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Yes, you love each other. You may even want to do something special the week of Feb. 14 to commemorate that. But it won’t be an awkward couples massage workshop or an overpriced prix fixe dinner of reheated cordon bleu. You’re a chill couple looking to do something you actually enjoy, that’s affordable and low-key and preferably close to home. Here are five cool date ideas you’ll actually find interesting. It may include one fixed price meal, but it’s way better than cordon bleu. We promise.
Walnut Creek ice cream tour
Berkeley and Oakland aren’t the only cities for gourmet ice cream lovers. For its size, the Dub C has quite a scoop shop scene. Plan to have a light dinner and huddle along under one large umbrella — tres romantic — while tasting your way through the stunning chocolate sorbet at Lottie’s Creamery, followed by an ice cream sandwich at CREAM and the organic soft serve at Gott’s Roadside. Or, maybe start there. The sensational salted caramel soft serve, made with creamy buffalo milk, tends to sell out.
Details: Find Lottie’s Creamery at 1414 N. Main St.; Cream at 1372 N. Main St.; and Gott’s Roadside at 1275 S. Main Street, all in Walnut Creek.
Burgers and your best bottle
Love big, red wine? If you’re the type of couple who craves the comfort of home — and comfort food — for cozy romance, how about this brilliant idea: Dust off that bottle you’ve been saving for a special occasion, because this is it. Order two of the biggest, drippiest, cheesiest burgers from your favorite upscale burger joint, whether it’s Burger Lounge or Super Duper, and decant the bottle before enjoying the best pairing of your life (well, except for you and your boo, of course). In the movie version of this, you’ll be wearing jammies in front of a roaring fire.
Details: Burger Lounge at The Pruneyard, 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell, and 2920 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Super Duper at 15991 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos and 2355 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley.
An epic romantic movie binge
The New Parkway Theater knows you. You love modern classics and quirky rom coms enjoyed on cozy couches. Luckily, the revamped Oakland art-house theater is offering a few exceptional films paired with food this Feb. 14. Enjoy “Roman Holiday” at 5:45 p.m. with a four-course dinner ($125 for two), or “Amelie” at 6:30 p.m. with all-you-can-eat pasta (the pasta bar opens at 6 p.m.; $23-$25). Just looking to neck while watching a flick? Try “Roman Holiday” at 7 p.m., “Moonlight” at 9:15 p.m. or “Harold & Maude” at 9:30 p.m. ($8-$10).
Details: The New Parkway Theater, 474 24 St., Oakland; www.thenewparkway.com
Mimosas and animal mating rituals
Ostriches engage in an elaborate courtship dance. African lions mate for days. And Magellanic penguins nest in massive groups. Geek out on all the fascinating mating rituals in the animal kingdom over the weekend at the San Francisco Zoo. They’re setting up a Love Potion Bar with mimosas and Blood Marys and special mating keeper talks throughout the day, so it feels like an extra special day of animal loving. We’ll see you at the Nile hippo chat at 3 p.m.
Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 16-17. Activities are free with paid zoo admission. San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Boulevard and Great Highway, San Francisco; www.sfzoo.org
Graphic novel performance
You’re the couple who pored over turntablist Kid Koala’s 300-page “Nufonia Must Fall” when it debuted in 2003. Now, you can watch the brilliant story of the headphone-sporting robot come to life on stage with the help of a team of 15 puppeteers, technicians, musicians and other production artists. Under the direction of Oscar-nominated KK Barrett (“Where the Wild Things Are”), the performance is lit, filmed and projected on a large screen while Kid Koala, accompanied by the Afiara String Quartet, performs his original score on piano and turntable. Who said Valentine’s Day couldn’t be hip and tech-y?
Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and 14. Tickets $29-$46. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose; https://hammertheatre.com
