Release Date: Monday, July 16th 2012

Date Ideas in Tempe

tempe tourism
By: Patrick

“Have you seen Spider-Man yet? I want to see it. We should go.” Those were the words said to me by a pretty, blonde girl I was having lunch with last week. My life would be so much easier if I never had to put any thought into a date. Just tell me what we’re doing, where to go and what time to be there. When it comes to going out, I always try to think of something a little different. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so this simple task proves to be somewhat difficult for me.

I’d like to think that I’m not the only one around here that has this problem. So, here are some great places in Tempe that I love to go to when I’m out on the town on my many hot dates.

For a lunch or dinner date, there are three places that I love. D’lish (1135 East Apache Blvd) is a great local restaurant that I’m so happy made its way from Scottsdale down here to Tempe. They feature a variety of healthy, locally grown dishes on their menu. I’ve been a regular customer for a long time and have yet to find anything on the menu that I didn’t like. Because they close at 4 p.m., this is the perfect place to grab breakfast or lunch. If you’re in the mood for some great Italian food –as an Italian, I’m always in this mood- look no further than La Bocca Pizzeria (699 South Mill). They have a large selection of Italian food from sandwiches to pasta to pizza. They also have a wide selection wine and other drinks. Located right in the heart of Mill Ave, this is a great place to either start or end your night. Cornish Pasty (960 West University, Suite 103) is another popular restaurant that has drawn rave reviews. The restaurant gets its name from the pasties that the wives of coal miners from Cornwall would make for their husbands. They offer a wide range of pasties to choose from at really affordable prices. Without a doubt it’s one of my favorite restaurants.

If you’ve already eaten and are looking for a great place to grab dessert, Rita’s Italian Ice (740 South Mill Ave) is my favorite place. I go at least once a week. No joke. I always get the Gelati, which is frozen custard at the bottom of your cup, then your ice, then more custard at the top. When I had my Rita’s fix yesterday afternoon, I had a Raspberry Lemonade Gelati with vanilla custard. It was incredible. When it’s 110 outside and you want a cold treat, Rita’s is the way to go. Not in the mood for Rita’s? No problem. Check out Paletas Betty. These handmade Mexican pops are out of this world. Made fresh and only with fruits that are in season, everything is fresh, with no preservatives or coloring.

If you’re looking to grab a drink, two popular spots are Four Peaks Brewery and Gordon Biersch. Four Peaks features the very popular Kilt Lifter, which I’ve yet to find anyone who doesn’t like it. Gordon Biersch has a great selection of beers on tap. If you’re not sure what to get at either one of these fine establishments, they’re more than willing to help you out, which is great for indecisive people like me.

Not hungry but want to go out? Tempe Marketplace is very popular and for good reason. The Harkins 16 Theaters has the largest movie screen in the state of Arizona. There’s no better place to watch this summer’s blockbusters. Every Friday and Saturday, they offer live, free music. It’s always a great time. ASU Gammage is a great place to go as well. I went on a date there to see Green Day’s American Idiot and it was a really fun time. Weeks later my date was still talking about it. ASU Gammage is offering some great mini-subscription package deals right now for plays that are worth looking into, such as Les Miserables and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. If your wallet is a little light, look into visiting the free ASU Art Museum. They have more contemporary exhibits that encourage you to think and discuss what you think the piece means. If you think this a stuffy, art museum that you have to be really quiet in, think again. Another option is visiting the Tempe Center for the Arts, located right along Tempe Town Lake. You’ve probably seen it as you’ve gone for a walk or jog. It has the nice little waterfall, across from the bridge. They have a wide variety of shows and free gallery exhibits.