It’s a new year and love is in the air. Can you feel it? We can, and we’ve decided to plan one date a month for the coming year in hopes of inspiring you and your sweetheart to get out and experience all that the 425 area has to offer. These dates are full of possibility for adventure, intriguing conversation and plenty of cuddling. Whether you have a long-term significant love in your life or are enjoying the dating game, we’ve done the legwork. All you have to do is grab your special someone, mark your calendar and let your personal love story unfold.
January: The Big Jump
Where: Sky High Sports, sea.JumpSkyHigh.com
The Details: Do you remember that scene in the movie “Big” where Tom Hanks’ character brings his date back to his posh Manhattan loft and the two of them spend the evening jumping on a huge trampoline? I was only 10 years old when the movie came out, but I remember thinking, “Wow! That man knows how to impress a woman.” Granted, the “man” in question was actually a 12 year-old boy trapped in an adult’s body, but even so, 20 years later, I am still enamored with that scene. If you share this sentiment, you will be thrilled to know that Bellevue is now home to one of the hottest date spots: Sky High Sports, a warehouse full of gigantic trampolines. I repeat: A warehouse full of trampolines! While the owners Jerry and Ron Raymond write on their Web site that they started Sky High Sports in order to “have a fun safe place where they could have a blast playing with their kids,” I wonder if their secret agenda was to impress the ladies. Tip! Reservations are required to jump on the trampolines and time is billed by the hour. You can make reservations up to two days in advance on the Sky High Sports Web site.
February: Love and Laughter
Where: Kirkland Performance Center, kpcenter.org
The Details: Laughter is a powerful aphrodisiac, which is why you can fall to your knees and thank Cupid that the Kirkland Performance Center has stepped in to aid in your Valentine’s Day planning by offering two evenings of love-themed comedy shows. On Saturday, Feb. 13, “Late Nite Catechism” takes a trip down the aisle when the famous “Sister” returns to the stage for a humorous examination of the sacrament of marriage. On Sunday, Feb. 14, one of Seattle’s most popular comedy clubs, Comedy Underground, sends some of its best comedians to Kirkland for a jab at romance in the standup show “Love is a Laugh,” which reminds us that we are best not to take this whole relationship thing too seriously. Tip! Do not forget to make dinner reservations if you plan to dine out before the show on Feb. 14. Valentine’s Day is the busiest day of the year for most restaurants.
March: Love at New Heights
Where: Vertical World Climbing Gym, verticalworld.com and Black Raven Brewing, blackravenbrewing.com
The Details: Deep in an industrial park in Redmond, drab warehouses are being transformed into microcosms of all that is quintessentially cool about the Pacific Northwest, namely athletic prowess and microbrews. Begin your date at Vertical World Climbing Gym, cheering each other on as you stretch, reach and nimbly pull yourself to new heights. Never rock climbed before? Not to worry. Vertical World offers private belay sessions with a seasoned staff member who will show you all the ropes, both literally and figuratively. After you’ve conquered the walls and discovered muscles you didn’t know existed, cross the street and refuel at Black Raven Brewing Company. The setting is warm and comfortable and the small batch lagers and ales are delicious. Tip! Belay sessions at Vertical World require a reservation and cost $45 an hour, which includes gear for both you and your date. The Black Raven Brewing Company does not serve food, but they do allow you to order from nearby Flying Saucer Pizza. Menus are available in the taproom and pizzas can be delivered right to your table.
April: It’s Friday. Finally!
Where: Bellevue Art Museum, bellevuearts.org
The Details: Step into Bellevue Art Museum on April 16 and you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to a gallery in New York or Milan. It is the museum’s “Finally Friday!” event which hosts DJs, live performances, gallery tours, appetizers, wine and beer. The mood is chic yet relaxed, and as you stroll through the museum the artwork is certain to inspire an evening of dynamic conversation for you and your date. The event goes from 6 to 9 p.m. and is free with your museum admission or membership. Can’t make it this month? Not to worry. Bellevue Art Museum hosts two other Finally Friday! events this year, Aug. 27 and Oct. 29. Tip! Extend the date by starting your evening with happy hour in the bar at Pearl (pearlbellevue.com) and ending with a full dinner or dessert at Palomino (palomino.com), both within walking distance of the museum.
May: Overnight in the Trees
Where: Treehouse Point, treehousepoint.com
The Details: If you meet Pete and Judy Nelson, the husband and wife team behind Treehouse Point, ask them to tell you about how they met. You will hear a story about the two of them in college and about Pete building a loft in his dorm room. Even then he knew he wanted to spend his life building homes above ground, you will love the story. In fact, you will love everything about Treehouse Point. Pete and Judy radiate love — love for each other, for family, for their work, for the land — and that love permeates everything they touch at this enchanted getaway. Whether you and your love wander hand in hand to the river or spend every moment of your stay amongst the trees, your love is certain to flourish when you stay here. Tip! If you can’t make it for an overnight visit, do attend one of the many concerts held at Treehouse Point each year. Visit their Web site for details on upcoming shows.
June: Track Races and Take Out
Where: Ooba Tooba Mex Grill, oobatooba.com and Marymoor Velodrome, velodrome.org
The Details: On Friday nights from May through September, the best track cycle racers in the greater Seattle area come out to Marymoor Park to ride at top speed around the Velodrome for fame, glory and the pure joy of it all. What exactly is track racing, you ask? It’s a bike race that involves various amounts of laps around a smooth, sometimes steep track. The racers ride single-speed bikes with no brakes (this is where all those fixed-gear bicycles you see around town originated). It’s a ton of fun to watch and the atmosphere at the races is jovial and laid back. The races begin at 7 p.m., which gives you time to stop beforehand to pick up shrimp tacos or a carne asada plate from Ooba Tooba Mex Grill to eat as picnic-style dinner while you watch the races. Tip! Admission is $5. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and your ID — there is a beer garden for those who are malt beverage inclined.
July: Happy Trails
Where: Bastyr Medicinal Herb Garden and Reflexology Foot Path, bastyr.edu and Café Juanita, cafejuanita.com
The Details: If you have not walked through the gardens at Bastyr University or eaten a meal at Café Juanita, then you are missing two of the most magical experiences on the Eastside. If you have, then you probably don’t need any prodding to visit both again. Choose a warm day in July and begin your date in the early evening strolling through the gardens at Bastyr. Here, herbs are grown to make medicinal tinctures and salves and vegetables are grown for use in Bastyr’s renowned vegetarian whole foods cafeteria. You can even take off your shoes and get a dose of healing as you walk across the stones of the reflexology footpath. As you stroll, your senses will be ignited with smell and color, a perfect preparation for the dinner you are about to eat a few miles east at Café Juanita where nearly all the ingredients used in their meals are organic and sustainable — important components not only for a satisfying meal, but also for a satisfying romance. Tip! Self-guided tour maps are available at the entrance of the Bastyr gardens. When visiting Café Juanita, be sure to make reservations and allow plenty of time to linger over your meal. The food is so delicious you will not want to be rushed through a single bite.
August: High-Flying Romance
Where: Paragliding from Tiger Mountain, seattleparagliding.com
The Details: Do you know that adrenaline makes the heart grow fonder? It’s true. Researchers have found that participating in activities of high stimulation increases sexual attraction. When it comes to getting a powerful adrenaline rush on the Eastside there is no more beautiful way than paragliding from the top of Tiger Mountain. If you and your date aren’t experienced paragliding pilots, you can get your adrenaline fix by flying tandem with a professional from Seattle Paragliding. Tip! If thrill-seeking isn’t your kind of romance, get a vicarious adrenaline rush by watching the paragliders up-close. Head to the landing space off Issaquah Hobart Road where you can see them finish their flight or where you can hike the Chirico Trail to Poo Poo Point and see them take off.
September: A Sweet Start
Where: Maltby Café, maltbycafe.com
The Details: Breakfast is the most overlooked meal for dates. Why? A date in the morning means you have plenty of time for the date to linger, plenty of time for spontaneous adventures to happen and plenty of time for romance to build. Plan your breakfast date for the Maltby Café. The drive makes you feel like you’re on a road trip, heading to someplace far, far from home. And just like with a road trip, you feel the pressures of “real life” fade with each passing mile, allowing yourself to be even more relaxed, more present and more receptive to the love between you. The cinnamon rolls are delicious — golden, gooey and flavorful. Order one, split it and take the rest home — they are that huge. Tip! If you go on the weekend, bring a newspaper (or even better, a book of love poems) to read to each other as you wait in line. On weekends it can take up to an hour.
October: Fall in Love
Where: Fall City Farms, fallcityfarms.com
The Details: The air is crisp, the light is subtly softening, the colors are vibrant, and the smell of pine begins filling the air. With its diminishing days and spectacular changes, the beginning of autumn is a perfect time to cozy up to the one you adore. But not before getting outside and basking in it all. Fall City Farms is an ideal place to enjoy this glorious time of year. In early October, the sunflowers still stand tall and the bounty that had been growing all summer is ready for the picking. Talk to the goats, check out the chickens, pose for pictures with the cows, tromp through the fields, pick a pumpkin and, most importantly, take time to sit together, to breathe in the country air, to delight in all of it. When the day draws to an end, collect a basket of vegetables and head home to prepare dinner together in your warm kitchen. Tip! You can make a full day of farm-going by visiting a variety of farms in Fall City, Carnation and Duvall. For a list, visit northwestplaces.com.
November: Classic with a Twist
Where: Big Picture, thebigpicture.net
The Details: Like a little black dress, a well-tailored suit or a vibrant and sincere smile, a movie date never goes out of style. Sadly, standard suburban multiplexes are far from the kind of elegant locations that make a night out on the town out of the ordinary. Luckily, Big Picture has stepped in to take the classic movie date to a new level of chic with velvet curtains, crystal chandeliers, popcorn served in Veuve Clicquot buckets and a full bar serving drinks you take into the theater as you watch the movie. There’s even a billiards parlor called Q Club where you can spend time after the show discussing the movie or simply challenging each other to a game. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about running into your teenage daughter, your teenage brother, your teenage neighbor or any teenager at all for that matter, because Big Picture is only for those 21 and older. While we all love the kiddos, sometimes it’s nice to have places that only adults can go. Tip! If you want to lengthen your movie date to a dinner-and-a-movie date, try Spazzo (schwartzbros.com) or Matt’s Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge (mattsrotisserie.com) both located near Big Picture in Redmond Town Center.
December: ’Jolly Good Time
Where: Woodinville Wine Country St. Nicholas Day Open House, woodinvillewinecountry.com
The Details: For one weekend every December, Woodinville wineries open their doors for annual St. Nicholas Day Open House. Meet local winemakers, sample exclusive wines and special selections, visit boutique wineries that are not open to the public during the rest of the year, dance to holiday music, eat hors d’oeuvres and a very merry, jolly good time. This is a rare event with a festive feel certain to get you into the spirit of the season. Make sure to bring your mistletoe, because it would be a shame if you and your sweetheart did not find yourselves standing side by side beneath it. Tip! Only a limited number of passes are sold for this event. Watch for tickets to go on sale through the Web site starting in October.
Amanda Ford is a Kirkland resident and author of several books including, “Kiss Me, I’m Single.” You can reach her at her Web site, oholive.com.
For the full story pick up the latest copy of 425 magazine. Subscriptions are available by phone at 425.646.1380 or you may order your subscription online.
