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TOP 5 FAVES

Alternative Ways to Spend Your Valentine's Day

We polled our staff on their favorite nontraditional (and even anti-) Valentine’s Day activities for lovebirds and Hallmark haters alike. Here’s a few of their faves.

CHEERS TO UNDYING LOVE

If a love of eerie experiences and, well, beer, is up your alley, BeerQuest’s Haunted Valentine’s Day Pub Tour might be the perfect way to express your undying love for each other. Explore your dark, spooky side and celebrate with the resident ghosts of Portland, Oregon on their tour of some of the Rose City’s most haunted brew pubs. At the very least, it’s a good excuse to hold each other close!

SIP AND PAINT

Bottle & Bottega’s Happy Galentine’s Day takes painting, pairs it with wine, and gives you an excuse to get together with your favorite gals. Make no mistake, no experience is needed -- Tap into your inner Bob Ross, and get over to the Bottle & Bottega studio for a painting party!

PARTY LIKE A PUNK ROCKER

Looking for something a little more… LOUD? No Fun’s Punk Valentine’s Party wants you to put the fancy dresses away (or don’t, whatever) and get ready to have your ears blasted with the dulcet sounds of three kickass local punk bands. Who says Valentine’s Day has to be all candlelight dinners and red roses anyway??

GET IN THE GAME

In a #ThrowbackThursday Valentine’s Day twist, why not head over to Glowing Greens: Portland’s Pirate-themed underground blacklight mini golf. It is packed with animated skeletons, props, CGI videos and wall-to-wall 3D sets with adventure sounds (and we know you’re curious to hear those!). It’s like regular mini-golf but with blacklight!

FIND YOUR SANCTUARY

When we mention alternative date nights (or solo hangs), we have to shout out alternative lifestyle hotspot Sanctuary Club. Stop in solo or bring a partner (or two) for a Valentine's Day-themed Game Bang! And if you like what you see, you're standing in Portland’s premier BDSM club, so peruse the offerings and see if you can't start a new V-Day tradition of your own...

WHEN THE NIGHT IS OVER, THE FUN DOESN'T HAVE TO END

By the time Cupid has done their dirty work and gotten all up in your evening plans, make a point to head over to the Jupiter to get some well-earned rest on top of all the festivities. Hey Love is hosting an all-night dance party, and Doug Fir Lounge has a double-header with swagger-laden ladies man Alex Cameron himself.