Feel the Love: 5 Memphis Valentines Day Date Ideas
Feel the Love: 5 Memphis Valentines Day Date Ideas
Valentine's Day is coming up. Impress your special someone with one of these five Memphis date ideas:
Date No.1: Dinner and a Movie
Dinner and a movie is classic. It's intimate but perfect for the potentially awkward - if you run out of things to talk about, the movie fills two hours.
You've got a few options here:
Option one: Get dinner at one of the restaurants in Overton Square (Paulettes, Boscos, Le Chardonnay or Pizza Cafe), then head over to Studio on the Square for a movie. It's a small theater, but they show art films and bigger blockbusters. If you haven't caught one of the Oscar nominees yet, it's probably still playing at Studio. Plus, they've got an awesome snack bar (with beer).
Option two: Make it a Black Lodge night. Go to dinner in Cooper-Young (or have something delivered), and pick up a movie from the best little video rental place in town, Black Lodge. They've got a huge collection of everything from new releases to the completely obscure.
Date No. 2: The Super Classy Downtown Option
If you want to seriously impress your date, book a room at the Peabody, the Madison or the Talbot Heirs Guesthouse. Make a reservation for the special Valentine's Day dinners at Grill 83, Chez Phillippe, or the Orpheum Theatre (they're having one of their Dinners on Stage that night).
After dinner, take a walk or ride the trolley's Riverfront Loop. It sounds a little weird, but it can be surprisingly romantic - they're usually quiet and there are some great views.
Date No. 3: Date for a Cause
Valentine's Day is all about spreading the love. If you want to go on a date for a good cause, get tickets to the local production of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" at TheatreSouth. The show, which features Memphis women from all walks of life, is part of the national V-Day campaign to end violence against women. The money raised from ticket sales will benefit Planned Parenthood of Greater Memphis.
If the play isn't your thing, grab your sweetie and put in some hours volunteering with MIFA, the Mid-South Food Bank, the Ronald McDonald House or Hospitality Hub.
To extend the good-deed doing to dinner, eat at one of Memphis' environmentally sustainable Project Greenfork Certified restaurants.
Date No. 4: The Rock'n'Roll Date
Take your favorite music lover on a rock'n'roll date. Start in the afternoon with a trip to one of my favorite Memphis musical landmarks, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Bust a move to a slow jam on the Soul Train dance floor, check out Isaac Haye's car, and revel in a genre that's all about feeling the love.
If you want to have a rock star fancy dinner, try Itta Bena (located above BB King's club on Beale). If you want to keep things low key, go to the Cove for some oysters, pizza or Stoner Pie.
For those of you planning Friday or Saturday night dates before Valentine's Day proper, the Hi-Tone is having a big dance party on the 12th with Buck Wilders and the Hook Up. You can also take your date to karaoke night at the P&H or dancing at Raiford's or Wild Bill's.
Date No. 5: The Low Key Date
You love each other, but you don't want to make a big deal out of it. On Saturday afternoon, make reservations to tour the Ghost River Brewing Company. The tour is free, and you get to sample the beers. If sports are more your thing, score tickets to the Grizzlies game against Denver at the FedExForum on Sunday night or to the Memphis Roller Derby bout on Saturday night.
Have a laid-back meal at Gus's Fried Chicken, Bardog Tavern, Central Barbecue or Trolley Stop Market. Top it off with big cups of frozen yogurt from YoLo.
What are your Valentine's Day plans? Where are your favorite Memphis date spots?
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