I’m no expert on romance by any means, but a lot of the general populous seems to find some significance in the holiday known as St. Valentine’s Day. Every Feb. 14, millions of people around the world put on their romance pants and plan extravagant (or not so extravagant — to each their own) scenarios and events for their significant others. I, myself, would prefer the tradition of Galentine’s Day as described in Parks and Recreation Season 2, Episode 16, where the main character creates her own holiday, dedicated to spending time with her gal pals.
However you decide to spend your approaching Sunday, I’ve put together this list of COVID-friendly Valentine’s Day activities for you to partake in any way you’d like, whether that’s with a significant other, friends or just you alone. All holidays are different in the age of the Coronavirus, but as we adapted with Thanksgiving and Christmas, we can adapt with Valentine’s Day, too.
Go ice skating
Ice skating is romantic, right? Well, according to the plethora of romance movies out there that feature main characters hitting the skates, it’s got to be! The city of Houghton’s Kestner Park has a skating ribbon that recently opened, and the portage is always an option, too. If you and your valentine want to enjoy the thrills of winter in a romantic way, then taking advantage of our icy resources is a great way to do so.
Enjoy a meal in
Enjoy a romantic meal in from one of the fancier restaurants in town to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Order out from Gemignanis, the Den, the Library, or any other number of great restaurants that we are lucky to have in the Copper Country. This is a great way to support local businesses while still enjoying a special meal during the upcoming holiday at home safely.
Send a gift
Flowers have long been a symbol of romance, so why should that change because of COVID? Have some flowers delivered from the safety and comfort of your own home and reach out to a local flower shop, such as the Flower Shop in Hancock, or Flowers by Sleeman in Houghton. If flowers aren’t your thing, you can always pick up a different gift and drop it in the mail, if you can’t safely stop by in-person.
Have a gamer date
It’s 2021 people: virtual dates are a thing. Create a Stardew Valley co-op, grab your significant other and create your own farm! Raise chickens, fish your heart away, or mine copper ore endlessly, all in the name of romance. Okay, if that doesn’t sound like your thing, you can always identify the imposter together (hopefully it’s not your significant other!) in Among Us, or build endlessly beautiful homes together in the cubular world of Minecraft. As long as you’ve got access to a voice channel like Discord and an online, multiplayer game, the world is truly your oyster in terms of virtual game dates.
Virtual movie night
Many streaming services offer ways to watch your favorite movies or TV shows together. Services like Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party), Hulu Watch Party, GroupWatch (for Disney+) and Scener are great ways for you to enjoy a movie with someone else, if you can’t go to a movie theater or sit together on the couch. Enjoy a rom-com like Hulu’s Palm Springs, an action film like Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Disney+, or a good old-fashioned murder mystery like Knives Out on Amazon Prime.
However you decide to celebrate your Valentine’s Day, please remember that we are in a pandemic, so do your best to keep yourself and everyone around you safe. Have fun, and have a great Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day, as you can do all of these activities with your friends, too.
