Oktoberfest Date

W & I started as a long distance relationship. At first we were 14 hours then 9 hours apart. To make the most of our limited time together we would plan a whole date day and called it a super date! Now we are only an hour apart, but crazy busy schedules makes it really hard to fit in time to have a frequent date night. So we are back to trying to pack in as much fun in the few hours that we are together. 

Instead of wasting time with the back and forth of "what do you want to do?" "I don't know" "what's there to do" we thought we would ease the planning and try a theme: around the world. Each date focuses around a country/culture and has to have these elements: music, food, 2+activities (one a learning aspect). Cleveland has a wealth of ethnic areas and festivals so we wanted to explore these areas together.  This was also my sneaky way of getting W to plan more dates, since having a theme & layout is less overwhelming ssshhh. 

Days are getting shorter and the nights are cooling off that can only mean one thing it's time for fall beers! The 2013 Oktoberfest officially ends today so I thought it was only fitting to post about our Germany world date. Here are easy date ideas you can adapt to make it a great day/night with your significant other. Prost!

Cleveland Oktoberfest Labor Day weekend
the glockenspiel

1) Catch a local Oktoberfest. 
We were able to find a day we could go to the Cleveland Oktoberfest together. 

Wiener Dog races were a huge attraction...I could not stop laughing it was a great event

We had a great time at this Oktoberfest, despite a few storms rolling through. There was wiener dog races, funny entertainment, great food, bier garten and the excellent polka bands to keep us amused for hours. Not to mention you can carry your beer around with you anywhere in the fairgrounds. I will for sure be returning next year. 

*rain couldn't dampen our polka partying spirit*

Did you know that Cincinnati's Oktoberfest is 2nd largest celebration behind Munich? Go Ohio! If you can't catch an Oktoberfest celebration you can always make up your own at home pretty easily. You just need brats beer, and polkas!

*this was the autobahn buffet dinner we shared thank goodness*

2) Create a sausage sampler platter. 
Try out different types from local butcher or even grocer. Vote on the best and the wurst (sorry couldn't help myself). Be sure to have yummy sides like sauerkraut and warm german potato salad. You can always end the meal with some decadent apple strudel or german chocolate cake. 

*beer tasting- I guess I really like the first one*

3) Beer Tasting
There are so many great fall beers hitting the stores/bars now go out and try some. Many bars will let you sample drafts for a fraction of the price or if you want to make your own bier garten at home go to world market where you can buy single bottles (some grocery stores let you do this as well). I liked being able to taste all the different types of beers. Being more a bourbon girl I continue to try to find different beer styles I like so I don't seem totally out of place at microbreweries. 

there was over 4 different music tents

4) Polka
No good German celebration is complete without a bit of polka. You can create a pandora radio station and if you are brave look up on youtube how to polka. It's really a lot easier than it looks and is so much fun. They had great bands at the multiple tents so we couldn't resist dancing...I lured W in with the easy chicken dance {hee hee} before teaching him the basic dance steps. 

Now our date ended with a fabulous fireworks display, but there are many more things you can do to extend your Germany date.

- chocolate tasting

try all different kinds and find what you like best. World Market is a great place to find all different levels of cacoa and flavors

- watch a movie

There are many that are set in Germany or use the language. Check out netflix or here are a few:Inglorious Bastards, Beerfest, Bourne Supremacy, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade..hmm not sure how romantic these are apparently all I can think about are action movies oh well you get the idea

-brew your own beer

There are kits or places you can take a class are becoming more and more popular.

-make beer cheese and soft pretzels

My favorite beer cheese recipe is found here, but I usually halve it since it makes A LOT!

Happy Adventuring. Be on the look out for future world dates ideas: Italian and Japanese.