Forget the grocery store: A few suggestions for
the cupid stupid
In less than a week, thousands of desperate men across the globe
will find themselves stumbling through a late-night convenience
store with a drooping bouquet of daisies clutched tightly in their
fists. And if their thoughts could be heard aloud, they might sound
something like this
–
”
Who the heck is this Valentine person and why does he hate me so
much?
”
Forget the grocery store: A few suggestions for
the cupid stupid
In less than a week, thousands of desperate men across the globe will find themselves stumbling through a late-night convenience store with a drooping bouquet of daisies clutched tightly in their fists. And if their thoughts could be heard aloud, they might sound something like this – “Who the heck is this Valentine person and why does he hate me so much?”
While just about everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day in some form or another, very few know why, and quite a few wait until the last minute to put something together.
There are several stories behind the history of St. Valentine and the holiday that honors him. The most popular theory, according to the History Channel, portrays Valentine as a clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in ancient Rome. Another legend has Valentine falling in love with the daughter of his jailor and sending her a letter signed “from your Valentine” shortly before his death. These stories helped turn Valentine into a romantic hero, and he was named a saint by the early Catholic church. By the Middle Ages, Valentine was the most popular saint in England and France, and in 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 as the day to honor him.
Through the years, this originally Christian holiday has become a day of love and romance, and St. Valentine is now considered the patron saint of lovers. Couples use the day to shower each other with attention in the forms of gifts, flowers, jewelry and, often overlooked but to many the most important – time.
Unfortunately, too many would-be romantics wait until the last minute to plan their Valentine’s celebrations. But there are plenty of ways to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day that can be pulled off with minimum fuss. And no matter which way you decide to go, there are several local stores and businesses ready to help you create the perfect romantic moment, even if you wait to make your purchases.
Candy is dandy
Boxes of assorted chocolates are a modern traditional Valentine’s Day gifts, but here in San Benito County, the best chocolate is often covering dried fruit.
DeBrito’s Chocolate Factory is a great place to shop, as many residents drive right pass its Briggs Road location on their way home each night. Owner Alene DeBrito’s factory offers dark and milk chocolate covered apricots, handmade almond butter toffee and more than 20 varieties of specialty caramel apples. Many gift boxes come beautifully wrapped, making it look like you spent a little extra on that special someone. Check out their products at www.debritochocolate.com.
Marich Confectionery on Bert Drive has a nice online selection of gift bags filled with goodies such as chocolate cherries, cappuccino almonds or peppermint bark shortbread. They also have packages of chocolate espresso beans or English toffee caramels as well as six types of truffles. All items are under $10, and the company earns bonus points for donating 5% of all its online sales to charities such as the American Cancer Society and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The company’s Web site is www.marich.com.
Fine Dining
Since many women spend much of their time in their own kitchen, dinner out has become a traditional way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Several local restaurants provide great food in a friendly atmosphere, the perfect combination for a special occasion.
The Inn at Tres Pinos features “continental cuisine with an Italian flair,” according to its owner, Mike Howard. Appetizer selections include Grilled Italian Sausage and Clams Bordelaise, for soups and salads choose Tuscan minestrone or a house salad with sliced olives, tomato, blue cheese crumbles and a house vinaigrette and each entree is accompanied by a basket of warm French bread served with extra virgin olive oil infused with fresh herbs, garlic, red chili flakes and balsamic vinegar. Their entrees include chicken, seafood, pasta, beef, pork and lamb dishes, and the menu also include dessert choices and local wines from Calera, Pietra Santa and De Rose Vineyards, to name a few. Reservations are recommended, and for a holiday such as Valentine’s Day, should be made a few days in advance.
Other good bets for a great meal locally include Progress Tamale Parlor (authentic Mexican food), Paine’s Restaurant (steaks, seafood, pasta) or Don Ciccio’s in San Juan Bautista (Italian fine dining). Again, reservations are strongly suggested.
A rose by any other name
More than 110 million roses will be sold in the days just prior to Valentine’s Day, and even grocery stores offer a number of fresh floral arrangements with roses, baby’s breath and other cut flowers.
Locally, Barone’s Florist, Hollister Flowers, and Precious Petals all offer Valentine’s Day bouquets and arrangements, including the traditional gift of a dozen long-stemmed red roses. Online ordering and delivery is available through all four stores. Nob Hill, Safeway and SaveMart also offer roses as well as other types of floral arrangements, and most floral shops also sell balloons, vases and other gifts.
One way to make flower giving a little more personal is to give a living plant rather than cut flowers. Giving your significant other a rose bush and then planting it together in the yard is a great way to symbolize your lasting love for each other.
Dreams of romance
Valentine’s Day is not a day of practicality, but a day for pampering the ones we love. What better way to do that than with the gift of relaxation?
Hollister’s Foxhollow Herb Farm offers dozens of spa, massage and bath products designed to provide ultimate pampering. The company offers several massage oils, but since it’s Valentine’s Day, try its “Dreams of Romance” oil, made with the essential oils of sandalwood, cinnamon and sweet orange. Buy a small basket and fill it with “Dreams of Romance” as well as some herbal bath blends, an exfoliating sugar body scrub and fizzing bath crystals. Shop online at www.foxhollowherbs.com and owner Jackie Mendizabal will arrange purchased items in a beautiful carriage box complete with dried flowers, raffia ribbon and a personalized message.
To those who wait
If you insist on waiting until the actual day to buy your Valentine’s Day gift, there are stores out there that can help. All of the local supermarkets offer flowers, balloons, cards, chocolates and bath products, and at Safeway, gift cards are available for chain stores and restaurants such as Starbucks, the Olive Garden, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Home Depot. Even so, try to get to the store a bit earlier in the day, or you might find yourself walking through the front door with that drooping daisy bouquet in your hand and bad thoughts of St. Valentine in your head.
Laurie Lemmerman-Castañeda can be reached at [email protected].
By the numbers:
$77.43 Average amount U.S. consumers will spend on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2008.
110 million Number of roses, mostly red, that will be sold and delivered on Valentine’s Day and the two days before.
188 million Number of Valentine’s Day cards exchanged annually in the U.S. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.)
650 million Number of cards children ages 6-10 will exchange with teachers, classmates and family members. Teachers receive the most Valentine’s cards annually.
64% of men who do not make plans in advance for a romantic Valentine’s Day.
63% Number of adults in the U.S. who believe a Valentine’s Day marriage proposal is romantic.
15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.
(Sources: Hallmark research and the History Channel)
