from the PAST BLAST

n BIKE RIDE TO A PICNIC LUNCH

Main Street Bicycles

39 E. Main St., Carpentersville mainstbicycles.com

Don’t have a bike? No problem. You and your date can head out into the open air on rented bicycles from this popular shop. Don’t forget to bring a backpack with a picnic lunch.

Jeff Provisor, owner of Main Street Bicycles, can attest to how successful this type of date can be. “I proposed to my wife doing the very same thing,” he said. “We rode our bikes to a nice little lake on the Des Plaines River trail, packed a little picnic, and the rest is history.” n SWING DANCING LESSONS

Bike rentals are available yearround at an hourly rate of $10, or $30 for the day, and include a helmet and lock. “Riding the lovely Fox River Trail is always beautiful,” Provisor said.

Fred Astaire Dance Studio of St. Charles 2400 E. Main St., Suite 107 B www.fredastaire.com/st-charles

By Erin Sauder l Photo courtesy of Main Street Bicycles

Are you looking for a fun way to escape the dating doldrums? Try doing something that’s different and new by going retro. Here are some ideas for kicking it old school in Kane County when it comes to romance:

You and your date can take a trip back to the Swing Era with a fun and beginner-friendly private dance lesson. “Swing dancing has been around since the 1920s and is always popular with our clients,” said studio owner Jackie Josephs-Grytsak. “This high-energy dance is so diverse with many different music genres and styles. Everyone remembers their grandparents, parents, or even the 90s Gap commercials doing the swing.” There is nothing better than being at a wedding, honeymoon, or party, hearing a great song, and getting out on the dance floor, Josephs-Grytsak said. “The fun you have is immeasurable and of course, there are all the people watching, thinking, ‘I wish I could do that,’” she said. “So, why not call or visit your local Fred Astaire Dance Studio and give yourself, or another, the gift that keeps on giving? Life’s better when you dance.” n BOWLING NIGHT

St. Charles Bowl

2520 W. Main St., St. Charles www.stcharlesbowl.com

What’s more old school than slipping on a pair of bowling shoes and hitting the lanes? For more than six decades, St. Charles Bowl has been a Fox Valley tradition for fun and entertainment for the entire community. “I believe bowling has lasted through the ages as it’s an activity with a low skill requirement for entry yet has a high skill ceiling for those interested in learning some of the more advanced areas of the game,” said manager Tim Miedema. “It doesn’t matter much if you’re a seasoned player or it’s your first time playing. It’s just fun.”

Then, once you and your date have worked up an appetite hitting the pins, head to the venue’s Spare Time Bar & Grill to nosh on burgers, patty melts, pizzas and other tasty bites. The menu also includes an extensive array of draft and bottled beers, wines and cocktails. “An evening of bowling for a couple would run approximately

$38 for one hour, including shoe rental, during peak hours over the winter months,” Miedema said. “And slightly cheaper in the spring and summer when bowling is typically considered off-season.”