I’ll admit that Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays of the year. The love songs, flowers, chocolates and declarations of love — although cheesy, I believe that it’s a great opportunity to show your appreciation for loved ones (and indulge in chocolate desserts).
With countless restaurants and affordable or free Valentine’s Day events, Bloomington is the perfect city to celebrate Feb. 14 without having to spend a fortune. If you need some inspiration for where to take your Valentine, or Galentine, check out this list of five date spots in Bloomington.
Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art
Walking hand in hand while admiring endless halls of artwork is a classically romantic way to spend an afternoon on campus. The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art provides free admission, so you can view art ranging from Interlacing in African Textiles to Interwoven: Basketry and Visual Culture in Cameroon, without breaking the bank.
The museum is hosting a free event from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 14 to celebrate the opening of the Blanche Hoschedé-Monet in the Light exhibition with a Valentine’s Day card-making event at the Roehm Family Art Studio.
The Eskenazi Museum of Art is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Da Vinci Pizza and Pasta
This classy yet comfortable Italian restaurant located on 250 S. Washington St. is a cozy spot to enjoy a romantic dinner with your Valentine. The menu boasts hearty pastas, salads and wood-fired pizzas. The salmon tortellini, a decadent dish featuring truffle-cream sauce and grilled salmon drizzled in hot honey and pistachio crumbles, is to die for.
While Da Vinci’s is pricier than other dinner spots in Bloomington, it offers very generous portion sizes and shareable pizzas. Da Vinci is open from 5-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 4 -9 p.m. Fridays and noon-9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. I recommend arriving earlier than later, because the restaurant fills up quickly, especially on Valentine’s Day.
The Cat’s Closet
Perfect for animal lovers, The Cat’s Closet is a vintage store and cat adoption center all in one. Take your date to peruse the racks of funky sweaters, statement T-shirts and secondhand accessories, then book an appointment to the attached lounge to visit with over a dozen cats in need of adoption.
The cat lounge offers a 30 minute appointment for $7 every Wednesday through Sunday. People can also visit for one hour appointments on Wednesdays, as well as Fridays through Sundays for $11, or 30-minute session on Thursdays for only $2. From Feb. 19-21, a 30-minute appointment is free with a valid student ID.
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
The Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. will present “La La Land” on Feb. 14. After a delicious pasta dinner or museum trip, cozy up with your partner and some buttery popcorn to watch the bittersweet romance of Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) on the big screen.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film begins at 7 p.m. Student tickets are $9 and non-student tickets are $11. For the holiday, however, two standard tickets are $14 using the discount code, “TWOHEARTS,” at checkout online or in person.
Bloomington Bagel Company
For early bird couples, Bloomington Bagel Company offers handmade heart-shaped bagels for $2.50 and handmade Sugar Bomb cookies for $3.95. Customers can order the treats online. You must order the bagels before 3 p.m. Feb. 10 and order Sugar Bombs before 3 p.m. Feb. 11. They are available for pick up Feb. 13-14 from the location at 113 N. Dunn St.
Bloomington Bagel Company also offers an extensive menu with basic and specialty bagels. Specialty bagels include the “Hangover” with bacon, sausage and ham, and the “Willa’s Choice,” which has peanut butter and fruit jam. Along with food, Bloomington Bagel Company also serves hot and cold coffee beverages and smoothies.
There are three locations in Bloomington: 113 N. Dunn St., 238 N. Morton St. and 913 S. College Mall Rd. Hours vary by location.
No matter the location or the price, Valentine’s Day is about spending quality time with those close to your heart. Whether you choose to spend your Valentine’s Day at Da Vinci’s or the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, remember the holiday is for spending time with those you love.
