Baltimore for the lover in you - Charm City offers some great dates, from Indie films to the symphony and dinner

You're a little nervous. You spent way too much time picking out what you were going to wear, and even more time checking and rechecking your arsenal of gum and mints just in case the opportunity for a kiss presents itself. You were just about to run to the closest bathroom for a final check when you see, in person, the face you've been envisioning while laying in your bed, daydreaming in class, taking a shower, lathering yourself ... well, you get the picture. The mood is perfect, and all you both can think of is the night of romance ahead.

But, before you can guess where this mystery date will take place, your date hands his J-Card to Rose the lovely Wolman dining worker and motions you over with a wink.

Now if this doesn't exactly sound like a night to remember, you may want to read on to find out about some of Baltimore's most romantic and special venues for the perfect date, whether it's the first night of many or your two-year anniversary. After all, venturing outside the dreary walls of Charles Village once in awhile is the perfect recipe for love with that special sexy someone.

Of all the places in Baltimore to spend a long evening, the most eclectic and my personal favorite date combination is a great movie at The Charles Theater and then dinner, drinks, and dessert at Tapas Teatro Caf located next door. The Theater boasts much more than the traditional commercial flicks of Towson Town Center, offering up independent films, documentaries and foreign award winners that will surely provide some discussion material if all else fails.

With the ambiance at the candle-lit Tapas restaurant located in the same building, it's easy enough to just stare into the eyes of your cutie while sharing a pitcher of their award winning sangria. The food is also another mode of getting closer as it is all served Tapas style, meaning each table orders many little appetizers to share, ranging from muscles and shrimp to Spanish style bruchetta. Also, be sure to order one of their decadent strawberry tarts and feel free to feed it to one another if there aren't too many people around to scoff at your PDA.

If the traditional dinner date is your thing, be sure to check out Sotto Sopra and Saschas Restaurant, which are practically next door to each other on Charles Street down by the monument near Peabody. Sotto Sopra is a dark and richly decorated Italian restaurant with amazing homemade pasta accompanied by crisp and original salads and perfect wine pairings.

Saschas is a little bit funkier with a gourmet ethnic fare including perfectly spiced sesame noodle pillows, grilled salmon with soy ginger sauce or broiled duck salad. They also have a wide array of wines, beers and martinis to compliment and match any one of their signature dishes.

If your idea of a perfect date is to skip the dinner altogether and move right onto a swanky evening of drinks, get your IDs ready and make the trip down Charles Street to Red Maple, Baltimore's best imitation of a New York lounge.

The high ceilings and hard wood floors present a very posh and upscale space, while white shag rugs, soft couches and large fireplaces make this Asian Fusion-inspired bar a comfortable and cozy way to snuggle up for the evening. If you're out for something girly, don't miss the Red Maple martini or their version of a cosmopolitan. Otherwise, trust their judgment when they recommend an eclectic brand of beer or a mixed drink with their own personal twist.

Want to have a few more drinks at the end of the night without the hassle of the overdressed and sophisticated lounge crowd? Cab over to The Green Turtle in Fells Point where you can chill, have a few beers, and play with a few of their bar games, which coincidentally happen to be great ways to break the ice and flirt a little bit. Green Turtle is as much of the relaxed atmosphere as you can get, so you can feel free to hang out there for hours, talking with your date or perhaps someone else's date, if things aren't going as well as you'd hoped.

Another "chill" bar that's much less well known is the Thirsty Dog Public House in Federal Hill. This pub boasts an entire menu of homemade beer and ale, some flavored, some light, and all perfect to throw back in one of their cozy wooden booths with a beer lovin' catch.

If a loud alehouse isn't the best way you can imagine to woo someone into your bed at the end of the night, pick up some student subsidized tickets and enjoy an evening of music at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. On some nights you can catch a special guest conductor or world-renowned musician for as little as ten dollars. For a little bit more cash, you can whisk your darling over to the Baltimore Theater Project, where you will surely be talking about one of their many original and experimental productions for the duration of the evening and maybe even over breakfast if you play your cards right.

For a lighter day date, there are a few places that can keep up the romance while providing for a relaxing afternoon. Borrow a friend's car or hop on the light rail and go down to DC or Georgetown for sight-seeing, shopping, dining or even a stroll through the cherry blossoms if it's the right time of year.

Want to get away but don't have the time for an entire day trip? Then spend a few hours at Bonaparte Breads, a French bakery right on the water in Fells Point. If you close your eyes and just breathe in the smells of fresh croissants and butter brioche, you can almost pretend you are in Paris. Add to that the wall of window light streaming in on your marble table and the experience is one you will make sure to repeat, with or without your lucky date.

So whether you travel near or far, eat or drink, love or lose, remember to look beyond the Homewood campus for a day or night infused with tastes, sounds, smells and sights that will bring out the romance.