Five fresh ideas for Valentine’s Day in Hamilton
Pull at somebody's heartstrings with these five fresh ideas for Valentine's Day in Hamilton.
Play hooky and have brunch
Take the day off and spend it with each other, starting with brunch. Several local restaurants serve it on weekdays, including Motel on Barton Street, Saint James on James Street North, Cannon Coffee at Cannon and Ottawa streets, and Donut Diner on Stone Church Road East. There are so many to choose from.
Cinema
Enjoy a film with your sweetheart at one of the city's cinemas. The options include:
- The Westdale (1014 King St. W.) is celebrating its fourth anniversary with a fundraiser featuring the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band and a screening of the 1935 classic musical comedy Top Hat" on Valentine's Day. The Irving Berlin romantic musical comedy stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $65 and include: the show, a glass of Peller Estates sparkling wine, Walker's Chocolates, unlimited popcorn, a flower and more. Visit thewestdale.ca for more information.
- The Playhouse (177 Sherman Ave. N.) is showing Casablanca" at 4:30 p.m., Moonstruck" at 7 p.m. and The Room" at 9:20 p.m. Full calendar at playhousecinema.ca.
Swoon-worthy hike
It doesn't have to be a daylong adventure. Hamilton has some of the best views and vistas to choose from, even in the dead of winter. Try the trails at the Royal Botanical Gardens, map out a route in a Hamilton or Halton conservation area or enjoy a City of Hamilton hiking trail. Tiffany Falls comes to mind.
Skate in the great outdoors
Ice skating options abound in the Hamilton area, including:
- The Hamilton Waterfront Outdoor Rink at Pier 8 (47 Discovery Dr.) is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and skate rentals are available for $10 from 5 to 9:30 p.m.
- Burlington's Rotary Centennial Pond (1340 Lakeshore Rd.) is also open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with skate rentals available from 5 to 10 p.m. Don't forget to check the ice conditions hotline at 905-335-7738, ext. 8587.
- Lace up your skates and whiz around the ice path in Waterdown Memorial Park. The loop is one of four outdoor skating surfaces run by the City of Hamilton. Staff are on site until 10 p.m., and the lights are shut off at 11. Other outdoor rinks - weather dependent - are at the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre, Dundas Driving Park and Freelton Community Park. Closure notifications will be posted both online and at the park.
- You can also skate under a giant iridescent disco ball at a massive, temporary ice rink set up on top of Jackson Square downtown as part of the Hamilton Winterfest Hub. Skate rentals are available on site. Winterfest also features Love In Lights from 6 to 9 p.m. on Valentine's Day. Have your picture taken by a neon heart, join the photo contest and more. See hamiltonwinterfest.ca for details.
Starry skies
If the sky is clear, head to Binbrook Conservation Area (550 Harrison Rd.) or somewhere else far enough from the city lights for the stars to really pop. Look for the waning crescent moon and see how many constellations you can spot. It'll be cold, so be sure to take chairs, sleeping bags or blankets, and a thermos filled with your favourite hot beverage.
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator. jmoore@thespec.com