Valentine Vanities

I had a fun Valentine's celebration with the most fabulous single friends. Ok, that sounds a tad defensive with even the slightest tinge of bitterness. Let me rephrase - I had a fun and fabulous Valentine's shindig with fantastic friends. Better?

I did have a wonderful day last February 14. It started over lunch with my childhood bestie P in Greenbelt, who surprised me with lusciously sinful chocolates. Eating our way through our favorite corned beef pandesal from Seattle's Best, we couldn't help but snicker at guys walking around with the biggest and most colorful bouquets. There were also the sweet (or practical?) ones casually holding a single stemmed rose in between their fingers. Only during February 14 do you see the most manly of men clutching flowers of all shapes and sizes close to their hearts.

By dinner time, the whole Valentine charade was unraveling in Rockwell. Tables were elegantly set up outside the stretch of Barcino to Gloria Maris with a stage for the guest tenor belting out classic love ditties. M, my witty straight guy friend, S, a power woman in her 30's, and I couldn't help but roll our eyes at the rose petals scattered on the tables and practically everywhere in another favorite, the Oyster Bar. Thankfully, the red wine was simply divine and the fireworks display breathtaking.

Next stop was Good Earth, our watering hole, a place synonymous with the word relaxing. There were no rose petals, heart shaped balloons, or giggling girls lugging around ginormous blooms. No special Valentine's menu or red-clad waiters in sight either; Good Earth didn't succumb to the holiday pressure. But the place was still packed with groups of friends laughing, drinking, and singing along to the resident acoustic band.

And to cap off this crazy commercial holiday, we had our picture taken with a local celebrity heartthrob (a first for the three of us, it must be said), hanging (or hiding?) out in ever reliable Good Earth. What the heck, it's Valentine's Day after all.

P.S.
I'm not a Valentine scrooge. My friends and I are just naturally blessed with an endearing acerbic wit ;)

Note to self:
Take photos next time. And not with celebrities.