Getting to the heart of the matter
February 2012
As the remnants of the holiday season are cleared, cleaned and marked down for their final hoorah, we sign onto Valentine’s Day with the oomph that January promises but never brings. By now, half of our New Year’s resolutions have already been conveniently ignored or forgotten. Gym attendance, which peaked the first two weeks of January, has taken its first dive; the chocolate and wine we swore we’d lay off has astonishingly reappeared; and those promises that included spending more time with family ... they never met my cousin Ruth.
Consequently, February is a much more promising month to begin the new year. After all, what could be wrong with a month that celebrates all things amore? A holiday for romance, named after Saint Valentine (for no good reason), gives us plenty of reasons and means to express our love. Though our Valentine’s Day may be more commercial and mass-produced than in the time of courtly love, it is nonetheless a special and fun tradition.
This year, Union Street launches our own tradition with our second Union Street Has a Crush on You Valentine’s Wine Walk. It happens on Thursday, Feb. 9 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. along Union Street from Gough to Steiner, and along Fillmore Street from Union to Lombard. Participating restaurants and merchants will offer samplings of wine, snacks and some special treats to set the mood for the days to come.
Speaking of setting the mood on the street, I don’t think anyone will set it better than the two lingerie stores that flank it. On one end at 2285 Union Street, we have My Boudoir full of sexy, lovely and lacy – but not so racy – lingerie. Owner Gerri is kind, informative, and has the most delicate touch when figuring out just the right thing for your figure, or that perfect little something for a special night. On the other end at 1772 Union, we have Pink Bunny where slightly naughty and very nice lingerie along with unique playful products combine for… need I say more? Not really, other than owner Serene is incredible in her ability to create an atmosphere of warmth and plausibility. She knows her stuff and passes it along with ease.
In between there’s a bounty of great stores with plenty of choices for your darling, dearest, honey, sweetheart, cupcake, cutie pie, sweetie, angel, or those old standards, pookie and snookums. Go the traditional route with a not-so-traditional box of designer chocolate from CocoaBella, or choose between a romantic steak frites champagne brunch at Café Des Amis, or the more authentic French cozy dinner a Unique Bistro where the warm goat cheese salad along with the wonderful cassoulet will make any heart sing.
If jewelry is your direction this Valentine’s Day, take your pick. Go lofty with high design at Stuart Moore, choose handcrafted beauties from David Clay, oldies but goodies at Dianne’s Old & New Estates, or select the well-edited sparklers from Union Street Goldsmith. Wallet not that fat? No problem. Mabel Chong, Jest Jewels, Enchanted Crystal, and Covet will all have just the thing at just the right price.
Oh, I do love February, sappy valentines and all. I’m finally used to writing 2012 into my dates and just beginning to get back to normal after crazy December and unrealistic goal-making January. And this February offers an added bonus – ding ding ding, an extra day! Though I still don’t really get Leap Year and the Gregorian calendar, I do get the value in an added day and in added time, as none of us ever have enough of it. And this alone is the heart of any matter.
