Whit's Retail Therapy
Not having someone to whisper sweet nothings to you on Valentine's Day is depressing, but not half as depressing as getting nothing on Valentine's Day. So Friday, trade your Kleenex for your credit card, grab a friend, call her your date and shop away your woes.
Set the schedule: A full day of loving yourself, complete with manicure/pedicure, delivering flowers, shopping and a romantic dinner.
Set the ground rules: Meet at a specific time (no canceling for last-minute real dates!), spend a specific amount on each other and absolutely no bitching that your date has no Y chromosome.
Set the budget: Decide how much you want to spend on each other, anywhere from $10 to $200 (be flexible if Uniquities is particularly exciting), pick out what you want and have your partner in crime buy it and wrap it for you. This avoids the stress real couples face on Valentine's, i.e., what if my boyfriend is ultra-cheap and just buys a card?
Set a theme: Not in the mood to strip your wallet for someone who is not going to strip for you? Make a theme for the day - "Valentine's Day 1985" or "Waging War on Cupid" - and search for appropriate costumes at Thrift World or the Army Surplus Store.
Set a positive outlook: 1) There are lots of pluses to this kind of Valentine's date, so treat sob stories like Samantha Jones treats granny panties - they're outta here! 2) It's guaranteed your friend will appreciate your outfit, not just how it looks on the floor. 3) No girl will ever give you the excuse that she couldn't bring you flowers because the parking attendant in the circle was guarding the roses.
- Whitney Beckett
East Campus Romp
So maybe froshes do get more play, but come on - when has a hook-up actually led to a date? For those of you who are Sleepless in Southgate, Bummed in Bassett, or Without Aycock, don't stress. Until next year's housing links you up with a hot hall of the opposite sex, head to your own backyard and check out the many ways East Campus can host a lonely hearts' club.
If you can't be a girlfriend, be a Band-Aid. Head over to Trinity Cafe on February 14th to see Adam Sampieri, the shaggy blond front man of the Alan Davis Band, get on his acoustic groove. Grab a couch and sip a latte while Duke senior Sampieri plays a mix of covers and originals, and expect the usual crew of theater kids, rock stars and Dukies who appreciate damn good music to swarm the stage.
Even though this is a solo show, you'll have your pick of eye candy - besides the one-man band, special guests including junior John Marnell (who rocked the Dillo last semester and currently makes crowds roar as a member of DUI) will steal the spotlight for a few.
The show runs from 10 p.m. to midnight; bring your friends and sing along. And don't stress about the whole Valentine thing - even if you are dateless in Durham, if you've got good music, you're never really alone.
-Faran Krentcil
Kim's Torero's Time
I've never been alone on Valentine's Day before. This year, for the first time in my life, I'll celebrate the day of love without that one special guy who makes my heart leap. Instead I'll be with those friends who have seen me fall in - and out- of love. None of us are man-haters and we're certainly not opposed to dating- but February 14 is our day to make a toast to the power of the companionship that will guide us throughout our lives, and not just onto the dance floor at Shooters last weekend. How could I be lonely in such incredibly intimate company?
Without this sounding as cheesy as the Hebrew school song "You're never alone, 'cause God made you a Jew" crap, I'm excited for our girls' night out tomorrow. It's the one school day a year when all hopeless romantics collectively put aside problem sets and papers, clear our calendars of meetings and mixers, and celebrate our meaningful relationships. This year, I'm spending my night eating, drinking and partying. We'll grab some Mexican food and margaritas at Torero's and remember the night as a time with those we love most - our friends. And all this love for under $20.
As I sat at the dinner table last year at this time, I looked at my boyfriend and the couple to my right and didn't quite understand what it would be like to be alone on Valentine's Day. But this year, as far as I'm concerned, I'm not part of a couple, but I've got plenty of people to love. Cheers to Tex-Mex and margaritas, and the girls who make it all so memorable.
-Kim Roller
Faran's Ladies Night
Ladies, leave your man at home; guys, forget about the girl you've been stalking at the Perk. This is not a Valentine's Day for candy, flowers and candle-lit tables. This is just another Friday night in February. Forget the pressure to find someone special, find the people that already make you smile: your friends. Round them up and get going.
First, order some food - after all, there's only so much Subway you can sink into your stomach. Make sure you get dessert (remember, the Lobby Shop sells Ben & Jerry's on points), then play a special game of Never Have I Ever, with a special V-Day clause: the act only counts if you did it while single - no remembering hot nights with boy or girlfriends allowed!
Next, put on some music and clear the floor- it's time for an old-school game of Twister. Sure, it'll feel a little bit like that 8th grade party in your basement, but it's fun and begs the question: Who needs a date when you're climbing on top of at least three other people?
After that, head to Wallace Wade with a boom box and your favorite dance music. Blast it at full volume and go nuts- no one will ever see you, and even if you're not gonna score, you'll have way more fun than anyone does at a Duke football game.
When you finally want to fall over, head home and pop in a movie featuring a rocky relationship, like High Fidelity, A Perfect Murder or 10 Things I Hate About You. Take a drink or a spoonful of ice cream every time someone lies or cheats. Fall asleep as needed, and wake up to the best morning after ever: breakfast at Elmo's.
And you thought you needed a date to have fun??!
-Faran Krentcil
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