Romantic Notions

Just one more week until February 14. Sure, Valentine's Day may be an overly pink, Hallmark-perpetuated hypefest. But it's also a great excuse for a night of unabashed romance. Make your sweetheart feel special with a fabulous New York Valentine's Day.


The Dinner: Every great Valentine's Day includes a cozy dinner by candlelight. Splurge on a night at one of New York's most romantic restaurants. Or whip up an intimate nosh at home (if you can't cook, just dial up FreshDirect or Whole Foods for decadent desserts and other goodies delivered to your door).

The Presents: Flowers are a sure bet to impress the ladies (check out Flowers of the World for truly unique arrangements that she won't forget). Gifts from the Apple store will wow dates of any gender. Why not load his iPod with romantic songs downloaded just for him from iTunes?

The Carriage Ride in Central Park: The picturesque carriage ride in Central Park is not just for tourists and romantic-comedy heroines. Snuggle under a blanket with your sweetie in the moonlight. Canoodle to the clop-clop of horse's hooves as you view the city from a more romantic perspective. You can even enjoy a free carriage ride this Valentine's season through the generosity of Henri Zimand, who is giving away 1000 free Central Park horse and carriage rides in honor of his late wife.

The Scenic New York Kiss: Enjoy a memorable kiss on Valentine's Day in one of the city's most romantic locations. There's the top of the Empire State Building, naturally, where you can make like Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr (or Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan). Also included in a recent Daily News list of the best kissing spots in New York are the Rockefeller Center Skating Rink, The Cloisters, and The Brooklyn Bridge. Just try to keep it PG-13 until you get home.