Valentines Day By the Numbers
By Justin Coffey & Anna Roth, Seattle
Every year, Valentine's Day comes down to the same things: Roses, jewelry, chocolate, champagne and romantic dinners. No matter your budget, we've come up with three itineraries to keep your significant other smiling.
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Metropolitan Market - Queen Anne
1908 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA
Ah, the dilemma of the broke suitor: Nothing says "I love you" like roses, but they're a little out of your price range. Not to worry--a single rose ($2.99) and a smile will get the point across just as well. -
The Confectionery
4610 26th Ave NE, Seattle, WA
You wish you could buy her diamonds, but for now, a candy necklace or Ring Pop will have to do. It might not pack the same emotional punch as the real deal, but if she's a keeper, she'll appreciate the gesture. -
Trader Joe's
4555 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA
Champagne isn't the only bubbly on the block: This affordable food emporium has tons of great bottles of cava, prosecco and other sparkling wines for less than $10. -
Maximilien in the Market
81A Pike St, Seattle, WA
If a romantic dinner for two is out of the question, you might want to consider a romantic happy hour instead. This atmospheric Market restaurant has million-dollar Puget Sound views and amazing deals on house wine ($4), steamed mussels ($2.95), twice-fried Belgian frites ($2.95) and oysters ($4.50/half-dozen). -
Cupcake Royale
2052 Market St, Seattle, WA
Bypass the four-piece Whitman's samplers and sweeten your honey up with a Deathcake Royale ($6) instead--layers of dark chocolate, espresso ganache and chocolate cake drizzled with chocolate ganache.
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Seattle Flowers
600 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA
Surprise your sweetheart on Valentine's Day morning with an unexpected delivery of a dozen red roses in a vase ($69.95). -
Lil'Paisley
6500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA
Find your special lady a one-of-a-kind piece at this dainty boutique chock-full of vintage and estate jewelry. Don't know the first thing about shopping for accessories? The friendly proprietress will gladly help find an item in your price range. -
Simply Desserts
3421 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA
If you present your lover every year with one of those red satin chocolate samplers, surprise them this time with a super-rich chocolate-truffle cake ($35) from this small Fremont bakery. Though there are a few tables in the store, we recommend taking it to go and savoring it at home. -
Pete's Supermarket
58 E Lynn St, Seattle, WA
Get yourself out of the Veuve/Moet champagne rut and try a sparkler produced closer to home: This hidden Eastlake supermarket has a great selection of local bubblies. -
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
2033 6th Ave, Seattle, WA
Plan ahead for dinner with a little something extra: Mindi Abair and her pop-influenced jazz saxophone is playing two V-Day shows (7:30pm and 9:30pm; $36) at this upscale jazz club. Throw in candlelight and black velvet banquettes and you're looking at a seriously romantic evening.
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Ballard Blossom
1766 NW Market St, Seattle, WA
Make like the romantic lead in a movie and fill her house with roses while she's at work ($225.95 for three dozen, delivered to her door). -
Turgeon-Raine Jewellers
1407 5th Ave, Seattle, WA
There's nothing more romantic than designing a special piece for your special someone, and custom work is the name of the game at this jeweler. The only limit? The depth of your pockets. -
Chocolate Box
108 Pine St, Seattle, WA
Extravagant made-to-order baskets should keep you both going until next Valentine's Day. For a real impact, buy the Dilettante basket, brimming with truffles, caramels, dark chocolate, brandied cherries, toffee and nutmeats ($137). -
Twisted Cork Wine Bar
900 Bellevue Way NE Ste 100, Bellevue, WA
High rollers should order "The Dream" champagne flight, offering a taste of Dom Perignon Brut, Veuve Cliquot "La Grande Dame" and Krug Vintage Brut ($80). -
Teatro Zinzanni Seattle
222 Mercer St, Seattle, WA
Dinner theater at this spectacular European-style cabaret is an experience that you won't soon forget ($132, 6:30pm-9:30pm).
