Dating Itineraries: First Date

50 Dalton Street, Boston, MA 02115 (map)

Make sure you're wearing clean socks as you slide your feet into the super-goofy rented bowling shoes here. With plenty of lanes and a so-wrong-it's-right soundtrack of '80s hair bands and campy old-school hip-hop, you can let things loose, frame by frame, as the balls fly and pins fall. Psst: It's OK to let your partner win. We won't tell.

407 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115 (map)

No matter what your persuasion--vegan, bacon-lover, quiche-hound, beer geek--this dual-leveled hipster hideaway is a breath of fresh air on uppity Newbury Street. Take things easy; share a bottle of Pinot or pitcher of PBR and swap city-slicker stories over veggie-chili nachos and tuna melts.

50 Dalton St, Boston, MA 02115 (map)

Pop next door for a victory round of beers (Who won? Who cares?). This unabashedly snug tavern slings it loud, proud and good-natured around the dark bar. Share a pile of sweet potato fries, and go for a oldie-but-goodie brew, or scope the intense beer list and play Russian roulette with the menu. The spot will be loud, sure, but all the better reason to move closer to each other to hear. Mmm.

125 River St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (map)

Cross over to Cambridgeport for one of the funkiest, yet tucked-away, joints near Central Square. The inexplicable, fascinating decor (looming wooden thrones, glittery red bar stools, suspended forest nymphs, seashells in the bar) creates the coziest venue for rotating live DJs. From bluesy roots to punk new wave, the head-bopping playlists will have you sipping from each others' pints come midnight.

265 MASS AVE, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139 (map)

Cruise through before 5pm for a bit of intellectual stimulation from one of the world's pre-eminent institutions. Lest you think it's a nerdy yawn-fest, look again: There's oodles of jaw-dropping works, particularly the humorous yet poignant kinetic sculptures by Arthur Ganson and the world's largest holography collection. Not saying there aren't cute robots and smart cars ... we give it an A+ for ice-breaking.

1033 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 (map)

Take a little bit of glimmering exotica, an inhalation of warm spices, an Asian beer list and the affordable yet quality Thai dishes, and you've got the makings of a perfect first-date dinner. Demurely share a platter of homemade shumai (or gnaw on delicious glazed spareribs if you dare), and proceed to tempt the senses with aromatic curries and the classic ending of mango and sticky rice. Palate? Piqued.