14 Perfect Things to Do for Valentine’s Day in New York City

Nothing gets hearts racing like, well, an actual race. Get your blood pumping and heart rates up as the big day approaches at Cupid’s Undie Run. On February 10, 2018, brave New Yorkers will dare to bare (the cold and their skivvies!) at this one-mile charity run and dance party.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbgOpJIlE5J/?hl=en&taken-by=cupidsundierun

Who says you can’t see the stars in the city? At the American Museum of Natural History’s Romance Under the Stars, an open bar, live classical music, and hors d’oeuvres and chocolates set the scene for an out-of-this-world date night, culminating in a story hour featuring cosmos-connected love stories and planetarium views of the night sky. Tip: Early lovebirds get the worm, as this event has been known to sell out fast in the past.

A top activity any day of the year, a dinner date in New York City is sure to satisfy your appetite for amour. Take advantage of the city’s Valentine’s Day offers, including special menus and discounted prices, with the help of OpenTable, the amorous eater’s favorite wingman.

The romantic vibes don’t have to end when the holiday does. On February 17th, the ’70s Soul Jam Valentine’s Concert returns to Beacon Theater, where R&B icons Blue Magic, The Stylistics, The Delfonics, The Dramatics, and The Manhattans will grace the stage with old-school love songs.

Times Square specializes in over-the-top displays, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. At Love in Times Square on Valentine’s Day, surprise proposals, weddings, and vow renewals are put on for hundreds of locals and visitors to see and swoon over. Whether you choose to apply to participate or to cheer on couples in love, this annual event is sure to make you feel warm inside—even if it’s a frosty February outside.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQgHE13FPI_/?hl=en&taken-by=timessquarenyc

A shared adventure is always romantic, and you’d have to be adventurous to gamble on these lottery-picked theater shows. Kicking off February 14th, the 11th annual FRIGID Festival will continue its streak of delivering 30 affordable performances to intimate venues around New York City.

Smart is sexy, and education has never been more entertaining than at the Museum of Sex. The first sex museum in America is a worthy destination any day of the year but never more festive than on Valentine’s Day. A breast-themed bounce house, exhibits such as The Sex Lives of Animals, and museum gift shop items that are sure to heat up your blood (or at least break the ice!) await you at this NSFW attraction.

Bringing new meaning to the phrase “on the prowl,” the Amazing Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt will have you and your partner scouring the city for clues. Your journey will take you to some of New York’s most appropriate Valentine’s Day destinations and will include fun physical and mental challenges along the way. After all, a couple who plays together stays together, right? Happy hunting!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQBQR5rF3Vy/?hl=en&taken-by=pogoevents

First date flings can take the pressure off the holiday at a New York City comedy show. At popular clubs like Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, you’ll hand the pressure to be funny over to someone else. With talents such as Broad City’s Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson and SNL’s Kate McKinnon rounding out UCB’s roster, that shouldn’t be hard to accomplish.

Celebrate the sultrier side of the holiday at New York City’s longest-running burlesque variety show, Le Scandal Valentine’s Day Show. Here, complimentary Prosecco and a gift box featuring an assortment of burlesque items are just a warm-up before the main event: a burlesque and variety circus show presenting international acts and the Le Scandal burlesque band.

https://www.instagram.com/p/_e4eb8wl1P/?hl=en&taken-at=12560069

Reinventing the standard (boring) dinner date, Camaje’s Dinners in the Dark serves up fine four-course meals with a side of adventure. Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll be given not a menu, but a comfortable blindfold. With your sight obstructed, the rest of your senses will be heightened, transforming a mystery meal (don’t worry, as dietary restrictions can be accommodated) into a sensory experience of smells, textures, and sounds.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BO8Yf3Hh0we/?hl=en&taken-at=218532

Where better to celebrate puppy love than at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? Taking place February 12th and February 13th, this canine-central show will feature a whopping (or woofing) 3,000 dogs representing hundreds of breeds. Watching pups strut their stuff is sure to make you and your fellow animal lover feel fuzzy inside.

A perfect thing to do for Valentine’s Day in New York City may be to whisk your beloved away from the Big Apple. A romantic getaway doesn’t have to break the bank, with lovey-dovey destinations like the Poconos and Woodstock situated just a couple of hours away by car.