What to Do in Portland for Valentine's Day
Getting More Creative Than Roses in the Rose City
Every year it’s the same thing—a box of chocolates, a card, a dozen roses, and a less than ideal meal at an over-packed restaurant—lather, rinse, repeat. Yawn. Even if the chocolates come from Xocolatl de David, you design and letterpress the card yourself at the IPRC, and you handpick the roses yourself, risking the fine, at the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park (psst…they aren’t blooming yet), the whole thing can kind of be a bit cliché.
“But,” you say, “V-Day is a holiday and holidays are made for tradition, ritual even.” Ah, but we retort, “Doing the same dull thing every year for Valentine’s Day is the opposite of romantic.”
This year, try something new in Portland. Try one (or several, or all) of these six novel things to do in Portland for the romantic-est of February holidays.
1 – Tour a Chocolatier and Make Your Own Bar
First off, let’s look at some ballpark alternatives to the standards, beginning with chocolate. One of Portland’s top independent chocolatiers, Creo Chocolate, offers a tour that allows you to make your own chocolate bar. How’s that for romantic… and crafty… and sweet.
2 –Your Own Hallmark Moment, Designing and Printing Your Own Card
The Independent Publishing Resource Center offers classes in letterpress printing, screen-printing, bookbinding, and many other bookish and artistic pursuits. Take their Intro to Letterpress two-day workshop the Friday and Saturday before V-Day and make your sweetheart something frame-worthy from scratch.
3 – Forcing Something Better Than Roses
Rather than paying for roses grown on the other side of the globe (so they can bloom this time of year), consider forcing your own bulbs as a gift that will remain in bloom long after everyone else’s carbon footprint roses are withered in the vase. Portland Nursery has a variety of forcing vases and bulbs ready to go.
4 – Call It Early With a Gourmet Lunch
Dinner on Valentine’s Day is supposed to be romantic. And, what’s more romantic than waiting forty-five minutes for a table you reserved and eating courses off a limited menu that are prepared by stressed out kitchen staff to be sold at higher than normal prices?
Let’s face it: dinner on Valentine’s can be quite the chaotic and over-priced ordeal. But lunch, lunch is a great way to save a few bucks, dodge the crowds, and dine at a fine restaurant where everyone isn’t so stressed out that they’re just going through the motions.
5 – Better Yet, Cook for Yourselves or Hire a Personal Chef
Food is sexy. Well, at least it can be. If prepared under the right conditions, in the right mood, and by the right people. That might be you and your sweetie, or it might be a personal chef (caterer for two) that you hire to design and cook you a special meal you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
If you elect to take knife in hand and go for it yourself, brush up your skills with a couples cooking class at Portland’s Culinary Workshop.
6 – If the Weather Is Right, You Can Dine Al Fresco
With help from the counter people at either Whole Foods or New Seasons, you can easily put together a gourmet picnic basket, or why not buy one at Cheese and Crack, Cheese Bar, Olympia Provisions, or one of Portland’s million other gourmet purveyor destination shops.
This Year, Show Them How Thoughtful and Creative You Can Be
Nothing is nearly as romantic as having someone you care for take you in hand with confidence and say, “Come with me, I’ve put together something special for us to do tonight.” Take a little time, plan a little bit, use some or all of this list, and put something uniquely you and different and off the beaten track, something very Portland, together for Valentine’s Day this year.