Although February is the month for lovers, it doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to enjoy a date night with your darling. In fact, enjoying time alone on a weekly or at least monthly basis is a major component to a healthy relationship. And it doesn’t always have to be a fancy dinner by candlelight, either. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. Here are a bunch of ideas for your next date night right here on Staten Island. Schedule one soon!
See a show. See a concert, watch a play, hear one of your favorite stand-up comedians live – those are just a few of the St. George Theatre’s many offerings showcased on its historical stage. CSI Center for the arts also features shows all year long, as does Spotlight Theater, Wagner College, and Little Victory Theatre.
Bowling. Challenge your date at one of the Island’s two major bowling alleys — Rab’s Country Lanes on Hylan Boulevard or Showplace Entertainment Center off Victory Boulevard.
Take a walk. Staten Island is home to many scenic areas that offer the perfect, picturesque backdrop for a share-worthy date selfie. Take in the beauty of Snug Harbor‘s botanical gardens, stroll along the FDR Boardwalk and smell the salty sea air, enjoy an afternoon at Clove Lakes Park, just to name a few.
Cooking class. Is the way to your partner’s heart through his or her stomach? Take a cooking class and find out. Casa Belvedere offers cooking classes for adults where you can learn tactics for making delicious Italian food.
Spa day. Pampering yourselves with a relaxing massage after a busy week is a great way to slow down and enjoy time together.
Get a room. Sometimes a few hours away is just not enough. Book a room at the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn on South Avenue, where you can have dinner and drinks at Lorenzo’s Restaurant and then head up to the room to enjoy a peaceful night together.
Catch a flick. Check out the latest blockbusters at one of Staten Island’s major theaters — The Atrium on Arthur Kill Road or The United Artists Theatre on Forest Avenue. The Island’s first dine-in movie theatre is opening very soon in the Staten Island Mall, which will offer an IMAX movie experience option in addition to sit-down dining.
Grab a bite. The Island is jam-packed with eateries boasting beautiful views and even better food. Can’t narrow it down to just one restaurant? Try an exciting restaurant crawl hosted by a local merchant’s association. Check out the siparent.com calendar for dates to upcoming crawls throughout the spring and summer.
Museums. There are so many museums and cultural institutions in Staten Island, you could never visit them all in one day (although it might be fun to try!). There’s plenty of material to spark fresh conversation for the most cultured of couples. For a complete list of local museums, go to siparent.com/museums.
Paint and sip. Show off your art skills (or comical lack thereof) with the added bonus of sipping cocktails while you work. Staten Island offers several options.
Sign-making. This new DIY activity has grown in popularity tremendously over the past few years because it’s so much fun to do and you get to take home the finished product. Try Board and Brush Staten Island to get your wood-working fix.
Ice skating. Ice skating can be both fun and romantic for couples who want to glide along, hand in hand, out in the winter air. If it’s a little too cold for you, Staten Island Skating Pavilion offers open skating hours too. Hot chocolate after is a must afterward, either way.
Makerspace. Want to do something really hot? How about Valentines Day Couples Welding? Staten Island Makerspace is offering the class on February 15 for couples who are clearly not fans of traditional dates. Makerspace offers a wide variety of classes for those who are into, as the name suggests, making stuff.
Bookstore or library. Cozy up with a book and your beau. Stop by a bookstore or library and pick something you will both enjoy, then cuddle up by the fireplace at home and get lost in the pages together.
Winter hike. Clay Pit Ponds offers free snowshoeing when there is more than six inches of snow on the ground. No snow? Just bundle up and follow the trails along Staten Island’s long stretch of greenbelt.
The zoo. If you love animals, and you love each other, then a zoo date is a win/win. The Staten Island Zoo is just big enough to see everything in an afternoon.
Yoga. Nama-stay together this Valentine’s Day! Enjoy a yoga class together or schedule a private lesson for date night.
Volunteer. Giving back to those in need can help couples to strengthen their own bond while doing a good deed together. Visit siparent.com/volunteer for ideas.
Rock climbing. You’ve probably been to a kids’ birthday party at Rock ‘Em Extreme, but rock climbing is super fun for grown-ups too. Test your physical endurance on the wall – and hopefully impress your date too.
Escape room. Not many dates start off with people locked in a room together. The growing escape room trend requires participants to solve riddles and puzzles in order to make their way out of a series of closed rooms. It’s the perfect date idea for the adventurous couple.
Archery. Maybe you want to share your love of hunting with the one you love; maybe you’re just both really into the Walking Dead. Either way, archery class is definitly different kind of date night.
Roller skating. Hit the local roller rink later on at night for some grown-up skating time. Why not make it even more fun with a 50’s theme, sipping a milkshake with two straws afterward.
Classes at local museums. Check the local museums for classes you can take on your own or with a partner. The Alice Austen House offers photography workshops throughout the year. The Noble Maritime Collection at Snug Harbor offers free knitting on Thursdays. The Garibaldi Meucci Museum offers Italian language classes. Check individual museum websites for their schedule of upcoming events.
Wine-tasting. Most local wineries offer wine-tasting nights, where various types of wine are served with appetizers. Occasionally they include demonstrations as well. Romantic? Yes. Fun? For sure.
Shopping. Have you seen the Staten Island Mall lately? New shops, restaurants, and entertainment line the Richmond Avenue icon. Pick out your own Valentine’s Day gifts and you can’t go wrong.
Arcade. Check out the new Dave & Buster’s location in the mall! Classic arcade games, video games, air hockey, virtual reality, plus food and cocktails, you get to be a kid and an adult all at once. It’s the fun-loving couple’s perfect date destination.
Dance class. Are you more Fred & Ginger or Elaine from Seinfeld? Jokes aside, dancing together can be a wonderful way to get closer to your partner. Many dance studios offer adult dance classes or even private lessons.
Just stay in. Plan an indoor picnic for two, complete with baskets and blankets. Or rent a movie and cozy up on the couch with some popcorn. For something with a quicker pace, try a board game night (get more players if you make it a double date). Sometimes, you just make your own fun.
