Philly File chooses top 10 Valentine’s Day dates

By Lisa Angelucci
Collegian Editor
February 7, 2007

We’re quickly approaching the Hallmark holiday that everyone loves to hate. Or hates to love. Either way, it’s not too late to make plans in the city – either to give that special someone a night she or he will never forget or to go out with your friends and rejoice in being unattached. There are plenty of possibilities in Philadelphia (as always), so to make your planning a little easier, here are Philly File’s top 10 Valentine’s Day dates.

1. White Dog Café’s “Lady and the Tramp” dinner—Practically every restaurant in the city has some type of Valentine special, but the White Dog Café is painfully expensive on a college student’s budget and will stay that way for Valentine’s Day. However, if you go after 9:30 on Feb. 14, a three-course meal is $100 per couple and includes a bottle of red wine. You’ll impress your date with your social responsibility—the café is engaged in various social initiatives and purchases a large amount of the food served from local organic farms.

2. Sweetheart Skate at the Blue Cross RiverRink—Located at the corner of Columbus Boulevard and Market Street, you’ll skate outdoors with the Ben Franklin Bridge in the background. Ladies will receive a red carnation, and there will be games and prizes from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Couples can skate to their favorite cheesy love songs, provided by the hosts of B101 radio, Philadelphia’s favorite for cheese.

3. Valentine’s Weekend at Longwood Gardens—Get out of trouble for not skipping night class on the actual holiday—check out Longwood Gardens on Feb. 10 or 11, when the gardens will feature a variety of Valentine-themed events, like a romantic cooking demonstration for two, a sweethearts luncheon and a variety of concerts. The weekend is topped off, if not put completely over the top, by a strolling violinist and a chocolate booth both Saturday and Sunday.

News of the exhibit’s visit in Philadelphia has captured the attention of the media and the public. Coverage by local news stations, primarily Channel 6 News, began months ago at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where the objects originated. Philadelphians waited anxiously for the exhibit to arrive in the city and for their chance to view the 3,500-year-old items.

Feb. 3 marked the premiere of “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.” The evening, complete with live camels, featured a gala attended by hundreds to celebrate the opening of the exhibit here in Philadelphia.

4. Animal Mating Tour and Brunch at the Philadelphia Zoo—If your date is an animal lover, try this event at the zoo Sunday, Feb. 11. It’s $75 per person, which is pretty steep, but it’s adults only and you will be treated to an insider’s tour of the zoo’s animals and their mating behaviors. Right now, they’re trying to breed their two Amur tigers, so it’s likely to be an interesting event. Admission also includes a brunch and a champagne toast.

5. Dinner at Mandoline—A popular Old City BYO restaurant, Mandoline serves a contemporary American menu and features one of the more affordable dinner dates for Valentine’s Day. At $30 per person for three courses, dinner here could give you a chance at making up for missing out on Restaurant Week.

6. The Pink Rose Pastry Shop—This bakery is located just off of South Street at Fourth and Bainbridge on Fabric Row and is a perfect place to buy an edible gift or stop by for a seat at one of their 15 tables. The Pink Rose has been honored several times for having the city’s best desserts and is sure to impress the special sweet tooth in your life (even if it’s your own).

7. Tuesdays With Morrie– Mitch Albom’s ultra-popular novel has been adapted for the stage by Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher. From Feb. 7–March 8, the People’s Light and Theatre in Malvern, Pa. will be showing this play. The autobiographical story about a young man learning from his dying professor after getting a final chance to reconnect makes a great date without an obscene amount of sap. Student tickets are available for only $5 if purchased at the box office an hour before showtime.

8. Society Hill’s Secret Parks and Gardens tour—If it’s not too cold out, impress your date with this walking tour created by gophila.com. A guide is available on the Web site, complete with directions and background information to show your date that you know your stuff about the city. The walk through Society Hill only takes about 30 minutes, but is an ideal way to spend some quality time together without spending a lot of money.

9. Spa specials—Many of the spas throughout the area are offering Valentine’s Day deals, but a couple of the highlights include the “Sinfully Chocolate” package at the Phoenix Salon and Spa for singles who want some pampering or a chocolate body wrap from Millenium Hair and Day Spa, which apparently stimulates and drains body fat while improving the texture of the skin. Although it sounds far-fetched, Valentine’s Day and chocolate are meant to be together.

10. World Café Live— Valentine’s Day at the World Café includes a Live After Five happy hour, a performance by Peter Scott Ruben (tickets needed), a free Valentine’s party with Franzschubert and the Schuubs and a free screening of the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The café will have a special Valentine’s Day dessert menu available, with choices like red velvet layer cake or three types of Crème Brulee.

angeluccil1@lasalle.edu