As I’m sure most of you are aware, Valentine's Day is right around the corner and creeping up on everyone’s calendars. A few of my girlfriends have already bombarded me with questions about my holiday plans and I can’t help but to inwardly cringe at the thought.
Personally, for me, stereotypical Valentine's Day flair is overly extravagant and embarrassing. Flowers are expensive and, to be frank, die... quickly. Chocolates can be eaten all year long and what am I going to do with a stuffed animal twice the size of me?
So, for all the boys (and girls) out there who happen to be reading this and know that special someone who rolls their eyes at the word "Valentine," let me provide you with five Valentine's Day gift alternatives (because let’s be honest, extra attention is nice and we don’t want you to not do anything at all):
1. Surprise her with something sweet.
Not a box of chocolates, of course, but why don’t you brew her coffee or tea in the morning and bring her a cup in bed? Toast her a bagel, buy her a donut, cut her up some fruit, make her a bowl of cereal — whatever it is you know is a crucial part of her routine.
If you’re feeling especially ambitious, drop by the local roaster, Java Junction, for almost any of the above.
2. Gift her with something practical.
Let’s skip the bouquet of roses, the jewelry (how many other ladies out there lose earrings like it’s their job?), the cheesy coupons and sugary goodies. Two years ago, my man surprised me with a Dirt Devil mop (after my incessant complaining about my roommates' inability to clean the floors in our apartment). Think about what your girl needs! Pens? Crayons for her adult coloring book? Sunglasses? A new travel mug? Shoes? A heated blanket? A high-quality bottle of rum? Buy her something she normally wouldn’t buy herself! (To an extent.)
Then again, Bittersweet always has the hookups.
3. Eat Burritos.
As college students, no one has the money or time (I would assume) to plan a fancy dinner out, so get her what she really wants: Perri’s pizza, Taco Bell or Burrito Fresco for the good stuff.
Burrito Fresco, a Brockport staple, has a Valentine’s Day tradition of sprucing up their restaurant by providing a candlelit dinner and complimentary dessert. The experience itself is an entertaining (and yummy) satire!
4. Go somewhere different.
Be adventurous, think outside the box and do something crazy, like visiting the abandoned underground subway in Rochester (note: bring a couple of friends).
Graffiti artists have transformed the Rochester Subway; you’ll be among the few who venture down there. Be active! Go for a (potentially snowy) walk along the Erie Canal, have a snowball fight, make her laugh.
For those a little less vigorous, Tango Cafe is hosting a 1920s themed murder mystery called “a Valentines to Die For” — dress up for a night of dancing, bribery and backstabbing “murder.”
5. Leave her a note.
It’s the little things in life that matter. If she really doesn’t want you to buy her anything or do anything, slip a funny card under her door or leave her a sticky note on the bathroom mirror. These don’t need to include lines from a Pablo Neruda poem or a Shakespeare sonnet, just a few words genuinely expressed by you, to show you thought about her a little more than usual today.
For example, the best valentine I received was a cutout cup saying: “You’re a hot-tea.” You can find The Red Bird Café & Gift Shop some adorable stationary at on Main Street.
Moral of the story here: be subtle about your adoration. And remember, Valentine’s Day isn’t the only day or reason to do something special to express your love.
