Cheap Date
You may not have money, but you have skills. Pack up a Thermos of hot chocolate and take it (along with your date, of course) to the 274 acres that make up Asylum Lake Preserve (wmich.edu/~asylum). Here, it's easy to take advantage of the beauty nature presents and create your very own winter wonderland. Bundle up and take a romantic stroll through the trails, then plop down by one of the two lakes and put some (legal) moves on your date. By Lindsay Patton-Carson
Eclectic Date
Start early and dive into the Dayglow Concert at Wings Stadium on Feb. 10. A sort of modern day acid test, the Dayglow concert is comprised of thousands of audience members, clad in white, teeming in a sea of neon paint, complete with a stage filled with stilt walkers, fire dancers and acrobats. Hello, Technicolor make-out session! Tickets are $28 to $52 and the concert starts at 9 p.m. For more information, visit dayglowtour.com. By Audria Larsen
Fitness Date
Slip on your climbing shoes and head over to Climb Kalamazoo (136 S. Kalamazoo Mall) for a fun and fit date. Need climbing shoes? No worries, as Climb Kalamazoo has rental shoes for rent or purchase, in addition to all the climbing equipment you'll need to successfully scale more than 10,500 square feet of climbing surface. Admission for a first-time adult is $30. This includes a day pass, an equipment rental package and a safety lesson. Just in time for Valentine's Day, Climb Kalamazoo has a Tuesday "Twos Night" special where you can purchase an adult pass and get the second half off. Great for your date, better for your wallet. By Lindsay Patton-Carson
Funny Date
Dave Waite is a hilarious, creepy old guy. His receding hairline with hair-tuft halo, gruff voice and curly beard make his love for butt cleavage, porn, Hooters and regular cleavage even creepier. For guys, taking your date to see this show will make you seem like a Ghandi/Bradley Cooper hybrid by comparison: gorgeous and harmless. For girls out on that questionable blind date, seeing Waite on stage at the Globe Theatre (241 E. Kalamazoo Ave.) Feb. 3 and 4 will make you overly grateful for the oddly shaped stranger sitting next to you. Tickets are $10 for the 7:30 p.m. (18 and up) and 9:30 p.m. (21 and up) shows. By Tyler DeJong
First Date
If you plan to sip some wine this Valentine's Day, why not drink local and make an event out of it? Kalamazoo's Tempo Vino Winery (260 E. Michigan Ave.) offers wine sampling sessions that let patrons choose from more than 20 hand-pressed wines from around the globe. Wine tasting is $5 per person, and free with the purchase of a bottle. By Patrick Nothaft
Mushy Date
Explore your natural instincts at a Snowshoe Hike at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (701 W. Cloverdale, Hastings). On Feb. 11, hike 2.5 miles of field and forest with your sweetie for some peace and quiet. "It's a good time to reconnect," says the Institute's Maribeth Groen. Call to reserve snowshoes ($5 per pair). By Missy Black
Anti Mush Date
Papa Pete's (502 S. Burdick), located in downtown Kalamazoo, maintains the feel of the city of which it is a part: A little dingy, sometimes a bit dated, but still fun. Hosting live music three nights a week, as well as other events, Papa Petes is the Southwest Michigan spot for a memorable-yet-unpretentious date. By Nick Manes
Staycation
Visit the W.K. Kellogg Manor House (3700 East Gull Lake Dr., Hickory Corners) Feb. 11 for Valentine's Dinner. Treat your lover to an elegant evening at this historical venue featuring a four-course meal. "We try to do foods that pertain to the history of love," says Nicole Kokx, event coordinator for the Manor. Sleepover options include The Caretaker's Cottage and Carriage Houses. Reservations are required. Dinner is $45 a person. By Missy Black
