There’s something about the winter months that make you just want to snuggle up with someone and be romantic. John Mayer even wrote a song about this phenomenon (St. Patrick’s Day). As a young collegiette™ living in DC, there are so many options for fun winter dates. Take a break from studying for finals and grab your favorite guy (or even some of your girlfriends) to explore the capital city this season!
Date #1: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating
Ice-skating at the National Gallery of Art is one of the quintessential winter experiences you must do! It opened the weekend before Thanksgiving and will be in place until mid-March. Though it gets a little crowded with families, you can make this a morning date and have enough room to show off your Olympic-worthy triple lutz you perfected in 7th grade. The rink also has a student discount, so a two-hour session will only cost you $7 and $3 to rent a pair of skates! Check their website for hours of operation. Pentagon Row also has an ice rink set up if you want to trek out to Virginia!
Date #2: Zoo Lights at the National Zoo
It’ll be hard to decide who is cuter your date or all the animals in the National Zoo. Every winter, the zoo sets up a winter light display throughout the park. And the best news? It’s free! Bring your date to explore the animal houses (don’t worry, his fraternity brothers won’t be there), learn how to conserve energy more efficiently at special stations and take a train ride of the lion and tiger habitats to see all the lights from above. If your date is an environmental studies major, he’ll appreciate the eco-friendly gifts in the shops. If he is an AU Athletics fan, take him to the Zoo Lights on December 11 to meet some Caps players. There will also be live concerts throughout the season, so check the Zoo’s website for up-to-date info.
Date #3: Brightest Young Things + The Kennedy Center Present: The Greatest Holiday Party of All!
You’ve always thought of The Kennedy Center as a classy and sophisticated performance space that’s a D.C. institution. But when Brightest Young Things takes over for their holiday party on December 9, it will be a tacky and outrageous party like no other. Expect ugly Christmas sweaters, drunk Santas and a speakeasy lounge (password is “eggnog”). Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door. It’s a cash bar and food service. As a typical rule in D.C., it’s 18 to enter, 21 to drink!
A lot of your favorite bars and restaurants will also have holiday-inspired menus. It’ll be a great way to gauge his level of excitement for the winter season or to catch him under the mistletoe!