First Dates.

Someone asked me recently what my idea of the perfect first date would be. (UGH, I know, right?) Without a second thought, I answered with all the things that I love to do in this city : go to the Museum of Jurassic Technology and marvel at the silly exhibits, catch a Criterion or experimental film at the New Beverly or Silent Movie Theater, peek into other worlds at the Griffith Park Observatory, peruse a thrift store/garage sale for someone else's treasures, dig through the plethera of fiction at the Mystery Book Store, catch a Saturday lecture on contemporary art at LACMA, drive around looking for the oddest places we can find and laughing at their strangely wonderful presence, go to a food festival and make ourselves sick on things like garlic blue cheese fries and plantain sundaes, compare notes on our musical discoveries for hours on end, go to a vintage clothing store and dress up in costumes and re-enact our favorite movie scenes, go to a public park late at night and have a 'who-can-swing-the-highest' contest, and so on and so on.

I was recently reminded that none of those things have anything to do with the question.

My answer has been revised, and sure, it's completely obvious, but nonetheless, it's a small revelation to me. It has nothing to do with what you do. It has everything to do with whom you do it with.

So, what's my idea of the perfect first date? One that ends in being told that they would love to do it again...tomorrow.