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Valentine’s Day is a mere week away, and this certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed. While people have mixed emotions about this holiday, we at Downtown believe that this day is for everyone! Self-love is just as important as showering your significant other with love, and Valentine’s day is as good a time as any to appreciate yourself and those around you.
So how do you best show it? We’ve rounded up some Valentine’s Day classics that can be given to yourself, your special someone, or a friend! Galentine’s Day is a thing too, and we certainly think the love of good friends and friendships are worth celebrating, too.
Sweets For My Sweets
Photo: Courtesy of neuhauschocolate.com
You didn’t think we’d talk about Valentine’s Day without talking about chocolate, now did you? As much as we love love, we also really love chocolate. So it’s just a logical connection. What better way to show someone you love them than by offering them the holy grail of sweets — chocolates! Some of our favorites include Neuhaus, Jacques Torres and Godiva which all have special Valentine’s Day boxes.
Dinner Date
Photo: Courtesy of ledistrict.com
While we’re on the subject of giving something edible… There’s a reason why taking your special someone out for dinner on Valentine’s Day is a classic. First of all, New York City has one of the best culinary scenes in the world, making it easy to fit it into what you and your valentine like. Second, many restaurants really set the right mood for Valentine’s Day by decorating and offering special menus — and really, is there anything more romantic than sharing a heart-shaped dessert? Third, the way to any foodies heart is through the stomach. And let’s be honest, in this day and age we’re all just a little bit foodies. Some of our downtown favorite’s, with special menus, include Tribeca Grill, Le District’s Beaubourg and Ristorante Rafele.
Spa Pampering
Photo: Courtesy of Haven Spa
Another way of showing love and care is by treating yourself — and/or your special someone — to some serious pampering. Many spas in NYC offer special packages both for couples and for singles because as great as Valentine’s Day is for couples to focus on each other and spend some quality time together, self-love is just as important. Some of our favorite spas in downtown include the sister spas, Haven Spa and Eve Spa, which offer couples massages and Valentine’s Day Mani-Pedis. For a Galentine’s celebration, check out Haven’s bitch massage — soothing and relaxing for both body and mind, or The Valley Girl — a décolletage facial that leaves you with a light glow and the softest skin imaginable. Another downtown favorite for a luxurious love treatment is AIRE Ancient Baths; they have two special packages — the Love Tandem and the Valentine’s Duet for this lovely occasion.
Bright Like A Diamond
Photo: Courtesy of tiffany.com
In the famous words of Marilyn Monroe, diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And this certainly still rings true on Valentine’s Day. Just as no two diamonds are the same, neither are people. So choosing the right jewelry piece can be tricky. It’s all about personal style and preferences, so a good tip can be to look at your valentine’s style. Do they wear classic outfits, more minimalistic or are their outfits bold and playful? Then a good choice can be to mimic this in jewelry choices. Some brands we suggest taking a closer look at is Dana Bronfman‘s stunning pieces, Scandinavian Maria Black‘s minimalist love pieces, and, of course, you can never go wrong with one of Tiffany’s Valentine’s Day picks wrapped up in their iconic blue box.
Romantic Getaway
Photo: Courtesy of Deer Mountain Inn
Is there anything more romantic than whisking your better half out of your day-to-day lives for a change of pace and scenery? The answer is no. Getaways are a perfect Valentine’s surprise — just the two of you in a peaceful place. Which getaway fits best is really up to what kind of people and what kind of couple you are. Are you city dwellers or does nature and fresh air soothe you? If you’re the latter, you should check out Deer Mountain Inn, a classic turn-of-the-century hidden gem seated in the hills above Tannersville, NY in the Great Northern Catskills. For Valentine’s Day, they offer a curated tasting menu from Michelin-starred Chef Ryan Tate. If you can’t get enough of the city, may we suggest a little staycation? At the Beekman, they’re offering an intimate five-course dinner for two at Tom Colicchio’s Temple Court or a “Celebrate With Us” package that includes red wine and chocolate upon arrival, late checkout and continental breakfast for two at Temple Court