Love is in the air, everywhere I look around. Love is in the air, every sight and every sound.
If only Saint Valentine could have looked into the future as he faced his martyrdom (see sidebar) in Rome on February 14, 269 AD and realized that his name would become a clarion call to lovers all over the world, it might have made his death a little easier to bear. In his memory, lovers everywhere began marking February 14 th as the day for lovers and to exchange love messages with each other.
So, now that we know WHY we celebrate St. Valentine's Day every year, WHAT shall we do about it this year? Gifts of chocolate and flowers top everyone's list, of course - and those men's boxer shorts decorated with red hearts (I mean, do men really wear those things?). And, romantic dinners with champagne will never go out of style. Let us give you a few suggestions for your Valentine's Day celebration. Gifts for Her
For the traditional gift of lovely flowers, look no further than Baskets, Blossoms & Bears, in Anthem, for a special flower arrangement that spells out your love. Owner Pam Fyock can also supply stuffed teddy bears and do customized gift baskets for your loved one, filled with bath and body lotions, candles, chocolates, and other sensuous items.
If your loved one lives far away, beautiful flowers and other gifts are available via the Internet from companies such as www.1800flowers.com and www.ftd.com. One dozen red roses cost about $60.00 from both companies and there's an intriguing weekender kit from FTD called Kama Sutra Love Essentials for about $30.00.
The beauty website, www.sephora.com, offers a Chocolate Lovers gift of shampoo, conditioner and body wash in 3 different chocolate flavors - 100% calorie free and only $30.00.
Show me the jewelry! What woman can resist a lovely piece of jewelry from her significant other? AndrewZ Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, a new store in the Anthem Gateway office park, offers the good stuff at reasonable prices. Owner Andrew Z. suggests the floating heart pen dan t in white gold, a charming departure from the normal heart pen dan t. Prices start at $150, depending upon the number and quality of the diamonds you wish to include. He also suggests diamond stud earrings, a very intimate piece of Jewelry. Prices start at $500, depending upon the size and quality of diamond.
Gifts for Him
Ladies, let's get away from the red hearts on boxer shorts, please.
A great website for guys who love gadgets is www.sharperimage.com. If you're tired of your sweetheart always asking, "Honey, where is (you fill in the blank)," there's the Ultra 8 Wireless RF Electronic Locater. Eight RF receiver disks can be placed on items that are frequently lost (like keys, glasses), which will beep and flash when the locator button is pressed on the portable base. For the guy who plays the ever-popular game of poker, Sharper Image offers the "Tournament Texas Hold-Em Poker Talking Electronic Game" for $39.95. And for the golfing nut in your life, the Golf Ball Sweet Spot Finder for $24.95 is a nice gift. The device helps the golfer find the golf ball's "sweet spot" (its variance mass and optimal spin axis) - in other words, the best spot to hit the ball.
How about a custom gift basket of Champagne and chocolate? Eccentric Gourmet in Anthem offers custom gift baskets that typically start at $25. Owner Phil Christian suggests a gift basket with a bottle of Duval Leroy Champagne topped off with a yummy box of Butler 's Irish Chocolates with truffles. Or, perhaps a Majella Sparkling Shiraz, which is a deliciously-pink and foamy sparkling wine, paired with dark chocolate covered cherries.
And, for the non-stoppable fixer-upper in your life, there are always gift cards from Ace Hardware, in Anthem or on the website www.acehardware.com, or at Home Depot (www.homedepot.com) and Lowe's (www.lowes.com).
Romantic Dinners
Sassi , with its Tuscany architecture, delicious Italian cuisine and magnificent city and desert views, is a great choice for a special Valentine's Day celebration. There are five elegant dining rooms designed to resemble rooms you would see in a sumptuous Italian villa - the Main Dining Room, the Library, the Wine Cellar and the Garden Terrace for romantic ambiance and the Kitchen for a more cozy and casual dinner. And, should you decide to renew your wedding vows, Sassi has an elegant private event room and the breathtaking outdoor terrace for the perfect ceremony and party.
INFO> 480-502-9095; www.sassi.biz
The intimate atmosphere and the outstanding cuisine of Binkley's in nearby Cave Creek have all the elements for a quiet romantic evening. Anthem residents, Kevin and Amy Binkley opened up this masterpiece of a restaurant only seven months ago and already their restaurant has generated quite a buzz throughout the area. The delicious food and the personal attention they and their staff give all their patrons make for a memorable evening. Be sure to end the evening with one of their scrumptious desserts.
INFO> 480-437-1072
T. Cook's at the Royal Palms Resort consistently gets voted by Phoenix diners as the most romantic restaurant. The architecture of the restaurant is a splendid combination of Spanish, Moorish and Mediterranean styles. The food is Mediterranean-style also, with antipasto, roasted duck breast and grilled loin of lamb among the specialties. And, their architecturally ornate desserts are a positively sensuous experience.
INFO> 602-808-0766 Events
Glendale Chocolate Affaire is a wonderfully sinful way to destroy your diet while partaking in the annual Valentine's Day weekend chocolate pig-out held in Murphy's Park. The locally famous Cerreta Candy Company of Glendale sponsors the event and also offers tours of its factory and sampling of its wares. Also featured at this 3-day affair are live entertainment, arts and crafts booths, kids' activities and romantic horse-drawn carriage rides, and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!
INFO> Dates: 2/4 5-9, 2/5 10-9, 2/6 10-5. Murphy Park , 7010 N. 59 th Avenue , Glendale . 623-930-2299. Scottsdale Fine Art & Chocolate Festival is another wonderful production of Thunderbird Artists. The outdoor festival, in its 13 th year, is held in downtown Scottsdale and features another outstanding array of creative artworks by the finest artists and tempting chocolate confections by over 20 of the best chocolate companies. The Scottsdale Pavilions and its park-like surroundings will provide a charming setting for strolling, holding hands and listening to the lovely melodies played by talented musicians.
INFO> Dates: 2/11, 2/12, 2/13 10am - 5pm . www.thunderbirdartists.com
Romeo and Juliet , the beguiling Shakespeare classic about the passion and disappointment of young love, will be performed at the ASU Herberger Mainstage Theatre in Tempe on 2/14/05 . The production promises to be the "timeless story of first love - romantic, sensuous and forbidden."
INFO> 480-965-6447
Matchmaking
For those of us who haven't found their true love just yet, there are online matchmaking groups that have become quite popular. Among the better ones are americansingles.com, match.com, great-expectations.net and eharmony.com. A very dear friend just met someone on eharmony.com only 5 months ago and they're planning marriage already! Just a cautionary word - be sure to meet in a public place for the first time.
This was not a comprehensive list of gifts and things to do, by any means, but it may give you some ideas. So, make St. Valentine proud and plan something really nice for yourself and that special person in your life. Happy Valentine's Day!
************************Sidebar***************************
The reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius II was marked by many bloody and unpopular campaigns and he was having a tough time getting men to join the military. He thought the reason for this was that men did not want to leave their loved ones, so he decided to cancel all betrothals and marriages in Rome. St. Valentine, however, had a soft spot in his heart for young lovers and in defiance of the Emperor, married many couples secretly. His secret was discovered and he was imprisoned and condemned to be beaten with clubs and then beheaded. |
