Where to sneak when you want to snog

With Valentine’s Day coming up, knowing Main Campus’ most intimate spots could come in handy. Falling in love is something special, and Temple can offer special places to cherish that love. There are many spots on campus that can create a romantic moment or two for you and your special somebody.

Mitten Hall
Directly next to the Baptist Temple sits a beautiful structure, Mitten Hall. Inside, the building can enchanting, whether you are on a date or by yourself. It is filled with nostalgia, from stained glass windows to an old-fashioned clock.

Entering Mitten Hall through the big wooden double doors can feel as though you are walking into a castle and can make you and your significant other feel like royalty. In the spacious banquet hall, you could dance the night away on the stone floor underneath the glow of the golden chandelier. The light of dozens of electric candles reflected against the shiny stone tiles illuminates the room with a radiant glow.

Sitting beside one of the decorated stone fire places could be a fantastic place to spend your Valentine’s Day with someone special. Mitten Hall, named for Thomas E. Mitten, is also dedicated to students, faculty and alumni who sacrificed their lives to protect this country during World War I. This medieval feel could cast a romantic setting for any king and queen.

The Founder’s Garden
Many Temple students cut through a little stone structure on their daily walks to class. Surrounded by stone walls that are dedicated to “Great Teachers” from 1988 to the present, the Founder’s Garden is home to a large stone bust of Russell H. Conwell, a piece of art by Boris Blai.

In the middle of the garden, a circular pattern of bricks surrounds the center of this concrete paradise. This park is most beautiful either on a sunny summer day or covered in a smooth sheet of snow in the cool winter. But if you come to the garden Valentine’s night when the moon is full, this is an ideal place to kiss the one you love. Maybe you can pack yourself a homemade dinner and enjoy it on one of the stone benches in the moonlight.

Johnny Ring Terrace
Behind the 7-Eleven on Liacouras Walk is a little terrace hidden from the rest of Main Campus, known to some as the “Secret Garden.” The real name for this steamy spot is Johnny Ring Terrace, named after the soldier by the same name. This park was established: April 30, 1965.

Surrounded by trees and flowers is the man himself, a green statue of Johnny Ring holding a Bible mounted on top of a podium. During the spring, the terrace is surrounded by colorful pink and yellow flowers. This time of the year, on a snowy day, it could be a winter wonderland.

The garden is a fine escape from the city life to be at one with nature. Whether you are a Philly local or from the suburbs where fresh grass and clean air is a common thing, this is a great place to unwind. You could come here for a Valentine’s Day brunch or check out the garden lit up at night under the smooth dark blue sky.

Bob Kaplan can be reached at bob.kaplan@temple.edu.