Valentine’s Day, a celebrated holiday where love is expressed in flowers, chocolate, and tiny pink stuffed animals. Yet for some, the day is a crushing reminder that they are alone. Instead of a romantic candlelit dinner, all that waits for them is a warm couch, a chilling bowl of ice cream and “Sleepless in Seattle” on TNT.
Fortunately for those who missed Cupid’s arrows and are lucky enough to live in the Big Apple, the options are numerous and staying at home should be a last resort.
Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, nightclubs are out of the picture, unless you want to show up to classes the next day looking like a creature from Dr. Frankenstein’s imagination.
Instead, host a get together with friends at your place. It is a nice break from the monotony of the weekday and is inexpensive. A bag of Cheez-Doodles should suffice for hors d’oeuvres and games should serve as entertainment. Monopoly is a bad choice, it is too time consuming and complex for a Tuesday. Try something that gets your guests into teams, with fast paced game play and simple rules, like Taboo or Mad Gab.
If going out is what you would prefer then go out with a group of single friends. Want a traditional Valentine’s Day dinner? Call up a good friend of the opposite gender and fake-a-date. Consider it for a moment, no need to feel nervous and attempt to gage whether the other person is enjoying himself or herself. Head over to Manhattan and go to a nice restaurant in the Lower East Side, since Times Square will be more crowded than usual for a weekday. Find a restaurant that serves international cuisine and blend in with the other couples who will be ignorant of the truth of your relationship status. Besides, you could end up with a date for next year.
However, there are things you should avoid doing on Valentine’s Day. Do not call the flower company and send yourself flowers. Chances are the people around you, know you do not have a secret admirer and will quickly see through the weak ploy for attention.
If you are going to surprise someone, be sure that he or she does not have a significant other. It could be an embarrassing situation when their boyfriend/girlfriend opens the door only to be surprised by you with flowers and a Coldplay mix tape in hand.
Lastly, if you are going to stay home and watch a movie, stay away from the contemporary romantic comedies or “chick flicks.” Do not watch a movie such as “Sixteen Candles” or “The Notebook,” it will only make you feel worse about being single on a day of the celebration and declaration of love.
Instead stick to the classics, the acting is superb and endings tend to be somewhat open. For instance, watch “Casablanca,” with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Also, Audrey Hepburn has excellent romantic classics like “Sabrina” and “Roman Holiday.”
Just remember that for every happy couple dining and enjoying each other’s company, there are two or three more that cannot stand one another and are wishing they did not have to spend the money on overpriced flowers, chocolate and dinner. So consider yourself lucky.
