Virus-proof Valentine's date ideas!
By Sophie Salem, Staff Writer
As Valentine’s Day approaches, couples are rushing to find responsible ways to spend time together despite COVID-19. In Los Angeles County alone, cases and death rates have drastically increased since March of 2020, and the numbers continue to grow daily. It is, now more than ever, important to take the necessary precautions to ensure the community’s safety. That being said, it is still possible to cautiously celebrate this prized holiday; without further ado, here are several different ideas that allow for couples to enjoy Valentine’s Day while staying safe!
According to studies reported by the New York Times, outdoor interactions pose lower risk of spreading COVID-19 than those that occur indoors. For this reason, socially distanced picnics are both a low-risk and aesthetic activity for Valentine’s Day. While the details are evidently left to the picnickers, the essentials are blankets, food and drinks. For those who prefer to go all out, you might even consider baking a cake or putting together a charcuterie board! With these items in hand, head off to an isolated area, such as a backyard or an empty park. Many prefer a location overlooking the ocean, whether that be Palisades Park or the Santa Monica beach itself. This Pinterest-worthy idea offers a chance for you to interact face to face without placing each other and those around you at risk!
One of the most classic date ideas is dinner and a movie, however, with movie theaters being closed, it’s time to get a bit creative. Grab some good food and your loved one and take a trip to the 60s at the Rooftop Cinema Club drive in movie theater located at the Santa Monica Airport. This drive-in offers many movie choices from “10 Things I Hate About You” to “Shrek”. Make sure to reserve tickets online ahead of time, as showings do fill up. Tickets are $32 for a car of two people and $45 for a car of three or more people. While this idea distances you from other couples, you are still exposed to your loved one. A safer way to watch a movie with your date is through Teleparty, formerly known as Netflix Party, which allows people to stream movies together from their own devices. Teleparty allows you to chat throughout the movie in a chat box so you can comment on funny moments or anything that sticks out to you. Through these ideas, you can keep the dinner and a movie date tradition alive, and enjoy a film with your loved one.
Art is known to be a great creative outlet for those who need to relieve their excess of stress. This activity, which can be enjoyed in person while distanced or via Zoom, is ideal for couples that are seeking to spend Valentine’s Day in a calm manner. For the purpose of this article, we will be focusing purely on painting, for which you will need paintbrushes, the paint of your choice (watercolor, aryllics, etc.) and some form of paper or canvas. Press play on your favorite playlist, pick up your paint brushes, and hit the canvas! To jazz up the experience, you can experiment with different prompts. Consider painting each other as a mythical creature (fairy, elf, etc.) or painting landscapes that you feel reflect the other. Tiktoker @derya.tavas also offers a variety of other prompts for couples that allow for both artists to learn more about the other while painting.
For those that love cooking, consider taking a (virtual) trip around the world on the night of Feb. 14! Prepare different cuisines of the world, and enjoy as you watch a movie or listen to music that complements the recipes. Here are a few ideas to get you started! As an appetizer, the two of you can share a small plate of ratatouille while listening to a French playlist. If you are struggling to find one, here is my personal favorite: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0A5vfnqpatWraw3DUD7YuP?si=UP3TGiH7SPawWcLxq1uP9Q. Your main course can be the universally loved dish of sushi, which can be accompanied by a class 20th century Japanese animated movie, such as “My Neighbor Totoro” or “Castle in the Sky”. Wrap the night up by splitting the tasty Italian dessert of tiramisu. The possibilities with this are endless! Throw a fancy tablecloth over your table, light some candles and let the trip begin. This goes without saying, but always remember to respect each culture of the ethnic food you are eating!
At first it may seem difficult to know how to safely celebrate this day of love, but with a little thought, you can make the most out of the holiday. In fact, because of quarantine, old traditions such as drive-in movies are becoming more common again. So take this as an opportunity to be creative and surprise your date with one of these activities.