Try a nice
quiet dinner restauraunt somwhere. DON'T go to Chili's or an equivalent music-blaring theme eatery (you have to shout to hold a conversation in those) and DON'T invite her over for dinner the first night out, no matter if you were the head chef at Spago's (implies too much intimacy if you hardy know each other at all).
Wine's always a good try, though tastes are all over the board. Usually the safest route to go is a German Riesling (try a '99 or '00 Blue Nun or Schlink Hause Spatlese), as a very good one can be picked up for under $12. Women usually like fruity, semi-sweet to sweet white wines, and going with any type of Zinfandel no matter how good is just plain tacky, IMHO.
For a fun after-dinner activity that's a little off the beaten path, find a small park that's got a gaggle of ducks and geese around. Pocket a couple of dinner rolls at the restaurant and proceed for the after-dinner stroll. You can easily get 30-45 minutes of really enlightening entertainment out of feeding the birds and chatting the night away.
Most of all, BE YOURSELF, except if or when the topic of religion comes up
.
Always do the open-the-door, pull-out-the-chair stuff. You're a gentleman (I'm being EXTREMELY gratuitous today :p ) so don't hide the fact from her.
Being an English major, maybe she would enjoy Shakespere in the park? I know there's tons of these running around cities all over the States this time of year.
If all else fails, try a museum or such for an after-dinner activity.
Much better options than the typical dinner and a movie route, I would say, and each gives you a LOT more personal interaction for the first time around.
Good luck and if she mentions religion, don't flay her alive!