Dates

Our Magical Date Night at the Garden Glow and Grand Hall

Posted on Leave a comment on Our Magical Date Night at the Garden Glow and Grand Hall

We’ve had so many amazing dates but is was the one that tops the rest during the early days of our relationship. Sometimes you like to make our date activities a surprise and this was one of those nights. I think the only clue you gave me was to dress warm that night because we were going to be outside.

I expected a below average dinner when you told me we were going to Mochi for dinner. The first time I was there, I thought they had subpar sushi. I really enjoyed it that night though. I especially liked the spicy octopus roll. I’ve been back without you and it just wasn’t as good. I guess you make everything better.

After we got done eating, you told us that we were going to the Garden Glow. You thought we would be late but the Botanical Garden was open later you thought. I think we both thought that it might be a little cheesy, but were immediately impressed as soon as we pulled up. The dragon display in the parking lot was beautiful.

One of the first things we came across was the snow globe. I wanted to go in it and take pictures with you, but I was a little shy to say I wanted it. That wasn’t something that my ex ever wanted to do and I guess I developed a complex about it. The next time we go back, I want to do this.

Garden GlowSome of the lights were so small but bright. The colors were beautiful and I was getting lost in the lights. One of my favorites was the eery green light. You said you wanted it for your backyard. Tilles Park has the Winter Wonderland, but it is nothing compared to this. The Garden Glow had the feel of Christmas without being gaudy.

Garden Glow Garden Glow

Garden GlowMy absolute favorite was the tunnel of flickering lights. I was so mesmerized and it was the first time you noticed that I get consumed by lights. You were quite amused by it. I felt like a little kid going through a magical kingdom of lights. It was all so romantic and I felt so close to you that night.

We got some hot coffee and cocoa to warm our bodies as we walked through the garden. It was cold and being with you and having our hot drinks made it felt really cozy. At the end of our tour we goofed off at the snowmen station. It was a simple activity and childish, but charming.

Garden Glow

After our winter adventure we went off to the Grand Hall at the Union Station. I was just at the Union Station not too long ago for the St. Louis fashion show and had seen the Grand Hall in passing. I had also been seeing people post videos about the place, so I was excited to see it in person. The display show on the ceiling and the ornate decor was break-taking and once again, I felt like I was just pulled into an enchanted world.

It was such a magical night and I will never forget the rush of feelings that came over me that evening as we enjoyed our drinks and each others company. We even took our first picture together and you kissed me while we were in the photo booth. While it’s not the best picture and we messed up on choosing the best one, it was a great keepsake from the night.

Union Station

While all the dates had been bringing us closer and closer, this was a pivotable night for me. I realized how much I liked you and how special you were.

OOTD: Armani Exchange leather jacket, thin crystal blue Abercrombie sweater, and gray skinny jeans.

My Bad Luck Streak

Posted on Leave a comment on My Bad Luck Streak

A week or so after our date at the STL Up Late Show, I had a string of bad luck. You could tell I was slightly unnerved while we were on our date at Salt & Smoke. We had a bit of a wait so we went a few doors down to the candy and junk shop and you got that stale bacon. While we were waiting at the restaurant again, I told you about what had happened to earlier that week and you felt bad for me.

I was relieved that things didn’t feel off like the last date. I can’t remember what we ended up doing that evening but you offered to make me a lucky dinner and to also take me grocery shopping since my car needed some work. We ended up going grocery shopping not long after and the dinner was to follow.

It was incredibly sweet of you to offer. I felt bad that my bad luck rubbed off on you and you got your first speeding ticket since you were a teenager as we were heading to Global. I think one of my favorite shopping trips with you was when I helped you pick bedding at Target. That trip made me feel like we were becoming a legitimate couple despite not formally have that discussion.

STL Up Late and Small Batch

Posted on Leave a comment on STL Up Late and Small Batch

I ended sleeping in the back of my car during my lunch break after our Halloween together. I was falling asleep in class too. I guess that’s what happens when you stay up until 5am. I was so tired but I was excited to see you again in the evening.

You asked if I was too tired to go to the STL Up Late show at 9pm and I said no. I couldn’t help but feel like things were a little off that day. It seemed like you were trying to politely call it off. Normally, I would have accepted that as my cue but I wanted to see what you would do if I said I still wanted to go and I wanted to see your reaction and behavior. So, we planned on sticking with the plans.

I went to the store to pick up some new stuff to make drinks since we had been unsuccessful so far. Funny that I ran into you there, at MY Schnucks. I had about 5 orchids in my cart at the time because it was on sale, which you naturally made fun of. I ended up taking just two of them home.

orchids

You picked me up later that evening and we went to the show. On our way there, I told you about the “Marketing Alley” and about the ad agencies in that area. It was one of those things that you wrote off as made up, but of course, later you found it to be true.

I didn’t know that something like STL Up Late existed but of course you would. I thought the show was hilarious. Our favorite was the video about the Halloween candy. We sat close and our arms brushed against each other’s from time to time.

After the show we grabbed a drink at Small Batch and we argued about whether the wallpaper was green or gray. I’m not sure we ever confirmed. When we headed back to the car, you grabbed my hand to cross the street. It was sweet and thoughtful. I think this was the first time you ever held my hand. We weren’t very affectionate at this point.

Maybe we were tired that evening but the evening felt a little off. We didn’t talk much on the way back to my house. When you dropped me off, you peeled off after I barely I shut the car door behind me. Normally, you would wait for me to get to the door but this time I was still standing on the sidewalk.

I found this really odd and slightly rude to be honest. It was barely 10pm on a Saturday night, the night was still young. The thought of you having another date after me crossed my mind. We didn’t declare our status or talk about being exclusivity yet, so I couldn’t rule out that possibility. While I wasn’t mad at the idea, it did put me on guard. My other thought was that maybe you had to poop. I was hoping for the latter.

Our First Halloween

Posted on Leave a comment on Our First Halloween

It was Halloween and I was supposed to go to the Grove to meet up with Michelle, the girl we ran into on our first date. I made my Coca Cola costume at the last minute. It was looking really good, thanks your idea to use a red fold up hamper. But it wasn’t quite done. I thought about going with the school girl thing but it was cold outside and I didn’t want to suffer for Halloween or try to look cute. I ended up calling it a night.

We were exchanging texts regularly but not daily at this time. That evening you were at your family’s for Halloween. I thought it was cool that you were hanging out with your family instead of out drinking with friends on a Halloween night. This was another glimpses of you being a family person. When you found out that I was staying in, you made an executive decision to come over and do something with me. We already set a date to see the STL Up Late Show the next night, so it was a nice surprise to see you that Friday evening too.

I answered the door in my giraffe sweater and school girl skirt. I was partially still in my alternative Halloween costume. I was pretty proud of my work with the Coca Cola costume and I wasn’t hesitant to show you. I think that you were surprised that I painted it all by hand. This was the first time you saw my craft room.

IMG_1932

We decided to try to continue our drinking-making session in my lab. The drinks were better this time and we enjoyed each other’s company at the bar as we drank and listened to music. We ended the evening the same way as the last time you were over, staying up late talking to each other and looking at strange red lights in the tv while it was off. We ended up falling asleep together. I had class the next day.

OOTD: Me – Giraffe sweater, school skirt, then jeans. You: Green military coat, dog with a top hat sweater.

IMG_1935

The Art Museum and Drink Lab

Posted on Leave a comment on The Art Museum and Drink Lab

We had been going on one date or so a week. You told me later that it was after Oktoberfest that you had stopped talking to the other girls. I had initially been seeing someone else from Match before you. I did like him more in the beginning–mostly because I did know him longer and hadn’t quite felt the connection with you yet on the first couple of dates. But by now, there were no contenders.

This was the first evening that we were going to hang out my place. We had each gotten ingredients to experiment with making my house drink at my bar. Before that, we went to the art museum for SLAM Underground. After getting a drink and making the skull foam ornament, we decided to walk around the museum. I wanted to see what you liked and to show you what I liked as well. We didn’t get far before the fire alarm went off and we were ushered out. We decided to just go home.

You were hungry so we went to Steak N Shake. We sat in my dining room as you ate your burger and I ate the family cheese fries. Then, we got down to business in my lab.

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 10.29.40 PM

The drinks were not good at all. They were so sweet and we were unsuccessful in developing a house drink for my bar. We managed to make something decent enough for us to sip on. We listened to some music and I remembered the conversations were going pretty well. We ended up going upstairs and started the first of our 3am chat sessions. We would stay up so late back then just talking to each other. It was sweet. You learn a lot amount someone during that time of the day and while they are in that frame of mind.

We had fallen asleep cuddled next to each other. I woke up about an hour later and debated on waking you up to send you home. I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of you sleeping over, so I asked you to go home. You were so groggy and barely awake but you obliged. As I went back to sleep, I was thinking about how please I was with our date.

OOTD: Me – Black shirt sleeve sweater and skinny jeans. You – Gray Gap sweater with a white button and tee (You got hot and got rid of the sweater and button up. You left it in the basement and it smelled really good when I folded it up for you. Yes, I was sniffed your clothes like a creeper.)

Date Night at the Poetry Reading

Posted on Leave a comment on Date Night at the Poetry Reading

I think our next date was the poetry reading at River Styx Tavern. It was an impromptu one that you invited me to the evening before or day of. When you showed up at my doorstep, you looked nice and classy in your bright blue cashmere sweater and your glasses. I, on the other hand, was in skinny jeans, my nerdy fox sweater, and cardigan. That was the first of many animal sweaters of the year.

The flatbreads and wine we had for dinner was really good and I enjoyed the atmosphere. That whole neighborhood was really charming. The poetry reading however was really boring. It was my first poetry experience, so I assumed that it was how they all are. I also didn’t like the fact that we couldn’t talk during that time. At the end of the evening, you apologized about taking me to such a boring event. While it was boring and not my taste, I was just happy to see you.

Copyright © 2026 Cuc Loves. All rights reserved.