Overview
While the haters may declare it a corporate conspiracy and serial bachelor/ettes may describe it as an excuse for gross displays of schmaltz, if you flee from the typical pratfalls of heart-shaped chocolates and plush animals, Sydney actually has a lot of awesome date opportunities on offer this Valentine's Day.
From moonlight cinemas to swanky art exhibitions to kick-ass concerts, our top five ways to spend Valentine's Day will not only help you avoid all manner of cliches and teenage insipidity but actually provide you with the recipe for a genuinely romantic night out this February 14.
1. Late Night at the MCA
From its breathtaking panoramic views of Sydney Harbour to its eclectic and endlessly fascinating international collection, headlined by Anish Kapoor's awe-inspiring body of work, we at Concrete Playground are total suckers for the revamped and revitalised Museum of Contemporary Art. Most importantly for those hoping to get the chemistry a-bubbling and the sparks a-flying, Thursday means late-night entry at the MCA, so this Valentine's Day you and your significant other can gesticulate about modern art even as the stars are shining through the gallery's gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows. To complete the romantic package head to Ananas for super-jazzy vibes and unreal French cuisine and Palmer & Co. for a couple of classy, clandestine after-dinner cocktails.
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 140 George St, The Rocks. Open till 9pm.
2. Breakfast at Tiffany's at Moonlight Cinema
While perhaps not as high brow as its Macquarie Chair cousin, the Opel Moonlight Cinema has become a cultural mainstay of the Sydney summer, offering a range of contemporary, cult, and classic flicks in the beautiful garden ambience of Centennial Park. For Valentine's Day, the Moonlight Cinema is cranking up the romance and old-school charm with a screening of the Audrey Hepburn-led classic Breakfast at Tiffany's. If you wish to make this February 14 a particularly memorable affair, we suggest forking out a few extra dollars for a Gold Grass ticket, which will not only reserve you a spot in prime viewing position but a big ol' beanbag, perfect for some Valentine's Day canoodling. Couples looking for kick-ons in a luxurious champagne bar should head to One Moncur for an elegant yet affordable after-movie venue.
Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park (on the corner of Loch Avenue and Broome Avenue) Paddington. Cinema gates and box office open at 7pm and screenings start at sundown.
3. Jens Lekman at the Oxford Art Factory
With song titles like 'The End of the World is Bigger than Love' and 'I Know What Love Isn't', it's fair to say Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman ain't likely to make it onto a Richard Mercer playlist anytime soon. Instead, Lekman offers a refreshingly unique brand of baroque-pop that combines his trademark wit and lyrical virtuosity with a sweeping sonic pallet that touches on everything from Morrisey-esque crooning to jazz-lite grooving to stomping indie pop. Oh, and then when you least expect it, the songs turn into the most beautiful, melt-your-heart romanticism.
Oxford Art Factory, Basement, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
4. Spiegelworld Presents Empire
Described by the New York Times as "Cirque du Soleil channelled through Rocky Horror Picture Show", Empire is a bewildering and bizarre world of flying bodies, titilating costumes, and jaw-dropping stunts. Part travelling circus part variety show and part cabaret act, the thrill of Empire lies in its ability to regularly shock, occasionally appall and consistently enthral, as it did to rave reviews in its recent New York run. Set in an intimate 700-person travelling tent and adorned with plush velvet booths, Empire is sure to be an offbeat and unforgettable Valentine's Day experience. Once you've had your fill of acrobats, contortionists, clowns that are actually funny (seriously), assorted daredevils and the 'Hot Russian Girl in a Bubble', head to The Apartment in nearby Surry Hills to try one of their famous Spanish cocktails, such as the delightfully named Aperolling with the Bulls.
Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, 2021
5. Jurassic Lounge: Anti Valentine's Day
As the name suggests, this isn't exactly your regular sugar-coated Valentine's Day schtick. In fact, Jurassic Lounge is so opposed to St Valentine's blessed day that it actually falls on February 12 (in their regular Tuesday slot). In a one-finger salute to couples across Sydney, Jurassic Lounge is putting on a collection of risque and raunchy events that celebrate all the perks and powers afforded to singletons. These include burlesque dancers, a tribe of love-hating comedians, sexy trivia, a silent disco, dating roulette, and a screening of Isabella Rossellini's Sundance series Green Porno, in which she re-enacts the mating rituals of various insects. It's another feather in the hat for Jurassic Lounge, who have transformed the traditionally drab and dreary Australian Museum into a fascinating and fabulous after-hours hangout, reminding us all just how cool dinosaurs and megafauna are.
The Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, 2000
Image from Green Porno, screening at Jurassic Lounge.