Weekly Highlights in NYC #24: The Valentine's Day Issue

All of my favorite Valentine’s Day plans (because this is definitely not a last-minute holiday), plus a few standout things happening this week.

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• Last chance reminder: Man Ray: When Objects Dream at The Met is on view through February 1—worth squeezing in before it closes.

• Ending soon as well—the Ruth Asawa exhibition at MoMA is on view through February 7 and is a must-see.

• Dog people, take note: the 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is running February 2 and February 3

• Very Young People’s Concerts at New York Philharmonic: Saturday, January 31 (12 p.m. & 3 p.m.) Introduce little ones to bold, brassy sounds and instruments in this fun, interactive concert and there’s a pre-show of activities. Recommended for kids 3-6 years.

I love Valentine’s Day. Always have. It’s become even more special now that kids are in the mix and I get to go fully over-the-top for them. Flowers, words of affirmation (my love language), chocolates, and handmade cards from my kids—what’s not to love? (Pun intended.) I adore everything about the holiday, but I save the prix-fixe, candle-lit dinners for literally any other night of the year. Below are my ideas for optimal Valentine’s Day celebrating—leaning into the romance and fun of the holiday without crossing into cliché.

Dear husbands reading this, (including my own!!), please, do not go the 1-800-Flowers route. Here are my favorite florists in the city that you cannot go wrong with: Flowers By Philip, Zeze Flowers (the best!), Eros Flowers, Alexander Florals or Élan Flowers (a solid downtown option). UrbanStems are fine too if you stay within the peonies section. If you really cannot stand gifting a floral bouquet like my husband, then go the paper floral route, I love anything from The Green Vase.

• I loved seeing Flora Yukhnovich's Four Seasons at The Frick (on exhibit through March 9) —it’s a gorgeous burst of color on these cold, dreary days. Then head to Westmoreland after for a delicious chocolate mousse.

• A morning in NoHo: I’ve been meaning to try BUDDY BUDDY—a new café from Brussels known for nut butter lattes and then check out this chic new bathing house open for early access membership, followed by lunch at Gjelina.

• Some fun date-night ideas that aren’t a traditional dinner: At the top of my list: a dinner at Wild Cherry and a show at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Or try a pizza making class at Fini (Williamsburg), or a hands-on class at Eataly (on Valentine’s Day they have a gelato making or caviar and bubbles)

• Here are the NYC restaurants at the top of my list to grab a reservation to: Chez Fifi, Borgo, Musaafer and Bristrot Ha

• For all these big date nights out, finding a great sitter can be tricky. A friend started this fantastic company that is a community-referred network of reliable babysitters (genius!). Check it out and sign up here.

• Or, if you’re looking for a cozy night in and have exhausted your go-to’s, here are our favorite Seamless deliveries that we always have in the rotation: Ikyu (for sushi), Up Thai, SuperTaste (for dumplings and bao buns), Moti Mahal (devastating news, it was a forever favorite for Indian and they just closed! Need a new Indian recommendation, please!), Ly Ly (delicious pho), and San Matteo for pizza

• Here are some super-soft matching heart PJs for your little ones to wear on the big day

• Every year, I surprise the kids with heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast, but this year may step it up to waffles. For dinner, look how fun this pasta is! I’ll decorate the table with these and some fun confetti. My daughter loves this hole puncher, so may have her help with extra confetti, too. I love these for decorations, too.

• Here are some sweet treats to have in your back pocket for desserts: one of my favorite desserts of all time, just add some raspberries, Salted Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies, chocolate covered strawberries are the easiest thing to make, but this year we’re stepping it up and making chocolate covered gummy bears for friends.

• Here are some of our favorite love-related books my kids love reading over and over again: The Hug (highly recommend this one), Love You Forever (this classic, I tear up every time!), In My Heart, and Love from Madeline.

• I always love Meri Meri, and their classroom Valentine’s Day cards are next level this year: I LOVE this one or this one or this one, which one to choose for my kids?!