The Top 10 Non-Traditional Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day

Originally Submitted on 12/31/2003.

With millions of adults in the US single, not everyone will be having a romantic dinner for two this Valentine's Day. Here are some suggestions for great other ways to celebrate the day of love.

1. Celebrate with a child.

If you don't have one, borrow one! Invite your niece over for an afternoon of tea with tiaras and tutus, making Valentines, and reading Valentine's books. Got a boy in your life? How about some slap-jack or Pente, video games and a candle-lit dinner with fondue – to keep those hands busy! Nice red catsup is good enough for the sauce!

2. Help others. Did you know that studies showing even observing a kind act helps the observers feel good – not to mention the giver and the recipient?

(1) Give a party at a children's shelter. The Volunteer Director is trained to help you! Simple refreshments, favors, plan a game, tie-dye t-shirts, crafts, play the piano and sing. It's the thought and the companionship that count. Games? Play musical chairs, tying big red bows to the front of the chairs. Pin the Lips on Ms. Valentine – draw "her" on posterboard – use moving eyes, false eyelashes and pipe cleaners for hair. Put each kid's name on a pair of red lips cut out of construction paper with tape on back. Blindfold them with Valentine scarf and proceed! Valentine Bingo – make bingo cards with a February theme – groundhogs, Presidents Lincoln and Washington, candy hearts, doves, lover, Valentines, etc. Buy a red beverage and all it "Love Potion."
(2) Make it a special day for someone in a retirement or nursing home. Put on that bright red sweater and your Valentine tie, red with white hearts; or Taz in love and red braces available here and head on over! Bake something terribly naughty and bring it along.

3. Have the girls over for My Big Fat Valentine Party.

Sing love songs, watch a gushy video, make an outrageously feminine buffet spread. Have everyone bring a grab bag gift. Have a poetry contest. Here are the top smoochy love songs from BBC: Je T'Aime – Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin; Whole Again – Atomic Kitten; Have I Told You Lately – Van Morrison; I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston; Take My Breath Away – Berlin; Can't Help Falling in Love With You – Elvis. And I add, It's Now or Never by Elvis.

4. Call up your daughter and son-in-law and tell them you're coming for the weekend to take care of the kids so they can go celebrate.

Bake Valentine's cookies with the kids and have a red dinner – red jello hearts, heart-shaped pasta with tomato sauce or heart-shaped pizza, Hawaiian punch and cinnamon hearts in hot cocoa. "Willie Wonka" video, everyone gets in the big bed with Nana, snuggle-time, dogs included. Woo hoo!

5. Celebrate with your animal companion.

There's no more reliable source of love in our lives. Bake some homemade dog biscuits. Take your dog for a special outing, and on the way, drop off your treats at the local animal shelter. Or take your animal companion with you to a nursing home or convalescent center. You can deck your dog, cat, ferret or rabbit in a festive Valentine scarf for the occasion. Red vest, tie, bows, boas! and click here for other festive wear for your small furry friend.

6. Book a Valentine cruise on the Costa cruise line and dance the nights away.

Be a gentleman host, or dance with one! Gentlemen dance hosts "work" from 8 pm to 1 am every night, visiting with and dancing with women cruise guests. Great vacation for singles! Gentleman, don't forget your red cummerbund and bowtie.

7. Have couples and friends over for a Valentine's Day Brunch.

Make pancakes and fried eggs shaped like hearts, serve with strawberry syrup, fresh strawberries, some nice crisp bacon, strawberry daiquiris and nice hot tea. Or special Valentine wine, from the Valentine winery that is, in Southern Mendocino County. The labels on the wine are cool for a Valentine’s Party! Set the table with a light-hearted look, and fill the DR ceiling with pink and red helium balloons. Then watch a lovey video like "Ghost" or head for a local show or concert.

8. Get away for the weekend and see some great art.

(1) Bath House Center in Dallas, TX annual "El Corazon" exhibit (the heart)
(2) Love at the Maier in Lynchbirg, Va. "The Love Lives of Artists" (or what the gallery labels won't tell you). Lecture by art historian, then hors d'oeuvres.

9. Call your favorite aunt or your bratty little brother and head for Virginia where the wineries are putting on the dog for Valentine's Day.

Veramar's is offering strolling violinists. Oasis winery in Hume has limousine transportation available. Tarara winery in Loudoun County has cozy fireside dinners.

10. How daring are you?

Are you up for the Winter Storm Package at the Wickaninnish Inn, the best location on North America's west coast for storm-watching. "The spectacle of twenty-foot waves pounding onto the coast underscores the majestic setting of the inn," say they. Talk about cozying in. Each room has an ocean view, soaker bathtub and fireplace, some jacuzzis. Rain slickers are provided for what is termed "invigorating weather." All spa amenities, epicurean dining. Vancouver Island at the gateway to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Bring along a friend, or go solo and bring along a good book. We recommend "A General Theory of Love," of course, by Amini, Lewis and Lannon. Why not brush up on your Emotional Intelligence? It does your heart good.

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