Valentine's Day Date Guide

 Two Chefs restaurant in South Miami. Photo: Pedro Portal.

 

By Annie Vazquez

Say goodbye to the generic gifts and the cliche candle lit dinner. This Valentine's Day dare to be different -- here's 12 ways you'll have your sweetie pie head over heels.

Take a Cooking Class
Some people say the way to a person's heart is through their stomach. Instead of going out to eat at a fancy schmancy restaurant like everyone else, though, take a cooking class. Two Chefs lets lovebirds perfect their culinary skills by teaching them how to whip up a gourmet meal. Learn to prepare gourmet dishes such as truffled sweetbread ravioli, pasta salad with smoked duck and radicchio, lobster gazpacho, grilled scallops with tarragon sauce and grilled duck leg with field greens. To satisfy your sweet tooth, you'll be making pears poached in red wine with basil-vanilla ice cream. The class costs $85 per person and includes supplies and food.
Two Chefs, 8287 S Dixie Hwy. South Miami; 305-663-2100

Dance the Night Away
Grab your partner and dosey doe at the Round Up Country Western Nightclub and Restaurant's Slink or Swim Saturday party. The cost of entry is $15 and includes free drinks til 2 a.m. plus free dancing lessons. Learn to shake your bon bon cowboy style from 7 to 8 p.m. After you've warmed up, get ready for the free line dance lessons from 8 to 9 p.m. that'll have you and your sweetheart yelling yee-haw all night.
Round Up Country Western Nightclub and Restaurant, 9020 West State Road 84, Davie; 954-423-1990

Sample Vino At a Wine Tasting
Now here's something to toast to: a free wine and cheese tasting at Sunset Corners Liquor. The shop houses a variety of wines from all over the world and a deli. To promote their inventory, the staff hosts a free wine tasting, which is paired up with all sorts of cheeses, every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. On Valentine's Day, winos will be drinking pink bubbles as the store will be popping open everything from champagne to Cava. To complement the bubbly, an assortment of triple creme cheeses will be served. No reservation is necessary.
Sunset Corners Liquor, 8701 SW 72 St. Miami, 305- 271-8492

Get Your Sex On
Ever wanted to know why you do it like they do it on the Discovery Channel? Then "Sex and the Animals" is one presentation you don't want to miss. The event takes place at Miami Metro Zoo's amphitheater and is hosted by wildlife expert Ron Magill, who narrates his "adults only" show with lots of humor. Magill features a series of explicit images while giving facts surrounding courtship and breeding behaviors in the animal kingdom. Check in starts at 7 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception immediately following. The slide show kicks off at 8 p.m. Cost is $30 for non-members. Proceeds benefit Destination Africa. Call the Zoological Society of Florida to make a reservation.
Miami Metro Zoo, 12400 SW 152 St, Miami., 305-255-5551

Soar Like Superman and Superwoman
Love is in the air. Literally.For the couple who wants an adrenaline rush, Miami Hand Gliding will catapult you over 1,000 feet into blue skies from a boat and let you fly like a bird. Unlike parasailing, there is no rope once you reach your altitude. Instead, you're flying tandem with a certified USHGA instructor. The introductory class costs $129 and includes your tandem flight, a simulated in-flight training lesson that teaches you the basics of operating a hand glider, a short training video and a free pass for your honey to tag along on the boat -- if they're too much of chicken to do it, too.
Miami Hand Gliding, 2550 South Bayshore Dr, Coconut Grove; 305-285-8978

Swim and Have Din Din With the Dolphins
Flipper fanatics should sign up for The Miami Seaquarium's special Dine with the Dolphins promotion at the park's new Dolphin Harbor facility. Couples will be able to swim with the dolphins and then enjoy a unique candlelight dinner from 8 to 10 p.m. under the stars. The swim is a two-hour experience which includes feeding, touching and learning about the mammals. Cost to attend is $398 plus tax per couple. The package also includes two annual passes to the park. Availability is limited and advance reservations are required.
The Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Cswy, Key Biscayne; 305-365-2501

Get Outdoorsy
Ever wanted to get a taste for camping, but didn't want to do an overnight stay? Well, Miami Dade County's Eco Adventures is hosting a Valentine's Day Canoe and Campfire event from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. that will give you a taste for the outdoors without having to pitch a tent. Participation costs $28 per person. Couples will take off from Bill Sadowski Park for a sunset paddle and then enjoy a romantic picnic by the campfire where you can do a little stargazing. Bring your own picnic and they'll supply the s'mores for dessert. Don't forget to bring a towel, change of clothes and shoes that can get wet. Reservations are required.
Miami-Dade County's Eco Adventures, 17555 SW 79 Ave, Miami; 305-365-3018; www.miamiecoadventures.org

Do Charity Work
Animal lovers can spend an hour or a few spreading the love to pooches and furry felines this day by volunteering at Miami Dade Animal Services. Choose from a variety of jobs such as being an adoption counselor, pet detective or pet pal, which involves playing with and entertaining the animals. Or opt to give animal care by grooming, cleaning cages and feeding. Hours are flexible and an orientation and tour is given before volunteering. Also, on Sunday, February 15th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the shelter will be hosting a Valentine's Day themed adoption party called Open Your Heart and Your Home, during which you can adopt a shelter pet. Refreshments will be served, holiday photos will be snapped and gifts for your new pet will be given out.
Miami-Dade Animal Services, 7401 NW 74 St, Miami, 305-805-1778 or email Aileen Sanchez at asanche@miamidade.gov for more info.

Go Rock Climbing
The couple that loves to hit the gym together will surely have the best time at X-treme Rock Climbing Miami. The state-of-the-art indoor facility in West Kendall offers indoor climbing, a sport that conditions balance, strength, flexibility and endurance. Anyone ages 5 and up can participate. You can start right away by bouldering (climbing to a height of up to 12 feet without a rope) or by scheduling an intro class that includes learning safety systems of belaying, basic knot tying and basic climbing techniques. The class costs $35 and includes all equipment. Saturday sessions are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Limited space is available.
X-treme Rock Climbing, 13972 SW 139 Ct., West Kendall; 305-233-6623

Fly Away On A Hot Air Balloon
Early birds will find this adventure most appealing. Meeting time is 5:45 a.m., but for those late sleepers, this just might be one day worth setting the alarm. The hour-long hot air balloon ride will take you and your Valentine gently floating above the skies while getting beautiful scenic views of Miami, the Everglades, Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. After the sunrise ride, participants will enjoy a champagne toast. Cost to ride with Tropical Ballooning Adventures is $350 per person. Tom Mackie, a pilot for over 26 years, runs and operates all flights. He is an FAA Certified Commercial Balloon Pilot as well as an FAA Safety Councillor for the Miami Flight District Office.
Tropical Ballooning Adventures; 305-582-3898; www.flyaballoon.com

Be A Big Kid
If Toys R Us theme song still plays in your head, then grab your boo and drive to Boomers. The family park has everything from Turbo Track Go Karts to a roller coaster to laser tag. Video game junkies can get their fix in the ginormous arcade and those who love the water can hit the pool on a bumper boats ride. There's also plenty of stuff for the athletically gifted. Tiger Woods wannabees can swing all they want in the miniature golf field and then try getting a strike in the park's Route 66 bowling alley. For $29.99 get unlimited access to the park's attractions.
Boomers, 1700 NW 1st St, Dania Beach; 954-921-1411

Published: 2/09

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