Whether friend or foe, you can have a good time!
Okay so hear me out, Valentine’s Day is easy. Pass/Fail. You grab a bouquet of roses, a bottle of nice wine (check out In Vino Veritas for recommendations) and you are in the clear. Palentine’s Day, which is celebrated on January 13—well, this is where your work is cut out for you. So to (hopefully) save you from a last-minute Palentine’s Day fiasco brought on by the amount of work you were doing for 1L recruit or Upper Year Moot, here are some ideas for what you and your best buds (or significant other—cause we know all you couples are having a hard time out there too) can get up to this February.
- Ice Skating
It’s a classic but a surefire win! Ice skating is the perfect easy date. We all know of the skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square, where you can rent skates, eat a questionable hotdog, and sip some hot chocolate. But in case you want a few other options that will (fingers crossed) be less crowded, I have a few recommendations. If you are willing to head towards the west end of Toronto, Dufferin Grove Park has a very wholesome community-based ice skating rink where they sell mini-pizzas, a host of warm drinks, and delicious cookies to get you through your winter slump. If you are looking for somewhere closer to home, College Park has a nice little skate trail just south of the Farmboy (also known as the Barbara Ann Scott Ice Trail), which is always a hit. Either way, an almost guaranteed Palentine’s Day success.
- Board Games
A board game night, whether it takes place at home or at Snakes and Lattés, is an underrated friend date at any given time of year. It is a go-to for my friend group when we want a low-stakes, fun evening where people can kick back and relax with a cold beer and a bowl of popcorn while yelling at each other at the top of our lungs. If you want to know what caused people to become so escalated, I recommend buying The Revolution—just make sure you have a strong relational foundation before you start!
- Pizza Night
Whether you’re ordering in and setting up a cute picnic in the middle of your living room or making pizza from scratch into heart-shaped, tasty concoctions, pizza is always a winner. Got some dietary restrictions? Lactose-free cheese is a game changer, and vegan cheese has honestly gotten better in the past couple of years, so maybe it is time to try it again. I challenge you to try some new or funky toppings on your pizza if you want to spice things up.
A general reminder: Palentine’s Day—and Valentine’s Day—are just about showing the people you care about that you are thinking of them. Yes, there’s build-up, but there doesn’t need to be! Just remember, Palentine’s Day is every day, so show support to your Pals whenever possible (trust me, we all need it!).
