By Rosemary Peters
Valentine's Day is rolling around and this means that it is time to prove to your special someone how much you like him or her by taking him or her out on a date by which to judge all dates.
With such a daunting task looming in the foreground, many people find themselves cracking under the pressure and are unsure how to proceed.
Well never fear! After checking out these date options, the only thing you will have to worry about is finding the cheesiest Hallmark card.
Romantic Dates
The London Grill Restaurant
The London Grill Restaurant in The Benson Hotel is a great place to take your date for a classy night on the town. The Benson Hotel was rated the Audience winner for The Best of Citysearch Portland 2009 and The London Grill Restaurant was recently awarded the AAA 4-Diamond award for having outstanding service and style which means they top the list for the "it" Portland restaurant.
The elegant décor and soft lighting create an intimate dining ambience in which couples can enjoy their delicious food. The romantic atmosphere is enhanced by jazz music played by the restaurant's own jazz musician. Furthermore, the London Grill was given a five-star rating by Citysearch for its friendly service and the beautiful views of the city. Reservations can be made over the phone.
The London Grill Restaurant has many options to choose from. The appetizers range from the classic Caesar salad to something fancy like the pan seared foie gras. For the main course, patrons have deep decisions to make such as deciding between fresh angel hair pasta to grilled lambs chops. Prices range from moderate to expensive, so be sure to bring approximately $100 to cover the bill.
309 SW Broadway?Portland, OR 97205?Phone: (888) 523-6766
El Gaucho
If you are looking for an exotic place to eat on Valentine's Day, El Gaucho is the perfect place. El Gaucho serves up the best Argentinean food with seafood appetizers to filet mignon steaks for the main course, but it happens one of the pricier restaurants in Portland.
"The service was superb and I felt like a king," junior Kevork Isikbay said. "I would absolutely suggest taking a date there, although it is a little costly."
Isikbay is correct. Couples choosing to dine at El Gaucho should be prepared to spend between $100 and $300.
One of the best parts about choosing to eat at El Gaucho is the convenient location, although according to Isikbay its location hides the fact that it is a gem of a restaurant.
"The building does not look very nice on the outside," Isikbay said. "You can't tell it's an awesome place to eat until you go inside."
After dinner is over, there are plenty of other places to go and sights to see in downtown Portland. Spend a dreamy night out on the town with your significant other enjoying each other's company while reveling in all that Portland has to offer.
319 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205
Phone: (503) 227-8794
Sapphire Hotel
Yes, it has the word 'hotel' in the title, but it is actually a romantic, candlelit bar with fantastic French décor. The Sapphire Hotel is the perfect place to take your special someone if you are looking for romanticism with a little bit of urban spice.
The Sapphire Hotel has a full European menu with options from mashed potatoes to stakes, and a super friendly staff to serve the delicious food.
If you are looking for a moderately priced but romantic restaurant, then the Sapphire Hotel is the perfect eatery. Customers can expect to foot a bill in the range of $50 to $100.
The Sapphire Hotel also offers a lengthy alcoholic and nonalcoholic drink list with everything from mocktails to martinis.
5008 SE Hawthorne Blvd?Portland, OR 97215?Phone: (503) 232-6333
Active Dates
Multnomah Falls
If you like dates that are more active and get your blood pumping, then try going to Multnomah Falls. The 620-foot cascading waterfall provides the perfect scenery where you and your date can have a great time.
The hiking trails range from half a mile to seven miles and these trails have great picture taking opportunities. You can even take a dip in the river when you reach the top.
"I love Multnomah Falls," freshman Renata Fusso said. "The scenery is gorgeous and it is just an enjoyable experience. I would love to hike the falls on Valentine's Day. It sounds so personal and intimate."
The best part about this date idea is that it's free. You can spend the entire day in a lovey-dovey haze with your significant other without emptying your wallet.
50000 Historic Columbia River Hwy
Corbett, OR 97019
Price Range: Gas Money!
Portland Rock Gym
Rock climbing is a second great idea for an active date. Not only do you and your date get to have fun climbing 20-foot Yosemite boulders, but you also get to build a new level of trust in your relationship by belaying and supporting your date as he or she climbs the rock walls.
"Rock climbing would be the most amazing Valentine's date ever!" freshman Julie Rilling said. "It's way better than something like a movie. Active dates are usually better."
Portland Rock Gym offers more than rock climbing. It also has a weight room, a cardio room and yoga classes. Once you feel like you worked up enough sweat from scaling mountains, hit the mats and learn a new yoga position.
21 NE 12th Ave.
Portland, OR 97232 ?(503) 232-8310
Price Range: $40 per couple
Escaping Your Date
Now, should you find your Valentine's Day quickly turning from romantic to horrific and you want to bail, there are always a few places you can go to end things quickly and painlessly.
The Cove
If you plan on dumping your date, the Cove is the perfect place to operate such a maneuver. Let's look at the facts. You are leaving your date on campus close to his or her dorm and putting them in close reach to a pint of ice cream. Believe me, he or she will actually thank you later.
Moreover, if you change your mind later and decide you made a mistake, you can just tell your date you got turned around and lost in the billowing smoke that always seems to be hazing up the place.
Triangle Park
It's UP property now, and that means its fair game to pull a date dash. The second you suggest walking down the trail toward the park, your date will know what is up and he or she will probably leave you before you even have to say anything.
It's a double win: you're single and you didn't even have to be the breaking-up bad guy.
