For Lovers
Manhattan Day Trip
So, let's say Santa was really nice to you for X-mas, or your employer hooked you up with a sweet almost-tax-day bonus, and you want to show your snookums just how much you really care in an over-the-top manner. An idea that's sure to please is a day trip to the always fabulous New York City.
To start, take the train from Union Station in D.C. to Penn Station in Manhattan ($140 per person round trip). As soon as you get there, hop on the subway and head to Rockefeller Center for world-famous ice skating ($9.00 each).
When you're done showing off your triple axels, you might be a little hungry. Grab a bite to eat at a vendor (most likely $5.00 total) because you've got a busy day ahead of you. Before you leave Midtown, stop at Central Park and take a carriage ride ($34.00 per thirty minutes). When you're done gazing into each other's eyes, try swinging by the Met to gaze into water-colored eyes ($15.00 per person). Hop the subway and work downtown to Little Italy for dinner and some true foreign romance (about $50.00 a head). Finally, before you have to head back to reality, catch a sunset cruise on the Hudson for a perfect picture in front of the Statue of Liberty ($23.00 per person). This completes the perfect romantic day on the town. If it doesn't say "I love you" better than chocolate, roses and diamonds, I don't know what does ($513 total).
-Alyse Shorland
On the Cheap
A cheap Valentine's Day date can be more than sitting in front of the television and eating pizza. For less than $30, plus a little creativity, you can treat your Valentine to adventure and romance.
Purchase plastic wine glasses, sparkling Jell-O and whipped cream, and prepare the Jell-O for later.
Then bring a camera and set out with your Valentine on a journey on the free trolley. Get off at a random stop, and use the Charlottesville scene to make a film or take photos of all the interesting things you see during your exploration downtown. If you are feeling especially adventurous, you can play truth or dare along the way.
When your film is all used up, drop it off at CVS for one-hour development. You and your Valentine can grab a slice of pizza from Christian's while you wait. Pick up your film and spread your photos out on a table at home. Create a story from the photos you took as you eat your Jell-O parfaits and listen to music. You'll bond over all the stories you are able to create from the pictures from your journey.
-Meta Pettus
Ice Rink for Two
For those looking for a more affectionate yet unique ambiance, the Charlottesville Ice Park might be the ticket.
Want to double-date and see which one of your dates falls on the ice first?
Or maybe you'd prefer an intimate skate around the rink, holding hands with your Valentine with no one to bother you? Then the Ice Park is the way to go.
For $190.00, you can reserve the rink up to fifty minutes, including discounted skate rental. A group of eight or more would make this icy idea an even cheaper date.
Sound like a "hot" date? Well, you'll have to wait until next year to skate your beau around the ice; the rink is fully booked for Valentine's Day.
- Stephen Davis
Scavenge for Love
Guys, what could be more romantic than sending your significant other on a quest of epic proportions, allowing them to reflect on how powerful and incredible your relationship is?
The Valentine scavenger hunt has been a long-time favorite of whipped, I mean, extremely caring and emotional boyfriends. For those of you who have never heard of a Valentine scavenger hunt, allow me to fill you in.
You start off by giving your girlfriend a clue that will lead her to a specific location. Once she reaches that location, there is another clue waiting for her, which will send her to another location. This process continues until she ultimately reaches a final destination where you, the man who makes her heart melt, are waiting for her with a Valentine's surprise.
For the truly mushy romantic, the places you send your Valentine all will have some kind of significant meaning: the first place you dated, the first place you kissed or even the first place you had sex in public.
If you really want to impress that girl you would do anything for, try making the final surprise something out of the ordinary. Sure, flowers, jewelry and candy are great, but what about making and setting up a nice romantic dinner for the two of you all by yourself? Or how about going on a carriage ride through the park? Heck, if you're a real adventurer, have your hunt end at a private camping retreat in the woods where you can sit under the beautiful and twinkling night sky. The Valentine scavenger hunt is sure to make your Valentine's Day a happily ever after.
- Tim Ciesco
For Haters
Bachelorettes Unite!
Dreading being single and female for yet another Valentine's Day? Don't. There are about 5,000 bachelorettes at U.Va. alone who empathize. So, instead of sulking around your apartment drinking vodka and singing along to Celine Dion (a la Bridget Jones), why not throw a fabulous party for yourself and your favorite single gal pals? For invitations, hit up a novelty store and grab some cards featuring half-naked men; the cheesier and more Hasselhoff-esque they look, the better. Suggested attire is pajamas, with extra points for "screwveniers" (i.e. that favorite t-shirt/hoodie/pair of boxers you "forgot" to give back to your ex when you two broke up) included in the ensemble. Ask your girlfriends to bring a bad picture from a past relationship to be strategically altered throughout the party (you'll provide the scissors, markers, glue and magazine cut-outs of Brad Pitt) and their favorite "guilty pleasure" food
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