…or London, or Amsterdam. Just anywhere besides Toronto, because it seems the men of this city are either:

a) gay
b) taken
or c) stunned speechless by the mere sight of my beauty to the point of completely ignoring me (it’s ok boys, I understand)

In this day and age, especially if you’re a university student, dating can be a challenge. Dating apps claim to be helpful, but in my experience, guys generally use them for a “quick fix” (also known as a hookup). I’m not really about that. I am a middle-aged woman stuck in the body of a young adult. 20, single, and ready to (mingle) be in a steady relationship. For us single pringles, the month of February can be equated to the likes of hell. Suddenly every couple finds it necessary to display their affection in public, all your favourite TV shows are having V-day specials, and all the cute matching lingerie sets are on sale (but what’s the point of wearing cute undies if nobody else can see them?!). Therefore, instead of brooding over our loneliness this month, here are 5 things to do in Toronto for single people:

1) SHOP YOUR SADNESS AWAY

Lets be honest — nothing can give you short-lived happiness like brand new clothes can. Between the end of January to mid-February, retailers are desperately trying to get rid of A/W ’14 merch, and that means RIDICULOUSLY huge price drops. Hit up the Eaton Centre or Queen Street West for great stores with great deals and snag that perfect pair of heeled booties that you’ve been eyeing for ages. (Pro tip: Thursday mornings are the perfect time to get newly discounted items before anyone else)

2) CATCH A FLICK AT THE TIFF NEXT WAVE FILM FESTIVAL

From February 13th to the 15th, you can watch some amazing films at TIFF Bell Lightbox, speciallyprogrammed for young adult audiences. One of my personal favourites is Submarine (excellent visuals + amazing soundtrack), and Girlhood is supposed to be a very promising new film. There might be couples around you in the theatre, but you won’t even notice because it’ll be dark!

3) HAVE A TASTE OF PARIS AT LE NEUF CAFE

Le Neuf Cafe is a quaint Parisian-inspired patisserie located in the lovely neighbourhood of Kensington Market. You may not live in Paris, but you can definitely eat like a frenchman to your heart’s content here. Have your pick of their great selection of macarons (only $2.50 each!) and spend a sunny day strolling around Kensington.

4) EXPLORE THE BASQUIAT SHOW AT THE AGO

Now I’m no art connoisseur, but the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat is something to be reckoned with. His works resemble something along the lines of “urban children’s drawings”, and are incredibly interesting to look at and interpret. Also, if you’d like some quiet time to yourself, the art gallery is the perfect place for it. The Jean-Michel Basquiat retrospective runs from February 7th to May 10th, 2015.

5) DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY AT THE DANCE CAVE

This isn’t your average club full of sweaty suburbanites and unwanted boys grinding up on you. The Dance Cave, in Lee’s Palace, boasts amazing alternative hits (that are totally danceable) and a vibe unlike any other. You’ll see all kinds of people here actually having fun and not just looking to get lucky. Throw on your dancing shoes and shake it up on a Saturday night with your friends!

So there’s 5 awesome ways to have fun while (still) single during this disgustingly cute month of February. Just keep reminding yourself that you are a strong, independent person who don’t need no man/woman, and patiently wait for all the V-day chocolate to go on sale.

Take Me To Paris