By Allie Churchill for YourTango.com
The film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" hits theaters this summer and if Director Baz Luhrmann's latest film is anything like his other colorful, musical love stories ("Moulin Rouge" and "Romeo & Juliet" just to name a few), it's bound to be a blockbuster hit.
In case you need a refresher (sans Sparknotes), the novel is set in the summer of 1922 and follows narrator Nick Carraway who rents a small house on Long Island across from the sprawling estate of the enigmatic Jay Gatsby. "The Great Gatsby" provides a snapshot into a glorious age in America's history -- the Roaring Twenties -- a time of booming economy, flappers and jazz musicians, bootleggers and gangsters. And it was perhaps the first time in history when Americans truly felt liberated in their sexuality as individuals.
But above all else, it's a love story and we fully expect Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan to steam up the silver screen as the dashing Jay Gatsby and his love from the past, the darling Daisy Buchanan.
So needless to say, it's one of the sexiest books of all time. (Still don’t believe us? Did you know that before he decided on a title, the author considered calling his story "The High-Bouncing Lover?")
Excited yet? Jazz it up with one of these five date ideas inspired by The Great American Novel. They would make F. Scott Fitzgerald proud.
Do The Charleston!
Better brush up on those dance shoes -- time to do the Charleston! It was the signature dance move of the '20s. Lively, exuberant and jazzy -- swing moves are enough to get your heart beating and work up a sexy, glistening glow. So take a class in swing dance. Once you've mastered the Charleston, try other dance moves of the era! The Lindy Hop, the Fox Trot or the Jitterbug Jive were also all the rage back in the day. And even if you're stumbling all over each other's feet, don't be discouraged. It's just about having fun. You'll get the hang of the moves and be gliding across the dance floor like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in no time!
Ride In Style
If you read "The Great Gatsby," you'll remember a car drive that didn't end so well (and if you didn't read it, we won't give away any spoilers), but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy a ride in style. Automobiles were a must-have luxury in the '20s and yet, only the wealthiest aristocrats drove around in them. So spend an afternoon at an antique car show to see these period cars on display. From the infamous Rolls Royce to the Studebaker Roadster, you can see these classic cars restored to their original shiny glory. And if you have a few hundred dollars to spare, you can rent one for an afternoon ride!
Jazz It Up
If The Great Gatsby had a soundtrack, it would most definitely be all about the jazz. During the Roaring Twenties when Prohibition would otherwise put a serious buzz kill on date night, speakeasies became secret underground venues for couples to grab a drink and enjoy some jazzy tunes. And even though speakeasies may be a thing of the past, if your city doesn't have one you can still experience the soul and swagger of jazz music by visiting a swanky jazz club. While you're there, let loose -- jazz is about letting go of inhibitions... and isn't that what a romantic date night out should be about?
Mix Like Moonshiners
If there was one thing Jay Gatsby was known for, it was his parties: ritzy, extravagant parties full of dancing, debauchery and liquor... lots and lots of liquor. Obviously, bootlegging was a way to get around the booze ban. And while you still can't legally distill a batch of hooch in your bathtub, who says you can't taste the drinks that Daisy and Gatsby clinked glasses to?
Stay in for a night and mix highballs, Ward 8 cocktails and Bathtub Gin. To really feel like moonshiners, mix, serve and sip your drinks together under the light of the moon.
Place Your Bets With Lady Luck
Have a little extra cash? Dress to the nines and head to a casino for date night. Gatsby was all about risk-taking and over-the-top opulence (and he may or may not have been involved with gangsters). So in the spirit of Gatsby, try your luck at the poker, roulette, and blackjack tables. You can pool your chips and gamble together or go head-to-head against one another. As long as you don't end up completely broke by the end of the night, a little gambling can be just the thing to spark excitement between you and your date.
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Click through the slideshow below for even more great date ideas.
