{"id":81323,"date":"2024-01-31T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/hi-lo\/?post_type=newspack_nl_cpt&p=81323"},"modified":"2024-02-01T11:28:10","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T19:28:10","slug":"no-bad-dates-allowed-3-ideas-for-v-day","status":"publish","type":"newspack_nl_cpt","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/newsletter\/no-bad-dates-allowed-3-ideas-for-v-day","title":{"rendered":"\u2661 No bad dates allowed: 3 ideas for V-Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u00a0<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u00a0<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Happy last day of January.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Tomorrow marks the end of Dry January<\/strong> for some (finally) and the beginning of the planning period for everyone\u2019s favorite Hallmark holiday \u2014 you know the one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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So today, I\u2019m going to share a few ideas to help you get a head start on crafting the perfect Valentine\u2019s Day gesture for your favorite person(s), whether that\u2019s your S.O., your crush, your FWB, your besties, your bros, or hey, maybe even your mom (who absolutely deserves a bundle of roses regardless).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Don\u2019t groan, Feb. 14<\/strong> should just be another excuse to carve out some time with your loved ones. I\u2019m not (necessarily) asking you to empty your wallet, but I will share some ideas to make your Valentine feel something like this: \u2727 \u0cc3\u0f04*\u0a48\u2729\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

V-Day falls on a Wednesday<\/strong> this year. Oh, you\u2019re busy you say? Sorry, that\u2019s not a good enough excuse \u2014 activities are acceptable to plan any day of that week or on either bookending weekend. Below you\u2019ll find four types of dates to choose from and how to pull them off in and around Long Beach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

But first, <\/strong>no matter which date plan you pick, remember to get flowers \u2014 you must<\/em> get them. Who doesn\u2019t<\/em> love flowers? Keep it simple (and cheap) by grabbing a bouquet at Trader Joe’s or you can stop by Allen\u2019s Flower Shop<\/strong>, which has been open in Long Beach since 1977. The family-run shop offers floral arrangements ranging from the simple to the ornate from $20 up to $700.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Here are three itineraries to copy this Valentine\u2019s week:\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u2661 The outdoorsy\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If your Valentine happens to be a nature enjoyer, this is great news for your wallet. Plan a sunset, midday or all-day picnic at any of Long Beach\u2019s sprawling parks, which are bound to be plenty green after a pair of upcoming storms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Here are my favorite places to park it: Marine Stadium (also has a beach), El Dorado Park, Drake Park, Lincoln Park, Rose Park and Bixby Annex Park (the oft-misnamed stretch of green off Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue). My all-time favorite spot though, is the grassy area by the Colorado Lagoon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cLounging in the lagoon grass w\/ friends is a vibe unmatched,\u201d Betty Benderson III once said in a tweet in response to another newsletter in which I plugged the lagoon. Agreed, Betty.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Here\u2019s how to do it right:\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Step 1 <\/strong>– You must have snacks, if not a full-blown brunch\/lunch\/dinner spread. If you plan on assembling this yourself, head over to somewhere like Trader Joe’s, Olives Gourmet Grocer or The Plant Butcher (for vegans) to find premade sides, cheese platters, entrees and more.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Step 2 <\/strong>– Don\u2019t. Forget. Flowers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Step 3 – <\/strong>Lots of parks have picnic benches, but I prefer to sit on the ground. Bring a blanket or tapestry big enough to fit you and yours on. Also, bring extra blankets for warmth (and snuggling opportunities).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Step 4 – <\/strong>\u00a0Extras: You might want some other fun stuff like conversation cards for couples<\/a> or a board game. If you\u2019re a nerd like I am, you could also bring some short story or poetry books to read to your company. For extra coziness and atmosphere, bring some battery-operated twinkle lights<\/a> to wrap around nearby trees, some flameless candles<\/a> and throw pillows.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u2661 The quirky<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For the artsy and activity-oriented community, I\u2019m going to list off some dreamy events happening around Long Beach. These are great to share with anyone, but if you\u2019re just getting to know someone, having something structured to do might just help ease some of those first-date scaries (alcohol will do that too, see a list of bars in the classic<\/strong> section).\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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A pot of hot tea and a glass idle in front of Jasmine Thong, left and Ana Luna at Twelfth House Tea Sanctuary in Long Beach, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n