2008 Woodie Awards
Put a twist in your Valentine's Day
Alternative ideas to celebrate with lovers and friends
Natalie Gottlieb and Amanda Wowk
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Opinions
Media Credit: Peter KimInstead of going out to the expensive dinner, try cooking something together at home.
Do your Valentine's Day plans include a romantic dinner, roses and a box of chocolates? Bor-ing! You might want to check out this list before you opt for the exhausted traditional route; take this year to create new memories, whether it's with your significant other or with a big group of friends.
Fast-food restaurant
We're being serious. Fancy restaurants can be expensive and hard to get into if you don't have a reservation, and then there are all those superfluous forks. If you're low on cash but still want to go out, maybe you should hit up a White Castle (2348-2354 West Roosevelt Road), or maybe if you're feeling really fancy, try that Wendy's in the Loop (6 South Clark Street) with the funny, fancy-looking entrance. Dress nicely purely for the hell of it. Bring your own bottle of wine to add that touch of class to your evening out.
Dave and Buster's
This shouldn't have to be a suggestion. The ultimate combination of food, alcohol and video games, Dave and Buster's (1030 North Clark Street) meets all of your Valentine's Day needs. Those stuffed animal machines? With a little skill and some help from a friend, you can actually win one of those damned things. Give the giant gorilla to your sweetie, your best friend, or, if you went alone, cuddle with it that night. Also, the trivia game alone is awesome - and you can win tickets, which can go toward many prizes. Chief among these are t-shirts, shot glasses and even a milkshake machine. Plus, you can buy reloadable, reusable cards to use for playing games on multiple visits.
Navy Pier in subzero weather
?Yes, the clear cold air and the bright lights of the city make for a beautiful view at Navy Pier, which is just off of Grand Avenue. Sure, if you're with someone you love, it makes for a prime cuddling opportunity. However, this is Chicago…in February. Winter still has an icy death grip on the heart of the city. You can get to Navy Pier by taking the #124 bus from Union Station. Seriously, though, if nothing says "love" or "admiration of a long friendship" like funnel cakes, chattering teeth and that horrible feeling you get when the insides of your nostrils freeze, you might need to get your head checked.
'L'-hopping
The 'L' tracks have a lot to offer in the way of scenery, if not in comfort and timely arrivals. The Loop tracks at night provide a beautiful view of the world of people below, and the Green Line, part of which runs over the Dan Ryan, has breathtaking scenery on almost every mile of its route. Just don't go alone, or too late at night. After Wendy's, hit up one of those lines. Each has a point where you will find the most beautiful view of Chicago's skyline (May we recommend the Polk stop on the Pink Line?). Just don't forget your mace. Or your U-Pass. The station attendants might get mad if they look up for once and see you jumping a turnstile.
House party
We're college students. We're poor. Perhaps our previous suggestions are too expensive for you, yet you still want to have a good time and hang out with people. This is an easily solved dilemma - house party. Call your friends in advance, tell them to bring alcohol if you don't have any, and then proceed as you want. It's kind of cheap, you don't need a date, and you get to hang out with your friends. Unless, of course, you have no friends. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about that.
Cheap game: Bulls vs. MIAMI HEAT (half-priced tickets for game)
This is an exciting endeavor for V-day, and close to campus. Every seat is a good seat at this price. Wear 'red' for Valentine's sake and cheer them on!?Online ticketmaster.com, password: HOOP
Raunchy lotto tickets = FUN!
?"Scratch & Win a Love prize every time! Non-redeemable except with your mutual partner!" These fun lotto tickets come in a pack of 12 available at CVS (price: $1). Great gag gift for your girlfriends for truth/dare or a ridiculously funny night. Also great for couples. Create a fake 'alias' (anonymous secret admirer) and prank random people on Valentine's day for a good laugh! Directions: Scratch off a heart from each row and do as written.
24-hour caffeine fix, Starbucks! (200-230 West North Ave.)
Want to stay with your loved one or friends all night? Spend the night or endure a long marathon at this 24-hour Starbucks if you're a night crawler! Sip on lattes and warm milk until the long hours of the night.
Cheap movie: AMC theatres, 600 North Michigan Ave.
Feel like lying low this evening? Grab your U-pass and head to one of the nicest theaters downtown. Tickets are available at a discounted price ($6.75/$7.75, tax included) at UIC's Service Center located in Student Center East, first floor, between the Bowling Alley and Book Store. These tickets never expire!
Bar crawl/late night food
Feeling bitter? Grab the gang and go against all rules by wearing black and hitting the town for a few drink specials. Feeling loved? Grab your significant other or close friends and hit the town in style. Hungry? Read further.
Flat Top Grill (1000 West Washington Blvd.)
Close to Harpo Studios (Oprah), this stir-fry buffet style joint offers student discounts and a bar. For V-day, the restaurant will only be lit by candles and decorations. If you're too lazy to impress the sweetheart by cleaning your apartment for an intimate dinner, this is place to go. Drink of choice: Horny monkey ($6.99).
Indulge in art
The Loyola University Museum of Art (820 N. Michigan Ave.) features the following exhibits: Andy Warhol's "Silver Clouds", Nat Finkelstein's "Factory photographs" and Merce Cunningham's "Rainforest" (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) Tickets are $10, which includes raffle, cocktails and appetizers.
Learn a new dance!
V-day @ TangoChicago (408 South Michigan Ave.) will give you a two-hour dance lesson (tango) and then let you dance until midnight for $35 per person with I-card ($50 regularly!). For an extra $15, you can opt into the buffet and appetizers. Tickets must be reserved.
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Fast-food restaurant
We're being serious. Fancy restaurants can be expensive and hard to get into if you don't have a reservation, and then there are all those superfluous forks. If you're low on cash but still want to go out, maybe you should hit up a White Castle (2348-2354 West Roosevelt Road), or maybe if you're feeling really fancy, try that Wendy's in the Loop (6 South Clark Street) with the funny, fancy-looking entrance. Dress nicely purely for the hell of it. Bring your own bottle of wine to add that touch of class to your evening out.
Dave and Buster's
This shouldn't have to be a suggestion. The ultimate combination of food, alcohol and video games, Dave and Buster's (1030 North Clark Street) meets all of your Valentine's Day needs. Those stuffed animal machines? With a little skill and some help from a friend, you can actually win one of those damned things. Give the giant gorilla to your sweetie, your best friend, or, if you went alone, cuddle with it that night. Also, the trivia game alone is awesome - and you can win tickets, which can go toward many prizes. Chief among these are t-shirts, shot glasses and even a milkshake machine. Plus, you can buy reloadable, reusable cards to use for playing games on multiple visits.
Navy Pier in subzero weather
?Yes, the clear cold air and the bright lights of the city make for a beautiful view at Navy Pier, which is just off of Grand Avenue. Sure, if you're with someone you love, it makes for a prime cuddling opportunity. However, this is Chicago…in February. Winter still has an icy death grip on the heart of the city. You can get to Navy Pier by taking the #124 bus from Union Station. Seriously, though, if nothing says "love" or "admiration of a long friendship" like funnel cakes, chattering teeth and that horrible feeling you get when the insides of your nostrils freeze, you might need to get your head checked.
'L'-hopping
The 'L' tracks have a lot to offer in the way of scenery, if not in comfort and timely arrivals. The Loop tracks at night provide a beautiful view of the world of people below, and the Green Line, part of which runs over the Dan Ryan, has breathtaking scenery on almost every mile of its route. Just don't go alone, or too late at night. After Wendy's, hit up one of those lines. Each has a point where you will find the most beautiful view of Chicago's skyline (May we recommend the Polk stop on the Pink Line?). Just don't forget your mace. Or your U-Pass. The station attendants might get mad if they look up for once and see you jumping a turnstile.
House party
We're college students. We're poor. Perhaps our previous suggestions are too expensive for you, yet you still want to have a good time and hang out with people. This is an easily solved dilemma - house party. Call your friends in advance, tell them to bring alcohol if you don't have any, and then proceed as you want. It's kind of cheap, you don't need a date, and you get to hang out with your friends. Unless, of course, you have no friends. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about that.
Cheap game: Bulls vs. MIAMI HEAT (half-priced tickets for game)
This is an exciting endeavor for V-day, and close to campus. Every seat is a good seat at this price. Wear 'red' for Valentine's sake and cheer them on!?Online ticketmaster.com, password: HOOP
Raunchy lotto tickets = FUN!
?"Scratch & Win a Love prize every time! Non-redeemable except with your mutual partner!" These fun lotto tickets come in a pack of 12 available at CVS (price: $1). Great gag gift for your girlfriends for truth/dare or a ridiculously funny night. Also great for couples. Create a fake 'alias' (anonymous secret admirer) and prank random people on Valentine's day for a good laugh! Directions: Scratch off a heart from each row and do as written.
24-hour caffeine fix, Starbucks! (200-230 West North Ave.)
Want to stay with your loved one or friends all night? Spend the night or endure a long marathon at this 24-hour Starbucks if you're a night crawler! Sip on lattes and warm milk until the long hours of the night.
Cheap movie: AMC theatres, 600 North Michigan Ave.
Feel like lying low this evening? Grab your U-pass and head to one of the nicest theaters downtown. Tickets are available at a discounted price ($6.75/$7.75, tax included) at UIC's Service Center located in Student Center East, first floor, between the Bowling Alley and Book Store. These tickets never expire!
Bar crawl/late night food
Feeling bitter? Grab the gang and go against all rules by wearing black and hitting the town for a few drink specials. Feeling loved? Grab your significant other or close friends and hit the town in style. Hungry? Read further.
Flat Top Grill (1000 West Washington Blvd.)
Close to Harpo Studios (Oprah), this stir-fry buffet style joint offers student discounts and a bar. For V-day, the restaurant will only be lit by candles and decorations. If you're too lazy to impress the sweetheart by cleaning your apartment for an intimate dinner, this is place to go. Drink of choice: Horny monkey ($6.99).
Indulge in art
The Loyola University Museum of Art (820 N. Michigan Ave.) features the following exhibits: Andy Warhol's "Silver Clouds", Nat Finkelstein's "Factory photographs" and Merce Cunningham's "Rainforest" (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) Tickets are $10, which includes raffle, cocktails and appetizers.
Learn a new dance!
V-day @ TangoChicago (408 South Michigan Ave.) will give you a two-hour dance lesson (tango) and then let you dance until midnight for $35 per person with I-card ($50 regularly!). For an extra $15, you can opt into the buffet and appetizers. Tickets must be reserved.
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