Singles Scene Newsletter 6/05/00 issue 25 sing-@primenet.com! In this issue: * First Dates: Where to go and who pays * Singles Site of the Week * All Singles Dance Schedule * Arizona Date Ideas for June 6 to June 12 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Dilemmas of Dating: WHERE TO GO & WHO PAYS FOR FIRST DATES copyright 1997 by Janet L. Jacobsen At a singles dance recently we had a number of short questionnaires that people could fill out about dating and other singles' concerns. This issue we'll focus on what they had to say about where to go on dates and who pays. The men and women attending the dance (and completing the survey) have a somewhat different experience, and expectation, about dating, it appears. For instance, asked "When going out on a date, generally who pays?", 82% of the men say generally they pay for the date, but among the women, only 68% say the man pays for the date. About 20% of the men said that on dates they take turns paying, but about 30% of the women report either going Dutch or taking turns paying for dates. The figures change considerably when talking about going out with opposite sex friends, however. In that case, more than a third of the men report that usually they still pay, though only 14% of the women say that when going out with a man friend, the man pays. Instead about 60% of men and about 80% of women say that they go dutch or take turns paying when out with opposite sex friends. (And 5% of women claim there is no such thing as an opposite sex friend.) When the concept of "going dutch" is applied to first dates, only 12% of men but 50% of women are outright against it. While 18% of women are specifically in favor of going dutch on first dates, 47% of men like the idea. (In other words, there are an equal number of men who really like to dutch on a first date, to women who really hate it.) Participants were asked to rate how much they like or dislike six typical first date options: coffee, dancing, dinner, drinks, lunch, or a movie. Among men, coffee and dancing were most likely to rate a "strongly like." (Of course, we were asking the question at a dance, and thus possibly more likely to get a positive result.) Men were most likely to strongly dislike "drinks" as a first date, but the second most disliked first date for men was coffee, thus making it both strongly liked and strongly disliked, depending on who you're asking. Men registered largely "neutral" about most date choices. Of the six options, the overall ranking on average by men as first date choices were 1. Dancing. 2. Lunch. 3. Coffee. 4. Dinner. 5. Movie. 6. Drinks. Women were less likely than men to say they disliked any of the dating choices. The option most often chosen as strongly or somewhat disliked was movies. Women were mostly neutral about drinks as a first date, with hardly anyone rating it "strongly like." The options most likely to rate "strongly like" with women were dinner, and dancing. (Again, dancing's popularity may be skewed because the question was asked at a dance.) Of the six options, the overall ranking on average by women as first date choices were 1. Dinner. 2. Dancing. 3. Lunch. 4. Coffee. 5. Movie. 6. Drinks. [Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts with us on the best first dates -- and even who pays -- at sing-@primenet.com. Thanks!] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Singles Site of the Week - Traveling this summer and want to locate some wonderful dining experiences? Check out www.zagat.com, which includes restaurant ratings for a number of cities, with statistics collected from real diners, rather than just food critics. (You may discover some good choices listed near home too!) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ALL SINGLES DANCE SCHEDULE: Fri. 9 No dance this week Fri. 16 Scottsdale Radisson, 7171 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale Fri. 23 Mountain Shadows, 5641 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley Fri. 30 Mountain Shadows, 5641 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley Call 480-949-8076 (press 1) for more info or see *********************** DATE IDEAS Mon., June 5: 7 pm, chess night at Borders Books & Music, Biltmore Fashion Park, 24th St. & Camelback, Phx. Watch; play! 602-957-6660. Tues., June 6: Window shop at Scottsdale Fashion Square (or any other major mall). Eat in the food court, or one of the restaurants. Wed., June 7: Adults' Night Out, Arizona Science Center, 7th St. & Washington, Phoenix. 5:30-9 p.m. Includes a special program or lecture. $5 admi., plus $2 for giant-screen film or planetarium. 602-716-2000. Thurs., June 8 (Thurs. thru June): Attend the free "Concert Under the Stars" at the Mesa Community Center, 201 N. Center St. at 7:30 pm. 480-644-2242. Fri., June 9 (Fridays through June 30): 7 to 9 pm, the Jazz in the Garden series is offered at the Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix. Cost is $13.50 for nonmembers. . 480-941-1225. Sat., June 10 (most Sat. nights): Hang out at Centerpoint, Mill & University, downtown Tempe. 6-9 pm., live music, magicians and other entertainment. Free. 480-947-3500. Sun., June 11 (Sun. thru July 16): 7:30-9 pm enjoy the free concert at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend, Scottsdale. 480-312-2312. Mon., June 12: The weather's hot; go out for ice cream. The Sugar Bowl on Scottsdale Rd. is charming. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AND NOW--a commercial announcement -- Improve your MEETING PEOPLE skills with the HOW TO MEET PEOPLE audiocassette by Janet Jacobsen, editor of Single Scene. You'll learn **How to overcome your fears **Three sure-fire meeting methods **Where to find interesting people **Simple, fun techniques to improve your social life NOW. To order HOW TO MEET PEOPLE, send $9.95 (first class postage & handling included) to Interpersonal Enterprises Inc. Box 6243 Dept. E Scottsdale AZ 85261-6243. Satisfaction Guaranteed! ************************** SHARE WITH A FRIEND-- PLEASE FORWARD THIS ISSUE ! ---------------------------------------------- If you haven't already done so, please forward this issue to your single friends and associates. Thanks so much! To unsubscribe to this newsletter, send a blank email to singlesphx--@topica.com If a friend would like to subscribe, have them send a blank email to singlesphx-@topica.com