Friday, February 8, 2008

The DFW Valentine’s Day list to end all Valentine’s Day lists

By Teresa Gubbins

I think it was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet and philosopher (because when it comes to romance, who doesn't think "Germans"?), who measured love as that moment "when we believe that we alone can love, that no one could ever have loved so before us, and that no one will ever love in the same way after us."

We're more shallow: We measure true love by how much you're willing to shell out for a Valentine's Day dinner. Sometimes flowers and candy are also involved, and we don't rule out lingerie. These are the ways that people say "I care."

Oh look, a rock shaped like a heart. That's so romantic.

Luckily, we have nearly 200 Valentine's Day dinners from which to choose, part of a larger list of more than 300 Valentine's Day-related events. (If you're seeking events that are ON Valentine's Day, go here.)

Eats

If money is no object (and of course it shouldn't be -- we are talking about LOVE here), a 4-course meal with striped bass, antelope, lobster, veal, and filet mignon goes for a piddling $175 at Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton, while a splurge for two at Nobu is $250. That's only $125 apiece before tax and tip.

For cheaper skates, dinner at Trece is a relatively affordable $40 and includes a red rose "for the lady", while dinner at The Grill on the Alley starts out at a surprisingly low $29.95.

Diversions

But wait -- there's more to Valentine's Day than an expensive dinner. (There's expensive jewelry, too.) The Renner Frankford branch library, for example, is hosting a children's party wherein rug rats will share stories and make cards. It's never too soon to start raising their expectations and turning up the pressure re: Valentine's Day.

Pink is one of the most popular Valentine's Day colors, along with burgundy, crimson, claret, magenta, carmine, cardinal, rosy, ruddy, scarlet, magenta, fuchsia, and red.

For adults only, Valentine's Day and More event at the Living Room Bar at the W Hotel, has potential R-rated goings-on. (It has something to do with a Spin the Bottle game and involves staying the night at the hotel for up to $529 per night.)

Among the performances, Bass Hall is hosting "Romance at Dusk -- An Evening with Matt Dusk" at its cozy McDavid Studio, with $75 getting you dinner by City Club and a champagne toast while lounge crooner Dusk sets a Sinatra mood. At the Eisemann Center in Richardson, the Plano Symphony Orchestra does Glen Miller in a Valentine Gala that'll take the audience back to the '40s. A special Valentine's Day "Chocolate & Roses” rendition of "The Lovers" at Addison Theater Center gets ticket holders chocolates and a rose.

Musique

RottieLover

It's uh a, well, it's a Rottweiler, of course, but with some kind of heart-shaped third eye.

In the special category of "musicians performing at fish places", Andrea Dawson and Blue Lisa become Valentine's Divas at Nate's Seafood while JB Clark plays for free at Fish on Fire.

And for those tragic sods who find pets more lovable than humans, the SPCA of Texas is hosting a "Puppy Love" Valentine’s Day Tasting at Premier Wines of Plano.

Was it Samuel Johnson who said that "Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise?" Google says yes. You don't read too much about that guy's girlfriend, do you.

Related stories

• Dallas No. 1 on Forbes list of “Best Cities For Couples” (Feb. 10, 2008)

See more stories in:

• Holidays > Valentine's Day

Comments

Pavel Lishin Verified

The SPCA has the right idea. Get them drunk, then convince them that getting a puppy is the best idea ever.

At least when you wake up hung-over in a puddle of urine, you can be reasonably certain it's not yours.

6 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

kirk Anonymous

Well, Teresa, Samuel Johnson was a catch, as a bio on http://justus.anglican.org says:

"Johnson was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, in 1709. His mother did not have enough milk for him, and so he was put out to nurse. From his nurse he contracted a tubercular infection called scrofula, which inflamed the lymph glands and spread to the optic and auditory nerves, leaving him deaf in the left ear, almost blind in the left eye, and dim of vision in the right eye. It also left scar tissue which disfigured his face, as did a later childhood bout with small-pox."

So I imagine he has lots of Valentines vying for his attention.

Thanks to you and your cohorts for assembling such an awesome list!

6 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )