With Valentine’s Day just seven days away, here are 14 date ideas — for singles, couples and groups alike — to celebrate love in the coming weeks.
Go ice skating at BankNewport City Center. The Providence Rink is open daily for skating from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting, and ice bumper cars are available at select times. There is a two-for-one Valentine’s Day special on Feb. 14, and the rink also offers 30-minute private and group lessons. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticketing window.
Cozy up and watch a movie at the historic Avon Cinema, a family-owned theater specializing in independent and foreign films. “Living,” “Aftersun” and a collection of 2023 Oscar-nominated short films are coming soon.
Order a sweet and sugary treat from PVDonuts. Their Valentine’s Day offerings include customizable letter donuts, a “from me, to me” special and a donut hole tower.
Craft a bouquet at a flower-arranging workshop with Bloom Back Flowers. Join owner and designer Angela Rotondo at Bellini Providence on Feb. 12 to create your own floral centerpiece.
Visit a local coffee shop for a potential meet-cute in one of the best coffee cities in the country. Popular spots include Bolt Coffee Co., The Coffee Exchange, The Nitro Bar, Dave’s Coffee, Small Point Café, Small Format and Seven Stars Bakery.
Watch a performance at Trinity Repertory, the State Theater of Rhode Island since 2014. “By the Queen” — a rediscovery of Shakespeare’s Queen Margaret — will conclude its month-long run on Feb. 12.
Start the next chapter at a local bookstore. Experience the warmth and nostalgia of Twenty Stories, Paper Nautilus, Symposium Books, Heartleaf Books, Books on the Square and Riffraff.
Pick up a last-minute Valentine’s Day confection from Syroya’s Bakery, a Black-owned bakery in North Providence. Specials and packages will be available for pickup from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 14.
Picnic at Prospect Terrace and enjoy panoramic views of the city, weather permitting.
Enjoy a night of performances and communal art creation at Gallery Night Providence’s 2023 Kick-Off and Fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 17. Help support Gallery Night’s 2023 season, which includes free access to galleries, museums and creative spaces throughout the city on the third Thursday of the month, running March to November.
Discover public art with Avenue Concept PVD’s self-guided walking tours. Explore locations with the PocketSights app or your web browser to learn more about Providence’s murals and sculptures.
Order a Valentine’s Day date package from Small Format, a queer-friendly gallery and coffee shop. The package includes chocolate-covered strawberries, a cake and drinks for $65.
Peruse a collection of exhibits at the RISD Museum. Admission is free for Brown students with a valid student ID and for the community on Sundays and after 5 p.m. Special events include “Ways of Looking” on Feb. 9 and the family-friendly Super Art Sunday on Feb. 19.
Find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift at the Providence Winter Flea. Featuring over 75 local artists, artisans, plant and bake shops, food trucks and vintage vendors, markets are open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through May 7.
Rhea Rasquinha is a Metro Section Editor covering Development and Infrastructure and also serves as Co-Chief of Illustrations. She previously covered the College Hill, Fox Point & the Jewelry District and Brown & Beyond beats. Rhea is a junior from New York studying Biomedical Engineering and loves dark chocolate and penguins.
