One first date I turned into a game of sorts. Over the course of conversations prior to the date, I found out a list of her favourite restaurants. I wrote them down on a sheet of paper, along with a couple of my favourites, a couple of cool restaurants neither of us had been to, plus some joke ones like McDonald's. I cut them up and put the pieces in a small box. To add a little fun and mystery to the date, I told her I would pick her up, but the rest was a surprise. Upon arrival, I had her reach into the glove box for the little box. As I started driving aimlessly, I told her to pick out 3 pieces and that she could choose any one restaurant to go to. She ended up picking the one neither of us had been to. I'm glad she did. It was good food!
On another first date, I had a running joke with the girl, that I was a spanish dude named Javier Juarez. I actually put the reservation under the joke name, which she enjoyed. I played it up all evening too.
I've taken girls to the comedy club. That always makes for a good laugh. Though, it's best to do dinner first, so that you can at least talk for a bit. Although most girls I've taken out, I've already gotten to know them a bit through friends or online dating sites.
On a first date with another girl, we went to a coffee shop. In our previous chats, we had a small competitive spat about our Boggle abilities. So I brought the game to our date and I challenged her. I got my ass kicked.
I've gone on a couple of dates to the dog park. This works best if one of you actually owns a dog. Or at least doggysitting.
I've also done mini-putt. Picnic at the park. I've done a midnight date (it was a real date, not just a booty call! Though there was sex involved). A drive in the country is another one.
I try to make dates very original, or at least tailor the more traditional dates to be specific and unique to interactions we've had. I really don't like doing the same thing for every date.
A first date that I would really like to try is a random day flight. Like going to Vegas for the day. Granted, that is one expensive date, and risky if she's a nut (or just as bad for her if you're the nut).