Related Links: Valentine's Day 1997
By Zachary M. RaimiPicture this: A young man and woman sit at a table for two in a cozy, dimly-lit Ann Arbor restaurant. By candlelight, the pair look longingly into each other's eyes as they sip wine and exchange roses. A violinist strolls up and serenades the young lovers.
Snap out of it.
St. Valentine's Day, in reality, rarely resembles this scene for University students. In fact, many students will spend tomorrow night alone or with groups of friends at decidedly non-romantic locales.
"I'm either going to stay here and study or go to Indiana to see some friends," said Ken Geren, a Business graduate student.
Alternative plans abound for students tomorrow night. Popular plans include a Michigan hockey game, the Monsters of A Cappella concert, fraternity and sorority date parties and watching movies.
LSA first-year student Juhee Kim is spending time with her church. "My church (Harvest Mission Community Church) is holding a women's fellowship and we're all going to a place off campus and we're going to discuss women's issues." The women will talk about Biblical issues, romantic relationships and eating disorders.
Anjalee Desai's weekend was going to be uneventful; the LSA first-year student was planning on returning home to Chicago to visit her family. However, once her friend at Loyola University realized this, he invited her to a St. Valentine's Day Ball. Still, the day will have no romantic overtones.
"I met him last year," Desai said of her date, "and we're really good friends."
Even though the holiday falls on a Friday, some students cannot escape the demands of everyday life. LSA junior Kelly Herron and her boyfriend made plans for a Tuesday night dinner because both are scheduled to work tomorrow night at Station 885, a restaurant in Plymouth. They had reservations for a restaurant in Windsor, Ont.
But some traditional celebrations will still go on. Shana Kellogg, an LSA senior, will celebrate two occasions. She and her boyfriend will mark their one-year anniversary as well.
"It's the official day of love," she said. "It's a holiday that gives you an excuse to go out and spoil the person you love with gifts."
Ryan Moody-LaLonde, an Art senior, has a full schedule planned for tomorrow - including some traditional, some not-so-ordinary activities. His partner, Chris, is flying in from Washington, D.C., and the two will participate in the annual Queer Unity Project Kiss-in on the Diag.
Then, the pair will go to Student Legal Services "to get our domestic partnership form notarized so that our anniversary will be Valentine's Day," Moody-LaLonde said.
The couple will double-date with a lesbian couple for dinner at The Macaroni Grill on South State Street. Following the women's basketball game, Moody-LaLonde plans to go dancing.
Feb. 14 presents challenges to homosexual couples.
"It's extremely difficult to find your partner a card for Valentine's Day," he said. "Every time we show affection toward each other, it becomes a problem - lots of comments, looks and stares."
What to buy
Red roses have been a Valentine's Day staple because they represent true love and desire, according to FTD's Web site. As a result, thousands of students flock to local florists every February.
"I think it is traditional and I think it is because red roses signify love," said Dolly Holek, the owner of University Flower Shop, located in Nichols Arcade. Holek, who has been a florist for 18 years, has ordered 2,000 roses in preparation for tomorrow's holiday and hired six extra staff members to help with the crowd.
"It's actually a lot of fun, but I wouldn't want it everyday," she said.
Most flower sales are last minute, florists said.
"I'm kind of excited," said Katie Spink, an employee at Normandie Flowers on South University Avenue. "It's just going to be crazy."
Shawna Lampart, a manager at Crown House of Gifts on South State Street, also feels the rush of the holiday season. "It is extremely busy, it is exciting," Lampart said. "You meet a lot of people."
This year, one gift is selling almost as fast as the store can stock it, Lampart said. "Boyfriend in-a-box," which costs $15, is a gag gift that includes everything needed to create the illusion of having a significant other: a picture, vital statistics, a wallet photo and more. Some of these "boyfriends" include Corporate Craig and Doctor Dave.
Lampart also said that customers continue to buy traditional gifts, such as chocolate and cards. Overall, Lampart said sales "definitely rise."
Students across Ann Arbor have hit stores to buy cards for everyone from sisters to true loves.
"I like black-and-white pictures of people," Art first-year student Kristen Gorman said. She was shopping at Middle Earth this week for a card for her boyfriend, who lives in Cleveland. "They should tell the person how special they are to you."
Cupid's arrow has also struck Mrs. Peabody's Cookies, Ice Cream & Yogurt, which has a Valentine's Day special of five cookies, a stuffed bear and gummy hearts. All of Mrs. Peabody's cookies are heart-shaped.
"We see a huge increase," manager Alissa Fitzgerald said. "We're going to be pretty busy."
Fitzgerald said most people usually place advance orders, including a sizable number who have cookies shipped. On a usual day, Mrs. Peabody's ships five orders. This week they have shipped more than 30 a day.
On a slightly more risqué note, Condoms 101 has stocked a number of new products for this week, including a Lovers Lotto game, in which rubbing off spaces tells a couple when, where and what to do, and Hugs 'n' Kisses Coupons, redeemable for a range of goodies.
"With couples, we want to provide them with different options that will make their love life more fulfilling and add spark, flair and excitement," owner Beth Karmeisool said.
Condoms 101's most popular items, handcuffs and edible body paint, have continued to sell in large numbers recently. Also, Karmeisool said condom sales will be strong as usual this week.
"This campus is obviously aware about AIDS, HIV and STDs," she said. "It seems like people are very good about protecting themselves and their lovers."
The Men's Glee Club is also selling singing telegrams, which will be delivered tomorrow night. Eight members will present the recipient with a rose and three romantic songs.
"It's a great thing for people to do to tell their special person 'I love you' or whatever," said Engineering sophomore Jesse Tryon, who was selling the telegrams this week in the Michigan Union.
What to eat
Ann Arbor's eateries routinely witness large crowds on Valentine's Day, but because the holiday falls on a Friday, restaurants will be even busier. Dorothy Hogan, the assistant dining room manager at Gratzi on Main Street, said the restaurant has been booked for about a week. "We do expect to be busier than a normal Valentine's Day," she said.
Part of Gratzi's allure, Hogan said, is that "our restaurant is an old theatre so we have a pretty romantic setting." Hogan said the restaurant plans to have a strolling violinist that evening.
Reservations are also impossible to get at Gandy Dancer on Depot Street.
"We're going to be really busy," Dining Room Manager Lisa Herbert said. "It's a little bit busier than our usual Friday, but a lot more couples."
"Tables for two all over the restaurant," she said.
LSA junior Rebecca Schneider said she plans to eat at Gandy Dancer this weekend with her boyfriend, Mike, who is flying in from New York. The couple will eat at Gandy Dancer "because I bought a really nice dress and I needed somewhere to wear it."
Schneider added, "I always hear (that I should) take special dates to Gandy Dancer."
St. Valentine's Day translates into a number of scenes for University students, only some of which are traditional. But for merchants and restaurant owners in Ann Arbor, Valentine's Day means a hectic week of preparations and planning, because there will always be a market for red roses and candlelight dinners.
"Everyone's in love at that age," Holek said, "or in love with the idea of being in love."
JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
Lauri Young at University Flower Shop sells flowers to LSA first-year student Aafrika Broadus.