dolphins that are always off the coast or the sea lions that hang out on the rocks and buoy.

5. And a date with no $$ limit?

Personally, I think the above is a fantastic date (The Man and I do that a couple of times a year). Maybe with an unlimited budget I’d suggest a spectacular boxed lunch from Pinot or something. Or if you’re both outdoorsy and don’t get sea-sick I suggest a trip to the Channel Islands - there are half-day cruises out of Oxnard that go to Anacapa (East or West). Again, picnic lunch and there’s lots of time to talk and lots of things to talk about because you’re on a boat or a crazy island off the coast.

6. Ever been on a blind date? How did it go?

Nope.

7. Your most memorable dating experience (good, bad or ugly)?

Nope, don’t really have anything to add to that.

8. Is there romance in Los Angeles?

God yes. I mean, I got married in Orange County, and I thought that was pretty damn romantic.