By Laura Snyder

Cultural outings - museums, music, and the like - show up often on lists of date night suggestions for good reason: they give you a conversational crutch if your relationship is in the what-will-we-talk-about? stage and provide the opportunity to wow your crush with your taste and smarts.

If you're going for highbrow seduction, take this advice:

Culture Date Decree #1: Choose Smart

Even the most fool-proof date ideas can be overdone. While your date might be wowed by a casual picnic in the park during a free concert, they might be appalled that you spent hundreds of dollars for balcony seats to see the same orchestra play for the president. (Good rule of thumb? If it requires a tuxedo, it's too fancy). At museums, limit your browsing to one or two interesting exhibits instead of exhausting yourselves trying to see it all. And it should go without saying that you pick something that sounds interesting to you and not just impressive to your date.

Culture Date Decree #2: Don't Be a Showoff

Leave the art history degree at home. It's good to share your opinion on what you're seeing or hearing, but resist the temptation to show off by extolling the virtues of the French Impressionists. No lecturing if your date doesn't know the difference between Monet and Manet. No rolling your eyes if your date expresses a love of famous (overrated!) works.

Culture Date Degree #3: Take Your Time

You're at a museum to exercise your senses, not your legs, so don't rush. It's okay to move ahead a few steps while your date lingers over a painting, but not okay to head up to the next floor without her. You can't share insights if you're not actually browsing the place together.

Culture Date Decree #4: No Judging

It would be great if your prospective soul mate learns to share your cultural interests, but it's not exactly a deal breaker if you're into cubism and she's into neo-realism or whatever. The objective of the date is to get to know each other a little better - and to show a willingness to explore the experience together.