Could HowAboutWe users in D.C. be America’s best daters? They’re quirky, civic-minded, and know how to have fun. We ran their proposed dates through a word cloud generator, so you can see for yourself.

The dates:

Here’s what we can all take away from D.C. daters.

1) Date like a tourist.

City dwellers tend to skip local tourist attractions, because they’re crowded and full of outsiders. But there’s a reason travelers flock to museums and monuments: They’re interesting. They generate discussion. Famous dead people are cool.

It’s better to brave a touristy site with an eager date than to miss out. Just make sure you’re both ready for long lines — it’s actually a great time to get to know one another. One D.C. dater proposed, “How about we pretend to be tour guides and just make stuff up?” Afterwards, grab a drink at a nice local spot that didn’t make the guidebooks and discuss.

2) Turn it into a mission.

Sometimes a date devolves into “Now what?” Even worse, it can happen before you finish your first drink.

The solution: devise a mission. Instead of giving a date some vague purpose, like “getting to know each other,” make concrete plans. Find a food or beverage you both enjoy and plan a tour around it. You might want to hold off on pub crawls the first night, but sharing treats from a handful of street vendors is just as fun.

Missions don’t have to involve food, either. Perhaps you and your date both love record stores and want to visit the three that are still open in your city. It’s the journey, not the destination. Use your common interest as an entree into further conversation.

3) Act silly.

There are downsides to acting silly with a date: Being positive often requires more vulnerability than putting up a cold, unfeeling front. You might mess up your hair when you have fun. Also, your laugh is ridiculous.

Or … these are all things that your date just might find wildly attractive. Things that might make your date want to go out again. Oh, wait. That’s why you’re here.

So go for it.

4) Be a good sport.

What can we say? D.C. loves its sports. If you’re both sports aficionados, go crazy. Tailgate, yell at the TV, insult rivals, paint your bodies outlandish colors with non-toxic paint…

If you or your date don’t give a flying touchdown about the game, consider keeping sports in the background or using concession stand treats to improve your hand-mouth coordination.

5) Volunteer.

What makes a better first impression than selfless devotion to a cause?

Before you get your charity on, discuss how you’d like to make a difference. You could serve food in soup kitchens and food delivery programs. Animal shelters need volunteers to clean cages and care for animals. Schools need mentors and volunteers. It can even be as signing up to be an organ donor. Just make sure to do your research on individual volunteer opportunities. Some require special training or background checks.

You’ve got the how, now check out where to date in D.C.

 

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