The Commerce Times

This Valentine’s Day, ditch the flowers and chocolates

Nathan Phillips Square is the perfect location for a date. Courtesy of Amanda Hutteri.

February 14, 2010 2 | By Tara Cameron

In the dead of the winter it can be difficult to come up with date ideas, not to mention a Valentine’s Day outing. However, there are plenty of things to do in this wonderful city.

Whether you are going on a first date or have been with your partner for years, let the cold weather inspire you with cozy date ideas. Skating at one of the city’s many beautiful outdoor rinks is great for steady couples. Dessert cafés are comfortable for first dates. And, of course, there are plenty of fancier hotspots if you really want to blow your date out of the water. Read on for great places that you should include in your Valentine’s Day plans.

Skating is a popular winter activity that is perfect for a steady couple. And skating outdoors makes for romantic scenery. The city contains about 52 outdoor ice rinks. Nathan Philips Square, located in front of City Hall, is well known for its lit-up rink. At night, when the lights shine out from the buildings surrounding the rink, it creates a very romantic atmosphere. The rink is open from 9am to 10pm and skates are available for rent.

The outdoor skating rink at the Harbourfront Centre, located at 235 Queens Quay West, is another great spot to take your date. This rink has a great view overlooking the lake and is open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm on Sunday to Thursday and from 10am to 11pm on Friday and Saturday. On Friday nights couples can sign up for Date Skates, a half hour private skating lesson for couples. It costs $25 dollars a couple and goes from 6 to 8pm.

Mia Hall, 18, a Brock University student, has been with her boyfriend Andrew for a year and recommends skating as the ultimate dating activity.

“[Skating is] physical activity so you don’t feel like you’re not doing anything and when you hold each other’s hand it is really romantic,” said Hall.

For a first date, however, skating is probably not the greatest choice. It’s best to find a place that people can talk for as long as they want, or as short as they want, depending on how the date is going. Futures Bakery & Cafe on 483 Bloor St. W is the optimum first-date destination. It has a colourful, inviting atmosphere and great desserts (most well known for their cheesecake). And if you and your date have finished dessert but you don’t want the evening to end, you’re in luck – the place is fully licensed.

Planning for a Valentine’s Day date can be especially difficult. For a special occasion, a fancier restaurant is appropriate. The Canoe restaurant bar, on the 54th floor of the Toronto Dominion Bank tower, has an amazing view of the city, delectable dishes and an undeniably luxurious atmosphere. There’s no doubt it would make a memorable Valentine’s Day.

If an upscale restaurant is too expensive, why not try something a little different. A visit to Dahso Chocolat et Café on 15 St. Clair Avenue West, just off of Yonge Street, is the perfect Valentine’s Day treat for that special someone. Just pop in for their authentic Belgian Waffles, Belgian Cakes, hot chocolate and coffee. Be sure to let them know if it’s your first time visiting the café and you’ll likely score a free sample of their hundreds of handmade European chocolates.

And if you want to go all out, University of Toronto student Nicole Tian, 18, has an idea. “My ideal date for Valentine’s day would be if I woke up to a bunch of roses beside my bed with a note saying to follow the arrows on the floor and I follow the arrows and it leads me to a very pretty dress with a note next to it saying ‘put it on, I’m taking you to the CN tower tonight.”