How To Take Date Night From 'Meh' To Mind-Blowing

By Gwendolyn Bond-Upson posted Jan 18th 2010 4:11PM

Dr. Ruth promotes creative, local dates in Washington D.C. and offers tips we all can follow.

Inspired by the romantic date night tradition set by the First Lady and President Obama, Washington D.C. has appointed Dr. Ruth Westheimer honorary secretary of the Department of Love and Relationships. Obama Marriage Earns Praise

Michelle and Barack's practice of making time to connect one-on-one has set a trend that is both pro-relationship and good for local economies. The Washington D.C. tourism board is looking to stimulate both its economy and the relationships of its inhabitants through it's new initiative Date Night D.C.. Dr Ruth is publicizing the district's website, which has a 'Create a Date' feature and concierge service that help you plan a whole evening based on the kind of relationship you're in and what kind of date you want (romantic, budget, luxe, wild card).

Here, five Dr. Ruth-inspired tips to making your stepping out of the routine and making your date night memorable.

1. Start keeping up with events going on in your town. Check out your daily and weekly newspapers for art, music and other cultural events that meet your interests and budget. This way, you'll have a couple ideas in the back of your mind for spontaneous outings. 5 Alternatives To Dinner & A Movie

2. Plan for your partner. What would be your partner's dream date? Pick out the most feasible elements and plan it. Watching his or her enjoyment will be more than worth the effort.

3. Pick a worry-free day. A Saturday night before a busy Sunday? Probably not going to inspire you to stay up late canoodling. Pick a day where your mind will be as worry-free as possible. Talk, text and write notes playfully about the upcoming date, building anticipation will make it feel even more special when you finally get to it. Sleep Your Way To A Better Relationship

4. Mix high and low, new and old. Not sure what kind of mood you'll be in when the date night rolls around? Combine high- and low-octane activities to cater to different energy levels: theme park roller coasters followed by a candlelit dinner, a quiet moonlit walk followed by some sexy dancing at a bumping jazz club. Get out of your routine without throwing off your comfort zone: A favorite restaurant followed by a movie in a nearby town you've been meaning to explore. Or how about an elegant classical music concert followed by burgers and beer at your favorite dive? A mixture of familiar go-to's and totally new and undiscovered venues will reflect the best elements of a relationship.