Interesting and Alternative Valentine's Day Ideas in Minneapolis and St. Paul

1. Skiing and Snowboarding

Is hitting the slopes romantic? Absolutely! While ski pants are not especially attractive, you can help your date up when they fall over, and if you are feeling especially corny, make out in the chairlifts. And it's lots of fun too. Local resorts are celebrating Valentine's Day weekend. Wild Mountain has a lift ticket and candlelit dinner special on Valentine's Day. Welch Village is open until 2 a.m. on Friday February 13 for late night fun.

There's two snowboard jams this weekend. Rock and Ride at Afton Alps on Saturday and and the Uptown Triple Grind at Theodore Wirth Park on Sunday. Show off your best moves on the rails, or stick to the regular slopes and take a break to watch the competition.

2. Transgender Valentine's Day Performances

Two performances in Minneapolis include transgender artists on a day that has often been slow to recognize anything but traditional couples.

New York band Antony and the Johnsons, who explore transgender issues in their music, are in concert at the Pantages Theater on Valentine's day. The Naked I: Monologues from Beyond the Binary, which has been referred to as the transgender version of the feminist play The Vagina Monologues, is playing at the Bedlam Theater from February 12-15.

3. Passion for Flashin' at Vertical Endeavors

Vertical Endeavors rock climbing gym in St. Paul holds it's annual climbing competition on Valentine's day. Flashing, if you are not familiar with the sport, is climbing a route successfully on the first attempt, without falling off. I'd enter this competition just to get the shirt. If you don't think you have the skills for flashing, volunteers are needed to help out with the competition.

4. Single Girls' Night at the Whiskey Junction

"Better Than Sex" is the Whiskey Junction's Valentine's day party. Designed for single girls, there will be chocolate, drink specials, and chocolate drinks. Sounds fabulous! Men are welcome, but the specials are for the ladies only, so get your single girlfriends out and party on Valentine's day.

5. Pole Dancing Classes

Add a new skill to your resume by taking a pole dancing class at Flex Appeal Studios in Minneapolis. No, your husband/boyfriend can't come to watch the class. Flex Appeal offers several pole dancing and non-pole dancing fitness classes, marketed as cardio strength training - which they are indeed. Your man will appreciate what you learn as much as your abdominal muscles will thank you.

6. Art Shanty Project

Valentine's Day is the closing day of the Art Shanty Project on Medicine Lake. A free festival of artist's installations, performances, races and other entertainment on the lake should make for an interesting day out. And the natural consequence of doing anything outdoors in the snow is warming up together afterwards. I mean by drinking hot chocolate, of course.