For the Budget Conscious but Starry Eyed
WHAT TO DO: Romance and stargazing complement each other like wine and cheese, but the weather these days isn’t always co-operative. Forget sitting in a snowbank; instead, hit the Bloor Cinema, where the sky above the theatre is accurately reproduced on the ceiling. It’s a late-night—and blessedly warm—tour of the heavens ($10).
WHERE TO EAT: Flip, Toss & Thai Kitchen, the perfect spot for a pre-cinema dinner. The menu features quality versions of all the usual suspects, including veggie spring rolls ($3 for three), mango salad ($5) and classic pad Thai ($8), all at very reasonable prices. Expect dinner for two to be in the $30 range.
TOTAL FOR TWO: $50.
CONTACT: Valentine’s Night Sky, 11:55 p.m., Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. (at Bathurst), 416-516-2330, www.bloorcinema.com; Flip, Toss & Thai Kitchen, 141 Harbord St. (at Brunswick Ave.), 416-966-6955, www.fliptossthai.com.

For the Rump Shakers
WHAT TO DO: Get down with Hamilton indie duo Junior Boys (Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus), who are taking over the decks at The Social for the night. The pair will spin their own brand of electro-pop goodness—a sound reminiscent of Timbo and The Neptunes. A combination like this is well worth the $10 cover.
WHERE TO EAT: Ethiopian restaurant Addis Ababa serves the perfect candlelit, pre-dancing dinner. Try the beye ainetu ($15), a platter of beef and chicken prepared three ways, or go veggie with the spiced split peas ($9). All are perfect for sharing. Expect dinner for two to run about $40.
TOTAL FOR TWO: $60.
CONTACT: The Social, 1100 Queen St. W. (at Dovercourt Rd.), 416-532-4474, www.thesocial.ca; Addis Ababa, 1184 Queen St. W. (at Beaconsfield Ave.), 416-538-0059, www.addisababa.ca.

For the Wise Guys and Gals
WHAT TO DO: The Second City is something of a comedic sure thing, which is why we have no trouble recommending Zero % Down, 100% Screwed ($28), the City’s preview of its 63rd revue. There are two shows on Valentine’s Day, at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., which include scenes from last summer’s wildly popular Barack to the Future, snippets from the crew’s upcoming show and a few brand-new skits.
WHERE TO EAT: Go East Coast casual at Rodney’s Oyster House. For the past two decades, the focus here has been on first-rate seafood, like steamed clams ($14), scallops ($21) and smoked steelhead trout ($12). Mains run from $12 to $32. Couples can eat well for $100.
TOTAL FOR TWO: $156.
CONTACT: The Second City, 51 Mercer St. (at Blue Jays Way), 416-343-0011, www.secondcity.com; Rodney’s Oyster House, 469 King St. W. (at Brant St.), 416-363-8105, www.rodneysoysterhouse.com.

For the Music Buffs
WHAT TO DO: See local boys Crash Parallel in concert. Head to the Mod Club to catch the local quartet ($12.50). The group has been all over T.O. radio, scoring a fair amount of airplay last year with their debut single, “World We Know.” Expect a sound somewhere between Coldplay and Counting Crows.
WHERE TO EAT: Satisfy the pre-concert munchies at the New Orleans–style restaurant Southern Accent. Take advantage of the prix-fixe menu, which includes a starter, a main (choose from jambalaya, Bourbon Street chicken, catfish or a veggie special) and dessert for $28. Cab it to the show for about $7.
TOTAL FOR TWO: $88.
CONTACT: Southern Accent, 595 Markham St. (at Bloor St. W.), 416-536-3211, www.southernaccent.com; The Mod Club, 722 College St. (at Crawford St.), 416-588-4663, www.themodclub.com.

For the Romantics
WHAT TO DO: See West Side Story ($20), performed by teens from the Randolph Young Company. A retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the play is set in 1950s New York City. Get caught up in the epic love story of Tony and Maria, the conflict between the Sharks and Jets, and the classic Bernstein-Sondheim collabos.
WHERE TO EAT: Indian Rice Factory is a sure bet for innovative South Asian dining. Start with such perfect-for-sharing appetizers as a pappadum plate ($5) and pakoras ($7). Mains range from $15 to $20, like the lamb and spinach curry ($18) and shrimp in a coconut curry ($17). Order rice ($4), naan ($3) and raita ($5) on the side. Score a yummy meal for two for about $55.
TOTAL FOR TWO: $97.
CONTACT: West Side Story, 9 p.m., Bathurst Street Theatre, 736 Bathurst St. (at Lennox St.), 416-872-1111, www.randolphacademy.com; Indian Rice Factory, 414 Dupont St. (at Howland Ave.), 416-961-3472, www.indianricefactory.com.

BONUS: For the Splurgers
WHAT TO DO: Get more bang for your buck with a V-Day package ($276) from the Gladstone. Start with the Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair, followed by two tickets to Skin Tight Outta Sight’s eighth annual Bump ’n’ Grind Valentine burlesque show and—of course—a room for two, complete with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.
WHERE TO EAT: Cajú, for tasty Brazilian-influenced fare. Start with crab cakes ($10) and a heart of palm salad ($8), followed by risotto ($17) or a fish special served with red pepper sauce ($23). Dinner for two can be had for $60.
TOTAL FOR TWO: $335.
CONTACT: Gladstone Hotel, 1215 Queen St. W. (at Gladstone Ave.), 416-531-4635, www.gladstonehotel.com; Cajú, 922 Queen St. W. (at Shaw St.), 416-532-2550, www.caju.ca.

Also in the Valentine’s Day Guide:
• Where to buy gorgeous flowers
• The city’s most sinful chocolates
• Six best restaurants for romance
• Toronto’s most extravagant dining