Archives > Allen American > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
All you need is love: ideas to celebrate Valentine's Day - Part II
By Zach Markovic, zmarkovic@acnpapers.com
And now for the gals. Well, let's face it, guys, I lied when I said Valentine's Day is for us as well. It isn't. Not even close. The holiday has always and will always be for the women in your life. Girlfriend or wife, mother or grandmother, doesn't matter -- if you don't tell each and every single one of them how much they mean to you in your life, you are looking for trouble. Think of it as carpet-bombing. You have to target anything and everything with two X chromosomes to be safe. This goes for all types.
Princess
This is not some slam here. This isn't a woman who thinks she deserves every last cent you can dish out. Your displays of affection for her can be cheap, but for your princess you just need to make sure that display is as grand as possible. Valentine's Day is marketed directly at these higher-maintenance types. It is not their fault they need you to pull down the moon to show your love. There is a vicious machine at work here that is bigger than any man.
» For more one-day extravaganzas for your significant other, what better way to woo her than with some shopping? You know she is thinking about it anyway. Just bite the bullet and get your hand ready because there will be purse-holding. Lots of purse holding. Though to go beyond the normal shopping experience head over to Watters Creek at Montgomery Farms in Allen. Sunday the shopping and restaurant area will have some sweet deals for your sweetheart.
» And once you are finished holding her purse, the two of you can enjoy a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through Watters Creek with complimentary chocolates and a long-stemmed rose with $50 or more store purchase. Carriage rides start at noon and run to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Watters Creek at Montgomery Farms, 970 Garden Park Drive, Allen 972-747-8000.
» Maybe the best gift you can give your high-maintenance honey is some alone-time to be pampered. Spas offer a great chance for you to show how much you care by not being there for a few hours. Facelogic is offering a Valentine's gift titled the Hugs & Kisses Package. The package is $49 including a signature facial with a chocolate mask and a lip treatment. Facelogic, 223 East FM 544, Suite 805, Murphy, 937-424-3223.
Artsy
Art, gentlemen, is more than the colorful doodles you leave on the inside of a bathroom stall. It is music, theatre and paintings. She knows this. And for the more artistically inclined girlfriends, you need to know this. Or, at the most, feign that you do. Valentine's Day is a perfect day to show your interest in all the cultural stuff you know you should have paid attention to when she was talking.
» And who says theater can't be a little fun? With multiple community theatre groups throughout the region it is not hard to find one showcasing local talent. The Mesquite Community Theatre presents "Kiss or Make Up," a comedy of mistaken identities, federal foolishness and desperate romance, by Jack Sharkey. Performances in the Black Box Theatre Feb. 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. at the Mesquite Arts Center. $15 adults; $12 students, seniors older than 55 and S.T.A.G.E. Members (with ID card) and $8 children. Mesquite Arts Center, 1527 N. Galloway Ave. Tickets: 972-216-8126 or www.mctweb.org.
» What is Valentine's Day without a little song and dance? Not one that she will remember. Take her out to an evening of classical music at the annual Plano Symphony Valentine Gala. Not only will there be cocktails, but you can prove your mettle during the live auction. The artsy woman loves the man with the discerning art auction eye. Annual Plano Symphony Valentine Gala, 6 p.m. until midnight Feb. 13 in The Malachite Showroom, Hotel InterContinental, Dallas.
» Another shot at some romantic music is the Concerto D'Amore hosted by the McKinney Kammergild Society. I mean, look at it, guys -- it has "Italian" right in the title. Can't get much more romantic than that. The concert will showcase music written for the "Love Instruments" - oboe d'amore and viola d'amore. The program features Graupner & Quantz Trio Sonatas for oboe d'amore and viola d'amore. I don't even know what half that stuff means, which means your artful sweetheart is going to love it. Concerto D'Amore, McKinney Kammergild Society, 8 p.m. Feb. 13. Tickets: $11 adults,$6 student/child age 6 and over. http://www.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org/.
The Simple Valentine
Now we are left with the female who is not interested in Valentine's Day at all. Whatever her reason, be it the hippie-free-loving spirit of anti-materialism to a certain jaded quality that has set the standard for Valentine's Day so high that no one can truly reach them, the Simple Valentine does not buy into the hoopla. But God save your soul if you forget to do anything for her. The man who thought he was walking into an enviable relationship with a girlfriend who wants nothing to do with the lovey-dovey Valentine's Day has unwittingly thrown himself between a rock and a hard place. Do nothing, and disappointment ensues - though indulging in an extravagant Valentine display leads to admonishment. Best plan of attack? Trick them. Well, sort of.
» Find couple events you can do that reinforce the idea of love, without being saccharine-sweet. Try volunteering at a shelter or nursing home. Show your love for her by reaching out to others in their time of need. There are food pantries and homeless shelters throughout north Texas that are always scrambling for volunteers. And, you never know who you might run into at a nursing home. Some retired seniors lovebirds would love to share their advice on how to keep a relationship happy and long-lasting.
» As with the hopeless romantic above, make the date educational. It can't be evil consumerism if you are learning something at the same time, right? Sign up for couples cooking classes. This gives both of you a chance to spend time together under the guise of learning a valuable skill. There are many specialty grocery stores that offer some sort of cooking classes on a budget.
» Central Market in Plano is offering one Feb. 13 that has a Valentine's Day staple in it: cooking with chocolate. Learn about the best uses for milk, semi-sweet, dark and white chocolates as Amanda Snouffer, from the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy, demonstrates luscious recipes. Attendees will learn to temper chocolate, learn about the varied flavors that complement the various chocolates and how to make a few simple chocolate decorations. Central Market Plano, 320 Coit Road, 469-241-8389, http://www.centralmarket.com/Cooking-School.aspx.
» Or, if she is really against the idea of Valentine's Day, you can expand your cultural horizon by celebrating another holiday on Feb. 14. The Chinese New Year is on Sunday. This will begin the Year of the Tiger. Make a day of reading up on the celebration and then take part in the festivities. The Asia World Market in Plano is a good starting point in picking up all your celebration needs. And on Sunday the market will celebrate in its own way with special performances by Chinese Lion Dancers at 10 a.m. Asia World Market 240 Legacy Drive #200 Plano 972-517-8858 http://asiaworldmarket.com/
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
