January 30th, 2012 
With a variety of high end hotels, restaurants, and spas, Atlanta has plenty to offer on the most romantic day of the year. The trouble is, these venues can easily empty your wallet. So why not plan something a little more low-key this Valentine’s Day? Here are five ways you can celebrate your love without overspending. Date ideas range from romantic to unconventional.
Wind Orchestra at Rialto Center for the Arts
Wind Orchestra (Photo Credit: Rialto Center for the Arts)
If you’re a music lover, spend the evening at Georgia State University. On February 14th, the Wind Orchestra will perform at the Rialto Center for the Arts. Instrumentalists from the School of Music and the University at Large make up this talented ensemble. Conducted by Chester Philips, the concert features the music of Latin America. Bring your date for some of the finest sounds in the city. As Shakespeare once wrote, “If music be the food of love, play on.”
WHERE:
Rialto Center for the Arts
80 Forsyth Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Ph. 404-413-5901
WHEN: February 14, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: Free. No ticket required. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
Open Mic Night at Laughing Skull Lounge
(Photo credit: The Laughing Skull Lounge)
Voted Best Comedy Open Mic in Atlanta, Laughing Skull Lounge is the perfect place for an unconventional date. Local and national comedians drop in to work on their routines, so you never know who you may see. This Valentine’s Day, forgo the flowers and have a good laugh with your significant other.
WHEN: Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Inside The Vortex – Midtown
878 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Ph. 877-523-3288
TICKETS: $10 per person.
Candyman at the Plaza Theater
(Photo credit: imdb.com)
If Halloween is more your style, you don’t have to wait until October. This Valentine’s Day, Splatter Cinema presents the new horror classic, Candyman at the Plaza Theater. The legendary hook-handed villain is sure to give you and your date a fright. Candyman is no Sweetheart®. And don’t even think about saying his name in the bathroom mirror. Arrive early and have your photo taken for free in a scene recreated right in the lobby!
WHEN: February 14, 2012 at 9:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Plaza Theater
1049 Ponce De Leon Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30306
Ph. 404-873-1939
TICKETS: $9 for Adults. $7.50 for Students with I.D. $7.50 for Seniors.
Orchid Daze at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Pansy Orchid (Photo Credit: Atlanta Botanical Garden)
Why buy a bouquet when you can take a stroll through the Atlanta Botanical Garden? The 10th annual Orchid Daze offers the largest collection of species orchids in the United States. Exquisite sapphire, amethyst, and amber orchids sit as far as the eye can see. Glance up, and you’ll find moth orchids and Dendrobium floating above. You’ll fall in love with nature’s beauty as you fall in love with your partner all over again.
WHEN: February 4 – April 15, 2012.
WHERE:
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA30309
Ph. 404-876-5859
TICKETS: $18.95 per person. You may purchase online or at the door. Garden members: free.
Valentine’s Day at the High Museum of Art
(Photo Credit: High Museum)
If you haven’t seen the High Museum’s Picasso to Warhol: Fourteen Modern Masters, take a tour on Valentine’s Day. The exhibit features one of the largest collections of modern art in the Southeast. Over 100 pieces from the 20th Century’s finest are on display including works by Marcel Duchamp, Jackson Pollock, Henry Matisse and 11 others. Celebrate with fellow art lovers as you and your date enjoy a glass of champagne, tasty treats, music, dancing, and of course, art.
WHEN: February 14, 2012 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
WHERE:
Robinson Atrium
1280 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Ph. 404-733-4444
TICKETS: $25 per person, $40 per couple, and $10 for members. Tickets are available for purchase online.
