If you're looking for something a bit more original than the typical "dinner and a movie," more power to you. As a female, I can tell you that guys get major brownie points for coming up with and planning creative dates that prove they did more than open a newspaper. If your lady loves communing with nature, here are a few ideas for your initial rendezvous that will appeal to her outdoorsy side and make sure you get a second date.

• Hiking the trails - The big secret about hiking that no one tells you is that it's really just walking by another name. Find a shaded trail in your neck of the woods and invite her along for the ride. The scenery will provide a welcome distraction while you two get to know each other.

• Rock climbing - One of my all-time favorite dates, this one requires some planning, as the two of you will need to take an intro ... Read more »

It’s safe to say online dating has gone mainstream. Sure, you’ll still lie to your friends about signing up for it, but it was once described to me as going into a bar where you know every woman in there wants to meet someone. Pretty enticing. I gave it a go a few months ago, not because I need the help, but because I’m so devilishly handsome I needed a method of screening the myriad girls trying to date me (citation needed). It’s been fun, but it’s also been pretty frustrating. Why? Well, for starters, you learn quickly that a 2D image is actually a very poor representation of a real person you’ve never met.

There are entire online communities directed at helping men meet women online. There are forums that offer advice on everything from how to design your profile to how to choose the right pictures. If that’s not enough, there are businesses out there that ... Read more »

Black dating has never been so easy. BlackPeopleMeet provides a simple, safe and fun atmosphere which makes it easy to quickly view and contact thousands of black singles in your area. Our one of a kind profile system allows members ... Read more »