Dating in January? We think this is a wise move. Why do we think so?
Well, it's markedly colder this month, so you'll be much less interested in venturing into the city to find someone hot. Cuddling will help you keep both your body temperature and your heart warm.
So, having a predetermined cuddle buddy is essential in January.
We also think it's smart to start thinking about the dreaded holiday in the middle of February. Okay, we know it's soon to talk about the holiday of St. Valentine, but you can't be too prepared, really ever.
Anyway, you're going to want to get it on in January. Getting it on is usually preceded by a great date. Fight off seasonal depression and the urge to spend the whole month watching Netflix with our excellent date suggestions below.
1. Pete's Candy Store (79 Lorimer Street - Brooklyn)
All the best places in the city are in Williamsburg, right?
Whether or not you agree with that statement, you've got to admit Pete's Candy Store is a gem. They've got one of the best open mic nights in the city on Sundays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Wednesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., they've got Quizzo, where you and your date can compete fiercely in NYC's finest trivia.
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They've got a reading series every other Thursday at 7:30 p.m. where literary icons tear the stage apart, and a comedy open mic night on Monday, January 11th and 25th, at 6:30 p.m.
They also have poetry readings, and a once-a-month prose bowl. The date for their January prose bowl hasn't yet been announced, but it will be here, and it's really something special. They also have plenty of really great, free concerts.
Plus, they have lots of inexpensive alcohol, so you can also get buzzed. Check out their event schedule and calendar to see what event works for you.
2. Manhattan Dinner Cruise (Pier 40)
The Manhattan Dinner Cruise, put on by Hornblower Yachts is just about the most romantic thing we can think of. Yes, even in the freezing cold January weather.
Yes, we recommend bundling. We also recommend drinking before you go. There's nothing wrong with liquid heat, is there?
The Manhattan Dinner Cruise means three hours of cruising around the New York Harbor. It means a hors d'oeuvres reception hour, a three course a la carte menu (which does include a dessert station).
There will be an on-board DJ, and after dinner dancing. There will be breathtaking views of all of NYC's hottest sights. You know, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, and that stunning skyline.
It's offered every Saturday in January from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. You will be the victor of NYC dating if you bring your date on this cruise. You can book here.
3. East Ville Des Folies - Act Quatre (125 East 11th Street)
What's more romantic than the 20s?
We agree. There is no decade more romantic than the 20s, and East Ville Des Folies will make that decade come alive all over again.
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This beer-and-whiskey-fueled foray into the past will take place on January 16th from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. We're envisioning an entire day of prohibition-era dancing and drinking, and then an entire evening of, well, you know the rest.
There will be burlesque, trapeze, swing jazz, and circus performances. There will be a lot of drinking. It's also the 130th anniversary of Webster Hall, which means four floors of beer and whiskey samples.
You know this is a great date idea, don't you? Yeah, we agree. Get your tickets here.
4. Rock n' Shop @ The Paper Box (17 Meadow Street)
Rock n' Shop will be kicking it in Brooklyn, making its grand comeback on January 9th. In case you're wondering, we still think it's one of the best ways to spend a weekend day drinking in NYC.
There's free live music, free pancakes from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and a free comedy show on Sundays at 12 p.m.
They've also got $3 drafts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. which is great news for anyone trying to get tipsy on any weekend afternoon.
They've also got more than 40 vendors, with apparel, jewelry, vinyl, and of course food. Really, we think it's a wonderful way to spend your weekend day, and Rock n' Shop is open every Saturday and Sunday in January starting January 9th. Bring a date, why don't you?
,5. Broadway and Restaurant Weeks
We think taking advantage of the city's deals for Broadway Week and Restaurant Week during January are definitely a conscientious, and romantic move.
First of all, because NYC has a ton of amazing Broadway shows, we mean, a lot of amazing Broadway shows. Secondly, it's also completely stocked with incredible restaurants.
Restaurant week will take place from January 18th through February 5th, and includes $25 three-course lunches or $38 three-course dinners at 300 of NYC's finest restaurants on every day of the week but Saturday.
Luckily, there's a heavy overlap between Broadway Week and Restaurant Week: Broadway's Discount Week's two-for-one deal stretches from January 19th through February 5th.
Dinner at an incredible NYC restaurant and then an incredible Broadway show? Sounds like a really tremendous date to us.
6. Winter Jam
Winter Jam isn't a traditional date idea, but hear us out. We think having fun with your date could be the most important priority of all, and Winter Jam will probably be the most fun event happening in NYC in January.
It's happening on Saturday, January 23rd, in the Central Park Bandshell. It includes an entirely free day of snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, and sledding.
NYC Parks will blow fresh snow onto the bandshell, so this event does not depend on the weather. Equipment is provided by the city at no cost, but you can bring your own skis, snowboards, sleds, or snowshoes too.
There will also be live music, and a Taste NY Winter Market for when you work up an appetite from all these active snow activities. Needless to say, we love when NYC puts on events like this, and we think you should take advantage of it in the romantic arena of your life. Do you agree?
7. Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival (608 West 28th Street)
Beer, bourbon, and BBQ tend to make people feel pretty amorous. Well, the beer and the bourbon make people feel amorous, and the BBQ just makes them feel satisfied.
We will warn you that if you bring a date to NYC's Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival, you run the risk of that date falling more in love with the bacon than you. That's just a risk you'll have to take.
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This event is going down on Saturday, January 30th, and includes three sessions: a Bacon Bash Tasting Session from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., a Whole Hog Picking Session from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and a Grand Poobah MEAT-A-RAMA Session, which goes all day from 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
It's a total blast, and it sells out fast. Get your tickets here.
8. Chelsea Piers (23rd Street and Hudson River Park)
route366photos Not a bad view to hit some golf balls with friends #chelseapiers #newyork #golf #drivingrange #skyline #outdoors #sunset #ocean #day2 #2016 #2016in366days
Nothing like some healthy competition to heat things up on your date, right?
At Chelsea Piers' Bowlmor, they've got 40 bowling lanes, a bar and lounge, billiard tables, and an arcade. Dating here will offer plenty of opportunity to get drunk, strike bets, and have a blast.
If bowling isn't enough for you, while at Chelsea Piers you can also play laser tag, ping pong, and test your skills on their ropes course.
Oh, you can also ice skate at their Sky Rink.
We know we threw a lot of options at you, but we felt like you should know about all of them. A date at Chelsea Piers' many attractions is never a bad idea.
Check out 12 Activities to Have an Absolutely Wild January in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]