The Valentine’s Day Spin

by Kris   ⋅   February 13, 2007   ⋅   Comment now   ⋅    RSS

In case you’re the superficial girlie that expects Barry White and bruised roses, drugstore chocolate and wine, and a tacky diamond baguette laced heart pendant so cheap it’s best suited for a gift for your distant aunt, or if you’re the predictable guy that has to buy all that crap, here’s a slight spin on that ubiquitous list:

Hopefully you already know what your girl’s fave flower is. If not, casually stroll by a flower shop with her and take notes at the colors and blooms that make her swoon. And don’t make assumptions. If you ask me, roses are boring; try deep russet miniature calla lilies or soft pink Grand Cru cymbidium orchids.

If your girl digs roses, why not spice them up with some exciting hot ticket blossoms? For example, flowerbud.com mixes in the enigmatic pincushion protea. Or try some trippy organic chartreuse roses. Very poufy, petal-y and very pretty organic pink and ivory ones for the not so crazy couple here. Get red roses for that traditional girl that will weep at the sight of anything less for some odd fear involving symbolism. But even red roses can be unique - here’s a 5 foot+ tall bouquet.

Those candy conversation hearts are gross and chalky; create your own sweet (or naughty) messages that magically “print” on online candy hearts here.

What say you treat your girl to some Teuscher gourmet chocolates (review up soon) this year. If she’s not a frequent Stanford Mall shopper, she may not even recognize the elaborate juvenile puff animals are disguising a box of Switzerland’s finest. Best bet: their signature champagne truffles in their “fantasy” floral box or their frog prince package. For the hip hippies out there, try some chocolate made with organic cocoa and eco-conservation in mind.

Wash it down with some “bilk”, or Japanese milk beer. Yes, it’s beer made out of milk. I first thought it was the Japanese urge to “yogurtify” more beverages, like their popular milk sodas. Declining milk consumption led Hokkaido’s Abashiri brewery to use dairy products in a bold, new direction. It’s clear like beer, tastes like beer, but it is 30% milk. Some say it smells slightly milky and has a fruitier taste; sure sounds like romance to me! Impress her with your knowledge of international beverage trends and leave wine behind.

To continue the theme, instead of diamonds, why not beer quartz? Alexis Bittar designs beautiful jewelry utilizing semi- and precious stones such as green amethyst, vessonite, sapphire, and beer quartz. He also has some gorgeous lucite trinkets for the mod girlfriend.

Spin some crazy offbeat tunes. If you’re in loooove, she won’t mind. Well, at least she’ll tell you. Deerhoof’s most experimental and mental album, Apple O’ is chock full of romantic-sounding titles like “Adam+Eve Connection” and “Dinner for Two”. If you’re scared of scaring her away, try something mellow like Zero 7, guaranteed to set the mood.

Reminder: President’s Day is on the 19th, making this an ultra-romantic 3-day weekend!