Asking For a Friend
This week one of our readers asks,
How do you know when a girl actually likes you vs. when she's just being nice because she's a nice person? I've been talking to this girl for a few weeks and I genuinely can't tell.
FIVE DATES FOR THIS WEEK
Trash Bag Slip-n-Slide
Active · $10-15
First, pick up two contractor-size trash bags from Ace Hardware (or maybe the dollar store if you’re lucky) and a bottle of dish soap. Head to the hill at Rock Canyon Park. Lay the bags flat, soap them down, and run at them. No one is going to be “good” at this, its just going to be fun. You should bring extra bags, they might tear. This one is better for a rainy day or right after the sprinklers went off.
How to ask: "I want to go sledding in the summer. On Saturday, actually. Would you wanna try it with me?"
Duck, Duck, Float
Unusual · $5
Get a pack of rubber ducks from the dollar store, at least a dozen, and head to the Provo River Parkway where there is moving current. Pick your duck before the drop, name it, and release everyone from the same spot at the same time. Some catch a current and disappear fast. Some spin in the same eddy while you both stand there watching. This one works because the ducks do most of the dramatic work.
How to ask: "I’ll bet my rubber duck is faster than yours. Let’s race in the Provo River Saturday. I'll get the ducks, you pick the launch spot."
No Peeking
Game · Free
One person wears a blindfold while the other guides them through an activity using only their voice, then switch. You could cook a simple dinner, assemble a snack plate, or navigate a room without touching a wall. The blindfold removes the ability to be self-conscious, and you are both going to be too focused on the task to notice that you have stopped performing for each other.
How to ask: "I have a blind date idea. But probably not what you're imagining. Are you free Saturday?"
Glaze and Confused
Creative · $20–40
Color Me Mine has studios across Utah. You pick an unfired ceramic piece, paint it for a couple hours, and then you can pick up the glazed version about a week later for a studio fee plus the piece cost. You go with no plan for what you're making, just a plan to have fun and relax.
How to ask: "Color Me Mine Saturday. I'll book it, you bring those creative instincts you've been hiding."
Tandem Bike
Active · ~$25
So BYU Outdoor Unlimited is a great resource; they rent tandem bikes (among other things) by the day. Just make sure to reserve ahead and then you can pick up your bike from campus, and then take it to the Provo River Trail. One person steers; the other pedals in the back with no say in direction. You find out in the first ten minutes who is the better passenger. Handing someone the back seat and saying trust me is a bigger ask than it sounds.
How to ask: "I rented a tandem bike for Saturday. You're invited. When are you free?"
FROM OUR READERS
ONE HELPFUL TIP
Here's something nobody tells you:
The best conversations on a date happen in person, not in the texting afterward. If something is funny, say it out loud. If you want to know something about her, ask it to her face. People who save everything for after the drive home miss the moment when it actually mattered. Your phone will be there later. She is there now.
UPCOMING DATE OPPORTUNITIES
BONUS EVENTS
Tell us about your events!
SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre, 600 S 400 E, Orem · 8:00 pm · From $15
How to ask: "Frozen is playing at the outdoor amphitheater in Orem Friday night. Want to go?"
June 6 — Provo Farmers Market Opening Day
Pioneer Park, 500 W Center St, Provo · 9:00 am – 2:00 pm · Free
How to ask: "Provo Farmers Market opens for the summer Saturday morning. We can go at 11, you pick what we eat."
From the Editor
It turns out there is a lot of fun things to do in Provo, and it doesn’t just have to be dates.
Coming from my own experiences, I honestly prefer having chances to just be friends and do things together with people I like. Just… don’t stress yourself out too much.
This week tell me about your favorite date you’ve been on.
Until next time,
