Well, going by the way the new year is shaping up thus far, it stands to reason that this will be a Valentine’s Day like no other.
Put the blame on lame 2020, a dumpster fire of a year that has flames licking well into January of 2021.
But this is South Florida gosh darnit, where people from around the world come to forget their troubles and chill in subtropical warmth. If any region can put the heart back into Valentine’s Day, it’s us.
So here’s a list of unique romantic things to do to help couples cuddle (and a few events for singles who are not necessarily solitary). Prices do not include taxes or gratuities. And keep coming back to this post as we’ll update the information.
Laughter and love at The Casino at Dania Beach
301 E. Dania Beach Blvd. 877-788-8208. CasinoDaniaBeach.com/Entertainment.
The Casino is offering a special Valentine’s Day package to see standup comedian Marvin Dixon bring his “50 Shades of Comedy: For Lovers and Others” show to the Stage 954 entertainment venue on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $30.
There will also be a $19.99 prix fixe dinner at the Casino’s Luxe Gourmet Buffet restaurant with appetizer, entrée and dessert. And if you show your ticket, you’ll get a free glass of wine.
Love songs with the Ben Rosenblum Trio at Arts Garage
94 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach. Tickets are $35 and $40. 561-450-6357. ArtsGarage.org.
Jazz pianist/accordionist/composer Ben Rosenblum is bringing his combo to Arts Garage for a “Jazz Valentine’s Special” concert starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14. Rosenblum says the show will put a spotlight on “love songs, both familiar and more obscure. I’ll be talking about the program as I go and sharing the stories behind the words of each song.”
Chamber of love with the Symphonia
Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle. 561-376-3848. Email info@thesymphonia.org or go to TheSymphonia.org.
South Florida’s chamber orchestra, the Symphonia, will perform a special Valentine’s Day concert on Sunday, Feb. 14, starting at 3 p.m. in the Oasis Ballroom of the Boca Raton Marriott. “Love, The Symphonia,” led by principal conductor Alastair Willis, will feature harp soloist Deborah Fleisher. Tickets are $75 per person.
Caviar flight a good bet at Marky’s Caviar Lounge
1 Seminole Way #102, Davie. 954-314-7226. MarkysCaviarLounge.com.
This elegant eatery at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has “A Valentine’s Day Tasting Menu” available Feb. 13 and 14 as well as three caviar flights.
- The five-course tasting menu by chef Buddha Lo, formerly of Eleven Madison Park, is $110 per person. In addition to caviar, the dishes include oysters, black truffle potato croquettes, King Salmon tartare tart, smoked trout roe, Maine lobster, cauliflower, prime beef strip loin, mushrooms (or black truffles for $25 more), strawberries, Valrhona dark chocolate cake and peanut butter parfait.
- The caviar flights include: an International Caviar Flight with Almas Russian Osetra, Kaluga Imperial Gold and Beluga Di Venezia for $800; a Premium Caviar Flight with Imperial Gold Osetra, Kaluga Royal and Classic Grey Sevruga for $400; or Marky’s Caviar Flight with White Sturgeon, Hackleback and Paddlefish for $150.
Love potions at Lionfish Delray
307 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-865-7066. LionfishDelray.com.
If you want to get a head start on the romancing, Lionfish will have three Valentine’s Day-themed cocktails beginning on Monday, Feb. 8, and serving through Sunday, Feb. 14. The cocktails are $15 each and appropriately called “The Love Boat,” “Cupid’s Envy” and “Secrets In The Garden.”
- The Love Boat has Grey Goose, lemon juice, house made strawberry and Veuve Cliquot Champagne syrup and Lillet Ros (a rose aperitif).
- Cupid’s Envy has Angel’s Envy Bourbon Whiskey, Mexican chocolate bitters, black walnut bitters, Giffard Banana Liqueur, Amaro Averna and cedar smoke.
- Secrets In The Garden has gin, lemon, lavender syrup, creme de violette and rose water.
Mexican drink and dessert at Lona Cocina y Tequileria
321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-245-3069. LonaRestaurant.com.
Lona at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort will have a featured cocktail for Valentine’s Day, La Rosa Margarita with Hiatus Blanco, grapefruit, rose-infused simple syrup, rose petal and a sea salt rim for $14. Chef Jorge Gutierrez will also have a special Valentine’s Day-themed dessert called Mi Corazon, which is a Mexican rum-spiked dulce de leche ice cream with raspberries and chocolate-covered peanuts for $10.
This is all a part of Gutierrez’s special menu available from Friday, Feb. 12, to Sunday, Feb. 14, from 6-11 p.m. The featured entree is Mar & Tierra, a Mexican-style surf and turf with filet mignon, kabocha puree and grilled garlic shrimp for $36. The full dinner menu is also available.
Friends celebrating Galentine’s Day on Saturday, Feb. 13, will get a free glass of sparkling rose and half-off bottles of still and sparkling rose from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Drag attack at R House Wynwood
2727 NW Second Ave. Miami. 305-576-0201. RHouseWynwood.com.
Foodies may remember that R House shot to fame when the eatery appeared on celebrity chef Tom Colicchio’s reality TV competition “Best New Restaurant” in 2015. This popular Latin American restaurant and bar in the Wynwood Arts District will hold a “Valentine’s Day Drag Brunch” on Sunday, Feb. 14, with shows at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The host/hostess will be Athena Dion, the reigning Miss Ultimate Miami Drag Queen. There are four brunch packages with prices ranging from $45 to $65. There’s also a Kid’s Brunch option for $30.
Wow-factor food at Barton G. The Restaurant Miami Beach
1427 West Ave., Miami Beach. 305-672-8881. BartonG.com.
Known for their over-the-top presentation and live DJ entertainment, you can get:
- A Seafood Martini tower appetizer with Caribbean lobster tail, marinated jumbo shrimp, crab as well as mustard and cocktail sauce for $165.
- Entrees of either Corny Seabass with bourbon-glazed Chilean seabass, corn puree, lobster and corn tater tots for $55 or a Surf & Turf with a 40-ounce grass-fed tomahawk steak, a one pound Caribbean lobster tail, loaded mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus for $250.
- Dessert for two of Quatro Leches, aerated Rose Anglaise and Champagne macerated strawberries for $32.
Shucking at Butcher Shop Beer Garden and Grill
165 NW 23rd St., Miami. 305-846-9120. ButcherShopBeerGarden.com.
This Wynwood location of the restaurant and bar by father and son team Igor and Fred Niznik will have a pop-up by the Lazy Oyster during the Sunday brunch from noon until 4 p.m. You can get West and East Coast oysters shucked-to-order in the German-style beer garden. There will also be brunch and drink specials.
Or just stay home and order this kit
info@vecinosmarket.com. 305-918-1188. VecinosMarket.com.
The Miami-based digital artisan marketplace Vecinos Market has curated a Valentine’s Day “Thinking of You” kit for $45. You have to place your order by noon on Feb. 12. The kit includes a bottle of Adami Prosecco Garbel Brut Prosecco, a “Make Love Not War” candle from the Frangipani boutique in Wynwood and a Raw Chocolate Bar by Anacacoa. There are other Valentine gifts ranging in price from $17 to $795, most of them from South Florida businesses.
