Whether you’re looking forward to or dreading Valentine’s Day, consider some enticing ways to spend the day spreading and feeling love.
D.C. is certainly a sublime place to be on the 14th if you have someone special to spend it with, but the holiday has just as much to offer if you’re planning to go about the day alone or with your friends. If you don’t have a boo this year, direct your love toward yourself, your best friend and your favorite things to do.
Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day falls on Monday this year, but you can do any of these things the Sunday before, or just implement them into your daily routine to still feel like it’s a special day.
Treat yourself
If you choose to take on the day alone, start it off with your favorite coffee and breakfast. Whether that means grabbing a coffee and bagel from the recently opened West End location of Call Your Mother or trying something sweet from Boulangerie Christophe in Georgetown, treat yourself to a short, understated walk and a meal you wouldn’t go for on any ordinary day.
Wind down with a night of self care. Watch a movie you’ve seen a million times or start a feel-good, guilty pleasure show like the new season of Love Is Blind, which arrives on Netflix Friday. Make it a wine night and order a bottle of red or white from Foxtrot along with some chocolate or ice cream.
Embark on an excursion
If you’re in an active, adventurous mood, opt for a solitary day trip. Commit to an activity you love or excites you – something you’ve wanted to do for a while that you just never got around to.
Start your day at the Hirshhorn Museum visiting the immersive audiovisual experience “Laurie Anderson: The Weather.” Follow up with a walk through the Sculpture Garden, where you can browse through more than 20 figures like the striking “AMOR” sculpture, or stop in for a snack at the Pavilion Café. Alternatively, visit the National Arboretum or take yourself shopping in Georgetown and end the afternoon at the Waterfront.
Celebrate platonic love
Valentine’s Day is also the perfect excuse to plan you and your friends’ ideal day. Opt for a luxurious bottomless brunch at El Centro, The Fainting Goat or Agora lasting a few hours, then explore the exciting neighborhood surrounding the respective restaurant.
After that, the world is your oyster. Since the weather on Monday is expected to be chilly, choose from a variety of indoor excursions to take your friends on – head to District Winery for a wine tasting or spend a few hours at the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibit, which is open in D.C. until March.
Brave the cold with a hike through Rock Creek Park or on Theodore Roosevelt Island, or pack your favorite drinks and snacks for a picnic at the monuments or the National Cathedral. That night, go out for karaoke, a nice dinner you wouldn’t usually splurge on or attend Black Cat’s free Valentine’s Day Rock and Roll party.
Get creative, get out of your comfort zone and remind yourself that your love is not reserved only for a significant other. It is for everyone and everything you love: music, movies, food, sports, art, your friends and yourself.
