10 Valentine's Ideas That Are Better Than Whatever You Were Gonna Do
With its parade of pink hearts, prolific cupids, and endless supply of smooching teddy bears, it’s no wonder that the arrival of Valentine’s Day elicits a collective groan from singles and couples alike. But hold on, Grinches: it is possible to plan a Valentine’s Day date that’s creative, fun, and free of marked-up prix fixe menus and sappy clichés. So to those who think they’re done with Valentine’s Day: give it another chance this year. Trust us on this one.
LOS ANGELES'S LUCHA VAVOOM: In what might just be the most bizarre Valentine’s Day celebration that we’ve come across, Lucha Vavoom, a Los Angeles-based show that combines traditional Mexican wrestling with comedy and burlesque, is hosting several V-Day performances that promise scintillating, over-the-top spectacle. Ideal for Valentines with little patience for traditional romance, the show will also be opened by raunchy singer, Peaches. (Photos by Kyle Lane)
PORTLAND'S VOODOO DOUGHNUT: Pro-tip to all the would-be suitors out there: flowers, pretty as they may be, are roughly 10 times less exciting than an edible gift. Sure, you could go the box of chocolates route, but if wooing is what you’re after, it’s best to choose something more memorable. Like a box of goodies from Voodoo Doughnut, Portland’s bizarro bakery. Flavors here go way beyond glazed…like the bacon maple bar doughnut, the Voodoo bubblegum doughnut, and one suggestive item that’s, shall we say, anatomically correct. And if the wooing goes well, the bakery also hosts weddings. (Photo courtesy of Voodoo Doughnut)
CHICAGO'S VALENTINE’S ZOMBIE MASSACRE PARTY: Nothing gets the heart pounding more than being chased by terrifying zombies around a haunted house…right? That’s what the folks at Fear City Chicago are betting with their upcoming Valentine’s Zombie Massacre Party. Walking Dead fans and horror junkies can cling to each other in terror and ardor as they attempt to take down the shuffling undead in an epic laser tag session. Afterwards, there’s a DJ set and cocktails to round out the evening. Ahh, romance. (Photo courtesy of Fear City)
LOVE SUX PARTY, VARIOUS LOCATIONS: All the single ladies (and fellas) who think their romantic status gives them a Valentine’s Day free pass? Fuggedaboutit. Not having a partner is no excuse not to go out and have a good time, as the Love Sux Party proudly proclaims. This year, parties in thirteen cities across the country, including Baltimore, Houston, and Boston, will offer highlights like a playlist of anti-romance songs, specials on drinks like the Ex-Boyfriend, and Love Sux games and prizes. You also get in for free if you bring a ripped-up photo of your ex. That’s one way to get closure. (Photo by Endy Photography)
MURRAY’S CHEESE ROOM IN MANHATTAN: If there’s ever a time when skipping straight to dessert is entirely warranted, it’s Valentine’s Day. But if you’re not of the sweet tooth persuasion, or want something a bit more interesting than the typical molten chocolate soufflé (tasty, tasty cliché though it may be), loosen your belt and dive into the favorite dessert of grownups everywhere - cheese. Murray's, the friendly West Village cheese shop, has recently opened its eponymous < a href="http://www.murrayscheese.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">cheese bar next door. The vibe is cute and unfussy, and where else can you shamelessly go in for three courses of fromage? (Photo courtesy of Murray's Cheese Bar)
NEW YORK'S BESPOKE PERFUME: Looking to gift your other half something special and one-of-a-kind that they’ll use every day? Simple, visit The Fragrance Shop New York to craft a bespoke scent. Custom perfumes made from a range of 300 oils can be put together in the shop, while one-off aftershaves and scents are also available for men. Gone are the days of haphazardly choosing a bottle of something and hoping it doesn’t reek of patchouli.
SAN FRANCISCO'S DATING-THEMED IMPROV SHOW: Perhaps the most cringe-worthy aspect of Valentine’s Day is the abundant sentimentalism. Cast aside the cheesy sincerity at How We First Met, a quirky improv show that uses audience members’ dating stories (horrors and successes alike) as fodder for off-the-cuff comedy. Stories range from new romances to half-century marriages for a refreshing take on Feb 14th.
PHILADELPHIA’S (NAKED) ART MUSEUM SCAVENGER HUNT: Classical art is filled with pretty still lifes, bucolic landscapes…and lots and lots of naked people. Watson Adventures is hosting a cheeky Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt at the Philadelphia Art Museum, inviting culture vultures to hunt out the best and most interesting nudes on offer in the museum’s collection. Light-heartedly suggestive, the afternoon event is the perfect prequel to a night out. (Photo by Stacy King)
BROOKLYN'S NITEHAWK CINEMA: Update the tired dinner-and-a-movie routine with a night at Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A favorite of the trendy denizens, the movie theatre pairs indie flicks and cult classics with gourmet bites. Evening screenings are perfect for date night, or you can climb out of bed early on the 15th for the Spoons, Toons, and Booze event. What’s more romantic, after all, than Saturday morning cartoons, all-you-can-eat cereal, and White Russians topped with Cocoa Puffs? (Photo by Pedro Feria Pino)
CHICAGO'S VOSGES: All right, we give in - maybe it’s not so bad to buy chocolate on Valentine’s Day. But in order to stand out, you’ve got to opt for something a little more daring than a heart-shaped box of drug store truffles. Enter Vosges Chocolate. The Chicago-based chocolatier is famous for its line of bacon chocolates, which weave smoky shards of pork belly into everything from bars and truffles to caramels. Of course you could pick up something more familiar, but we guarantee this is one gift that will impress the pickiest of partners. (Photo courtesy of Vosges Chocolate)
LOS ANGELES'S LUCHA VAVOOM: In what might just be the most bizarre Valentine’s Day celebration that we’ve come across, Lucha Vavoom, a Los Angeles-based show that combines traditional Mexican wrestling with comedy and burlesque, is hosting several V-Day performances that promise scintillating, over-the-top spectacle. Ideal for Valentines with little patience for traditional romance, the show will also be opened by raunchy singer, Peaches. (Photos by Kyle Lane)
PORTLAND'S VOODOO DOUGHNUT: Pro-tip to all the would-be suitors out there: flowers, pretty as they may be, are roughly 10 times less exciting than an edible gift. Sure, you could go the box of chocolates route, but if wooing is what you’re after, it’s best to choose something more memorable. Like a box of goodies from Voodoo Doughnut, Portland’s bizarro bakery. Flavors here go way beyond glazed…like the bacon maple bar doughnut, the Voodoo bubblegum doughnut, and one suggestive item that’s, shall we say, anatomically correct. And if the wooing goes well, the bakery also hosts weddings. (Photo courtesy of Voodoo Doughnut)
CHICAGO'S VALENTINE’S ZOMBIE MASSACRE PARTY: Nothing gets the heart pounding more than being chased by terrifying zombies around a haunted house…right? That’s what the folks at Fear City Chicago are betting with their upcoming Valentine’s Zombie Massacre Party. Walking Dead fans and horror junkies can cling to each other in terror and ardor as they attempt to take down the shuffling undead in an epic laser tag session. Afterwards, there’s a DJ set and cocktails to round out the evening. Ahh, romance. (Photo courtesy of Fear City)
LOVE SUX PARTY, VARIOUS LOCATIONS: All the single ladies (and fellas) who think their romantic status gives them a Valentine’s Day free pass? Fuggedaboutit. Not having a partner is no excuse not to go out and have a good time, as the Love Sux Party proudly proclaims. This year, parties in thirteen cities across the country, including Baltimore, Houston, and Boston, will offer highlights like a playlist of anti-romance songs, specials on drinks like the Ex-Boyfriend, and Love Sux games and prizes. You also get in for free if you bring a ripped-up photo of your ex. That’s one way to get closure. (Photo by Endy Photography)
MURRAY’S CHEESE ROOM IN MANHATTAN: If there’s ever a time when skipping straight to dessert is entirely warranted, it’s Valentine’s Day. But if you’re not of the sweet tooth persuasion, or want something a bit more interesting than the typical molten chocolate soufflé (tasty, tasty cliché though it may be), loosen your belt and dive into the favorite dessert of grownups everywhere - cheese. Murray's, the friendly West Village cheese shop, has recently opened its eponymous < a href="http://www.murrayscheese.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">cheese bar next door. The vibe is cute and unfussy, and where else can you shamelessly go in for three courses of fromage? (Photo courtesy of Murray's Cheese Bar)
NEW YORK'S BESPOKE PERFUME: Looking to gift your other half something special and one-of-a-kind that they’ll use every day? Simple, visit The Fragrance Shop New York to craft a bespoke scent. Custom perfumes made from a range of 300 oils can be put together in the shop, while one-off aftershaves and scents are also available for men. Gone are the days of haphazardly choosing a bottle of something and hoping it doesn’t reek of patchouli.
SAN FRANCISCO'S DATING-THEMED IMPROV SHOW: Perhaps the most cringe-worthy aspect of Valentine’s Day is the abundant sentimentalism. Cast aside the cheesy sincerity at How We First Met, a quirky improv show that uses audience members’ dating stories (horrors and successes alike) as fodder for off-the-cuff comedy. Stories range from new romances to half-century marriages for a refreshing take on Feb 14th.
PHILADELPHIA’S (NAKED) ART MUSEUM SCAVENGER HUNT: Classical art is filled with pretty still lifes, bucolic landscapes…and lots and lots of naked people. Watson Adventures is hosting a cheeky Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt at the Philadelphia Art Museum, inviting culture vultures to hunt out the best and most interesting nudes on offer in the museum’s collection. Light-heartedly suggestive, the afternoon event is the perfect prequel to a night out. (Photo by Stacy King)
BROOKLYN'S NITEHAWK CINEMA: Update the tired dinner-and-a-movie routine with a night at Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A favorite of the trendy denizens, the movie theatre pairs indie flicks and cult classics with gourmet bites. Evening screenings are perfect for date night, or you can climb out of bed early on the 15th for the Spoons, Toons, and Booze event. What’s more romantic, after all, than Saturday morning cartoons, all-you-can-eat cereal, and White Russians topped with Cocoa Puffs? (Photo by Pedro Feria Pino)
CHICAGO'S VOSGES: All right, we give in - maybe it’s not so bad to buy chocolate on Valentine’s Day. But in order to stand out, you’ve got to opt for something a little more daring than a heart-shaped box of drug store truffles. Enter Vosges Chocolate. The Chicago-based chocolatier is famous for its line of bacon chocolates, which weave smoky shards of pork belly into everything from bars and truffles to caramels. Of course you could pick up something more familiar, but we guarantee this is one gift that will impress the pickiest of partners. (Photo courtesy of Vosges Chocolate)
