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10/18/2017 12:00 AMDating is hard. First dates are harder. We're here to help.
If you're over the bar scene...
Bars seem to be the go-to spot for first dates. If, like most people, you're over meeting strangers in dark bars and yelling to each other over loud music and noisy crowds you should consider Stony Creek Brewery for your next date night. It offers indoor and outdoor seating (even in the fall), cornhole games to play outside, and food trucks. It's the perfect casual date spot with plenty of options besides drinking and awkward small talk. If that doesn't sound like a good suggestion for your date, then maybe they're a bit too high maintenance for you.
Stony Creek Brewery is located at 5 Indian Neck Avenue in Branford. For more information, visit www.stonycreekbeer.com.
When they just need to get lost...
Sometimes when a date is going south and you have no other way out, getting lost (literally) in a corn maze is the best course of action. Bishop's Orchards always has a corn maze through the end of October, which is fun for kids and adults alike. Navigating the maze could make for a really good time and help to fill in the gaps of awkward silences, and if you're really not feeling them, you could always take a wrong turn and get yourself out of there, never to be seen again. Everyone likes people with an air of mystery. If you choose to make it through the maze, there's still plenty of things to do afterwards, like getting a bite to eat from the market. Lyman Orchards in Middlefield also has a corn maze that lasts through Nov. 5, and an Apple Barrel Market, which is a good place to stop after the maze.
Bishop's Orchards is located at 1355 Boston Post Road in Guilford. For more information, visit www.bishopsorchards.com.
Lyman Orchards' corn maze is located at 105 South Street in Middlefield. For more information, visit www.lymanorchards.com.
For a jolly good time...
The worst part about first dates is that embarrassing feeling of self-conscious awkwardness. That's a feeling you probably won't experience at the sea chanteys held at The Griswold Inn in Essex. Every Monday night, The Jovial Crew plays old seafaring songs and bar-goers sing along with the performers. Even if you feel a little uncomfortable singing along, you probably won't feel that way after a few drinks. The Sea Chanteys takes place from roughly 8 to 11 p.m., which is perfect for after-work dates and still allows enough time to get ready.
The Griswold Inn is located at 36 Main Street in Essex. For more information, visit www.griswoldinn.com.
Picking the one...
Nothing screams "fall in New England" more than going apple picking. Not only is it an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but if you're going with someone whom you just met, it's super casual, and in a worst-case scenario you still get some apples out of it. You can be those people who post an adorable picture of yourselves on Facebook picking apples. If the date goes in another direction, loneliness pairs well with homemade apple pie.
Places to PYO apples:
[naviga:u]Bishop's Orchards[/naviga:u]
1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford
1920 Middletown Avenue, Northford
[naviga:u]Lyman Orchards[/naviga:u]
105 South Street, Middlefield
[naviga:u]Rose Orchards Farm[/naviga:u]
33 Branford Road, North Branford
[naviga:u]Scotts' Connecticut Valley Orchard[/naviga:u]
274 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River
*Apple picking lasts through late October.
Weeding out the weak early...
If you're looking for a fun night out in New Haven, Barcade is definitely the place to go. It is a bar that also has an arcade component. If you choose to label yourself as a cheap date, it also offers specials like $5 pints on Wednesdays after 5 p.m. and $1 tacos on Tuesday nights. It's also a good place to see how competitive your date is when it comes to winning. Sometimes it's best to get that out in the open as soon as possible.
Barcade is located at 56 Orange Street in New Haven. For more information, visit www.barcadenewhaven.com.