Valentine’s Day’s is creeping up on us. If you’re boo-ed up in New York City, haven’t made plans, and are in panic mode – deep breaths, we’re here for you. 

You probably want to avoid the classic dinner and drinks move (unless that’s something you’ve already decided on) and instead take your partner on one of these unique, spontaneous, easy to execute date ideas:

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Take the ferry from Wall St/Pier 11 to Astoria

The view from the ferry is sure to make anyone’s heart melt, after all, you’ll be seeing this island of a city from a whole new perspective. The ferry cost is the same as that of a subway ride, so skip the train and turn commuting into a romantic experience. Once you’re in Astoria, grab lunch at any of the Greek restaurants nearby.

Take a walk and stroll around the neighborhood, you can even make a stop at the Noguchi Museum.

 

Or stop at Roosevelt island and take the Roosevelt Island Tramway back into the city

On the way back, you can take the ferry and make a stop at Roosevelt Island. You can explore the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park before you hop on Roosevelt Island’s Tramway which will drop you back in midtown Manhattan. The ride is incredible, and you get to see the city from above and between its tall skyscrapers.

 

Experience virtual reality at Arcadia Earth

If you’re not into “the outdoors,” we recommend booking a day pass at Arcadia Earth, the first immersive augmented reality journey through planet earth. We won’t spoil it for you, but it’s worth a visit. Book your tickets in advance and download the app for optimum experience.

 

 

Fly back in time at one of the many lounges of the TWA Hotel

If you’re willing to venture out and far, take the A train all the way to JFK, and then hope on the Air Train to Terminal 5. There, you will find a hidden elevator that takes you right back to the 1960s. The TWA Hotel, which opened in May 2019, is set in the iconic former TWA flight center designed by architect Eero Saarinen. This chic airport hotel on the grounds of John F. Kennedy International Airport features a sleek 1960s-inspired bar, a food hall with grab-and-go options, and a celebrity chef-helmed restaurant/cafe.

Amenities include a 10,000-sq-ft gym, meeting space, and an outdoor pool with runway views. You don’t need to reserve a room at the hotel to enjoy it, you can simply waltz into any one of their lounges and bars and enjoy a cocktail, but if you want to have that cocktail in their Connie Cocktail Lounge (a real airplane turned into a bar), you’d want to make a reservation!

 

Pack a lunch and have a picnic at Williamsburg’s new Domino Park

You hear us. Prepare a French inspired picnic meal full with cheeses and baguettes, and head over to Domino Park. With incredible views of the Williamsburg bridge and Manhattan, you’re sure to feel like you’ve paid a $100 for this spot.

 

You can also simply walk the Williamsburg bridge for some cheesy hand holding and stunner views of the city – it doesn’t have to be much, but the city offers so many special moments and V Day is a great reason to make use of them.

 

Whip up a nice meal in your kitchen

If you didn’t secure dinner reservations by now, chances are, everything is booked! But that doesn’t mean you have to starve on V Day. You can pick up some ingredients from your local Trader Joe’s and whip up a 30-minute meal in your kitchen that would both satisfy your hunger and impress your book. Here are 7 True-And-Tried three-ingredient dinners that you can make from Trader Joe’s.

 

Rent a projector for a night-in

While movies are sure to be a romantic option, it doesn’t have to include a movie theater. We absolutely love Nitehawk Cinema, where you can dine as you enjoy a movie is their very comfortable movie theaters, but your couch can be just as or even more comfortable. Rent a projector and queue up a romantic movie (or whatever you’re into), light some candles to set the mood, and enjoy a movie theater experience in your own home.

 

 

 

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Gif by Xavier A. Lopez.