What is your idea of a Romantic Evening

[Lady Nicolette]

I love when someone has thought out what to do ahead of time and takes charge of the proceedings.  Something along the lines of arriving on a Friesian with a bouquet of flowers, selected and arranged by the gentleman himself (as opposed to a prepared bouquet).  Well, if you don't have a Friesian, at least have a vehicle that is reasonably clean and won't break down, lose major bits of metal when we hit a bump or run out of fuel.  Please open the door for me.   

We head out to the western cliffs and walk along the headlands drinking wine while watching a sunset before dining at a quiet and candle-lit restaurant that you've actually called ahead and made reservations for our meal at.  They seat us at a table with a view of the diminishing sunset in gorgeous hues, which you've requested.  Not the sunset.  The table with the view.

Please DON'T order for me.     We speak of dreams to share and you make me laugh.  A lot!  Not at you, of course, but by your charm and rapier wit.  We enjoy a fine meal and some more wine, then head back to your home, which you've actually cleaned in recent memory.  You light a lovely fire without swearing even once, because you've bothered to set the logs into place with tinder underneath so that it will easily light when the time is right. 

There are pillows strewn all about near the fireplace and you strum a quiet song upon whatever exotic instrument you play and you may even sing in an ancient and beautiful language.  Even if you don't sing or play an exotic instrument you can at least select proper music.  When the song is done, if you are indeed playing, you rise for just a moment to switch on recorded music that is haunting, lush and warm.  When you return, I am waiting for you and ready for whatever the night will bring us. 

[Lady Mikayla of Phoenicia]

*"Thank-you for calling American Airlines how may I help you?"

I'd like a plane ticket to Austin, TX.

*"When would you like to travel ma'am?"

Now!   

[DonaCatalina]

I love when someone has thought out what to do ahead of time and takes charge of the proceedings.  Something along the lines of arriving on a Friesian with a bouquet of flowers, selected and arranged by the gentleman himself (as opposed to a prepared bouquet).  Well, if you don't have a Friesian, at least have a vehicle that is reasonably clean and won't break down, lose major bits of metal when we hit a bump or run out of fuel.  Please open the door for me.   

We head out to the western cliffs and walk along the headlands drinking wine while watching a sunset before dining at a quiet and candle-lit restaurant that you've actually called ahead and made reservations for our meal at.  They seat us at a table with a view of the diminishing sunset in gorgeous hues, which you've requested.  Not the sunset.  The table with the view.

Please DON'T order for me.     We speak of dreams to share and you make me laugh.  A lot!  Not at you, of course, but by your charm and rapier wit.  We enjoy a fine meal and some more wine, then head back to your home, which you've actually cleaned in recent memory.  You light a lovely fire without swearing even once, because you've bothered to set the logs into place with tinder underneath so that it will easily light when the time is right. 

There are pillows strewn all about near the fireplace and you play a strum a quiet song upon whatever exotic instrument you play and you may even sing in an ancient and beautiful language.  Even if you don't sing or play an exotic instrument you can at least select proper music.  When the song is done, if you are indeed playing, you rise for just a moment to switch on recorded music that is haunting, lush and warm.  When you return, I am waiting for you and ready for whatever the night will bring us. 

Wow.
You've really had a lot of time to think about this, haven't you?

[Lady Nicolette]

Too long without a date...Maybe I'm too picky?   Naw, I just like to write! This was just a fantasy date idea.  Great topic, btw!

Actually two of the most fun dates I've ever been on were quite less elaborate, but involved danger of a very mild kind...One was walking along the cliffs of Santa Cruz with a storm coming in.  This was when I weighed 110 pounds and the wind was lifting me up off of my feet.  Gave my date a good excuse to hang onto me tight!

The other was walking into the redwood grove at the State Park I worked at, but after hours at night.  It's REALLY dark under those redwoods...After that, we had a picnic in the graveyard up the road.  Odd but very fun and certainly memorable.  Plus he introduced me to Edward Gorey, for which I must ever owe my grateful thanks. 

Not a date, but a romantic reunion:  Another time, my favorite boyfriend of all time had been on the road for a few weeks.  I was working in a record store at the time, I knew he'd be back soon, but didn't have an exact day.  He walked into the store, carrying a red rose for me.  A customer walked up at the same time to ask a question, but the customer stopped when he saw the absolutely palpable electricity flowing back and forth between us...He said, "I can't get in the middle and ruin that!" turned on his heel and went back to the record bins.

[Count Adolfo]

She comes in the door... looking a bit tired... setting the car keys down on the table as she does.  I greet her there, kissing her gently on the lips, then lifting her into my arms and carrying her to the bathroom... where she finds that I've drawn a hot bubble-bath for her. 
   "Soak awhile and relax, Love.  I'm preparing dinner," I tell her.
I go back into the kitchen to start preparing dessert so I can put it in the oven when dinner comes out.  I wonder silently what's going through her head as she takes her bath.  Knowing how much she loves music, I take a break from baking and put a few of our favourite CDs in the player.  The songs provide a soundtrack for the night and I realize with a smile that she'll remember the romance when next she hears them.  I'm sure I shall as well.  What a wondrous way to make the evening last.
   "Oh my God, I love it!  Thank you!" I hear her call a short time later from the bedroom.  I know she's discovered the outfit I bought her laid out on the bed.
   "Put it on," I say.  "I'd love to see you in it."
Dessert is in the oven and I'm setting the table for dinner... two candles provide the only light in the dining room and two places are laid out for our romantic little 'date'.  I turn to go get the food when I see her... so stunningly beautiful to me that I'm momentarily mesmerized.  I remember the first time I ever laid eyes on her and realize that she's even more amazing to me today than she was then.
   "I take it you approve?" she smiles coyly.
   "Heaven is, indeed, missing an angel."
She walks to me and wraps her arms around my waist.
   "You always do say the sweetest things."
I kiss her on the forehead and then on the tip of her nose, followed by a passionate one on her sultry lips.
   "Nothing I say could ever be adequate to express how you make me feel," I say, leading her to the table and pulling out her chair.  She sits down and looks at the candles and smiles.
   "It's beautiful, you hopeless romantic," she chuckles.
   "You deserve all of this and more... I'll be right back with dinner."
I bring out the food and place it on the charger in the middle of the table, uncovering it with the little dramatic 'ta-da!' motion that makes the presentation just cheesy enough to elicit a chuckle from her.
   "You're crazy," she says.
   "About you," I reply, going back to the kitchen for the wine.
"Yeah, yeah," she whispers almost erotically.
I return in a moment with the bottle I bought for the occasion.  I present it to her like a Maitre'D at a fancy restaurant.  She looks it over and then smells the cork as I pop it out and place it under her nose. 
I pour her glass first, then lift it and swirl the liquid around and place the rim to her lips and she sips it tentatively.
   "It's sweet," she says finally, then adds before I can reply:
   "Just like you."
This time it's my turn to blush a bit as she glances up at me.  She doesn't maintain eye contact too long.  Even in her comfort with me, she still has a bit of that shyness about her.  I find it cute.  The music behind us plays and we both seem to feel this moment becoming a lifelong memory.  I can't help but smile.
I walk to the other side of the table and sit down.  We begin to eat.  The music continues to permeate the air and our conversation is mostly conveyed with our eyes.  With her I need no words.  With her, sometimes, I have no words.
When dinner is over, I clear the table... and she begins to rise.  I usher her back to her seat and tell her to close her eyes.  I'm sure she smells dessert by now but sometimes it's the way that something is given that is the best surprise.
   "Are your eyes closed?" I ask.
   "Yes.  What are you doing?"
I emerge from the kitchen with dessert and a slight change to my attire.  I've wrapped a ribbon around me like a ceremonial sash and have a big bow on my forehead.  I place the dessert on the table in front of her, then get on one knee beside her chair.
   "I am yours for the evening, Darling... whatever you want... backrub, foot rub, full massage..."
   "Play with my hair?" she smiles.
   "My pleasure, my Love."
   "Maybe you can do that while we cuddle and listen to some music?" she asks.
   "Whatever you desire," I tell her, throwing in a line from Princess Bride.  "As you wish."

[Arsinoe Selene]

Wow, we have some writers here!

My most romantic evening/date so far... Hmm, one of two...

Probably Winter Ball my Senior year of high school. Even though dingus thought we were "just friends", it didn't feel like just friends.

So, I wasn't old enough to drive anyone else yet, and I was sure not going to drive in those heels, anyway. My dad drove me over to his house to pick him up, we traded corsages, posed for pictures (geez his hands were cold!), then went for pictures at the school, went to my house. Ordered pizza, ate in the living room while watching Dirty Jobs with my parents (it was the one where they were counting the dead salmon).

After arriving at the school, we were waiting in the cold for a bit, he gave me his jacket, which was sweet.

Ended up spending most of the time sitting on a couch in his arms talking to each other and other people than dancing, which was fine with me. The music at every school dance sucked, and I had just gotten over the stomach flu.

His mom picked us up and drove us to the house of a friend (a minute or two walk from his house, if that), and we hung out there for a bit. That was alright. Then his mom drove us to my house, dropped me off, and dingus didn't even have the cajones to kiss me goodnight.

Okay, that wasn't so romantic. Hey, I'm 18, and that was my first (and only, so far) boyfriend, now ex.

A fantasy evening, though...

Something he planned. Pretty much anything that shows some sort of effort and premeditation. A walk on the beach, then sitting down and watching the sun set over the water (I'm West coast, I can do that!), maybe a picnic. A hike out into the woods or by the lake to a quiet place.

Doesn't have to get me chocolates, flowers, jewlery. I don't care about that. I like effort. I did a speech about the meaning behind flowers, specifically the Victorian flower messages. Now if he  did some of that, and had a note about why he chose specific flowers, oh boy. That would be really sweet.

I'm a cheap date. I don't like fancy restaraunts, Togo's, Subway, is just fine. I seriously do not care. There are other, cheaper, ways to have fun that would be more fun for us both.

[Tremayne]

How about a different time of day? I find afternoon thunderstorms and late morning after a heavy snowfall romantic--without my partner needing to do anything. Granted it's impossible to arrange such an event, but to me part of romance is a certain spontaneity and taking advantage of a moment offered up by the universe. Living in AL, I'm unlikely to be graced with heavy snowfall. However, the wheels are turning to make the best of the next time storms are forecast and my love and I both have the day off (rare unfortunately so I've got lots of time to scheme).

[DonaCatalina]

Valentine's Day is coming up this weekend. I for one would like to chime in
that spending huge amounts of money on roses and candy is not my idea of Romance.
I would rather plan something a little out of the ordinary that both of us enjoy.
Luckily for me, Don Juan usually lives up to his name.

What are your opinions?

[Lady Nicolette]

If you're going to get me anything, I really love to be given flowers, but otherwise, I don't care so much about "things."  I prefer to be treated kindly and spoken to nicely over anything anyone could gift me with in a material way.  Just wish the man of my dreams could actually be with me this Valentine's Day, but perhaps next year it'll work out for us to be together. 

[Whistler Fred]

The kids farmed out to friends or family.

A nice quiet dinner at a favorite restaurant.

Then home to spend some uninterrupted quality time together.

Ahhh, bliss...   

[Lady Ellie]

My most romantic time ever has been with Lord Wayne. I went over to his place one sat. afternoon.
First we watched a superman movie. (sad to say I can't remember which one.)
We went to a niece's birthday party at a skating rink then we went back to his place.
He cooked me dinner complete with white wine,candles and good ole romantic soul music.
After that he put on some Pink Floyd and we got reacquainted again.
I will never forget that special time with him. He treated me like a princess.
The girls at work was green with envy and still are.
There might be some as special as he is but none like my Lord Wayne.

[Rani Zemirah]

I think staying in for the day, getting lost in each other, and doing all the little ordinary things together in new and special ways, like cooking together and tasting from my lovers spoon, washing the dishes with four hands instead of two, then dancing to slow romantic music round the kitchen, through the house and into whatever room has the fireplace, fur rug and fluffy pillows waiting...

[Lady Amy of York]

 My most romantic  times :
        I can think of a  few...

  The first being when me, and my boyfriend ( who is now my husband )  had a quiet picnic on the beach.   We sat and  watched the waves  come in, and then took  a walk along the  beach  , and then sat and snuggled  together  and kissed.

The second time would be when my husband  proposed  to me.  We were living in southern California and went to Disneyland  for  the  day.  I had  no idea he  was  going to propose.  We kept walking by Snow White's wishing well.  We must of walked by it , like about 8 times.  Suddenly my husband, takes out a penney, tosses it in the wishing well and makes  a wish. He then proceeds to ask me if i want to know  what he wished  for. I tell him, if he tells me , his wish won't come true.  Then he gets  down on one knee and tells me that he  wished that I  would   become  his  wife.   

The third time  was our wedding day.  We had our wedding ceremony  professionally videotaped.  I did not know it at  the  time, but my husband  decided  to surprise me  by having a special message  from him to me  added to the begginning of  the video.  So when i watched it later, there was  a very romantic and very swwet message  to me  from  my husband. It was  a wonderful surprise. 

and then of course there was the wedding night !  LOL !

and there was  the night my son was  born, and I saw my husband hold our son in his  arms. This liitle newborn baby represented  the love  we had for  each other.

and  there was when my  husband  agreed to move  from  sunny warm, southern California, to cold, snowy, Northern New York, cause i missed  my family.   Now that is  true  romance  !

and then there are the little things we do for each other each day, that spell romance  and  say I love you. Helping  with  dinner, or the laundry, or  the pets  for  example.  Sometimes it is  the little gestures  that  mean  the most  !
           

[anne of oaktower]

Dinner at The Mozart Room (Pittsburgh), followed by the ballet.  Then back home to a candle-lit bath, followed by wine and soft music in front of the fireplace.

*sigh...why does he have to be away on Valentine's Day?*

[Lady Amy of York]

Dinner at The Mozart Room (Pittsburgh), followed by the ballet.  Then back home to a candle-lit bath, followed by wine and soft music in front of the fireplace.

*sigh...why does he have to be away on Valentine's Day?*

Reaches out and gives Anne  a  big  hug !