This Weekend: A Date to Remember

So the idea of strapping on some sneakers and getting sweaty with a friend or partner might not be appealing to all. But 5Ks — at just over 3 miles — are an accessible entryway into distance running that people of most ages and fitness levels can work up to with a little training. The aphrodisiac of exercise should not be underrated — those feel-good vibes can lead to great conversations and powerful relationship-building. Plus, you can do some good for the world by participating in a charity run that aligns with your values. With Earth Month here, we suggest saving the planet by taking a jog, perhaps with some environmentally conscious Cariuma sneakers for a stylish touch.

2. Color in Picnic

There are so many fun ways to roll out a blanket and enjoy your local park (this teepee idea is, frankly, genius). And at the risk of embarrassingly embracing my inner child, sitting down to some funky coloring books seems rather soothing right now. So combine two great pleasures with some handpicked wine — I enjoy the offerings from Bright Cellars, particularly because the monthly wine club actually gets to know you with a personality quiz before dropping bottles off at your door — and enjoy a coloring book picnic while shading in a world between so many white spaces.

3. So. Many. Activities.

You may not have recently turned your beds into bunk beds. But this weekend, you’ll still have plenty of space for activities with this booklet’s 52 ideas for fun times. Part novelty, part self-help guide, the coupon-style sheet sets an ambitious goal of doing one offline activity per week for a year. Options abound, from rearranging furniture to bringing something home from the supermarket and then treating it like a sculpture. What better way to show your commitment to an early friendship or relationship than by showing up with this in hand and getting started?

4. Sound Bath

Life is chaotic. Music provides a balm. But listening to even the most innovative bands is still just dipping your toes into the possibilities of audible pleasure. Sound therapy studios are opening up around the country, riffing on ancient practices said to reduce pain, alleviate anxiety and improve sleep. If you can’t find something local, this virtual sound bath from Queer Healing Journeys — all are welcome — is particularly inviting with singing bowls, rattles and drums combining for a peaceful experience. The next session is on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT over Zoom.

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How can you say no to a fragrance that promises to help you “get through the day with whimsy"? As you enjoy good weather and hopefully even better company, spritz on a bit of Daisy Eau So Fresh, Marc Jacobs’ signature scent with fluttering notes of red raspberry, wild rose and warm plum. Such vibrancy in a scent is rare and will perk you up, so you can embrace your whimsical inner self.

2. Better Self

Perhaps it’s true that some of us smell good for ourselves, and some of us smell good for our better selves. Regardless, feeling fabulous is priceless, a high that anybody of any walk of life can enjoy. Chanel No. 5 Eau de Parfum is euphoria in a bottle, a timelessly soft signature with bourbon vanilla touches and a complex floral burst of May rose and jasmine. Wade into a sensory bath worth basking in.

3. Earthy Vibes

You’ve been out all day, you’ve just showered and, yeah, fair enough, I suppose you did lather up with that crusty old bar of soap. But as you prepare for the evening, why not treat yourself to something fine? A touch of Terre d’Hermès will remind you there is pleasure to be found in all seven of the senses, even if your sense of smell is so often woefully underappreciated. With warm accents of wood, benzoin and shiso, these all-natural elements will elevate your ambiance and reconnect you with the earth as you wind down.

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Whether on a romantic date or doing a game date night with friends, heartfelt laughs are always appreciated. This card game mixes up the conversation, providing both depth and silliness, with questions as basic as, “Who is your celebrity crush?” and as profound as, “Which is worse: physical or emotional cheating?”

2. Flower Power

Want to make a great impression? Sure, the old tradition of showing up with flowers in hand is a bit cliché. But like vinyl and other wayside trends, a bouquet can be refreshingly retro if done with some twists. First, don’t be afraid to swap gender roles: Plenty of men would enjoy being met with a bouquet of flowers to brighten their day, like this peachy arrangement by Floraqueen. With delivery options to most regions, you can get them delivered to your door across the globe. Hand them over with a self-aware smile to show that you’re in on the joke — after all, who does things like this these days? It’s hard to imagine the gesture going unappreciated.

3. Spicy and Healthy

Show off your worldliness by cooking up a vegan Thai green curry, an herby treat that replaces the traditional shrimp paste and fish sauces with lemongrass, shallots, coriander and other fresh ingredients. Don’t forget about drinks: A spicy pineapple jalapeno margarita adds a nice kick to your night.

4. Tipsy Dessert

Even as the date winds down, it doesn’t have to get any less delicious with this perfect finish: a gin and tonic cheesecake. With a caramelized biscuit crust, a mix of Philadelphia cream cheese and four tablespoons of gin and tonic, you just won’t find a better post-dinner nightcap.

We mentioned laughs, right? This comical hidden-camera movie is just rude, as Eric Andre, Tiffany Haddish, Lil Rel Howery and others travel around America pranking innocent bystanders. With a loose plot about traveling across the country to connect with a high school crush, this theoretical love journey really just shows the creators’ love for wildly destructive improv at the (hilarious) expense of its unwitting real-life participants.

2. ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’

One review warns the “best thing we can say about it” is that “a giant lizard and a giant ape fight.” Honestly, sold (wait, that was a positive review, right?). While the trailer was short on stellar dialogue — or, really, words at all — the classic battle between two iconic film beasts needs nothing more than the latest CGI and limitless imagination that this movie provides. Best-friend approved, and perhaps not a bad watch for couples who share an affection for mindless action.

3. ‘Valentine’s: When Things Get Wild’

Want to get smarter with your date night while still setting the mood? Well, we can’t promise the latter, but this documentary about love in the animal kingdom is fascinating … even if, at times, you’ll giggle with the seriousness with which the narrator declares “most animals go for one-night stands” or talks about critters “putting the moves on.” It’s just one of a number of great options at CuriosityStream, a super affordable streaming service with thousands of documentaries about everything from food to space.