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From duo trapeze lessons to a night of swing dancing, from gourmet dinner reservations like at XIX complete with a stunning view to luxurious couple spa packages, Philadelphia has plenty of Valentine's Day options. (Photo credits clockwise from top left: courtesy Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, G. Widman for GPTMC, courtesy Society Hill Dance Academy, courtesy Spa Terme di Aroma)

Ah, February. The month of l’amour. The time of year when there are big (read: huge) expectations for date night come mid-month.

So one needs to up the ante. But what can you do that hasn’t been done before or doesn’t seem cliché? Do not stress. This is the City of Brotherly Love, after all.

Check out our ideas for interesting and inventive ways for you to treat your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day:

Wining and Dining

• Aphrodisiac Menu, Cupid’s Crawl and Lover’s Brunch at Gypsy Saloon: Celebrate Valentine’s Weekend, Friday, February 10 through Tuesday, February 14, at Gypsy Saloon. The Aphrodisiac menu is available February 10-14 and the Lover’s Brunch is available on Sunday, February 12. After dinner on Friday, February 10, join Conshohocken’s Cupid’s Crawl. Hop on a complimentary bus that boards at Spamp’s Restaurant at 8 p.m. and ends at Gypsy Saloon at midnight. Enjoy drink specials and prizes at each stop along the way. Sales from Cupid’s Crawl t-shirts benefit Cradles to Crayons.

• Hawthornes Valentine’s Beer Dinner: Join the folks at Hawthornes on Sunday, February 12 from 6-9 p.m. for a four-course meal and six-beer menu (including a surprise beer!) sure to heat up an evening with your sweetie. Live music will be on hand. Dinner with the beer menu is $75 per person. Reservations are required as space is limited (call 215-627-3012).

• Penns Woods Winery Wine and Chocolate Month: Every weekend in February, join Penns Woods Winery for chocolate, wine and fun. Each weekend from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Penns Woods will feature John & Kira’s handmade decadent chocolates paired with six different “reserved” wines. Also featured will be their limited-production dessert wine, Lacrima Dolce, with flavors of ripe fruit and dark chocolaty tannins, paired with a chocolate dipped, ganache-filled fig. Each tasting includes a free souvenir wine glass. To register, call (610) 459-0808 or e-mail andrea@pennswoodswinery.com.

• Edible Aphrodisiac Menu and Free Tango Lessons at Isabella: Chef Michael Cappon of Isabella in Conshohocken has created an inspiring 10-course tasting menu of sensual aphrodisiac foods guaranteed to create romance. Isabella’s Edible Aphrodisiac Menu is available Friday, February 10 through Tuesday, February 14. For those who want to spice up Valentine’s Day even more, enjoy complimentary Tango lessons in “The Loft” at Isabella. The beginner’s class starts at 8 p.m. and advanced begins at 9 p.m.

• WHYY’s 3rd Annual CHOCOLATE event: Celebrate the season for sweetness with WHYY at its premier Valentine’s weekend event: CHOCOLATE! Join WHYY members on Saturday, February 11, from 7-9 p.m. where a beer garden and an exciting chocolate raffle are only the beginning to this cocoa-filled two-hour sampling of delightful desserts, savory snacks and decadent drinks. The night is topped off with live music from bassist Phil D’Agostino.

• South Philly Love Your Co-op Event: On Sunday, February 12, join the South Philly Food Co-op for two chocolate, cheese and wine tastings as well as demos by Pastry Chef Chad Durkin (former Executive Pastry Chef at Susanna Foo’s and the Water Works Restaurant, as well as a competitor on several Food Network shows). Durkin will be demonstrating an easy-to-make dessert that you can replicate at home for your loved one on Valentine’s Day.

Read on, below, for ideas for more fun ways to celebrate the holiday.

Theater and the Arts

• 1812 Production’s “Funny Valentine” Cabaret at the Tin Angel: Spend Valentine’s with Philadelphia’s all-comedy theatre company. This annual cabaret of songs and comedy features all of your favorite 1812 personalities delivering the funniest Valentine’s you’ll receive. This one-night performance is Monday, February 13 at 8 p.m. and tickets are only $15.

• First Person Arts “The Ex-Files” Valentine’s Day StorySlam at World Café Live: First Person Arts slams Valentine’s Day on February 14 (doors open at 7:30 p.m., slam starts at 8:30 p.m.). First hosted last year, it’s an unconventional Valentine’s night out for couples and non-couples alike. Ten storytellers take to the stage with their true tales of love lost. Stories range from the sweet to the sad, the hilarious to the ridiculous. Each storyteller has five minutes to captivate the crowd with his/her storytelling prowess. Judges, selected from the audience, score the performances on a ten-point scale.

• Valentine’s Date Night or Brunch at The Clay Studio: Share the wheel with your sweetheart by candlelight while enjoying light fare, chocolate, champagne, wine and mood-music while celebrating Valentine’s Day in a way you’ll be sure to remember. Wear or bring clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Pre-registration is required. Date nights are Saturday, February 11, 7-9 p.m. or Tuesday, February 14, 7-9 p.m.; Valentine’s brunch is Sunday, February 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Contact sara@theclaystudio.org or call (215) 925-3453 ext. 23 for more information.

• Matchbox Theatre Company’s The Playdaters: On February 14 at 8:30 and 10 p.m., Matchbox Theatre will stage this comedic tale of first dates and romantic drama in the 21st century.

• Cupid is Dead Valentine’s Day Fundraiser Cabaret: This fundraiser for the Collage Festival coming in May 10 acts for $10 working with an anti-Valentine’s Day theme at the Tritone. Acts include local and internationally renowned musicians and artists from Philadelphia and New York.

• Jim Brickman Plays An Evening of Romance: On February 18 at the Kimmel Center, America’s romantic piano sensation Jim Brickman makes his Philadelphia debut at the Merriam Theater. One of the best selling solo piano artists of our time, Brickman will perform a special concert featuring his beloved hits “Valentine,” “Love of My Life,” “The Gift,” “If You Believe,” and “Never Alone,” as well as his own compositions from his latest album, Romanza, a collection of Italian-inspired original love songs.

• I Love You/I Hate You 5th Anniversary at Azuka Theatre: Each year Azuka puts together the “best of the best and the best of the worst” from the City Paper’s iconic “I Love you/I Hate You” column for a one-night-only melo-dramatic reading with some of the funniest actors in Philadelphia. This year’s event is at 5 p.m. on February 13.

• Til Death Do Us Part: Love Stories of Laurel Hill: Join Laurel Hill for this tour and reception honoring the “spirit” (get it?) of Valentine’s Day. The love stories of Laurel Hill are as varied as the hearts from which they have sprung. Red wine, hot chocolate and sultry bites aside a toasty fire will warm your flesh afterwards.

Mesmerizing Miscellany

• Celebrate Love in the Cellblocks at Eastern State Penitentiary: Eastern State Penitentiary invites couples to break out of the ordinary and celebrate Valentine’s Day with special Winter Adventure Tours from Saturday, February 11 through Tuesday, February 14. Bring your valentine to receive buy one get one free admission and experience the history of Eastern State with a focus on love stories throughout the prison’s history.

• Twisted Love Dance Party at Society Hill Dance Academy: Friday, February 11 from 8-11 p.m., twist the night away at Society Hill Dance Academy’s annual Valentine’s dance party. Love potions will be served.

• Spa Terme di Aroma’s Valentine’s Day Package: Old City’s Spa Terme di Aroma is offering a Valentine’s Day Escape Spa Package for lovers, which includes a half hour Escape Facial and a one-hour signature Aromatherapy message for $110. Services are performed in separate rooms with the relaxing and soothing spa lounges as common areas.Terme di Aroma is also having a fun Valentine’s sweepstakes throughout the month of February. With every purchase of a gift certificate of $100 or more, you can enter to win two Escape Spa packages (valued at $220), along with an overnight stay for two at the Holiday Inn Historic District (including parking). Enter as many times as you wish throughout the month of February.

• Coeur Lingerie Boutique Fashion Show: Coeur Lingerie will be having a Valentine’s Day Lingerie Fashion Show in their store window on February 13 at 12:15 and 5:15 p.m. Additionally, representatives will be in-store from Teuscher’s Chocolates of Switzerland and Blooms Flowers for one-stop shopping.

• Free Library Speed Dating Events: The Free Library of Philadelphia will present multiple speed dating events for single adults of all ages during the first week of February. Participants are encouraged to bring a book they’ve either loved or hated, or just recently read to use as an ice-breaker. One lucky couple at each event will win Author Events tickets to see Anne Rice, bestselling author of The Vampire Chronicles series, and have their first date at the Free Library on Valentine’s Day. The speed dating meetings are as follows:

• With Love… at Historic Philadelphia Center: Have the best Valentine’s Day in history! Bring your loved one to the Historic Philadelphia Center for a showing of Liberty 360, a 15-mintue film exploring the symbols of our freedom in dazzling 3D and hosted by Ben Franklin. Buy one ticket, get the second free Friday, February 10 through Tuesday, February 14 from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12). Plus, enjoy 10% off your meal at Jones following the show!

• 3rd Annual Valentine’s Ghost Tour of Society Hill: Departing from the Powel House February 11 through 14 at 8 p.m., the tour includes a candlelit stroll through Society Hill and a tour of the Powel House, a haunted colonial-era mansion. Listen to tales of love, loss, scandal and betrayal of famous scoundrels and socialites during a 75-minute walking tour led by a costumed guide. A portion of proceeds benefits the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks.

• Philadelphia School of Circus Arts “Double the Love” Workshops: Love is literally in the air at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts with its first-ever “Double the Love: Intro Circus” workshops on Friday, February 10, 7-8:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 11, at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. During these Valentine’s Day-inspired workshops, couples/pairs will fly during doubles trapeze, work together in doubles acrobatics, and balance on doubles tightwire. “Double the Love” is $25 per person, and open to anyone 16 years and older. Workshop activities are geared towards beginners with no special experience or skills required.