As tempting as it may be to pull up the blankets and hibernate through winter with a Netflix-movie marathon filling the weekly designated date night’s agenda, there’s a lot happening around the city worth getting off of the couch for.

Whether you’re married or planning a first date with a special someone, the best ways to spark romance are found outside of the typical dinner-and-a-movie evening. As they say, couples that skate together, dance together, cook together, laugh together, and paint and sip together stay together, right? Ok, maybe no one says that, but these five date night ideas are sure to set the stage for a fun evening out.

Skate Together

Embrace the colder temperatures, lace up the skates and glide around downtown along Riverfront Park’s Ice Ribbon. An hour on the ice is a perfect way to get to know one another—and how good your date is on skates—not to mention an ideal opportunity to make that first hand-holding connection. From there, warm up with a whiskey inside Steelhead Bar & Grill or another nearby locale.

Riverfront Park Ice Ribbon, Riverfront Park, my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontpark

Dance Together 

Step to the Tango, Salsa or Bachata with your partner. At Satori Dance Studio, you don’t need to be a pro (or even know the first moves) to get on the dance floor. Weekly instructional classes are perfect date-night activities and keep couples coming back to improve upon their dancing skills. Cultivate some good vibes on the dance floor and then relax and refuel down the street at the newly renovated Steam Plant Kitchen and Brewery.

Satori Dance Studio, 122 S. Monroe St., satorispokane.com

Cook Together 

From sushi to meatloaf to classic desserts, learn to cook something new alongside your date. The hands-on cooking classes at The Kitchen Engine inside The Flour Mill include food samples and the full recipes to master back at home. Most class times are in the afternoon or early evening and book up fast, so plan ahead. Boost the romance afterwards and grab a scenic table at Clinkerdagger, where you and your date can share a bottle of wine with dinner while taking in the view of the Spokane River.

The Kitchen Engine, inside The Flour Mill, 621 W. Mallon Ave.,

thekitchenengine.com

Laugh Together 

Dine beforehand at one of downtown’s local eateries or save your appetite for during the show at Spokane Comedy Club. A variety of well-known names tour through this comedy venue, like Pablo Francisco (February 8-10), giving couples plenty of laughs during this fun evening out. And if comedy is your forté (or you and your date are brave enough for the challenge), show off your skills at open mic night on Wednesdays. For new couples especially, it’s a sure way to tell if your sense of humor aligns.

Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague Ave., spokanecomedyclub.com

Paint and Sip Together 

Artistic expression, wine (or beer) and great conversation—what more do you need for a winning date night? Follow along with the studio’s basic instructions as you create your masterpiece right next to your date and let the wine and conversation flow. Studio schedules are filled with picturesque, romantic and decorative pieces to choose from by calendar date, and all locations have a lineup of wine and beer pours.

Sip’n Paint Studio, 7704 N. Division St., sipnpaintstudio.com

Pinot’s Palette, 391 W. Sprague Ave., pinotspalette.com

Painting with a Twist (BYOW is permitted), 11703 E. Sprague Ave., paintingwithatwist.com