Are you already anticipating how you’ll spend Valentine’s Day with your favorite person?
I love Valentine’s Day. What isn’t there to love about pink hearts, chocolate, and, most importantly, love? The hardest part about the sweetest holiday of the year is deciding how to celebrate it. Do you want to venture out to NYC? Or would you rather dress cute and comfy in the warm embrace of your own home? Here are some ideas to make the date memorable this year!
For my Rutgers ladies, a great place for dinner that’s only an 11-minute walk from The Yard is Sakana. If you and your partner are sushi lovers, Sakana offers a relatively affordable all-you-can-eat sushi option. All their food is great quality, and the restaurant has a cozy yet elevated atmosphere. As a side note, a cute, little robot makes its way around the restaurant for takeout orders, and it apparently sings “Happy Birthday”!
If you want to get creative for V-day, Color Me Mine Edison is having an event on February 14th, the night of the holiday! You can paint Valentine’s Day-themed ceramics (alone or with friends!) to either keep for yourself or gift to your partner.
would you prefer a trip to New York City over staying in Central Jersey?
Olio e Più in Greenwich Village offers an array of high-quality Italian cuisine. Chef Pedro Cruz and his team’s Spaghetti Chitarra Alla Carbonara is the restaurant’s most well-known dish, and reasonably so. Just make sure to order an appetizer because the entrée portions are a little small. The walls lined with little framed photographs lit with warm lighting create a homely vibe. On top of that, the service is great, and you get free bread. What more could you ask for?
Another food option is a little different: it’s on a boat! You and your significant other can go out during the day on this Valentine’s Brunch NY cruise. You both will get to enjoy not just one or two but 3 courses for brunch while you take in the view of your partner against the Manhattan skyline. Additionally, you get access to all three decks of the boat, and they offer a rose to every couple to take home and make it a memorable experience.
If you want to finish the night with something sweet, go to Sant Ambroeus Gelateria. You and your significant other can get your own scoops of “gelati” or “sorbetti”. If you want to be extra cute, you can share a “coppe”, which is essentially a sundae with gelato.
Another “sweet” date idea is for you and your partner to take a baking class together and bake sweetheart cupcakes in a NY bakery! At Butter Lane, you will both be taught the best and sweetest recipes to make and each couple will be able to take home a dozen cupcakes to enjoy.
To commemorate your Valentine’s Day date, stop by Canal Street Market. From Friday through Sunday, small business vendors sell unique goods like jewelry and vintage clothing. If you’re craving a snack, browse the Food Hall, where you can find boba, tacos, and more.
Maybe you want to celebrate V-day by getting zen with your partner. We definitely recommend booking a couple spa sessions at the Couple Spa! There are many options for you and your partner to choose from like a hydrating facial, body scrub treatment, and even Swedish massages that will leave you both feeling refreshed and relaxed for this special holiday!
For me, the ultimate relaxation comes from a simple, comfy night in. Throw on your coziest matching PJs and fuzzy socks. Then, order some pizza and make your own chocolate-covered strawberries to munch on while you snuggle up to your partner and watch a movie.
To my beloved single ladies– you can do all of these ideas with friends, or even take yourself out on a date! Valentine’s day is the holiday of affection; this year, make sure to give some to all of your loved ones… especially yourself!