If you don’t want to spend your Saturday night staring at an over-priced prix fixe menu or elbowing your way through a sea of frantic young lovers in search for that perfect rose bouquet, it may be time to break out of your tired and predictable Valentine’s Day routine. Try one of these less-conventional activities to celebrate the annual day of love with your special someone.
Looking for Love with Bikes and Booze
On Saturday, Feb. 14, BicycleSPACE and D.C.’s newest distillery, One Eight, will host a scavenger hunt that begins at the bike shop and ends at the distillery. Participants will get clues and be encouraged to solve the series of problems by bike. Don’t worry if you don’t have a teammate — BicycleSPACE will match singles up. The hunt will end with prizes, treats, tours and tastings at the Ivy City distillery. Registration is free.
(WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Love is in the Air … And in the Water
On Valentine’s Day, the National Aquarium will give water-lovers the chance to explore its exhibits after hours and without the crowds. In addition to fish, the aquarium will have live music, a photo booth, complimentary drinks and desserts.
(AP Photo)
AP Photo
Take a Train Ride Through Love Letters
This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a long weekend — providing the perfect opportunity for a romantic getaway. And nothing says romance like love letters. Head up to Philadelphia, which has one of the best exhibits of love letters in the country. But don’t expect paper — these professions exist in the form of 50 rooftop murals in West Philadelphia. Philly.com says the best way to see the murals is to hop on SEPTA’s Market-Frankford El line to see the art along Market Street from 45th to 63rd.
(Courtesy City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program)
Courtesy City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
Strike Up Some Romance
Nothing says “I love you” quite like bowling, beer and pizza. Throughout Valentine’s weekend, Pinstripes, Georgetown’s bowling alley and restaurant, is serving up heart-shaped pizzas and offering a complimentary Frangelico chocolate cake and a champagne toast to couples.
(Screen Shot)
Screen Shot
Serenade and Save
Let New York City-based pianist Eunbi Kim serenade you and your date for free at her Feb. 14 performance at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. The show starts at 6 p.m.
(Photo Credit: Karjaka Studios)
Photo Credit: Karjaka Studios
Give a Little Local Love
If you do want to show your love with a bouquet of fresh flowers and some chocolate, why not give a little love to local start-ups, too? D.C.-based flower delivery business Urban Stems recently teamed up with the craft chocolate makers at Undone Chocolate for flower and chocolate deliveries. Best of all, the on-demand delivery is free. Not familiar with Undone? Read their story.
(Courtesy Urban Stems)
Courtesy Urban Stems
Be a Hero with a Gyro + Wine
Want delicious food and amazing wine, but don’t want to take out a loan to float your date? Drop by The Greek Spot, near the U Street Corridor. For $14, you and your date can have a gyro. Bring a cheap bottle of wine and they’ll open it for you with no corkage fee. Sounds like a delicious date for under $20.
There are a few other restaurants in the area who also wave the corkage fee on wine. At Charlie Palmer Steak House, corkage is waved on American wines, Monday through Thursday and Saturday (which happens to be Valentine’s Day), with a limit of two bottles per table.
And as long as the wine isn’t for sale at the restaurant, diners can bring in one bottle for free corkage at Farmers Fishers Bakers. Korean restaurant Mandu will also open one bottle of wine, free for diners. DC Eater has a full list of restaurants who offer free corkage, as well as etiquette reminders for BYOB.
(Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
