Stirring Up Romance in Boston

Whether you’re a twittering lovebird or a desperately-seeking single, Boston provides ample opportunities to get that spark going. But what to do or where to go is not always easy to decide—especially if you want to do something special and forgot that the city’s best restaurants have been booked for weeks. If you were hoping for that perfect evening out and overlooked a reservation for dinner, fear not, we’ve gathered up several romantic date ideas that will prove more potent than Love Potion #9 and don’t depend on knowing the maitre ‘d at Aujourd’hui.

STARS IN YOUR EYES
Because nearly every love song from the ’50’s mentions something about the moon and the stars, the Museum of Science might have just the thing to put a twinkle in your date’s eye. If your celestial know-how mostly centers around reading your horoscope, the Charles Hayden Planetarium’s The Sky Tonight at 7 p.m. will give you a crash course on constellations, planets and heavenly anomalies found in the sky each night. Once you’re waxing Galileo, head to the roof and the The Gilliland Observatory. Weather permitting, the museum offers a free peak through their three telescopes on a first come, first serve basis (call 617-589-0267 for more information). Enjoy a night cap at the Science Street Cafe, right in the museum. Or if the moon in the sky has you craving pizza pie (that’s amore, right?), hop the Green Line to the Haymarket T station and grab a slice from Pizzeria Regina (11 Thatcher St., 617-227-0765). This North End landmark is open ‘til midnight on Fridays and boasts one of the best pies in town.

LA VIDA LOCA
Dirty dancing, the forbidden dance, whatever you call it, salsa is sexy. Paired with some spicy tapas, sangria or margaritas and you have yourself a night that will make anyone forget the winter chill. Sophia’s (1270 Boylston St., 617-351-7001) offers one stop shopping beginning with salsa and meringue lessons from 7:45–10 p.m. for booty shakers of any level. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can grab a bite there or head to Tapeo Restaurant & Tapas Bar (266 Newbury St., 617-267-4799). Tapeo serves up delicious little plates of spanish cuisine, ideal for munching with a glass of their sangria. But like its cousin in Cambridge, Dali, it tends to get packed on the weekends. Another possibility nearby is the Cottonwood Cafe (222 Berkeley St., 617-247-2225). With a top-notch tequila selection and award winning margaritas, you’re bound to find the perfect thirst quencher to pair with their southwestern menu. Don’t let your evening end before heading back to Sophia’s to show off your new moves. Beginning at 9:30 p.m., you’ll find everything from a live Latin band on the first floor to traditional Latin dance music on the third floor.

PARIS WITHOUT A PASSPORT
Give your evening a French accent by taking in a concert at the French Library and Cultural Center (53 Marlborough St., 617-912-0400). The Boston Camerata performs a concert of French love songs from the medieval period from 7–9 p.m. After the show, enjoy champagne and appetizers at the library or take a stroll down Newbury Street and give Sonsie a try (327 Newbury St., 617-351-2500). There you can sip wine or cappuccino in a Parisian cafe-style setting.

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID
It’s become such a romantic tradition at the Brattle Theatre (40 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-876-6837) apparently more than one patron has actually proposed marriage before the credits role. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Casablanca is screened twice at the Harvard Square theatre (7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.). After the lights come up, you can head next door to the Casablanca Restaurant (617-876-0999) for a nightcap in this bar/eatery inspired by the classic film. For a sweeter ending, try Finale (30 Dunster St., Cambridge, 617-441-9797). It’s a restaurant focused exclusively on desserts and it’s open ’til 12:30 a.m.

MY FUNNY VALENTINE
When Humphrey Bogart took Lauren Bacall out on the town, the setting was probably a dimly lit nightclub, cocktails and a jazz band fronted by Ella Fitzgerald. If this sounds like your idea of a perfect evening, you’ve got options. Send a musical Valentine from Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, by taking in her show at the Regattabar. Or try Sculler’s Jazz Club, where romantic Caribbean balladeer Jon Lucien takes the stage (see listings in Currently, page 17). Both venues are offering shows on February 14 &15, but if they’re sold out, you’re not out of luck. Limbo (49 Temple Place, 617-338-0280) and The Bay Tower (60 State St., 617-723-1666) feature live jazz music and cocktails in a romantic setting.

FUN ON ICE AND CITY LIGHTS
There’s nothing like strapping on a pair of skates and taking a spin around the ice under the city lights. The Frog Pond (see listing, page 45) is the Hub’s version of Rockefeller Center with a charm all its own. Nestled on the Boston Common, it pairs the natural setting of the park with the surrounding urban skyline. After a twirl or two around the ice, warm up at the nearby Oak Bar (Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St. James Ave., 617-267-5300). With dark wood paneling and 30-foot ceilings, this storied bar is both elegant and cozy. Settle into a lounge chair with a hot toddy or one of their famous martinis, or splurge on champagne and oysters from the raw bar. Or for a room with a view, head down the street to Top of the Hub (800 Boylston St., 617-536-1775). From the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center, you’ll sip cocktails amidst one of the most commanding views of the city.