With the Day of Love right around the corner, I thought you geeks might be in need of a little inspiration for where to go on a Valentine’s geek date with your sweetie. Here are a few local Kansas City Valentine’s date ideas, suitable for geeks and non-geeks alike.
Get your game on
Hit up any of the various arcade bars for some retro gaming and drinks, such as Tapcade (try the Zangief – you won’t regret it!!), and UpDown. Both feature more than 40 vintage arcade games – like Galaga, Frogger, Tetris, Mario Bros, and Street Fighter – and more than 45 beers on tap (plus cocktails, if beer isn’t your thing). Challenge your geek-heart to a retro showdown and start mashing those buttons!
If your gaming preferences lean more to the table and board variety, you’ll want to check out Pawns & Pints – I hear Valentine’s night is Star Wars X-Wing league night AND Date Night.
Experience Twu Wuv on the big screen
The Alamo Drafthouse in the Power & Light District does not disappoint with their events, and they are offerings a couple romantic movie parties – they’re showing “The Princess Bride” on Sunday 2/12, and the slightly less geeky, yet still romantic “Moulin Rouge” on Tuesday the 14th (actual Valentine’s Day). Of course, if you’re looking for geek movies, they’re also showing a number of Studio Ghibli flicks throughout February.
Test your trivia chops with Geeks Who Drink
Kansas City is home to quite a few ‘chapters’ of Geeks Who Drink, trivia events that take place at local bars and taverns. In fact, there are six different locations hosting minutiae knowledge events on Valentine’s night – apply your Wonder Twin memory powers to the test and emerge victorious!
Check my Geek Events Calendar for a listing of GWD locations.
Make your escape
What’s more romantic than getting locked in a room together? Getting locked in a room together with a murder to solve! There are quite a few escape room venues popping up around Kansas City, most have rooms for two people, or more, in case you want to go with other couples. My Geek Girl Brunch chapter recently took on the challenge at Clue Pursuit KC, and people are already clamoring to go back. Here are some locations to check out (though not a complete list):
- Clue Pursuit KC – Westport
- Escape Room – River Market
- Breakout KC – River Market
- Novus Escape Room – Plaza-ish
- Escape KC – Overland Park
- Tick Tock Escape Games – Overland Park
- Trapped KC – Lee’s Summit
Celebrate your love of each other…and the Doctor
OK, this doesn’t take place on Valentine’s Day, but if you both live the Whovian life, you won’t want to miss the second annual “For the Love of the Doctor/Time Traveler’s Ball,” hosted by Kansas City Carnival Events, on Saturday, 2/11. There will be Doctors, the T.A.R.D.I.S., K-9, Daleks, vendors, photo ops, costume contests, prizes, trivia, music & dancing. Allon-sy!
Space out together
I *really* wanted to suggest visiting a planetarium as Kansas City geek date, but unfortunately the Union Station Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium closes at 5pm during the week, so it wouldn’t work as a Valentine’s Day evening kind of date. But maybe one or both of you work nights, and want to do something during the day, or on the weekend. The Stargaze show at the Planetarium is really good – my Brunch group went and really enjoyed it. So sit in the dark, hold hands, and look at the stars – sounds pretty romantic to me.
A little floor-play
OK, another date that won’t work for Valentine’s Day proper, but dude, I totally want to check this out with my husband. LEGOLAND KC has Adult Night every second Thursday. Just $10 each to play with LEGOs for a few hours! What a fun date! AND this month – February 9th – the night is Superhero themed in honor of the upcoming release of the new LEGO Batman™ Movie! The event will feature special guests from Alamo Drafthouse as well as from Planet Comicon! They’re even encouraging people to wear your favorite superhero gear to get in the spirit of the night!
And one final geek gift idea for Valentine’s Day: Planet Comicon is running a Valentine’s Day special! Receive two 3-day admission memberships to Planet Comicon plus $50 in Planet Comicon branded merchandise – a $180 value for only $159. (Plus taxes and fees.) Offer ends February 14, 2017!
Share your ideas!
I’d love to hear what geeky plans you have for Valentine’s Day, or some of your favorite geek dates in Kansas City – please do share a comment and help another geek plan a night of romance!
And single geeks – don’t worry, I got you covered, too. Check out my “The Kansas City Geek Singularity” post for ideas for those of you who don’t have a significant other, by choice or otherwise.