Show your love without emptying your wallet with these cheap Calgary date ideas.
Chocolates, roses, dinner and a movie — not a bad way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but a little hard on the wallet, especially when bank accounts are still recovering from the holiday season. Whether you want to have a special evening with your boo or are looking to kick it with your friends, there’s a cheapskate’s way to celebrate.
First Date
Price: $0 to $20
Making a good impression on a first date doesn’t mean spending the big bucks. Skip the movies this time and opt for a date where you can chat while exploring the city.
For a date with plenty of talking points while staying out of the cold, head over to the Werklund Centre and check out the Plus-15 Galleries. These free galleries are currently showcasing Tiny Wonders: A Wunderbriefs Retrospective, which features tableaus from tiny puppet shows. The snippets of stories these pieces show make great conversation starters for you and your date to bond over.
While you’re in the heart of downtown, sample a few drinks from the YYC Hot Chocolate Fest. Since you’re already in the Werklund Centre, be sure to try the offering from Cravings Bistro, which has historically been a powerhouse in the contests’ “Best Spirited Hot Chocolate” category. It may not be a glass of wine with a fancy dinner, but you’ll still get a pleasant buzz.
Friend Date
Price: $6 to $100
Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be romantic. Treat a friend (or many) to a date over at Urban Thrift on Centre Street. This consignment store is packed with a curated selection of wicked second-hand finds, from trendy name brands to high-quality Japanese denim. For Valentine’s Day, the shop is offering 20 per cent off all clothing and accessories, plus there’ll be snacks and refreshments on site. Browse the racks and try on the crazy outfits your friends put together for you. Whether you leave empty-handed or with your new favourite fit, it’ll be a blast. Reserve your spot on eventbrite.com.
After trying on some thrifty threads, grab a bite to eat. Calgary staple The Holy Grill recently opened up a new location on Centre Street for some filling grub, or hit up Milk Ice Cream Club and sample their selection of seasonal flavours. If you and your buds would prefer something boozier, then just step a few doors down to Two Pillars and sample a flight of Belgian brews for $13 in a cozy taproom.
Big Anniversary
Price: $74 to $163
If you’re celebrating something major this Valentine’s, then you already know the standard itinerary: a fancy dinner paired with an equally fancy price tag. But if you want to do something a little different and a little friendlier on your wallet, then we’ve got an idea.
Kick off your romantic evening earlier and hit up some downtown happy hours along the CTrain TD Free Fare Zone. Pigeonhole Downtown has some great options for people-pleasing bites (the mushroom croquettes are killer), all $10 and under for their 2 to 5 p.m. happy hour.
After your belly is full, it’s time to hop on the train over to Central Library for the star of the evening. Grab yourself a couple of tickets to Candlelight, a concert performed by a live string quartet. Enjoy romantic favourites like “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “My Heart Will Go On,” and “La Vie En Rose” while bathed under the hazy glow of the candles. Grab your tickets on showpass.com.
Low Key
Price: $10 to $20
For a quiet and cozy Valentine’s Day, start your day with a venture down to Central Memorial Park. Even with a bit of snow on the ground, this park at the centre of the city is a scenic jaunt, and small enough that you won’t freeze. When the cold gets too much, head into the Memorial Park Library and check out a couple of books that catch your eye. You’ll want it for the next stop on your date.
Spell your feelings out clearly to your beau with a trip down the street to I Love You Coffee Shop. With an adorably apt name and cute decor, this spot is perfect for a low-key coffee date. The shop is inspired by Japanese jazz bars, so you’ll get to enjoy some smooth tunes while you sip a latte and read the book you just checked out. If you’re hungry, be sure to grab a Montreal-style bagel to munch on.
When you’re done reading, check out the shop’s record selection. I Love You Coffee Shop is supplied by Inner Ocean Records, a Calgary-based indie label offering up jazz, lo-fi, modern funk, and more. You may just find a new hidden gem.
Off-Beat
Price: $21 to $50
If you want to shake things up this Valentine’s Day, venture down to the Bow Habitat Station for some outdoorsy fun. Running from 9:30 to 4 p.m., the 14th annual Fishtival celebrates our scaly friends in the Bow River with family-friendly games and activities. While learning about fish may not scream “romance” to everybody, grabbing a picture at the habitat station’s photo op spots will leave you with a memory you won’t soon forget. Grab a ticket at bowhabitat.alberta.ca.
After you’ve had your fill of fish, fill up your belly just down the road from Calgary’s favourite greasy spoon, Blackfoot Diner. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served all day, so pick out whatever your heart desires. And if you want to add something a little cute-sy to your off-beat day, grab a $7.50 milkshake to share.
Cozy Night In
Prince: $99+ tax
It’s still winter out there, and your nice going-out clothes probably aren’t the warmest thing in the world. So if staying in and hiding from the cold is how you’d prefer to spend your Valentine’s, then why not curl up on the couch with your special someone and bring the romance to you?
Bring the romantic candlelit dinner to your home with a local meal kit, like Lina’s Italian Market’s “Cena Per Due.”
While the cost is going to run you about the same as a night out, you get the self-satisfaction of saying you cooked the food yourself — even if all you needed to do was boil some water. Just be sure to order and pick it up in advance. Order yours at linasmarket.com.
Throw on a flick while enjoying your food, or for the nerdier lovebirds, tune in to the 9 Lives Video Game Marathon, streaming on the Help a Buddy Fund’s Twitch channel. This 16-hour stream raises money for animal rescues across Alberta. So enjoy the gameplay, and maybe share the love with a little of that gas money you saved. Catch the stream starting at 10 a.m. MST at twitch.tv/helpabuddyfund.
Creative Date
Price: $99 to $110 per person
Get a little bit messy and come away with a keepsake of your time together by getting creative together on Valentine’s Day.
Colour Cafe in Kensington offers pottery wheel workshop classes, with a special class just for the lovebirds on Valentine’s Day. Make your own bowl, vase, or planter, with no pressure to be perfect. All those little mistakes you make are just a memory of your great night. Plus, you can keep the romance going by returning in a couple of weeks to paint your Valentine’s Day creation for an extra $10. It’s a little pricier than some dates, but you’ll go home with a memory of your time together. Book your date at colorcafe.ca.
After you’ve finished your clay masterpieces, you’re already in the perfect spot in the city for a romantic evening. Keep it cheap with a walk along the Bow River, retreat into the warmth of the forever-cozy Higher Ground cafe, or browse the cheap-but-great finds in the Pages bookstore basement.
Night Out
Price: $18 and up
If you and your boo aren’t ones for ooey-gooey intimacy and would prefer to party it out with a crowd, you aren’t alone.
Head out to Hudson’s downtown for their Heated Rivalry-themed Valentine’s Day dance party, hosted by the Calgary drag royalty Farrah Nuff. Shake it to songs featured in everyone’s new-favourite queer Hockey romance, along with queer anthems and club classics. Watch Heated Rivalry edits on the venues’ TVs, and enjoy the themed drinks served at the bar. The party runs well into the night, so make sure you caffeinate beforehand.
Whether you’re straight, queer, or haven’t even seen the show, it’s an ideal night for Valentines that like to party. Grab your ticket on eventbrite.ca.
