It’s already that time of year, Wildcats — when heart-themed acrylics and date night outfit inspiration flood Instagram and forgetting to ask that special someone to be your valentine makes its annual appearance on TikTok. If you’re looking for some last-minute Valentine’s Day date ideas for that special someone that aren’t going out to dinner, look no further. Here are three ideas that can make the holiday extra special.
Date Night at the Planetarium
Snuggle up and see a show at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium located on the east side of the University of Arizona campus.
The location has two floors of science exhibits that explore the fascinating curiosities on Earth as well as what is beyond in space. These science exhibits include “Undersea Discovery,” “Wild World of Bugs!” and “Destination: Mars.”
On Valentine’s Day, the planetarium will be playing “When You Wish Upon a Star,” telling ancient Greek tales of love, and “Laser Movie Magic,” a laser light show featuring music from Disney favorites. Ticket holders are welcome to explore the different science exhibits with dreamy lighting and romantic music or head outside to gaze at the stars through a telescope with staff members.
Flandrau’s Valentine’s event started last year with just a laser light show. However, it has expanded this year to include a few more activities for couples to enjoy.
“We have a paper and pencil phonograph, where we’ll have a record there for couples to make music together,” said Nick Letson, the marketing and communications manager of Flaundrau. “Or you can make your own constellation as a take-home craft.”
“When You Wish Upon a Star” will play at 6:30 p.m., and “Laser Movie Magic” will play at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person per show, but are currently sold out. Nevertheless, in case there are no cancellations, visitors can still visit the science exhibits, and there are tickets available for the daytime planetarium shows “Tucson Sky & Beyond” at 12:30 p.m. and “Incoming!” at 3:30 p.m. for $12 per show for adults and can be purchased on the planetarium website.
Spend Valentine’s Day with Your Player 2 at Dave & Buster’s
Dave & Buster’s Tucson, located at 1390 E. Tucson Marketplace Blvd., has a Valentine’s Day Dinner promotion for couples to enjoy, featuring a three-course meal, two power cards with 125 chips each and country line dancing lessons with the Country Bandits. At over a $150 value, the deal costs only $110 for two tickets.
“We’re just trying to do something that’s different than just going to eat somewhere,” said Shawn McCarthy, the general manager of Dave & Buster’s Tucson. “Obviously, at Dave & Buster’s, we have all the gaming and some of the best sports viewing in the city of Tucson. We wanted to combine that with having dinner.”
The Country Bandits, a dance lesson group, teaches country line dancing every first Tuesday of the month at the gaming location.
“They’re also going to offer some dancing lessons that night as well as just an extra activity,” McCarthy said.
If the full holiday deal is a little out of your price range, Valentine’s Day also falls on the location’s half-off Wednesday special. All games will be half the normal amount of chips, making it a lot easier to win that giant stuffed animal for your loved one.
Visit the Dave & Buster’s affiliate website for more details and to buy tickets.
Have a Lego Date at Bricks & Minifigs
Bricks & Minifigs, located at 6145 E. Broadway Blvd., sells and trades all types of new and used Legos. The store has everything from collectible Lego sets to bins overflowing with pieces you can sort through and buy in bulk.
This Valentine’s Day, the shop will be holding its first date night event for couples to enjoy after close. Owners JL and Becky Burnett will host 10-12 couples in their shop to create Lego mosaics at a candlelit table while enjoying salad, dessert, wine and heart-shaped pizza from local restaurant Squared Up Pizza.
“It’s just a really fun time to spend together individually,” Becky Burnett said. “This is going to be our first real date night that we’re putting together as an event.”
The event will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and cost $125 per couple for the dinners and mosaics to take home.
If you’re looking for a date idea for earlier in the day, you can also utilize the store’s “Build a Character” section, where you can build any kind of Lego character you’d like with recycled parts the store has. The section is a great way for couples to build and customize each other as a small and affordable Valentine’s memento. You can also look for extra add-ons and accessories like cars, motorcycles, “Star Wars” TIE fighters and a Batmobile.
The location is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information on the recycled Lego shop, visit the Bricks & Minifigs website.
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