Valentine’sDay dining & gift guide
a blank slate media / litmor publications special section • february 10, 2017
36 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017
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Affordable getaway ideas for Valentine’s Day February, when Valentine's Day serves as the oďŹƒcial day of love and aection, is a great to embark on a romantic vacation, especially if that getaway is to a warmer locale that can help men and women momentarily forget about the snowstorms and colder temperatures back home. Some resorts and travel-based businesses take advantage of Valentine's Day by inating prices to capitalize on giftgiving. However, many others use this time of year to oer specialized sales and discounts to help boost business through the remainder of the winter season. It is possible to enjoy an indulgent trip without having to spend a fortune. * Consider cruising. There are cruises that depart from various ports all year long. All it takes is a call to a cruise line or logging on to their Web sites to check the scheduling. For those unopposed to ying to a dierent port, you may be able to broaden your options with regard to cruise destinations and departing dates. Cruises are advantageous because they are all-inclusive, self-contained vacations. Couples who don't want the hassle of packing and unpacking several times and want their meals and entertainment planned out ahead of time might ďŹ nd cruising is their trip. There also is the ability to visit dierent ports of call all in one trip, ensuring there is never a dull moment. • Look into winery packages. Wineries may be doing their planting and harvesting in the warmer weather, but come the winter they may be facing a slow-down in foot traďŹƒc and may be eager to attract business. Sampling dierent vintages and spending time in an often adults-only environment can be an ideal way to spend a Valentine's Day weekend. Make it an overnight trip and stay nearby in a hotel. Some wineries may oer a restaurant on premises or work with a local establishment to provide package deals. • Visit your closest city. Many people
living in the suburbs seldom make trips into downtown unless they are regular commuters for work. Even those who spend their weekdays in an urban area may never have experienced all of the little gems that attract tourists. For Valentine's Day, you may want to see your urban center through the eyes of a visitor, taking advantage of the museums, cultural centers and buildings that attract tourists throughout the year. Chances are the trip will not be costly, and you'll be close to home. • Take in live music. There's something romantic about listening to music together. Investigate upcoming concerts in your area. Some coee shops and bars host open-mic nights when budding artists can be heard. Check to see if any smaller venues are hosting intimate, acoustic concerts by popular bands. It can be a memorable night and one that doesn't break the bank. • Trade time-share dates with others. Time shares are great ways to have a dedicated vacation spot that you are guaranteed during a certain time each year. There are time-share swapping sites like TimeShareJuice.com. Find out if you can exchange your requisite time with another and take your vacation in honor of Valentine's Day. • Consider a private rental situation. Many people who own vacation homes list them for rent when they are unoccupied. You may be able to stay in a larger condo or space than a traditional hotel room for a smaller cost than going to a hotel. If you develop a rapport with a particular renter, you may have preference of dates and can make visiting a tropical island or another retreat a yearly Valentine's Day adventure. Try VRBO.com to ďŹ nd a rental property in your desired location. Going away for Valentine's Day need not be an expensive venture. There are many ways to save money and enjoy a much-needed romantic escape.
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017 • Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide
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38 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017
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Valentine's Day is a holiday during February that commemorates love and romance and also the patron Saint Valentine. The history of St. Valentine is shrouded somewhat in mystery, and there are beliefs that many different people went by the name St. Valentine. One such individual was a holy priest who served in Rome, Italy. Some historians surmise that he was jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius II, sentenced to death, and became a religious martyr. Pope Gelasius marked February14 as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom in 496 AD. Today, the Catholic church recognizes at least three different martyred saints named Valentine or Valentius. So how did St. Valentine's Day transform from a religious holiday into one far more secular? During the third century in Rome, Claudius II decided that single men served better as soldiers if they were single and had no attachments at home in the way of a wife and family. Thusly, he outlawed marriage. St. Valentine didn't agree with the views and reportedly performed marriages for young lovers in secret. It is this which may have propelled Valentine's Day to be more about love than religious obligation. Another legend says that Valentine himself authored the first Valentine card. It has been rumored he fell in love with a woman -- the jailer's daughter -- while in prison and sent her a letter. He signed it, "from your Valentine." No matter the origins of the holiday, today St. Valentine's Day has become a
day where love is celebrated. Lovers send each other cards and tokens of their affections. It is customary to go out for dinner and send flowers. Chocolates and roses seem to go hand-in-hand with Valentine's Day events. Although certain customs have become commonplace, some customs of Valentine's Day have fallen by the wayside. One such custom is the "drawing of names" that took place in the 18th century. Names of men and women (equal numbers of each) were placed into two different containers. A lottery of sorts took place where one man's name was drawn and matched with a woman's name. The people called were called "Valentines," and the pairing was considered a good omen of these couples marrying later on. Another lost custom was of a man wearing a paper heart with the person he loved's name written on it. The heart was pinned to his sleeve, which gave way to the expression, "wearing one's heart on one's sleeve." A woman could do the same type of thing by wearing a charm known as a love-badge near her heart. Where now we send out mass-produced Valentine's Day cards, original Valentine's were handmade and personalized letters. Within them individuals could write their exact sentiments to a loved one. On February 14th, people nipped by the love bug partake in many customs to show their love. How will you show that special someone you care this year?
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017 • Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide
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40 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017 • Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide
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Valentine’s night out planning pointers Many couples go out for a night on the town in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Romance typically prevails on such nights, but there’s more to planning Valentine’s Day dates than just roses and chocolate. The following are a few tips to make sure this year’s Valentine’s Day date night goes off without a hitch. • Make a dinner reservation. Restaurants fill up on Valentine’s Day, so make a reservation no matter how frequently you may patronize the place you want to go to. Nothing derails a dinner date more quickly than being told there are no tables available. • Cancel the reservation if you must. If plans change and you cannot make it, be respectful of the restaurant and call to cancel your reservation. Noshows cost restaurants substantial amounts of money, especially on popular dining out nights like Valentine’s Day. • Arrange for transportation. If you plan to open a bottle of wine or make a champagne toast while out on the town, arrange for a car service to pick you up after dinner or use pub-
lic transportation. Drinking and driving is dangerous, and local law enforcement may even have checkpoints set up to protect residents from drivers who might have celebrated a bit too much.
• Bring cash. Few restaurants remain cash-only, but bring cash with you anyway just in case your card won’t swipe correctly. You don’t want to embarrass your date by leaving the res-
taurant to go get some cash, so prepare for this in advance. • Review the menu. If you or your date has special dietary needs, peruse a restaurant’s menu before making a reserva-
tion so you know there’s something for both of you. If Valentine’s Day is a first date, ask your date in advance if he or she has any food allergies or dietary restrictions.
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42 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017
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Hearts and Valentine’s Day are forever intertwined. One of the most recognizable symbols of love is the modest heart, and hearts adorn candy boxes and cookies while paper hearts are pinned to doors or windows as a symbol of Valentine’s Day. Young valentines may share candy hearts printed with silly sentiments. A symbolic heart bears no resemblance to an anatomical heart, and yet it is used to represent the deepest feelings of affection a person can share. Some may wonder just how the emotions of love became tied up in the shape of a heart, even though it’s widely known that the brain, and not the heart, governs affections. In ancient times, people believed that the heart was the center of all human emotions. Since the heart is prominently located in the center of the chest and the middle of the body, it became the cornerstone of human feelings. Love is considered to be one of the most profound and strongest human emotions, therefore it was reasoned that the feeling must emanate from the heart. Surprisingly, the heart has not always been the only organ associated with love. During the Middle Ages, the heart was deemed a useless organ. Followers of the Greek physician Galen theorized that the liver actually was the seat of the soul and
love. The first depictions of a symbolic heart date back to the 11th century, when the heart was drawn to resemble a pinecone held upside down with the point facing upward. The scalloped heart that is more familiar today first arose in the early 14th century. Around the same time, the heart was depicted with the point facing downward and the indentation at the base. Naturally, as time passed and more was learned about human anatomy, it became obvious that the brain was the seat of all emotion and thought processes. However, as the brain was something intangible in a living body in ancient times, and the beating heart could be much more readily monitored - with a pulse rate speeding up when a person is excited or aroused - it’s easy to see how the link between the heart and love has endured. Although the human heart is not bright red like symbolic hearts, that was the color chosen. Red has long been associated with passion, so it made sense to depict the heart in a bright red hue. Many other theories have been offered regarding the symbolic heart and its representation of love. While there’s no definitive correlation between love and hearts, the heart has become an accepted symbol of the emotion and the season of romance.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017 • Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide
Did you know? Valentine’s Day is a popular time of the year to send greeting cards. According to the Greeting Card Association, around 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually. While that is an impressive number, Valentine’s Day actually comes in second as the most popular card-giving occasion. Christmas tops the list with some 1.6 billion cards purchased, including boxed card varieties. Other popular occasions to send greeting cards include Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and St. Patrick’s Day.
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44 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017
Frugal ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day
A day set aside to shower a loved one with gifts and touching words of affection, Valentine’s Day brightens the often gloomy month of February. Established centuries ago with origins shrouded in mystery, Valentine’s Day has evolved into one of the most popular — and expensive — days of the year. Many couples celebrate Valentine’s Day with cards, gifts and nights out on the town, and such celebrations can stretch budgets. Coming on the heels of post-holiday bills, Valentine’s Day can feel like a costly prospect. Yet, even those on a budget can enjoy a special day to remember without breaking the bank. The following are several frugal ways to enjoy Valentine’s Day. • Create your own greeting card. It can be challenging to find cards that offer just the right sentiments. Sometimes cards seem distant, too risqué or overly sentimental. Instead, create your own card. Find a decorative blank card or make one from card stock. Search through your digital photos and print one of the two of you together. Glue on a paper heart border, and then jot down some affectionate sentiments. • Cleverly wrap favorite chocolate. Chocolate is synonymous with Valentine’s Day, and it’s easy to spend a lot on gourmet chocolates without even knowing if your valentine will like what’s inside the box. Stick to what you know he or she
likes, even if it’s a simple chocolate bar from a convenience store. Buy a few and then wrap them in a fancy box with ribbon. • Go out for a small bite to eat. If you’re concerned about the cost of an expensive dinner out or anticipate being restricted to a certain menu, plan to dine at home. You can opt to go out for cocktails prior or head to a café for dessert and cappuccino afterward. This way you’ll still get the experience of going out without being forced to overspend. • Purchase a rosebush. Bouquets of roses are traditional gifts for Valentine’s Day. However, thanks to the increased demand, the cost of roses tends to increase as Valentine’s Day draws nearer. If you want to save money but still give roses, buy a plant that blooms each year. Buy a rosebush and plan to put it in the garden come spring when all danger of frost is gone. • Turn older jewelry new again. Diamonds and other jewelry can be costly. If a new piece simply isn’t in the budget, consider repurposing an older piece of jewelry that isn’t worn as often. It’s amazing what a new setting on a ring can look like or how stones on a seldom-used necklace can be turned into fashionable stud earrings. If you have a good amount of mismatched gold jewelery lying around, you may be able to sell it or have it melted down and turned into a beautiful new creation.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 10, 2017 • Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide
Best Foods for Valentine’s Day Dining Enjoying a delicious meal together is popular for couples on Valentine's Day. The National Restaurant Association predicts that more than 70 million Americans will visit a restaurant on Valentine's Day this year. This statistic is what helps catapult Valentine's Day to the second most popular holiday for dining out, preceded only by Mother's Day. Restaurants love Valentine's Day as well, but more for the proďŹ ts they can bring in and not necessarily for the romance in the air. Many restaurants capitalize on people's decisions to dine out with a special menu -- one that is often a bit more expensive than their traditional fare. That's because price is often no matter when it comes to impressing your Valentine. This year, February 14 falls on a Tuesday, typically a slow day for dining out. So restaurants will also beneďŹ t from added revenue on a traditionally slow business day. Couples browsing through Valentine's Day menus may want to be selective when choosing their menu options. Certain foods are thought to be aphrodisiacs, which can incite feelings of love and passion later on in the evening. Some of these foods include: • Almonds: The aroma of almonds is purported to arouse passion in women. Antiquity almonds were also once regarded as fertility symbols. • Asparagus: Going back to the 17th century, asparagus was believed to stir up lust in women and men. It could be because folic acid and a host of vitamins in the vegetable boost histamine production necessary for certain components of amorous aections. • Avocado: The shape of an avocado suggests something anatomically male, which is why it is often considered an aphrodisiac. Catholic priests in Spain once forbade parishioners from eating the fruit. It is rich in vitamin B6 and potassium, which can help boost energy levels and the immune system. • Bananas: It's hard to ignore the shape
of bananas and how they may seem sexual in nature. But it's not the shape alone that earns them their status as an aphrodisiac. They also contain chelating minerals and the bromeliad enzyme believed to enhance the male libido. • Figs: These fruits have long been associated with love and fertility. The look of ďŹ gs is thought to symbolize female reproductive organs, and Adam and Eve wore ďŹ g leaves to cover their private areas. Perhaps the sweet taste is enough to conjure sweet aections. • Oysters: The high zinc content of oysters is thought to increase libido and sperm production. Oysters are perhaps the best known aphrodisiac food. While certain foods are known to stimulate romantic feelings, there are some foods that can repel a person away. Avoid these foods when dining. • Beans: The ďŹ ber in beans may result in atulence, something that can quickly staunch romantic liaisons. • Garlic: The potent aroma of garlic can come out through the pores when perspiring and remain on the breath even after rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth. • Notorious gut-busters: If there is a certain food that tends to cause you gastrointestinal discomfort (spicy foods, creambased sauces, milk products), avoid them at all costs. Your date likely won't want to wait through emergency trips to the restroom. • Onions: Flavorful, but also strong in aroma, this seasoning may also cause gas to form in the digestive tract. That may lead to some embarrassing bodily noises. • Seeds and nuts: Small particles of food may become lodged in the teeth and cause a goofy grin when smiling. Poppy seeds are prime culprits. Make the most of a Valentine's Day meal out by choosing foods that will put you in the mood for romance and not detract from the special mood of the night.
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