Some cities are romanticized to death. Chicago isn’t one of them, but it definitely deserves some credit. Chicago singles are laid back without being boring, quirky without being precious.

We ran their proposed dates through a word cloud generator to figure out what romantic moves put Chicago on the map.

The dates:

Here are some dating tips that work in the Chi and other less windy cities.

1. Just dance.

Okay, you might need to just drink a little first.

Chicago daters love to cut a rug, and they propose multiple ways of doing it, from waltzing to stepping to shaking their groove things. However, some of us might be intimidated by the thought of moving rhythmically to music in public. Especially in front of people we may be trying to impress.

Here’s why you should do it anyway: Embracing initial physical awkwardness and dancing with a stranger establishes intimacy. Sure, it doesn’t feel as safe as hiding behind small talk and a cocktail menu. But the most rewarding parts of life — sex, love, eating raw cookie dough — aren’t entirely safe. But they’re so worth it.

2. Exploit a shared interest.

It’s nice to discover shared interests early on, and even better if they can be turned into an activity. People are at their best — and relate to each other better — when they’re both excited about something.

Chicago daters seem especially devoted to animals. They propose outings to zoos and volunteering in animal shelters. One guy even invited his dog to be the four-legged third wheel on his hypothetical beach trip. (Or maybe his date would’ve been the two-legged third wheel?)

3. Get quirky.

There are many arguments to be made in favor of being your true, quirky self throughout life in general. We’re going to stick to dating, though.

For starters, it’s more fun to go out with quirky people. They say and do interesting things. They’re the kind of people want to go out with them again.

The premise of HowAboutWe is to propose interesting dates that will attract people who could grow to love your weird brain. So quirky people, you’ve got this. Don’t squelch your dream date of re-enacting a scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Do what that one dater in Chicago did: Put it out there and see what happens.

4. Get culinary.

If one of your top priorities in a relationship is finding someone who will cook for you, Chicago’s the place to be. There are more aspiring chefs in Chicago’s singles scene than anywhere else in the country.

5. Play outside.

We’ve already discussed the benefits of dancing on a date. It loosens you up and brings you physically closer to your romantic interest. Playing outside has the same effects.

It’s the fresh air and natural light. It’s a reminder of being a kid on the playground. You can reap these benefits through a simple walk or something more involved, like sledding.

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

 

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