The museum date. If you haven’t done it, you should—what’s more romantic than all those passionate Impressionists? It was Russian painter Marc Chagall who said “art must be an expression of love, or it is nothing.” And almost every famous artist, from Michelangelo to Warhol, is a storied romantic.
1. Find a unique collection. You can only look at so many Impressionist landscapes in a year. Surprise someone with a nontraditional museum—a place they might not ordinarily pick is great, but a place they might never find is even better.
In central Japan, try the small-but-mighty Ninja Museum. Consider this more a cultural study than one-time visit: guests are heartily encouraged to study a glossary of terms before attending. Learn it together.
2. Stay out late. Most museums stay open after work at least once a week. Pros: No gaggles of schoolchildren, coincides with happy hour, could coincide with sunset. Cons: None.
3. Choose a good restaurant. Why leave the museum to eat and drink? If the night’s going well and you don’t want to catch a bus, look at the museum’s restaurant menu before you choose your site.
4. It’s not all about art. It’s pretty common for museums to do weekly film and music events, especially outdoors on warm summer nights. (You’re feeling the mood already, aren’t you?) If picnics are more your speed than are swanky restaurants, pack a bag and climb a cozy hillside, or put on your heels and dance the night away to some hip out-of-town DJ. Your call.
Film buff? The St. Louis Art Museum is one of many that offers a weekly film—in its case, a black-and-white classic—bookended by food trucks, indie bands and free admission until 11 p.m.
5. Make it a tradition. Ideally, a few months from now, your memories from that museum will make it one of your favorites. Give back by spreading the word or offering your time.
Memberships make great gifts. Remember your out-of-this world series of dates with a year’s worth of reduced admission and special events—and support the events that, by this point, you’ve come to love.
This post is part of the GOOD community’s 50 Building Blocks of Citizenship—weekly steps to being an active, engaged global citizen. This week: Become a Member of a Cultural Institution. Follow along and join the conversation at good.is/citizenship and on Twitter at #goodcitizen.
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