When the inevitable Toronto winter hits, it’s hard to peel ourselves off the couch and think of creative date ideas. There’s lots of cool stuff happening in the city this winter that make for a perfect outing, whether it’s a first date, your significant other, or a friend date. If you know of any other great events going on in the city, leave a note in the comments!
Winterlicious
What better way to bond than over a love of food? From Jan. 29 to Feb. 11 dozens of Toronto restaurants will participate in Winterlicious. They just released the entire list of restaurants so get ready to make your reservations. More info here!
Cooking Classes
Again, anything to do with food is always a great date. Dish Cooking School (587 College St.) has a handful of unique “Date Night” cooking classes like “Christmas In The South,” “Date Night In San Francisco,” and “Death By Chocolate.” Elsewhere The Chef Upstairs (516 Mount Pleasant Rd.) has some “couples cooking” classes on Fridays at $175 per couple. Check out some more cooking classes around the city.
Outdoor events
If you’ve yet to check out the Toronto Christmas Market at the distillery, it’s the perfect date and time’s running out. Sip your way through beer gardens, music and plenty of shopping and browsing to do. The market wraps up Dec. 20.
You can also cozy up at Bloor-Yorkville’s IceFest. Details have yet to be confirmed but expect ice carving competitions, crazy sculptures, and frozen maple syrup over two days (Feb. 20, 21). Last year was dubbed “Frozen In Time.”
Get outside
Ah, the classic skating date. What could be more romantic than gliding around, hand-in-hand, and (possibly most importantly) warming up with a hot chocolate afterwards. There are plenty of outdoor rinks around Toronto with none more popular than Nathan Phillips Square. If you’re looking for a different skating experience, check out the skating trail at Colonel Samuel Park, or DJ skate nights Saturdays at Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink (full list here).
Meanwhile, toboganning can be a fun (and daredevil-ish) way to enjoy the night (if it ever snows!) with Christie Pits, Riverdale Park East, and the “dog bowl” at Trinity Bellwoods Park prime sledding space (full list here).
Check out a concert
It might be chilly out there but there are plenty of gigs to heat things up. Stars mount a 3-night stand at the Phoenix starting tonight where they’ll play Set Yourself On Fire in its entirety. Meanwhile, The Most Serene Republic, Muse with X-Ambassadors, Young Galaxy, Yukon Blonde, Beach House, and many more will be taking stages around the city this season.
Catch a flick
Yes, we all know that movie premieres this week, but there are others worth checking out. Whether it’s comedy such as Sisters with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, or the drama The Big Short with Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling and Christian Bale, there are plenty of movies you’ll actually want to watch on your date.
(Main Photo by aaron gilson via Flickr)
