Six of the best: What to do in Jan and Feb

Foodie Fortnight:

Aberdeen Restaurant Week returns for a fortnight this January. Cast off the January blues and meet up with some friends for lunch or dinner, treat the family or make it a date. It’s a great way to discover restaurants you haven’t tried before, or revisit and old favourite at a bargain price. There are special lunch menus from £10, with dinner at £15 or £20, or you could push the boat out with a special tasting menu. It’s best to book well in advance. Check out which venues are taking part at aberdeeninspired.com/festival/ restaurant-week Romantic Night Out:

Rossini’s riotous comic opera comes live from London’s Royal Opera House to the big screen at Cineworld Union Square on February 15th. Couple it with a bite to eat at one of Union Square’s many restaurants and you have something that looks like you’ve gone all out to be romantic for Valentine’s Day, without having to do much! Book at cineworld.co.uk. Family fun:

Admittedly, there are warmer places, but for an inexpensive and exciting family night out, the Lynx Arena at the beach is hard to beat. Aberdeen Lynx, the city’s ice hockey team go up against some of Scotland’s top teams on Saturday nights. It’s noisy, fast-faced and great entertainment, with tickets priced from £6-10. See if the team can repeat last season’s SNL Aurora Cup-winning form. They even have a Learn to Play scheme for youngsters. Check out aberdeenlynx. com/lynx-store/ for the fixture list and tickets.

One for the calendar:

Gong Hay Fat Choy! The Year of the Rabbit begins on January 22 and runs till February 9th 2024. The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture, with 2023 said to be a year of hope. There are various events to celebrate in the city including a family festival at Elphinstone Hall, a drop in Calligraphy session and a New Year’s Gala show at the Tivoli Theatre. Find out more at abdn. ac.uk/events/17953/ or book gala tickets at aberdeenperformingarts. com/whats-on/chinese-new-yeargala-show/ For the criminally minded:

Aberdeen’s international crime writing festival returns with a mix of author conversations, talks, writing workshops and exhibitions. There’s something to bring out everyone’s dark side, whether you’re a fan of Golden Age crime, gritty procedurals or prefer a poisoner or two. Popular events sell out fast, so early booking is advised. Check aberdeenperformingarts.com/ granite-noir/ for individual listings. Free event:

SPECTRA, the city’s multi awardwinning festival of light returns to brighten up the night this February. The organisers are promising a dazzling program of immersive installations and interactive events across the heart of the city, from the 9th-12th of February. It’s free and family-friendly. Discover what’s happening at spectrafestival.co.uk