How to spread love, not Covid

The day of love is almost upon us, and despite skating through the previous two Valentine’s Days semi-Covid-free, even Cupid himself cannot stop Omicron.

With the red traffic light setting, there are a few restrictions on how couples can mark the occasion, but there are still many ways to support local businesses while celebrating love. Here’s what to do in Auckland this Valentine’s Day:

BOOK A ROMANTIC DINNER

■ If you’re looking for epic views of Tāmaki

Makaurau, there’s no place better than Ostro’s rooftop. The iconic Auckland establishment (savor. co.nz/ostro) has a special Valentine’s Day menu for couples to indulge in.

■ Elmo’s of Ponsonby (elmos.co. nz) is celebrating Valentine’s Day the weekend before, as they are closed the day Cupid’s arrow lands on. The pizza bar is putting on a three-course set menu for two, featuring slow-cooked meatballs and classic tiramisu, just to name a few.

■ If you are looking to really indulge, there’s no better place than the Cordis’s Eight restaurant (eightrestaurant.co. nz). Unfortunately, their iconic self-serve buffet is not available during Covid, but they are still cooking up a variety of culinary delights. Every couple that dines on February 13 and 14 will get a glass of bubbles and a red rose on

arrival.

SHOW OFF YOUR ART SKILLS

If you have ever fancied yourself as a 21st century Vincent van Gogh,

Paintvine (paintvine.co.nz) is the place to prove it.

The two-hour painting session is led by an experienced artist who will take you through a step-by-step process to create your own version of a famous art piece, all while with a glass of wine in your hand. Two Paintvine events are being held on Valentine’s Day, with food and drinks available to buy throughout your evening.

WHAT’S MORE ROMANTIC THAN SHAKESPEARE?

The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna is hosting a special Valentine’s Day viewing of the Merchant of Venice in their outdoor amphitheatre this year, and promises to treat their audience to ‘‘sumptuous costumes, creative production design and passionate performances by a talented troop of local actors’’.

GET (JUST) OUT OF AUCKLAND WITH A LUXURIOUS NIGHT AWAY

For those feeling like throwing caution to the wind, why not use the opportunity to book in a long weekend?

The La Valla Estate (lavalla. co.nz) in Tuakau, located just out of the Auckland boundary, have a Valentine’s Day accommodation package in celebration of the most romantic day of the year. The $140pp experience includes a welcome drink, threecourse feast, live music and relaxing stay at one of their beautiful lodges or cottages.

LOSE YOURSELF AMONG ART

If you’re looking for an artistic experience, head up to the Sculptureum in picturesque Matakana. The sculpture garden is hosting a weekend-long Valentine’s Day special, which includes entry to the garden, a picnic and two glasses of wine.

BRING THE ROMANCE HOME

If you don’t want to mix with strangers out in the Omicron wild, bring the romance home. Forget takeaways – make your Valentine’s Day dinner restaurant quality from the comfort of your own kitchen.

■ Aforementioned Italian favourite Elmo’s not only creates beautiful pizza in its restaurant, but frozen pizza you can chuck in the oven with minimal effort.

■ To really ramp up the Italian feast, purchase some homemade fresh pasta and pasta sauce from Pasta and Cuore (pastaecuore.co. nz). Why not throw in a ready-toeat antipasto platter while you’re at it?

■ If you’re looking for a delicious drop to accompany your gourmet meal, Black Pineapple Company (blackpineapple.co.nz) has a range of cocktail kits. The Love in A Lockdown kit featuring a gin and cocktail is the perfect way to mark a special occasion without having to leave the house.

■ If you want to finish off your meal on a sweet note, order a box of brownies or a couple of cake jars from Sweet Talk (sweettalk.nz). Both come in a wide variety of delicious flavours, and also can be sent across the country, if you happen to have a long-distance lover.

FOR THE SINGLES

■ Sweet Axe Auckland (sweetaxethrow.com) is hosting a Valentine’s Day deal, and isn’t limited to just couples. For $180, a group of two can book in for axe throwing, with an ‘‘axepert’’ present to keep you and others safe. If there was ever a time when you might want to throw an axe, it’s Valentine’s Day two years into a global pandemic.

■ If you’re on the lookout for love, head down to Archie Brothers Arcade in Newmarket. The eclectic games paradise is hosting a speed dating event, featuring bowling, cocktail ‘‘love potions’’ and one-on-one dates with a fellow singleton. Could you meet your match in between the pinball machines?