By Tina Chadwick
One billion. That’s how much chocolate is bought for Valentine’s Day in the U.S. That’s also the amount of Valentines cards sent out worldwide each year. If you don’t want to add to the numbers of the ordinary, here are a few ways to have a little bit of fun that will earn you a few points in the originality column and make a good story when you get the inevitable question, “Do anything cool for Valentine’s Day?”
Many, if not most, of Atlanta’s finer eateries have wonderful prix-fixe menus. The tradition of eating a special meal on Valentine’s Day dates back to ancient Romans who held a feast on Feb. 14 in honor of the goddess of women and marriage, Juno. In medieval times, girls ate bizarre foods on Valentine’s Day to make them dream of their future spouse.
But instead of being served, you could have a restaurant-quality dinner in the uniquely romantic setting of your own choice. Pick up Star Provisions’s (starprovisions.com) signature mise en place dinner for two. It’s a complete Valentine’s Day dinner including how to heat it all up just right. For the heady allure of the outdoors, Atlanta Botanical Garden (atlantabotanicalgarden.org) offers drinks, dancing and dessert surrounded by beautiful orchids and seductive candlelight.
Not quite ready to go so intimate as a one-on-one cozy dinner? You can hit the High Museum of Art (high.org) for the Picasso to Warhol:Fourteen Modern Masters exhibit complete with champagne, dancing and music. In keeping the culture, Atlanta Ballet (atlantaballet.com) hosts a Twyla Thorp world-premier performance of The Princess & The Goblin.
As for those of you who are in love with laughter, visit Dad’s Garage Theatre (dadsgarage.com) for Garage a Trois, a variety show of themed sketches, improve songs and some naughty on stage action. Sketchworks (sketchworkscomdey.com) is always a good time with its winter show, Deadliest Sketch and their offering two for one “couples tickets” if you mention Atlanta INtown.
To experience something out of this world, The Center for Puppetry Arts (puppet.org) is performing Space, a galactic romp through outer space for a little fact and fantasy. Fernbank Science Center (fsc.fernbank.edu) has three cool opportunities to look to the heavens, with “Sky Tonight”, a guided tour of the planets and constellations, “Moonwatchers” to hear about he changing faces of the moon according to African lore, and “Night Lights” to explore this phenomenon in Africa.
If you’d like to focus more on finding a Valentine, RSVP ATL has their Annual Cupid’s Prey Party (rsvpatl.com) at Cosmo/Lava where every girl gets a lock and every guy gets a key – the first 25 to find their fit get champagne – and maybe more.
For those with a bitter taste for the day of love and romance, The Bert Show is hosting The Bitter Ball (goldroomatl.com) at the Gold Room, where singles are encouraged to come party it up in the name of being the rebound.
If you want to give a little love back, Stacy Levy, a criminal defense attorney in Atlanta, offers the good idea to volunteer. She attends the Sweetheart Dance at Breman Jewish House (medical care facility) not as a volunteer in the traditional sense, but as the actual date of a resident there. “I really, really enjoy it. I get to dress up, have fun and go home happy.”
No matter where you decide to go, in preparation for your big night of love out on the town, take advantage of I Heart Wax at Wax (wax-atlanta.com) in Inman Park where a Valentine’s package includes a heart-shaped bikini wax and box of pink or red Betty dye!
With love, INtown.
