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This season, our arts scene is also turning-up the romance with a couple performances that will make for an ideal date night. The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is opening their 2017/18 season with Shakespeare in Love (October 18–November 11), the Academy award-winning tale of forbidden romance between the Bard and his muse, while Manitoba Opera is opening their 45th season with the heart- wrenching Madama Butterfly (November 18, 21, 24), which, although terribly tragic, will make any sort of "tests" in your relationship seem trivial. Now isn't that romantic? Lovebirds also flock to The Forks, just a short walk from anywhere downtown. During autumn, you can take a stroll amongst the falling leaves in this richly tree-lined area while watching the migratory birds in flight from the Riverwalk (the babble of the river will be like whispering sweet nothings in your ear). Or, get on the river itself, as Splash Dash Tours provide insightful guided city tours until October 15 (weather permitting) where you two can bundle up while observing Winnipeg's skyline from the water. Come winter, The Forks is all romance, all the time. Rent skates then attempt to impress one another with your athletic prowess under the canopy (which often has nightly DJs spinning soul jams). Or, better yet, take to the Red River Mutual Trail where you can push your loved one (should their feet get sore) on pretty red chairs down the ice, taking breaks in their internationally designed warming huts which run all along the trails. If you are looking to get real steamy, all while rejuvenating those skating legs, boy do we have a spot for you. It's called Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature, a Scandinavian spa so exquisite that its very name, when whispered amongst the snow-covered pines of the Fort Garry neighbourhood, will bring you to pure, sensual bliss, as if its eucalyptus vapours were nibbling at your ear. All you need is a bathing suit, a robe and some flip flops, and this place will do the rest with hot thermal pools, steamy and dry saunas, and cold pools and a waterfall that will perk you right up. It's an ideal place for couples — hence the offer of a "Hot and Steamy" package for two — as you'll need someone to rub the invigorating and exfoliating lavender salts on your back between steam room sessions. They also have tantalizing dining for lunch and dinner where — get this — you can only dine in robes. As night falls, head out to one of Winnipeg's celebrated tapas restaurants because nothing entices like sharing bites, you feel me? In Osborne Village you can savour Spanish flavours from chef Adam Donnelly at Segovia — Winnipeg's most acclaimed restaurant. Get there early to avoid the wait — they don't take reservations — so you can get a nice seat at the open kitchen bar where you can sip some cava and feed one another delectable bites while watching the chefs work. Post-dinner, take a romantic stroll down through the city's historic Exchange District, where live music permeates from warm, inviting rooms as if to say, "get a little closer." Holding hands while walking back to the hotel isn't mandatory, but I bet you do, you smitten little lovers you. 46 2017 FALL/WINTER EVENTS & ITINERARIES GUIDE WINNIPEG Segovia: William Au/Destination Canada Thermëa by Nordik Nature Spa: JJ Gill