The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
7 Anti-Valentine’s Day date ideas
This Valentine’s Day, throw out the stuffed teddy bears and dining reservations, and instead opt for exploring a “haunted” location or visiting a museum with human brains. Whether you’re newly single, in a relationship considered “unromantic” or would simply rather forgo the usual Valentine’s Day offerings, there are plenty of unusual activities to choose from in Connecticut.
Exploring a haunted location
Looking for more thrills and chills? The Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours in Mystic is hosting its “My Bloody Valentine Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour” from Feb. 10 to 19.
You’ve heard the legends. You may have even explored some of them (disclaimer: do not trespass on any private, condemned or off-limits properties). Now, take a trip through Connecticut’s supposedly “haunted” and creepy locations as you celebrate your undying love.
Share a kiss in the fabled hiding place of Satan himself in Devil’s Hopyard State Park or take your partner for a stroll through the Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven, where you may see “Midnight Mary.”
‘Valentine’s Day Sucks’ at Fright Haven
Four months after Halloween, Fright Haven in Stratford is opening its doors for a Valentine’s Day-themed haunted house. “Valentine’s Day Sucks” offers “a date night to die for,” with the haunted house decked out with “gory teddy bears, bleeding hearts and soul-sucking monsters.”
The attraction will be offered Feb. 10 and 11, and advance tickets must be purchased for guests looking to partake in the haunt.
Smash rooms
Have an ex that really gets you mad? Or a current partner who’s gotten on your nerves?
Connecticut’s “smash rooms” allow guests to take out their aggression on a number of objects in a contained environment. Everything from glasses to furniture can be demolished in these rooms with guests armed with bats to help in the destruction. Reservations must typically be made ahead of time and smash rooms can be done solo or with a group a friends.
There are currently three “smash rooms” in Connecticut.
Smash Avenue
635 New Park Ave., Building 2C, West Hartford 455 Trolley Line Blvd., Suite 150, Mashantucket
Smash Room CT
127 Echo Lake Road, Watertown
Axe throwing
The Nomads Adventure Quest is inviting guests to bring pictures of their exes for its “Axe your Ex” event.
Though not as aggressive as its cousin the “smash room,” axe throwing has become a popular activity, with facilities dedicated to the throwing sport popping up throughout the state.
Spots to go axe throwing are open in most Connecticut cities and sporadic places across the state, including Blue Ox Throwing in Bridgeport and Wallingford, the Axe Tricks Throwing Lounge in Danbury, Montana Nights in Newington and Odin’s Keep Axe House in Enfield.
Many of these spots also include more than just axe throwing — the activity is often paired with arcade games, dining and other sports activities.
Visit a museum
The Mystic Seaport Museum, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and Bruce Museum are some of the more notable museums in Connecticut but did you know there are museums off the beaten path that house everything from human brains to movie monster figures?
The Cushing Center at Yale’s Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library houses specimens from 2,200 case studies conducted by Dr. Harvey Cushing, a neurosurgeon who discovered Cushing’s disease. Items such as human skulls, brains and other body parts are carefully preserved, and serve as an educational tool for the university.
The Witch’s Dungeon in Plainville contains screen-accurate horror movie figures as well as real-life props from movies like “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “The Exorcist.”
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is an ode to the history of puppetry and its role in entertainment. Featuring works from renowned puppeteers like Ralph Lee and Jim Henson, the museum explores the state’s role in pushing the boundaries of puppetry, though it is not recommended for anyone suffering from Pupaphobia.
Take a tax preperation class
What is more romantic than filing joint taxes?
Tax season is now upon us and a new wave of couples is filing for the first time. What better way to bond than by taking a tax preparation course to learn more about W-2s, filing your taxes for an LLC or learning to file jointly for the first time.
Other class options include retirement, income planning, Social Security, real estate investment and financial wellness.
Going to a buffet
Dinner reservations are usually top of mind for couples looking to make Valentine’s Day plans. However, perhaps not top of mind is stacking up your plate with desserts and a variety of roasted meats at a buffet, or shamelessly eating fast food in a parking lot.
The Hooters restaurant chain is even getting in the anti-Valentine’s Day mood with its “Shred Your Ex” event, which invites diners to shred a picture of their ex in exchange for free wings.
Hooters has two Connecticut locations: Manchester and Wethersfield.