Creative Date Nights

Warm up the winter romance with something charming and local

By Matt Maenpaa

Spring inches closer, but sometimes the winter doldrums roll through February like an icy wind on Wonderland Lake. Instead of cozying up with your partner for yet another streaming binge, heat things up this Valentine’s Day season with some off-the-beaten-path date night ideas, Boulder style.

Sunset Picnic

Boulder winters vary in intensity, particularly as we get closer to spring. Do you and your sweetie enjoy time outside but want to take the pace down a bit? Take advantage of sunny days with a bracing sunset picnic at Lost Gulch Overlook.

Start with an early afternoon stroll around Pearl Street Mall and downtown Boulder. Visit Alta Cucina for some delicious charcuterie, maybe a bottle of wine from West End Wine Shop. Don’t forget a little dessert from Piece, Love & Chocolate or Spruce Confections and a delicious hot beverage from Boxcar Roasters.

Whatever you choose, pack some extra blankets and get there early to find the perfect picnic spot. Enjoy the winding drive up Flagstaff Mountain and past Realization Point, then snuggle up together to watch the light roll across the foothills and distant Rockies.

If Flagstaff is too crowded for your tastes, head north on US Hwy 36 and take a twilight hike at Rabbit Mountain Open Space near Lyons. A golden-hour hike is perfect for lazy, ambling walks and conversations while keeping an eye out for the wilder residents going about their evening routines.

Want to mix it up even more? Get adventurous with your outdoor dates and take that picnic on the trail. Go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at Eldora, book an ice climbing trek in Rocky Mountain National Park or ride a tandem bike down Boulder Creek Path.

Dinner & A Show

Instead of a picnic, how about dinner and a show? The Dairy Arts Center hosts regular comedy nights in the Boedecker Theatre, hosted by Boulder’s own Zoe Rogers. Rogers has been hosting Comedy at the Boe since 2019, booking a diverse lineup of comedians from local and national stages.

“Comedy at the Boe is an awesome date night,” she says. “It’s a beautiful venue, and people often come up after the show to say how much they appreciate the variety of voices. Plus, the popcorn is delicious!”

Rogers and the Dairy also host the annual Boulder Comedy Festival in the summer, along with plenty of other performances. If comedy doesn’t fit the bill, keep an eye out for theater, dance shows, and musical acts.

Avail yourself of the bar and snacks at the Dairy or grab a bite beforehand. Just a few blocks away on Walnut Street, Barchetta’s has delicious pizza and salads with classic pizza joint vibes and self-pour beer taps. Or slip down Folsom Avenue to Rincon Argentino for some classic Argentinian-style empanadas and dessert for the road.

Nothing that lights you up playing at the Dairy? Check out regular performances at Junkyard Social Club, including comedy and live music. License No. 1 under the Hotel Boulderado has weekly comedy shows, karaoke and open mics. Outside Boulder proper, find regular shows at Longmont’s Dickens Opera House and The Louisville Underground.

Head South 

A little shared creativity can be an excellent way to spark some romance and have a little fun. Channel your inner Bob Ross and book a couple’s class at Tinker Art Studio in South Boulder. Recreate classic cinematic romance scenes involving pottery wheels or swipe adorable paint stripes across your partner’s nose after the extra half glass of wine. 

Friday Art Night is a 21+ event with monthly themes, and bringing your favorite libation is strongly encouraged. Stop by on Valentine’s Day for floral paintings, then follow it up with a delicious late dinner downtown. Or make an afternoon of it with a late picnic lunch at NCAR, followed by a Clay Day workshop in the studio. Either way, you’ll each have a memento of your day together.

If paint and clay aren’t your scene, what about a cooking class? Right beside Tinker is the Boulder campus of Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, offering its full culinary curriculum and an assortment of fun classes for home cooks. From French classics to weekend bread workshops, making a meal together is easy.

For more art classes, check out Color Me Mine on Pearl Street. If you’re feeling daring, visit Art Parts Creative Reuse Center and sort through a plethora of supplies to challenge each other. 

Supper Clubs & Farm Dinners

Boulder has a bounty of dining options catering to all tastes and budgets, but sometimes it’s nice to venture out to fields unknown, literally. While farm-to-table dining is a standard by now, have you ever gone for dinner right on the farm?

You’ll have to wait for summer to arrive for these communal dinners but be sure to visit Lyons Farmette from July through October for their Wednesday events. Featuring partnerships with local favorites like Marigold and Blackbelly, you’re sure to go home with full bellies and happy hearts.

Boulder staple Black Cat Farms also offers dinners on their Longmont farmstead, with private cabanas and heaters to keep off the chill. Make a double-date out of it with your favorite couple friends, or get a reservation early for one of their special event dinners.

If you’re looking for a communal dining experience but don’t want to feel quite so close to the source of the ingredients, Süti & Co is a Scandinavian-style cafe in downtown Boulder. The cozy cafe perfectly suits its cottage locale, serving up pastries and other cafe standards along with beautiful art and home decor in its shop. For a peaceful and indulgent evening, visit Süti for supper club and experience a coursed dinner from a Michelin-trained chef.

Need More Ideas?

With so many things to do in Boulder, you could pack every weekend and never have enough time to see everything. Check out Boulder Ghost Tours and take a walk through Boulder’s haunted past or relive childhood memories at Gateway Fun Park. Grab a table at the Rayback Collective to sample local food trucks and delicious beer during a Music Bingo night.

Did we miss something? We love to hear from our readers, so share your favorite date night ideas with us on social media.