February in Boston is usually nothing short of misery. Students can barely trek to class in the bitter cold, let alone make the trip all the way into Boston proper. But with the relatively mild winter weather so far, the potential to actually appreciate some of the city's cultural opportunities seems quite high. So, say "thank you" to global warming and venture out in style with the Daily's February calendar to see what Boston has to offer.
Close to home: In December, the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square reopened its outdoor ice-skating rink. The rink is open for skating from two p.m. to eight p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to eight p.m. on weekends. Skate rentals cost $5 a pair with an additional $5 fee for adults to use the venue. Warm up post-skate with a cocoa or coffee at one of the many coffee shops in the square. Or, for those Jumbos who are 21-plus, step off the rink and into Noir, the swanky and sophisticated cocktail bar located in the lobby of the hotel.
February is also the time for another favorite winter pastime - skiing - and Tufts is in close proximity to numerous New England ski resorts. For more information about nearby skiing and snowboarding possibilities, visit www.newenglandskiresorts.com. Not a fan of barreling down a mountain at high speed? Then watch the Tufts Alpine Ski Team do it for you when they compete in New England regional competitions at the end of the month in Waterville, New Hampshire.
The ski team is not the only team to watch this time of year. Both basketball teams and the hockey team still have a few key home games to pencil into your February calendar. The women's basketball team returns to Tufts for their only two home games of the spring semester on Feb. 10 and 11. The men's basketball team has its last home game of the regular season this Saturday, Feb. 4, at three p.m. This weekend is also important for the men's ice hockey team with two big home games back to back on Friday and Saturday against Wesleyan and Trinity, respectively.
Music venues in Boston this month provide a variety of tantalizing talent for any musical preference. Although some high profile concerts have already sold out (like Matisyahu on Feb. 12 at Avalon), there are still tickets available to a number of upcoming shows. From "The Real World: Austin" fame to Irish folk-rock-punk and finally, "bon-bon" shaking, there are options out there for everyone.
Finally, a much-loved or much-dreaded part of this month arrives on Feb. 14: Valentine's Day. Along with its angst and expectation, the day will soon be upon us, and Tufts students in relationships, blooming or lagging, have high expectations to fulfill. Why not spend the holiday, then, at one of AOL Cityguide's "Best Romantic Restaurants" for 2005 - a list that includes favorites Top of the Hub, Dali, and Rialto.
Visit http://cityguide.aol.com/boston/bestromanticrestaurants for a list of the other winning restaurants.
