DATE BY KATE #10: Licking Spatulas at Old Town Cooking School

BACKGROUND
Ok, now I know this is a little bit biased, and I'm sure it would be fun to cook with YOUR mom, but YOUR mom probably doesn't have a COOKING SCHOOL LIKE MY MOM. But the fact is, I am recommending it because I have experienced just how much fun and romantic these classes are. And so I present, Old Town Cooking School of Pasadena.

OLD TOWN COOKING SCHOOL
Based in Pasadena, the sign-up-one-class-whenever school is owned by Deb and Deanna, two epic home cooks who teach everything for any level cook from Thai Soups, Lobster Wrangling, French Gourmet to Bachelor Basics. TONS of young people have started coming to the class and it's a great way to meet people or learn how to flambee for that dreamboat in the next cubicle.

YOUR DATE
1. Show up to the class, throw on an apron, have a glass of wine, have a chit-chat with Debbie, rant about the awesomeness of her Daughter's Date Designs. Impress your girl with wine language (My this bouquet is fat and buttery) or make up your own wine language (My, what a skanky pinot grigio).

2. Sit back and watch the masters at work, ask questions, play footsie with your neighbor, hold his hand if his question didn't make any sense, write notes to eachother on the cookbooks you get. Giggle (but don't tell my mom I said so).


3. Chow down on all the stuff you can't believe you just learned to make together. Tickle him with a lobster claw, put a spoon up your nose, let your eyes twinkle girl, I know you know how. Lick some gelato off his lips.

4. After the class, walk off the wine around Old Town. During the Summer there's music at Levitt Pavillion, and the Pasadena City Hall is just two blocks East on Holly. Kiss her quietly as she's trying to decide. Have a coffee at Coffee Bean. Enjoy the evening! Good Date!

LOGISTICS
COST: Classes from $25-$70. Discounts are available on the internet if you look for them.
CLASS TYPES: Mini classes, Hands on, Demonstration Classes
CALENDAR: Bachelor & Bride Beginner Class, Holiday Cocktails, Grilling and MANY MORE
CONTACT: email: info@oldtowncookingschool.com

DATE BY KATE #3: Wishing on Leonid's Falling Stars

Your Date Starts on Monday November 16 goes until the morning of November 17

WHEN CAN I SEE THE LEONID SHOWER
Monday November 16th at midnight
1230 AM-2:30 AM Pacfic Time

LEONID METEOR SHOWER
A shower of shooting stars. The shower happens each mid-November, when Earth passes through an area of space filled with debris from a comet. That debris burns up in our atmosphere, causing the “shower” of meteors. In Los Angeles you'll be able to see about one leonid every two or three minutes.

CHOOSING A LAZY STARGAZING HOTSPOT
Tough in LA because of the ambient light. A good litmus test is if you can see the little dipper where you are standing, you are in an area dark enough. We're talking beaches, tops of mountains, deserts and forests. PLEASE choose a safe destination where both you and your date can feel safe (no deserted dumps, middle of the highway romps)

HOW TO PROPERLY STARGAZE
Lying down and looking up. Lots of people use pillows and just lie there. Make lots of wishes.

PREDATE
Tell your date to dress warmly and exactly where you intend to go. You don't want to flip them out by taking them to deserted parts of the state. Also, make sure they are prepared for a night of wishes and giggly nonsense (whatever that may entail for you and your mate)

SUPPLIES
Aim for warmth: Warm jacket, Blanket/Sleeping bag
Comfort: Two pillows
Safety: Flashlight, Glowsticks
Fun: Get ready to tickle and hold tightly


YOUR DATE
9 pm

• Get your supplies together
• Think of some goofy wishes you can tell your date and can't tell your date :)
• Learn proper wish making protocol

10 pm

• Catch some late dinner
• Inform your date that the best way to watch a meteor shower is lying next to eachother and looking up

11 pm

• Dunkin Donuts: grab some hot cocoa and donuts for the road*
• Inform your date of proper making a wish on a star protocol
• Remind your date to make wishes on the shooting stars

12 am

• Arrive at your Lazy Stargazing Hotspot

12 am-2 am

• Spend the time talking about the wishes you want to make and the wishes you made as a child.
• Engage in again, whatever your definition of giggly nonsense may be.

*This is an inappropriate venue for spaghetti but do try if you insist.