Congratulations, you’ve got yourself
a date for Saturday night. Now, all you have to do is come up with
something inventive for you and this special someone to do. Easy,
right?

That may be the case with the tried-and-true dinner and a movie
jaunt, but face it: While that plan certainly does not go out of
style, it dramatically loses its hip factor after a certain point.
It’s hard to design a creative night out when you’re
busy being a student, but that shouldn’t give you an excuse
to be boring.

Whether it’s a first date or another night out with your
steady of two years, you still want to start the evening with an
impressive bang and keep things exciting. A trip to Blockbuster and
a bag of popcorn may be a comfy no-brainer, but Ann Arbor offers a
selection of perennial dating hot spots that beg to be explored
with a partner. So, clear your calendars and plan for a pleasurable
outing. Here’s the ticket.

Karaoke:

For the tone deaf and self-deprecating

Thanks to Cameron Diaz in “My Best Friend’s
Wedding,” it has become socially acceptable to be really,
really rotten when rocking the mic. Now virtually immortalized in
film as a flirting “do,” karaoke can be considered a
definite way to snag the affections of your date, even if your
voice is more Britney than Christina. Just watch Bill
Murray’s character in “Lost in Translation;” he
is completely enthralled with Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) when
she sings a novice rendition of the Pretenders’ “Brass
in Pocket.”

Simply put, karaoke is the ultimate ice-breaker for a date. If
partaking in an engaging conversation is nerve wracking, why not
sing? Karaoke provides couples with the opportunity to come out of
their shells and laugh at themselves in a vulnerable situation,
which is a promising sign, even though it initially sounds
frightening.

Still, the question remains: Who sings first? This can be a
difficult decision, for one may feel awkward about giving a solo
performance and thus submitting oneself to the judgment of his or
her date. Or, if your date belts out a fabulous
“Respect,” you will surely feel like an ass when
it’s your turn and you cannot carry a tune.

To solve this problem, we suggest that you go at it together, as
a duet. Be sure to avoid any songs that will immediately cast you
as a serious couple — anything from “Grease,”
Captain and Tenille, Broadway love ballads and any Disney song
featuring Celine Dion. Stick to safeties such as Motown hits,
à la Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye (however, “Let’s
Get it on” can wait a few dates).

Even better than laughing at yourself and/or your date is
laughing at the other people who are terrible singers. At the Blind
Pig on Main Street, said by many to be the best place for local
karaoke, patrons can subject their ears to “American
Idol” wannabes and still have a good time. Every Monday,
Stoo’s Karaoke kicks off at 9:30 p.m. and goes rather strong
for the entire evening. Others can opt for karaoke and bowling at
both Bel-Mark Lanes and Colonial Lanes Bowling Center.

For those couples who wish to get out of Ann Arbor and avoid
being caught singing off-key, Ypsilanti proffers a number of
establishments for singing along to guilty pleasure tunes by Guns
N’ Roses.

The Tap Room on W. Michigan Avenue and Powell’s Pub on
North Huron Street also feature karaoke nights and practically
ensure that you won’t be seen by your peers. Let’s just
hope that you can carry on a good tête-à-tête
when the singing is over.

Goodnite Gracie:

For the savvy sophisticate

Creatures of habit who are in the know are well familiar with
the swanky interior of Goodnite Gracie Jazz and Martini Bar and
will surely tell you to bring a date to this locale. The classy
décor rich in violet hues, the live performances and the
glitzy bar are chic characteristics that will widen your
date’s eyes and stir a great impression.

When you bring a date here, you are not only showing him or her
that you are an aficionado of fine beverages and music, but you are
also displaying a maturity that shows you know the “in”
places where Ladies Night and dollar pitchers do not reign supreme.
At Gracie’s, you can leave your worries of extremely
inebriated oafs at home, and you are invited to cozy-up in the
dimly lit environment. You and your date will feel like the only
ones there, or at least, the only ones there who matter.