# Dating in Chicago - Outdoors and At Home Only **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-in-chicago-outdoors-and-at-home-only/582829 "2011-05-22T23:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KGJIII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@KGJIII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGJIII)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-in-chicago-outdoors-and-at-home-only/582829/1 "2011-05-22T23:50:46Z")
Suppose some djini has said you can date anyone in the City but it cannot be at a public indoor establishment… What are some outdoor dating ideas besides Chicago Architecture River Tours, picnics, and carriage rides. * * * Is the first date too soon to cook at your apartment and bring a date over? Only work if you have a real spacious and nice pad? What are some other dating at the apartment ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-in-chicago-outdoors-and-at-home-only/582829/2 "2011-05-23T02:05:31Z")
Personally, I would recommend against a first date at one’s own home, since even if one intends only a nice home-cooked dinner, it would be all too easy for one’s date to draw the wrong conclusions about one’s intentions. But don’t pay too much attention to me; I don’t know the second thing about the opposite sex. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-in-chicago-outdoors-and-at-home-only/582829/3 "2011-05-23T02:06:37Z")
Summer festival season is about to start up: Blues Fest, The Taste, Jazz Fest, etc. etc. And of course there’s always Navy Pier, Wrigley, Sox Park, … ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-in-chicago-outdoors-and-at-home-only/582829/4 "2011-05-23T04:11:16Z")
I have one word for you - [Summerdance!](http://explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/dca_tourism/Chicago_SummerDance.html) And of course, there’s always [Ravinia.](http://ravinia.org/) ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-in-chicago-outdoors-and-at-home-only/582829/5 "2011-05-23T21:51:19Z")
Haven’t do so since I left Chicago (40+ years or so), but I used to love midnight bicycle rides on a warm summer night from my home in Edgewater to downtown along the lakefront/Lincoln Park. No traffic, peaceful, pleasant temps. I’m curious…is it safe to do so these days? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-in-chicago-outdoors-and-at-home-only/582829/6 "2011-05-23T23:11:37Z")
Chicago has beaches with volleyball courts, golf courses, tennis courts, all along the lakefront and reachable from the bike path, along with places to eat outside. The farmer’s markets often have entertainment, too, and I know a couple people who have done the markets as a first date/internet meeting. The zoo is awesome for a date, then you’re right at Lincoln Park and all the nighttime outdoor eating/drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-in-chicago-outdoors-and-at-home-only/582829/7 "2011-05-23T23:24:25Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > Haven’t do so since I left Chicago (40+ years or so), but I used to love midnight bicycle rides on a warm summer night from my home in Edgewater to downtown along the lakefront/Lincoln Park. No traffic, peaceful, pleasant temps. > > I’m curious…is it safe to do so these days? In that same vein, if you are a bit on the daring side, the annual [World Naked Bike Ride](http://chicagonakedride.org/node/1)is coming up on June 11. It generally goes right past my house!