Champaign-Urbana has a number of eclectic places to make your date special. Whether you are looking to chat on a first time date or take your spouse of 50 years out, you will find suggestions here.
Keep It Casual at a Cafe
Cafes are great places for a first date. They are usually quiet, you don’t have to spend too much money on a fancy dinner, and you can usually find something yummy to enjoy. Here are 3 places to check out for more casual time.
1. The Literary (“Lit” for short): Lit is a combination coffeeshop and bookstore. With cozy seats and good reads, you and your date will surely have something to talk about. Just get there early to make sure you get seats! That place fills up!
2. Art Mart: Part store, part market, part cafe, Art Mart gives you plenty of exotic food, beverages, and home goods to feast your eyes on. Grab a drink or a snack at the cafe, hang out with your date, and then peruse the store looking for a new kitchen gadget to overspend on.
3. Gallery Art Bar: Looking for that ephemeral feeling? Gallery Art Bar is the place to find it. With their light projections and improvised music, you will be sure to find new vibes with your date.
Step Up the Sophistication with a Show
Looking for more than just casual conversation? Check out one these world-renowned venues in the Champaign-Urbana area.
4. Krannert Center for the Performing Arts: Needing no introduction, Krannert is the premier venue in Central Illinois.
5. The Virginia Theater: Owned by the Champaign Park District, the Virginia Theater attracts national acts and shows movies. Beautifully restored, it is truly a treasure!
6. The Station Theater: Offering off Broadway shows with a dedicated cast of local performers in an incredibly intimate setting, the Station Theater will leave you never knowing that theater could be so good!
7. The Parkland Planetarium: The 2nd largest planetarium in the state of Illinois (wow!!), the Parkland Planetarium will delight your visual and aural senses with star shows, lazer shows, and yes, science talks! What’s hotter than nerding out over someone else’s research (wink wink, hubba hubba).
For the More Adventurous Types
What’s better than getting out and about on a date to get the blood flowing? Try these active and engaging date ideas to really get that serotonin a’flowin.
8. C-U Adventures in Time and Space: If you want to spend some quality time with your date, just lock yourself in a room with them! They say the mind is the largest sex organ. The best part is, if you can’t solve the riddles and get out, well, I can think of at least one other thing to do.
9. Allerton Park: Boasting sculptures, walking paths, and gardens the envy of every Master Gardener named Carol, Allerton Park is a beautiful place to take your honey to enjoy the type of yard you’ll never have.
10. Dancing or Yoga: There are a few places to dance in town, namely, The Urbana Dance Company, Regent Ballroom, The Rose Bowl, The Urbana Contra Dancers, and the Swing Dancing group. What’s more romantic than giving each other a foot rub at the end of the night?
For any flower needs, make sure to consider buying local flowers from Delight Flower Farm. Their flowers can often be found in Common Ground Food Co-Op