Victoria's Secret...On the first date?!?!

Most of us associate Victoria’s Secret apparel with something we’d wear on the third date. You know, something black or pink (or PINK) and lacy or sheer – something sexy. Before writing this blog post, I knew from stealing my roommate’s Victoria’s Secret catalogue that the company also sells clothing. But the website blew me away! The top of the homepage includes links to bras and panties (we knew that), sleepwear and lounge attire, clothing, shoes, swim, beauty, sales and specials, and PINK wear. This is a Victoria’s Secret like I’ve never seen it – I had no idea that they had so much inventory and selection!

The homepage and website as a whole is easy to navigate and set against a crisp, clean white background. The space on the page is well-designed and aesthetically pleasing. The homepage features sales, specials, and news, such as swimwear sales, free bonuses with purchase, and fall fashion previews. The bottom of the page includes a variety of relevant and helpful links, including “Check Order Status”, “Customer Service”, “Request a Catalogue”, “Find a Store Near You”, and “Angel Card”. The homepage itself matches the brand, and successfully straddles the line between sexy and pragmatic.

With Victoria’s Secret offering more than just third-date apparel, I wanted to find out what my user experience on the site and product variety would be if I wanted to find a cute top for a first or second date. I clicked on “clothing”, and was directed to a new page in which “Tops & Tees $14 & Up” was featured most prominently. In a sidebar, items were grouped into categories: Sexy Steals, Features, Destination Summer, Dresses, Tops & Tees, Shirts & Blouses, Sweaters, Pants, Yoga & Loungewear, Shorts, Denim, Skirts, Suit Separates, Jackets & Coats, and Handbags & Accessories. The sidebar remained present on each page of Women’s Clothing.

I followed the “Tops & Tees” link, clicked on a babydoll tee, and used a size chart to determine the correct size for me. After that, I selected one of the many available colors, as well as the quantity, and added the shirt to my bag (adding to a wishlist was also an option). Following the add, I was given a suggested list of items “we think you’ll also love”.

All in all, I really enjoyed the Victoria’s Secret site. Its design was organic, well organized, easy to navigate, and subtly sexy throughout. I was impressed by the wide variety of merchandise (fifteen pages of tops & tees, and over twenty new styles of denim!). I believe it would be fun, easy, and overall enjoyable to select a first or second date outfit using the site, not to mention an outfit for the beach, a night out on the town, the perfect pumps, or a lip gloss for the perfect pout. Check out the site today, and soon you’ll be the sight to be seen!

Written by: Lauren Blackwell - SpeedSeattle Resident Blogger

Cooking In...

Staying in for a home cooked meal is a great way to allow your date to get to know you better. But planning the perfect meal can be stressful. My biggest fear is that I won’t stack up to his mother’s cooking!

Here’s an original recipe that is sure to impress, and takes no more than a half hour to prep.

Ingredients
1 Zucchini
2 Fresh Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon of Butter
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
1/3 cup of Crumbled Feta Cheese

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Dice the Zucchini and Tomatoes and sauté over the stove with the olive oil, butter, salt and pepper until vegetables are tender. Reduce heat and add the feta cheese. Toss the vegetables and serve over pasta or chicken (or both!).

Pour two glasses of wine and enjoy.

The less time you spend in the kitchen means more time you can spend with your date.

Top Chef Masters * First Date Dinner

Bravo's 'Top Chef Masters' sizzle for 60 of our Matchmaking daters!

We had the pleasure of hosting Bravo's 'Top Chef Masters' and their world-renowned chefs for a very special, 'First Date Dinner'. See if our Matchmaking daters found love or fell in love with their dishes!


Top Chef Masters' - *First Date Dinner *

Written by: SpeedLA Dating & Matchmaking

A Little German

Perhaps it’s my German roots, my propensity to indulge in a few fine beers, or the excellent Bavarian fare on the menu, either way, I think Die Bierstube on Roosevelt and 61st is a great place for an informal date, especially if you know your date isn’t squeamish about sausage (although there is a cucumber salad on the menu, which sounds excellent).

Honestly, this bar and restaurant serves very authentic German beer and food, and at what I would call a very good price (every item of food on the menu is below $10.00). The beers are about a dollar or two more than you would expect to pay at U District bars a few blocks away, but the atmosphere is much more conducive to conversation (it’s quieter) and if the focus of your date is to get sloshed for cheap, it’s probably time to move on anyway. I know that when I am out with someone new (or even if we’ve gone out a few times before) I much prefer to sip my drinks slowly and pay attention to my date, and Die Bierstube serves up the perfect beers to savor.

Pick any of the 15 draughts on tap, or 22 by the bottle, and you’ll be happy you didn’t settle for any average American macro brew you could have had elsewhere. When I am looking for a dry and crisp finish, with a light body, I grab a half of a liter of the Bitburger Pilsner. For more flavor, and a smoother sweeter pull, reach for the Franziskaner WeissBier. After a few visits to this gem, when you become better acquainted with the staff, ask about “the vessel”, but don’t tell them I told you, and bring friends along!

Die Bierstube also serves a full selection of premium spirits for those not interested in beer. Recently, friends have recommended the Gurken Martini, created using a unique cucumber infused vodka. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed a few Saturday morning Blutig Marias (or Bloody Mary), but beware, this drink is mixed with a special pepper and chili infused vodka, and really does a number on the sinuses.

Die Bierstube - Seattle

Written by: Samuel Fisher - SpeedSeattle Dating Resident Blogger

A Bit of Vegas in Your Backyard...

Feel like taking a risk? Bringing your guy or girl to someplace fun and lively? You’ve done the coffee date. You’ve done the movie date. But you really want to get to know each other better.

Then it’s time to take up gambling. Really! There are a handful of tribal casinos in the Seattle area that can offer good food, live music, dancing, and—of course—games of chance. The Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn is newly renovated, with a large non-smoking area. The Tulalip Casino in Everett is a little classier, with a posh hotel and resort next door (great after you win big and want to get pampered). But the place you really want to try with your date is the brand new Snocasino in Snoqualmie.

Located just off I-90 at exit 27, the Snoqualmie Casino is a little slice of Vegas right in your backyard. There are 5 different restaurants to choose from—but you’ll really want to try the Falls Buffet. At $21.95 a person, it’s a little pricey, but the array of international cuisine is well worth it. After dinner, mosey over to Club Sno. Fridays and Saturdays feature some of the best DJs in the Northwest, and the rest of the week features live music, Karaoke, or other events. It’s always crowded, even on weeknights, so be ready for a party atmosphere.

There are several bars and lounges in the casino, including the Lit Cigar Lounge, perfect for kicking back and relaxing to get away from the crowds. Drinks are inexpensive (presumably because intoxicated patrons are more likely to lose money gambling—not you, though!).

And don’t forget the games. There are plenty of slot machines, but you and your date will want to stick with table games, like Craps or Blackjack. They’re more social, more interactive, and have better odds of winning. Plus, teaching your date the dos and don’ts will give you plenty of opportunities to chat and get to know each other. Win or lose, you’ll both have a great night.

Snoqualmie Casino - 30 Miles East of Downtown Seattle

Written by: Chris Akerman - SpeedSeattle Dating Resident Blogger

How does my bum look?

We’ve all been there. It’s your first date. You have a closet full of clothes, and nothing to wear. Whether you’re a man or a woman, this is no easy predicament. Do you put on the slacks, and risk being overdressed? Or do you go casual, and risk being underdressed?

You need to find the happy medium. Dress too nice, and you risk looking stuffy—not to mention being uncomfortable all night. Wear your favorite old sweatshirt, and you might not meet the dress code for the restaurant you’re about to visit.

Buckle in Southcenter Mall has exactly what you need: a nice pair of jeans that fits perfectly. You heard me right, fits perfectly. Buckle has a wider variety of sizes than any other store; even women’s jeans have waist/inseam sizes (what a novel idea). They also have the most helpful employees you’ll find on the West Coast, and they won’t rest until they find you the best pair of jeans you’ve ever had.

They might be a little pricier than what you’ll find at Sears (my amazing pair of Buckle jeans cost me $75), but it’s well worth it the extra dough. You’ll look and feel better than ever on your date.Buckle also has everything else you need to complete your look—an assortment of tops and shirts for women, and all kind of button-ups and T-shirts for men. Oh, and don’t forget the fragrances. Buckle has a great line of perfume and cologne. And if you’re wearing a pair of jeans that fits this well, your date is going to want to spend some quality 1 on 1 time with you.

Written by: Chris Akerman - SpeedSeattle Dating Resident Blogger

Bravo's 'Rate The Date' * Fancy a Go?

SpeedLA Dating had the pleasure of hosting Bravo for their very special, 'Rate The Date' series. Viewers chose which couple they felt made the perfect match and the winning couple enjoyed a romantic dinner for two. See if love was in the air or they just got plain cheeky!

The Winners of Bravo's 'Rate The Date' series...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKKI6tSH4s0

SpeedLA Dating @ Geisha House

Rate The Date - Bravotv.com

Melt Away!

Everyone knows times are tight, and we’re all on a budget. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice elegance for frugality—you just have to get a little more creative. So next time you’re pinching pennies until payday, take a trip to the Melting Pot during happy hour. Sharing a dish of fondue on your 2nd or 3rd date is a great way to start feeling a little more intimate.

The Melting Pot has locations on Mercer Street in Seattle, on Pacific Ave in Tacoma, and on West Main in Bellevue. Happy Hour is first-come first-serve, and in the bar area only—so get there early! It runs from 4:30 - 6:30 pm and 9 - 11 pm, seven days a week (yes, that includes Fridays and Saturdays!).

Dinner at the Melting Pot will normally cost you upwards of $75 for a 2-person dinner…but during Happy Hour the salads, cheese fondue, and dessert fondue is half price. Start with a delicious mushroom salad for only $4 each and a half-price well drink or glass of wine. Then share a cheddar and swiss cheese fondue, with apples, bread and veggies for only $8. And don’t forget the best part—dessert! Try a milk chocolate fondue with cheesecake, brownies, and fresh fruit for just $7. Forget about the main course—after 2 types of fondue and a salad, you won’t even want to look at the higher-priced entrees. You’ll have a delightfully elegant dinner for under $40.

And if you feel like splurging just a bit, try the Yin-Yang martini. White chocolate liqueur, vanilla vodka, ice cream, and chocolate shavings. It’s as delicious as it sounds.

Written by: Chris Akerman - SpeedSeattle Dating Resident Blogger

Pool Time!

Ok, so you’re not really feeling too adventurous tonight. Or maybe you’re just looking for a place a little more low-key to take your date. Or you’ve had a rough day at work, and just want a place to lounge, have a drink, and shoot a game of pool without rubbing elbows with the Biker Dude that’s always at your local dive bar.

Then head across the 520 bridge to The Parlor, the 20,000 square foot billiards parlor in Bellevue’s Lincoln Square. It’s an upscale place that contains 2 full bars, 34 pool tables, plenty of seating, and banquet rooms for groups. There are even a few areas with couches that are perfect for relaxing with a date. You don’t have a date, you say? The Parlor is a perfect place for you, too—there are bound to be plenty of singles there, waiting for a cute girl or guy to challenge them to a game of pool.

Pool tables are $10 an hour, parking is validated, and there is free WiFi throughout the building. You can even get pool lessons from the Pro Shop!

Check out The Parlor’s website athttp://www.parlorbilliards.com/for more info.

Written by: Chris Akerman - SpeedSeattle Dating Resident Blogger