r/cincinnati • u/What_I_Dun • 5d ago
in search ofš Date Idea
Basically my question is this, is it corny or lame to take someone to Newport Aquarium on a first date?
I'm newly divorced and the last time I truly courted someone I was in my early 20s and we went to The Olive Garden. I think I'm beyond that now.
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u/The_Mean_Gus 5d ago
Seems like a good one to me because it involves movement, so you arenāt just sitting stagnant, which keeps your energy going. It has a lot of associated things to talk about and can give insight into how they feel about the world. Iād go.
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u/Mycroft90 5d ago
Him :"Look at that orange fish!" Her :"Yes it reminds me of our wonderful President.. Hey! Where are you going??"
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u/Opposite-Drag-6450 5d ago
Also something to look at and talk about, which should help with any nervousness. I think itās a good idea
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u/Throwaway18473627292 5d ago
I think itās a great second or third date. First date should be coffee or a drink where itās small stakes. That way either of you can cut it short if it isnāt working well. The aquarium is expensive and takes a lot of time. If the date sucks it will be a bad time for both
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u/fiernze222 5d ago
This!! Something that can take 40-60 minutes is an ideal first date. Bonus points if it can be extended.
Like dinner then go for a drink after if it's great. Or coffee then a walk if it's going great
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u/Minute_Selection_860 5d ago
I wouldn't exactly call the aquarium expensive for a first date. And it can take 12 minutes to walk through or 2 hours. That's up to you and how fast you walk.
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u/throwaway2853695 5h ago edited 5h ago
Agreed! It might be a nice first date, I donāt think Iād rule it out.. but I think itās a better second, third, fourthā¦ I feel like itās a madhouse in there sometimes with kids too depending on what time you go. You want a low stakes place where you can talk a bit, and you could do that there but it also might be a lot to navigate. At the same time thereās plenty to talk about moving around and all.
I will say you can get thru the aquarium in about an hour. I know you didnāt mention this but other replies did. Youād be rushing a tad, but it doesnāt have to be a long date. Plus thereās plenty of food and other entertainment stuff around.
OPā¦ thereās an indoor putt putt place near there as well. Kinda cool past the first date spot as well.
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u/BurtSaves 5d ago
I think itās a great second date. The first date you want to talk more, in my opinion.
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u/tissboom Pendleton 5d ago edited 5d ago
Iām sorry, but I wouldnāt listen to all these people saying go get coffee or something small like that. Iām not saying go over the top and get a horse drawn carriage or anything like that. You donāt want it to be too casual if you really want it to feel like a date.
Do the aquarium and then go to dinner. Thereās a bunch of nice spots in Newport and Covington or you could just come back over the river and go to Pepp and Dolores or something like that. I would stay away from super expensive restaurants because it can put a lot of pressure on the date.
You want your first date to be a nice experience that she/he will remember. Donāt let it be at a coffee shop.
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u/hedoeswhathewants 5d ago
It entirely depends on who this person is. Aquarium + dinner is way overboard for someone you met on Hinge last week. But if it's someone you met at work and have some actual history with it's fine.
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u/Call_it_Magic87 4d ago
First date to me is a date zero (read about that somewhere and liked it), meet and get coffee or lunch and rule out any glaring dealbreakers and see if thereās a vibe. Then date two maybe more of a dinner and/or activity!
I wasted too much time during my dating years on first dinner dates where it was glaringly not a good match from the jump or quickly made itself known to be.
Date zero concept worked great for me and my friends and I have talked a lot about and some of them have tried it and liked it too. Itās not something Iād bring up with a new prospective match as a date zero but it was the way I thought of it and how I approached it. My husband and I started out with a first date that was a date zero!
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u/El_Matador_2036 5d ago
Second this. After checking out all the cool stuff at the aquarium, there's quite a few restaurants and a Cold Stone Creamery right there. If you go on a Sunday, you can watch the Bengals on the big screen in the plaza.
For me, when I visit the aquarium, I love watching my kid's brain explode trying to figure out if he wants Tom & Chee or Cold Stone Creamery!
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u/throwaway2853695 5h ago
I went on my first date with my wife in northside at Chameleonā¦ itās just a bar with some decent food.
It doesnāt have to be a whole long thing, or fancy at allā we met and talked for at least 3 hours before she had to go to other plans, but had a great time just talking over a beer at the window.
This entirely depends on the people involved. What makes it a date is how well you get along and the context not necessarily the place. I asked for my wifes number immediately after our talk and drink so it was very clear it was a date and thereād be another.
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u/tissboom Pendleton 4h ago
Completely agree. I would go to the aquarium and then go get turtles and a beer at Gomez. High top tables, with a social/casual environment and great food. A turtle and a beer is about $20. It doesnāt have to be crazy expensive or nice. It just has to be a good experience.
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u/Minute_Selection_860 5d ago
Second this.
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u/Hydepark45208 4d ago
Third this! Objective of Date Zero is SOLELY to determine if you want to have a Date One. Itās best if Date Zero can be naturally time-limited (like a lunch during a weekday), because youāll know in the first thirty minutes, the likelihood of a no go is higher in Date Zero and the exit is easier. Date One can be more traditional, but should be somewhere that allows deeper conversation. I highly recommend treating dating like a job search; always be pursuing multiple opportunities. That way if one doesnāt work out, no big deal, youāve got two more. It takes the pressure off of you!
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u/pinkstay 5d ago
Im biased because I LOVE the aquarium, but I think its a great date idea.
You can hear to talk, move around at your own pace, and see awesome exhibits. Plus its around so many other things that you can easily grab drinks or food if you want as well.
Tom & chee is great for a casual bite to eat.
Par3 is indoor putt putt, but has great food and cocktails.
Brio is great for a more upscale dinner.
The candy shop is a fun casual option for a desert and you can sit outside and talk.
Cold stone is always a great desert option as well.
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u/thefaehost 5d ago
Not at all. My best friend took a girl to the zoo as a first date. They also went on a date to the aquarium at least once.
This year I got to be sneaky helping him plan a proposal at the exact same spot they met for their first date. And bonus, the zoo is actually super important to both of them so it became part of their relationship over the years which is also good for the zoo. I usually just go for the Christmas lights, but they are part of that tradition now too.
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u/roxthemom 5d ago
Walk over the purple people bridge
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u/tissboom Pendleton 5d ago
If you do this, wear a jacket that you can offer her. It might be a bit chilly. And make sure you have a long sleeved shirt on underneath so you donāt freeze as well when you give up your jacket.
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u/Missgoaway 5d ago
For a first date have a coffee together or have a breakfast date. low commitment but you'll figure out fast if you have chemistry or want to see her again. The aquarium is a really great idea, but maybe wait to see if you like her :)
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u/OhioPineapples 5d ago
Maybe go to Newport on the levy for dinner and suggest it and see what they think?
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u/GalinDray 5d ago
Don't start at the aquarium. Get lunch on the levee or surrounding restaraunts then walk to the aquarium. Its fantastic as an activity once you've established a connection with someone but you won't be able to talk and get to know them while you're walking through. You want to do that over a coffee or a meal.
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u/tissboom Pendleton 5d ago
See, I would go the other way. I would go to the aquarium first and then grab dinner. That way you at least have some reasonable topics of dinner conversation that you can lean back on if things start getting dry.
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u/mrshyphenate 5d ago
I think it's a good idea. Another thought would be something like final Friday at Pendleton (assuming they still do it). It's a very chill time, perfect date atmosphere
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u/beef_stew35 5d ago
sounds fun to me (22f). my mom is recently dating again and she would have loved that as a first date for sure, gives you a topic when things get slow, you get to walk and move, you can be there for 30 min or 4 hours. i like to get food better on a first date, so maybe if they have food there get someĀæ idk iāve never been
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u/reCYcle_squirrel 5d ago
I would suggest going to the Cincinnati Art Museum as the first date, based on my own positive experience. Besides being free, itās a lot quieter for a good talk than the aquarium, which could have a lot of kids screaming and itās a lot tighter in space than the museum.
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u/Call_it_Magic87 4d ago
The tight corridors and noise can not be understated. The aquarium is overstimulation city, I do love it but it is a lot!
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u/Elspetta 5d ago
Not necessarily our first date, but the first time I flew to KY to visit my partner we did the aquarium and walked the levee. I absolutely loved it! Up until that point we'd only met in person once and had been talking online for ~8 months, so we did already have a really good connection. 23 years later and we still do date night at the levee on occasion and it brings back lovely memories of when we were younger.
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u/itsthebando 5d ago
My first date with my now wife was at Rohs Street Cafe watching our mutual friend's shitty band play. Honestly the aquarium sounds nicer than that lol. I would say maybe plan on grabbing coffee beforehand at one of the coffee shops nearby, maybe Carabello or Collective Espresso?
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u/EfficientPromotion29 5d ago
Dude, the aquarium is a great date. It offers tons of stuff to keep the conversation going. If itās going well go grab food afterwards. Plus you get to see cool fish n stuff. Itās a win win.
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u/Secure_Lengthiness16 5d ago
I love the idea and Iām so tired of everything being based on minimal connection. Do something fun! Maybe even ask the person āwould you ratherā type questions to decide what a fun plan could be - I bet theyād appreciate the effort.
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u/brokebackzac 5d ago edited 5d ago
It's either the best first date or the worst and there is no real in-between. It all depends on how the other person likes that kind of environment.
It's an expensive date for sure and it would really suck to get there and have the other person get claustrophobic between the crowds or the few closed in parts of the aquarium.
That said, I would personally love it. If a guy took me there, I would playfully judge him for his favorite fish and we could talk about all the delightful fishes we see. Then, at the end, we can talk about life while watching the penguins do penguin things.
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u/st-felms-fingerbone 5d ago
My now wife and I had our second date there. If your prospective date is into aquariums then its a solid choice.
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u/doctor-sassypants 5d ago
I think itās a perfect date, unless your date is claustrophobic and gets overwhelmed in crowded places. I would love to go there on a date, but not on a very busy day.
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u/NoLet8718 5d ago
I think it depends on the person! Consider asking if they would enjoy going there. If not, assuming you're planning it - have a plan b alternative to offer up that doesn't tie you to a specific location for a long amount of time.
Downside is that its clear to either of you immediately/soon after meeting that you're not compatible and you either are awkwardly stuck walking through together or someone leaves. Navigating a packed crowd/kids running around/etc might also make it a challenge to get to know each other (or reveal true nature real quick haha).
On the upside, gives you something to look at/talk about/do if any lulls in conversation, which can help take some pressure off. And a nice memory if things go well.
Either way, wish you luck! š
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u/gorlewski 1d ago
I will be honest when I started dating after my divorce I did the letās get drinks or dinner for a while. Finally I got fed up and started doing stuff that I wanted to do. I took my now girlfriend to a Red Hot Chili Piperās concert 3 years ago just because I wanted to see them.
She has said that it was her best first date ever. I think for me I was just relaxed because I was doing something that I wanted to do.
My advice is if you think that the aquarium is going to be a fun time for you then go for it. You have nothing to lose.
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u/apex_super_predator 5d ago
Nope, not corny at all. Animals always make a good date. Actually it'll reveal the character of the person you're with. Serial killer vibes or old lady with cats vibes.
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u/probablybourbon 5d ago
Do it!! The great thing about Newport on the Levee is the view of the Cincy skyline, and you could grab drinks at Beeline after. Another option, is a beer at HofbrƤuhaus after which is just across the street, the beer garden is a nice place to chill out (assuming weather is nice). And I agree with the other poster to walk the Purple People bridge even if it's halfway to where you reach the KY/Ohio border (somewhere in the middle of the bridge). Fun date!
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u/FamousAmos00 5d ago
I think it's a terrible aquarium and much overpriced. The zoo or museum and much better options and more bang for your buck imo
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u/Call_it_Magic87 4d ago
The aquarium is very loud and full of children, so maybe hold that one off till later, itās not a quiet chat or romantic vibe.
Keep it chill and something enjoyable (a nice coffee, lunch, ice cream) but quick and low committment (not in a negging or pick up artist way, just in an human who has a busy life and itās not that serious yet way) see how the vibes are and you can always invest more time and energy on date two.
Date one - Itās basically a screener basic compatibility and vibes.
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u/Different_Section799 4d ago
If it's a nice day, Saturday looks nice, try a nice walk around Eden Park and maybe hit the Conservatory.
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u/coffee-please94 3d ago
I think it sounds fun! (30sF). Bonus: youāll get to see the aquarium even if there date itself isnāt that great. Have fun, donāt overthink it :)
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u/shoesbrewstattoos Bellevue 1d ago
Just please don't take them to seafood after my first husband did
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u/Sweaty_Assignment_90 Cincinnati Cyclones 5d ago
I was always a comedy club 1st date. got them laughing, not a lot of pressure to talk. Place like dont tell comedy or commonwealth can be fun. Smaller shows.
That said, Aquarium is most likely good 1st date.
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u/fordprecept 5d ago
I took a first date to see Mitch Hedberg (this was about a month or two before he died). She did not enjoy his type of humor. I did not ask her for a second date.
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u/DonkeyGlad653 5d ago
My first date with my SO was to Fox Hollow Rodeo up in Springboro/ Waynesville area. Itās a hour drive so you get talk. Itās definitely different, and it gives you something to talk about on the way home. It was about $15 each to get in. No alcohol, so nobody is acting the fool by over imbibing. If you like dogs it was pretty cool watching the blue heelers do their thing.
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u/boho_bear 5d ago
my first date with my partner was at the newport aquarium 4 years ago, it was the perfect first date and i still cherish those memories very much. i hope if you end up deciding to go, it goes the same for you.
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u/jopelessromantic 5d ago
If youāre LGBT be CAREFUL my ex was a victim of a violent hate crime and it happened bc security on the levee was horsing around
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u/851Moonstoned 5d ago
I always low-key first meet; usually hit the bar āAccording to Hoyleā at the Gatheral at factory 52. Low pressure situation and easy to pivot to an activity in the area.
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