Apartment613

You can always tell whether a person is interesting if they take you out to see something a little different. Something that shows originality.  Something that demonstrates that they don’t judge and are open to trying new things. No, I’m not talking about taking you to a sex shop and pointing out all the toys they haven’t tried — I mean making date night more than just dinner and a movie.

So for all you want-to-be-heartthrobs, here’s our suggestion for a mid-January date:  bowling and Absinthe. Or, in our case, Absinthe and bowling (we had to wait for league night to be over). In our opinion, the combination of high and low brow makes this the perfect Westside date.

Bowling is great fun because it’s: 1) entertaining; 2) allows you to gauge your potential mate’s arm strength and coordination; and 3) it’s cheap, costing just $6 for a game and shoes! Plus you’ll find out how competitive you and your date can be… We loved Kent Lanes on Catherine St., but since it closed we are knocking pins down at West Park bowling — your west side bowling centre since 1946.  There’s even glow in the dark bowling on the weekends, and the lane is easily accessible to Centertowners by jumping on the number 2 bus.

Drinks are always a perfect compliment to bowling, but if you’re doing the mid-day bowl thing, you may prefer brunch and lots of mimosas. However, if you’re dating in the evening the Absinthe Café and Restaurant is not only located right across the street, but also offers a new experience to those who have never had the chance to try the infamous green beverage. It also goes a long way towards proving that you’re not too cheap.

The restaurant’s cheese board is $12 and each glass of absinthe will set you back $14. Our picks in order of preference: the French brew — lovely licorice taste; the Canadian-made selection — very smooth; and the Czech shooter — harsher but a glowing green… plus they light it on fire. Yum!