guide to
a blank slate media / litmor publications special section • february 1, 2019
34 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 1, 2019
6 reasons to dine out this Valentine’s Day V alentine’s Day is celebrated in various ways throughout the world. One of the more popular methods of spending time with a romantic partner is over a delicious meal at a nice restaurant. Statistics Brain says that 34.6 percent of Valentine’s Day celebrants in the United States dine outside of the home, making this day dedicated to couples one of the most popular days to dine out all year. Dining out on Valentine’s Day helps to make the day more special, and the following are a number of additional reasons why couples should enjoy a meal out on the town this February 14. 1. Embrace the chance to try new foods. Dining out gives individuals the opportunity to try new cuisine they may not attempt at home. This is a chance to expand flavor profiles and give something new a chance. 2. Enjoy creative plating. Many restaurants expend extra effort on presentation on Valentine’s Day, dressing the
plates with special garnish or with a unique presentation of the foods. Valentine’s Day meals are often as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat. Experiencing such visual masterpieces can add to the enjoyment of the night out.
3. Enjoy a night off from cooking. One of the biggest benefits of dining out on Valentine’s Day is enjoying an evening away from the kitchen. Heading out for a restaurant meal means no stressing over what to cook for dinner,
A heartfelt gift.
no wrangling with ingredients and no post-meal cleanup. 4. Learn something new. Chefs and restaurants may pull out all the stops for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day. Diners may learn more about exotic foods and
Enjoy Valentine’s Day without a babysitter
C
ome Valentine’s Day, couples are anxious to enjoy time spent with the one they love - whether it involves a dinner at a restaurant or a few hours of uninterrupted conversation at home. Parents who rely on babysitters and caregivers to tend to children while they get a night out may find that their sitters are also celebrating on Valentine’s Day. This leaves parents of children of all ages potentially wondering how to celebrate with kids in tow. Here are some ideas to get started.
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wine pairings on Valentine’s Day than they might when dining out on less popular nights. 5. Beat the winter blues. For much of the country, Valentine’s Day occurs during a time of year when winter is at its most harsh. Wintertime can be isolating as many people spend increased hours indoors to avoid inclement weather. Dining out gives couples the opportunity to get some fresh air and dine in a social environment that can help buoy spirits. 6. Jump start other activities. Dining at a restaurant may be the precursor to other things to come on Valentine’s Day. While out, couples may opt to head to a movie, enjoy some local live theater or stroll through a museum gallery. A good meal can make for the perfect starter to a memorable Valentine’s Day. Dining out on Valentine’s Day is a tradition that can benefit couples in various ways and make an already special holiday that much more memorable.
Breakfast celebration Who says Valentine’s Day love and affection is restricted to the evening? Make use of your time by tinkering with the schedule so that you can enjoy one-onone moments in the morning or afternoon while children are in school or at daycare. Enjoy a couple’s breakfast or brunch, followed by a massage.
halfway between your offices. This is yet another kid-free opportunity to enjoy meaningful conversation and time spent as a couple. Let the kids help Enlist the kids to give you the night off from dinner, or have them select the perfect take-out menu for a Valentine’s Day dinner. Children do not always have the opportunity to give back to their parents, and on February 14 they can step up their game. Move up bed times a little so the kids are tucked in early enough to allow you to cuddle on the couch. Catch up on family time Children are a shining example of their parents’ love for one another. Use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to skip other obligations, including extracurricular activities, and have a family day. Watch a movie together and enjoy a picnic.
Meet for lunch If you can’t spare a day off from work, make a point to meet for lunch at a place
On Valentine’s Day, there are many workarounds if the babysitter is unavailable.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 1, 2019 • Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide
Valentine’s gifts for your No. 1 guy A
s Valentine’s Day approaches, the pressure is on to find ideal gifts for a special sweetheart. The National Retail Federation indicates shoppers spent around $19.6 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2018, a dramatic increase from the year prior. When gifting the men in their lives, others may be hard pressed to find an ideal gift for the guy who seems to have it all. Even though a small study published in Psychology Today determined that gifting men is seemingly easier than gifting women - regardless of who is doing the buying - there’s a prevailing stereotype that men are hard to buy for. That said, these suggestions for men’s gifts may get the creative gifting juices flowing. · Leather gloves: Leaving home when the weather is frightful can be a challenge. But warm, stylish gloves may help the process along. Look for gloves that also have touchscreen compatible tips, so that he doesn’t have to remove the gloves to send that “I (heart) you” text. · Pixel heart mug: This heat-changing mug is ideal for gamers who realize you need full health, or hearts, to make it through game play - or the workday. The heart illustration turns red when it’s filled with a hot beverage. This mug is available from Kikkerland on Amazon. · Luxury shave kit: More men are realizing that indulging in quality groom-
ing items does not require checking manliness at the door. In fact, it is quite trendy for men to use products entirely geared toward their skin and hair types, with more masculine scents to boot. · Portable record player: If he’s a music buff and has collected vintage albums through the years, give him a modern way to play them. A wireless, Bluetoothenabled turntable can be a heartfelt and practical gift. · Whiskey-inspired gifts: From whiskey barrel-faced watches to jumbo ice wedges to chill without watering drinks down, whiskey gifts are definitely trending upward. Of course, a good bottle of single-malt is certainly a winning go-to gift as well. · Ticket stub organizer: Whether he’s a sports fan, a concert-goer, or collects stubs to other events and outings, provide an organized way to preserve those memories. · Wireless phone charger: Tame that cord clutter with a gizmo that can quickly charge his phone and have him ready to take your calls or receive your texts. · Noise-cancelling headphones: Remove ambient sounds from his day, especially when commuting, traveling or working in his cubicle. · Stub Hub gift card: Gift him with the perfect way to catch up on live games. Gifting guys is a little easier with some Valentine’s inspiration.
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36 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 1, 2019
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 1, 2019 • Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide
Choose wisely when selecting Valentine gifts A
s the clock ticks down to Valentine’s Day, the pressure is on to find the ideal gift. While some sweethearts may provided some clues to help with Valentine’s Day shopping, many gift-givers are on their own. The National Retail Federation predicts that, in 2019, shoppers may match Valentine’s Day spending from a year ago, when lovebirds spent a total $18.2 billion on gifts for their sweethearts. With so much money invested, shoppers no doubt want to find the best gifts possible. When shopping for Valentine’s Day, try to avoid these common mistakes and choose gifts that are creative and heartfelt. · Skip the gas station flowers, candy or last-minute gifts. Valentine’s Day is a time to show you care. If you’ve left gifting to the last minute, you may make the situation worse by giving something impersonal you picked up on an errand. If you forgot or ran out of time, simply admit you goofed or time got away from you. Then ask your sweetheart what he or she wants and go shopping together. · Avoid attention-getter antics. Sure it may seem like a good idea to send 20 helium balloons and a boatload of flowers to a sweetheart’s office. But what if he or she really doesn’t like being in the limelight? Are you gifting this way for the
attention you’ll receive rather than doing so to make your sweetheart happy? · Eschew overly personal gifts. If your relationship is in its infancy and you haven’t both mutually expressed interest to take it to the next level, avoid gifts that suggest moving in together (appliances), personal fragrances, couples massages, or other intimate activities. Wait until the relationship has reached certain milestones before getting too personal with gifts. · Stop trying to be helpful. If your sweetheart has expressed a desire to make certain lifestyle changes, you may think a gym membership or a subscription to a new wardrobe mail service makes a great gift. But such gifts may send the wrong message, inadvertently, and even falsely, indicating that you don’t like your partner the way he or she is. · Pass up practical gifts. Valentine’s Day is a time to cater to fantasies and wishes more so than necessities. Even if your sweetheart needs that new electric shaver or a snow scraper for the car, go for something more special on Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s gifters should focus on presents that will be meaningful to the recipient and something he or she may see as an indulgence.
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38 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 1, 2019
Top Valentine’s Day Candy by State BY C L A I R R OB I N S Valentine's Day is a spendy holiday. People buy indulgences and gifts like jewelry and flowers, and candy is one of the top ones. Candy sales are expected to exceed $1.8 Billion this year. Valentine’s Day is about love and ro-
mance and spending money to demonstrate them. Last year, the National Retail Federation predicted a slight drop off in in Valentine’s Day spending in all but one category. You guessed it: candy. As Valentine’s indulgences go, candy is a relatively inexpensive one. It’s also become a tradition to give, share and eat
candy on Valentine’s Day. That could be why people are expected to spend over $1.8 Billion this year. Using sales data from the past 11 years from our online bulk candy store and industry partners, CandyStore.com has compiled sales data to determine the most popular Valentine’s Day candy. The
map below illustrates the favorite Valentine’s Day candy in each state. The results are pretty interesting. For more about popular Valentine’s Day candy by state, visit: www.candystore. com/blog/holidays/valentines-candy-popular-states/
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 1, 2019 • Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide
Sentiments that the colors of roses are meant to convey
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BAR SPECIALS: Roses are a popular gift on Valentine’s Day. When accompanied by a box of chocolates, a bouquet of longstemmed roses is sure to make a sweetheart smile on February 14. Few people may know that the color of a rose is meant to convey a certain message. As a result, even the most head-over-heels-in-love man or woman may not be saying what they mean to say when giving roses. If that special someone has a favorite color of rose, then it might be wise to give that color regardless of what tradition suggests. But when sweethearts have no such preferences, it might be best to keep this guide, courtesy of ProFlowersÂŽ, in mind. ¡ Red: Red roses say “I love you.â€? Red is symbolic of love, especially romantic love. Red also symbolizes beauty, courage and respect. ¡ Pink: Pink is a popular color on Valentine’s Day, but sweethearts should know that pink roses say “Thank you,â€? which makes them a better choice for friends than lovers. ¡ White: White roses say “I am the
one for you.â€? White symbolizes true love, purity, innocence, reverence, humility, youthfulness, and charm. ¡ Yellow: Yellow roses say “We’re friends and I care about you.â€? Joy, gladness, friendship, delight, and remembrance are just a few of the sentiments yellow conveys. ¡ Yellow with red tip: Yellow roses may be best for friends, but yellow roses with red tips say “I’m falling in love with you.â€? ¡ Orange/coral: Another awe-inspiring color, orange/coral roses say “I want you in my life.â€? This color indicates desire, enthusiasm and fascination. ¡ Red and white together: A mixed bouquet of red and white roses says “We are a great match.â€? ¡ Peach: Peach symbolizes intimacy, telling a lover, “Let’s make this a memorable Valentine’s Day.â€? Dierent color roses say dierent things, meaning Valentine’s Day celebrants can ďŹ nd a rose to convey any message they hope to send this February 14.
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40 Valentine’s Dining & Gift Guide • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 1, 2019
Unique ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day
Eco-friendly Valentine’s Day gift ideas Red may be the color most often associated with Valentine's Day, but those who want environmentally friendly ways to celebrate this day of love can tint the occasion with a little green. This list of earth-conscious Valentine's Day gifts can provide inspiration for loving couples.
than exchanging a stuffed animal on Valentine's Day that will only take up space on a shelf or bed, consider saving the life of a real animal. Conservation agencies can always use helping hands. Donations can be used to feed and shelter pets or to restore habitats for wild animals.
· Give organic chocolate. Eco-conscious chocolate connoisseurs will appreciate indulgent fine chocolates crafted with the planet in mind. Some of the world's best chocolate is produced from small cacao farms that do not employ fungicide or insecticide in their farming practices. Choose chocolate artisans that produce their chocolate from responsibly-sourced ingredients for a sweet Valentine's Day treat.
· Give living plants. Flowers can express all types of emotions, but those cut blooms will begin to fade after a few days, especially when some flowers are flown in from all over the world. Gifting a potted plant from a local nursery is a more eco-friendly idea, and one that can last for many years to come.
· Plant a live gift. A living gift can be a symbol of enduring love and one that gives back to the environment. Couples can explore their options at local nurseries and plant a shade tree, shrubbery or even a fruit tree. This is certainly a gift that can give every year. Valentine's Day is an opportunity for couples to celebrate their love for each other, whether their relationship is relatively new or has endured through many years. The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans are expected to spend close to $20 billion on Valentine's Day this year. While chocolates and champagne are high on the list of mostpurchased items for February 14th, couples should not feel beholden to tradition on Valentine's Day. This year may be the perfect time to try something new, even if it's out of couples' comfort zones. Here are some novel ideas for couple's looking to set their celebrations apart. · Paint and sip: Couples can take part in a growing trend this Valentine's Day. At paint-and-sip events, people are guided step-by-step through the process of painting their own masterpieces. Breaks are provided through the evening to indulge in beverages and snacks of choice. Couples can bring along a bottle or two of wine and a platter of cheeses, chocolates or other Valentine's Day fare. Those interested can inquire at their nearest paint and sip location, such as Pinot's Palette, for Valentine's Day specials. · Activity night: Couples who are naturally competitive or devoted sports
fans can enjoy the evening by engaging in some healthy competition. Some restaurants host trivia nights, or couples can head to the nearest arcade and battle it out. Panic and escape rooms are cropping up in towns across the country. These employ 60-minute real-life experiences in which participants must solve clues to escape the room. This can be a great bonding experience for fun-loving couples. · Chef lessons: Although some couples may dine out on Valentine's Day, men and women who like to dabble in culinary arts can prepare their own meals from the comforts of their own kitchens. Others may want to enroll in classes that provide expert instruction from area chefs or culinary instructors. Cooking classes can be an ideal way to spend time together learning skills that can be put to use again and again. · Adventures: Couples who like to push the envelope can explore the possibilities of thrill-seeking activities. Some may include bungee-jumping, hot-air balloon rides, taking laps at the racetrack, or hitting the ski slopes. Valentine's Day might be a time for romance, but couples should not hesitate to buck tradition and spend the day together engaging in activities that accommodate their interests.
· Write it down. Love notes are a simple, heartfelt gift. Choose to scribble down sentiments on recycled paper with nontoxic inks. Give that love note even more traction by framing it for a lasting gift. · Adopt an animal. Animal lovers crusade for their favorite mammals, reptiles and amphibians every day. Rather
· Create a free-range, organic meal. Homemade food can be a nice gesture, especially when cooks select fair-trade, organic and free-range products. Don't forget to extend the specialized shopping to include wine or other beverages that are locally sourced. · Give gifts of sustainable comfort. Practical but luxurious linens and clothing made from sustainable materials are great eco-friendly gifts. Bamboo bedding or organic cotton shirts offer comfort and promote environmental stewardship. Gifting green for Valentine's Day is easier than one may think. Eco-conscious gifts are a smart idea for anyone who wants to impart minimal impact on the planet this February and beyond.