By William Farris

The Clackamas Print

Valentine’s Day can be tricky to plan for, especially for students. Between getting a reservation, and studying for midterms, it can be easy to forget about it and end up sitting at home, in front of Netflix, like the other 364 days of the year.

Students like Fiona Dietch said she didn’t have plans and said her only goal was to “eat chocolate.” “I’m just buying my friends gifts,” Brianna Coleman said regarding her plans.

Many students said that they just didn’t have plans or things they wanted to do for the holiday, and more still expressed that they were just too busy. Whether you are looking for a fantastic date idea or something fun to do with your friends, we at the Clackamas Print have you covered with a few great options to make this Valentine’s Day memorable.

PART 1: MCMENAMINS: KENNEDY SCHOOL

The classic dinner-and-a-movie date is brought to new heights with McMenamins Kennedy School Theater in Portland. McMenamins should be a familiar name to most who live in Oregon with their numerous hotels, bars, restaurants and movie theaters; this spot sets itself apart in multiple ways.

For one, this unique location is set up in the former Kennedy Elementary School. With halls and classes for learning now equipped for serving food and entertaining customers, the building serves as a hotel, restaurant and pub. Most importantly, the old auditorium has been repurposed into a movie theater.

With comfy, vintage sofas and chairs, you and your special someone can pick a couch and relax to a good flick while servers bring dinner to you in the theater. You can choose from a wide variety of meals cooked on-site, and if you’re of age, you can even order libations from their vast selection of ales and ciders on tap.

This place is great for dates, or a night out with friends, as its unique and relaxed atmosphere makes for a memorable experience. The movies shown are all second-run feature films, meaning you’ll be seeing older movies that have been out for a while rather than new releases.

PART 2: SKY HIGH

Film and fine dining sound nice and relaxing, but what if you and your date want something a little more exciting? For something with a little kick to it, you and your partner should jump on over to Sky High Sports indoor trampoline park in Tigard.

Sky High’s building is filled with facilities that house a plethora of heart-pumping activities to try out. From literally bouncing off the walls in the main court, covered floor to ceiling with trampolines, to high-flying games of basketball and dodgeball in their side court, you can even enjoy some upper body work on their rock climbing walls.

If you get tired of moving and grooving on the courts, you and your date can catch your breath at the arcade, or stop to grab a bite at the cafe and replenish some of those burned calories.

Sports are a fun, energizing way to spend time with someone you care about, and a great way to foster a sense of healthy competition. With affordable pricing and day packages available on their website, check online at skyhighsports.com to see what tickles your fancy. This kind of Valentine’s Day spot is more for established couples who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.

PART 3: STAYING IN

Last, but not least, as cheesy as it may sound, sometimes staying in and having a mellow homemade dinner is the best way to spend time with someone, or even by yourself, as Clackamas Community College student Mikhail Mayers said “I usually, just make dinner.”

Making a nice meal is not only a fun way to spend a date night, but a nice way to impress that special someone. An easy recipe to make is Pasta Aglio e Olio: a simple meal made with only seven ingredients. To begin, boil your favorite type of pasta while cooking two to three cloves of chopped garlic in a pan of olive oil until the garlic starts to turn blond. Add your pasta directly to the pan from the water when it’s done and add chopped parsley, the juice of one lemon and salt and pepper until the whole thing comes together.

Going out and experiencing new things is a great way to spend Valentine’s Day and get to know someone. Just as well is staying in to create your own experience-for new, and old couples alike. After all, that’s the point of Valentine’s Day: spending time with those you love and enjoying the people who make your life better.

So, have a great Valentine’s Day this year, whether you’re spending it with new flames, the love of your life, good friends or alone, make it a memorable experience.