Valentine's Day: Anyone planning anything wonderful?
 

Does anyone have a wonderful getaway planned for Valentine's Day? Let me live vicariously through you!

No. My spouse and I do not celebrate Valentines Day because it is a pain.

me and the boys are gonna hit the bar scene to find our valentines tonite.

Hi melh, Planning to spend a nice, quiet evening with my boyfriend of 4 years at my place. I don't like to go out on Valentine's because everything ti too crowded. Respectfully, Leslie

As a guy, I have to say that Valentine's Day is a giant fraud. If I buy my wife flowers, take her to a nice restaurant, buy her a card, etc., is she happy? No. I don't earn any bonus points. It's expected. But if I forget - then I'm in the proverbial doghouse for a long, long time and the sin is never forgiven, never forgotten.<BR><BR>And then - what do I get from her? If I'm lucky I'll get a card. I think this is all some big Hallmark marketing sham.<BR><BR>That said - I'm taking my wife to the big city for one of those Hibachi style Japanese dinners. If I'm lucky, I'll get really drunk on Sapporo.

It's a much better buzz getting drunk on Sake.

We are members of the James Beard Foundation in NYC. They do one seating per night with a set menu. A different chef every night. For Valentine's Day they have Osteria del Circo from the Bellagio in Las Vegas. No hassle, no decisions, no problem. A truly special evening. You do not have to be a member to go, but it will cost you $25 more per person to be a guest. Cost of dinner includes pass around hors d's from 7 to 8 and a featured wine. Then a 4 or 5 course meal with a wine with each course, tax, tip, and coat check. There is an open kitchen for you to hang out in. They will seat you with another couple, or 2, 3 or 4 other couples--whatever you prefer. Our favorite restaurant in NYC!!! All of this in James Beard's own townhouse on W12th St. www.jamesbeard.org go to 'events' to see the nightly chef and menu. Anyone wanting more info, just ask away! We truly do love this place and eat there quite frequently.

OH, my God! I heard that Friday was VD day, but I misunderstood. Never mind, better change the plans.

I see we have a bunch of hopeless romantics here! Hubby and I are combining VD with our Anniversary(in 3 weeks) and going to Paris for 5 days. Sorry to burst your bubble! hehehe

Bird,<BR>I suggest that you buy your wife a book or something on &quot;romantic ideas for couples&quot;. I'm sure SOMEONE wrote a book on it! LOL. I would give it to your wife with some type of inscription suggesting you try these &quot;surprises&quot; out on each other. Hint hint to HER!<BR><BR>That said, I havent planned a thing as yet for my husband! Last year however, I bought tons of rose petals, sprinkled them up the stairs, leading into the bath, with the jacuzzi steaming and candles lit. Followed this up with a facial and foot massage for him! Oh yes, I did get him a card as well! LOL. We tend not to go out on these &quot;special&quot; nights as the service is usually awful etc. So I cooked his favorites and set the table in the living room in front of the fire.<BR>Hmmmmm, what AM i going to do this year? I'll have to get working on it.<BR><BR>PS dont put the rose petals on the bed, or at least remove them before you get on it, they will stain!! But they do create a lovely ambience, covering the bed, floating in the bath water, etc!<BR>Have fun!

Prawns. some good dry french champagne and no doubt a discussion on whether to do the living room in Benjamin Moore&quot;Persimmon&quot; or duct tape and plastic sheeting.

We did our &quot;Valentine's&quot; last weekend to avoid the crowds. A wonderful trip to Savannah! Stayed at the Ballastone, ate at wonderful restaurants. Met great folks staying their too. Could not have been a nicer trip!!!<BR> We will be back....Kris

Celebrated the big day with heart-shaped pancakes at breakfast this morning (with hubby and the kids--14 year-old thought it was lame but secretly liked it). Tonight we're going to a wine-tasting with some other couples. Pretty low key but surrounded by the ones I love!

We are also staying home. Making mussels in white wine sauce for dinner. We are leaving for New Orleans on Thursday. Anyway, I have to agree with the men on this one (I'm a woman) that Valentines Day is way to get you to part with your money. And the restaurants are so crowded there is no way they could be considered romantic. Pam, your decorating comment had me laughing out loud!

Since my beau and mine anniversary is tomorrow I am cooking for him tonight. Champagne with salad with goat cheese. 97 Willamette Valley pinot with rack of lamb, roasted potatoes with shallots in sage butter and a chocolate tart for dessert. I love to cook! Tomorrow he is taking me out but won't tell me where so I guess it will be a romantic surprise!<BR><BR>Wendy

I love Valentine's Day because there are never enough opportunities to show we care about each other. It doesn't have to necessarily mean romantic love. There all kinds. We've been married 33 years, so we don't need a special day to be alone together. But we do realize it's a hard day for some singles who might be home tonight. For the last 20 years we've hosted a dinner for some single guys and gals. Tonight we're having a greek dinner and watching (guess what?)&quot;My Big Fat Greek Wedding&quot; on DVD. And a big, fat, happy valentines day to all our friends out there!

Awaiting for my Honey to return late tonight from a business trip. I'll leave a light on and keep the bed warm.

Wendy, '97 Willamette Valley Pinot....good stuff. I've got a nice bottle of Syrah to go with the fondue dinner my wife has planned.<BR><BR>I caught a little of the Glen Beck (radio talk) Show today; pretty funny. He was bailing out guys who hadn't planned anything by calling their wives to announce that the husband's letter had won the show's Couple of the Year contest. Don't know what time his show airs live; maybe it's not too late for some of you.

Alohaaa, <BR>We were planning on doing a last minute &quot;seat of the pants&quot; trip to Napa/Sonoma but Mrs Kal has a greedy boss (aka:her)so she's booked tonight and tomorrow. There are also hints of rain for Sat/Sunday...bummer.<BR>So, tomorrow night we'll have a belated, quiet candlelit VTine's Day dinner at home with me being in charge of the main course, she in charge of a side dish and we'll both be dessert...I mean in charge of dessert. ;-)<BR><BR>As for wines, a Carneros Creek Pinny isn't too bad either, my b'bum friend to the north! <BR>However, Zins rule this year in the Casa de Kal!<BR>Happy Valentine's Day to all!<BR>Kal

Just had my date with the Colonel from KFC - Happy V Day ya'll!

We spent Valentine's Day in Yosemite National Park. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!<BR><BR>We had a picnic lunch of filet mignon steaks and stir fry vegetables. <BR><BR>(we were in our motorhome)<BR><BR>Utahtea<BR><BR>

Maggi, you're truly an inspiration...always giving. I'm very glad I got to meet you and Georg on our trip to Hawaii. You can be my valentine any day :) !!<BR><BR>I spent the night working with my hubby in our seafood restaurant. But that's all right -- paybacks tonight! Going to a fancy schmancy place with fab wine - or maybe champagne this time...

There are 3 restaurants in my husband's hotel. Two had been sold out since mid January and the 3rd isn't really a place for Valentines--so...DH was going to treat me to a lobster dinner HE prepared. Heehee<BR><BR>First problem was the size pots I own. Only one was big enough and that could only hold one lobster. So...back to the hotel he went, and brought back an enormous commercial pot. Strangely, it was peaked at the bottom so only about an inch of the pot actually sat flat on my burner and the water would never come to a boil. Dumped it out into smaller pots, and brought them all to a boil while he took the commercial pot out back and hammered the bottom flat. Now we live in the hotel but the casita area, and you can imagine the racket hammering that pot made!! LOL Like someone hitting a big gong over and over again. Now the pot was flat. Back on the stove, poured our now boiling water in, and of course it immediately stopped boiling in the cold pot. It sat on that burner another 25 minutes before finally reaching a boil. That did not bode well for it's coming to a boil again after the lobster were in. The 20 minute cooking time starts when the water resumes boiling after the lobster are in....and it never did! Now...do you think I was a little involved in these preparations by this time? You betcha. I theorized because the pot was way bigger than the burner, it wasn't getting sufficient heat. Finally...I just decided to time it, boiling or not, and hope for the best, but clueless as to whether or not we'd cut them open and find translucent raw meat. We ended up eating at 10 PM, and they were done, but we were exhausted!! LOL Next year it'll be a different plan. Maybe Joan's restaurant! :&gt; (And Joan, you an do ours).<BR><BR>We had a funny Sprint moment during the meal. Had had an email from our son that afternoon saying he and his fiancee had celebrated a day early by going to Cirque de Soleil's, Allegria in Dallas. I'd just told my husband about the email as I cut into the lobster's tail and saw the eggs, indicating I had a pregnant female. So as I finished saying the bit about cirque, the next words out of my mouth were describing the lobster, &quot;I got a *female* and she's pregnant&quot;. My husband, mis-hearing in his Sprint Moment, and still thinking cirque, thought I said, &quot;I got an email and she's pregnant&quot;. Seeing my calm, nonchalant concentration on the lobster I was attacking rather than the raving crazy I'd most likely have been under those circumstances, he assumed that either he'd misheard, or I had finally totally lost it..LOL. <BR><BR>Anyway...it was a memorable Valentines Day, even if it wasn't the day we learned we'd finally become grandparents! :&gt;

Gee. OO, I'm sure glad your husband is the manager and not a chef!!! Armani's is great, but think I'd pass on the lobster if I relied on his cooking talents. LOL.<BR><BR>Did you have guests complain about the horrible noise, by the way??

OliveOyl,<BR>You're so funny--I thought we were the only ones to have meals like that. LOL at the pregnancy comment--thanks for the smile!<BR>

Spouse and I take turns regarding Valentine's -- her turn last year (she cooked steak au poivre, wonderful meringue dessert, etc., bought ME flowers!). My turn this year -- can't cook so took her to a favorite tapas restaurant, got her a gardenia bush AND some cut roses, and a SMALL (she accuses me of undermining her resolve to diet) box of candy. She says it's a relief not to have to decide where to go, likes having me make the decision. <BR><BR>I admit, it took us almost 20 years to settle into this arrangement, but I like having every other year &quot;off&quot;. (Bird, I suspect your problems have nothing to do with the commercialization of Valentine's Day. You two sound like you really dislike each other.)

soccr - what a great idea! I think I'm going to steal it. We celebrated 22 years of marriage on V'day, went out to dinner with what seemed like 400 of our closest friends, paid too much money for a mediocre meal, and headed home at 9 p.m. Sigh. We planned on dinner &amp; dancing, but somehow the car headed home?!? Maybe next year...

I concur, a great idea from soccr. Now if I can get my husband to agree,lol. He is great about cards, flowers, etc, but the planning or surprises are left to me. So far, its worked ok. But perhaps I will make this sugestion.....<BR><BR>CB, thats exactly why we stopped going out on things like Vday, New Years Eve, etc, overpriced and usually the restaurants are not up to their usual standards in either food or service, just too busy. We have enjoyed many a special night at home instead :)

Nah, we didn't do anything. My husband was in Pittsburgh at a soccer tournament. But we are off on a cruise next week which more than makes up for it.

First Valentine's Day with a baby at home. Very nice. I cooked coq au vin, hubby bought wine and the movie &quot;My Big Fat Greek Wedding.&quot; I got him some shirts. We enjoyed our night together...doing NOTHING! A couple of years ago we went out to dinner at 9:00 pm because we could not get a reservation earlier. That night we decided it was just too much effort to go out on V-Day and have stayed home every since.<BR><BR>Anyone else feel sorry for Bird?

We took the kids to Burger King for Valentine's Day! How exciting is that?<BR><BR>But we made up for it on Sat. Had a fancy, 5-course meal with some friends. It was so lovely to have a night away from the house.