For a first date in San Diego, bowling is perfect because it provides a setting to be active in a relaxing competitive environment. Sitting at a dinner table and exchanging designed personal anecdotes is no way to get to know a person; it's more important to see the way someone expresses their personal competitive fire -- and at the same time, judge his or her jukebox selections and beer pitcher etiquette.

Ideally, for the guy, he should want to bowl three games and be in complete control of the outcome. He should beat his date in game one to see how she laughs at herself. If he likes it, he should blow game two to show her he can be self-deprecating and to see how she laughs at him. Finally, in game three, he should show her that he can always bounce back by beating her worse than in the first game (If it works out and they go through tough times, she will remember game three).

Regardless, the girl has to make a decision midway through the second game. After an hour of listening to his jokes, checking out his butt, and evaluating the way he puts ketchup on his fries, she should know if she likes seeing him prevail. If she can't stand watching him do the Cabbage Patch after bowling a strike, she should know right there that she can't go along with him through the ups and downs of life.

If someone is going to win you over, you have to let them, and the bowling alleys of San Diego are some of the best places to do so. Some of our favorite San Diego bowling alleys are the East Village Tavern and Bowl (new in Downtown San Diego), the Kearny Mesa Bowl, and the Poway Bowl.