Tired of the same dinner and a movie date? Do you need to mix it up this Valentine’s Day? Whether you and your sweetie have been together for a long time, are in the beginning stages of dating or you simply have friends whom you love, San Luis Obispo and the surrounding areas are providing fun and unique alternatives.
Before the big day arrives, students can get in the spirit on-campus. Delta Sigma Pi, a professional co-ed business fraternity, will be selling Valentine’s Day candy grams through Friday. At $1 per candy gram, deliveries can be made on and off-campus, but it must be within San Luis Obispo. Proceeds go toward the fraternity.
“It’s a pretty good turnout considering it’s the beginning of the week and people aren’t thinking too much about Valentine’s Day yet,” said business sophomore Julie Hughes Tuesday afternoon.
Candy grams can be purchased every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the University Union Plaza.
Leading up to the weekend, students and community members can enjoy Thursday evening’s Farmers’ Market with a twist. Sweethearts Night will be an addition to the market on Garden Street.
The market will offer an old-fashioned photo booth where couples can have photos taken with a heart around their face, in black and white or other creative settings. Instead of the usual four photos that are dispensed, each couple will leave with their own, instead of having to split them.
“I think the photo booth is a really fun idea,” said Freya Wilkerson, promotions assistant at the Downtown Association. “It’s kind of intimate in there if you’re there with someone you like or fun if you’re with friends.”
Along with the photo booth, the Gold Coast Chorus, an a capella group, will sing love songs. Guests can sign up for Valentine’s grams with the music ensemble, so they can sing at the home of friends or loved ones on Valentine’s Day.
“I’ve seen them sing a couple of times and they are really good to watch,” Wilkerson said.
A bubble machine with a light behind it to create the illusion of pink bubbles will round out the evening’s festivities. Vendors will provide food at the market, but guests can sit at tables provided on Garden Street to enjoy the live music and sweetheart atmosphere. Long-stemmed roses will be available to purchase.
“I think it’s a nice way to start the long weekend,” Wilkerson said. “It’s called Sweethearts Night, but you can bring your friends to it, too. It’s not like you have to have a date, which I think is kind of cool.”
A Valentine’s Swing Dance on Feb. 13, hosted by Grover Beach Community Library, will include dinner and dessert for people of all ages. The Jimmy Enos combo will play a mix of swing and soft rock to listen and dance to.
“We’ll have Valentine’s Day decorations and good food,” said Claire Gates, the Grover Beach Community Library Treasurer.
Dinner includes hamburgers and salad. For dessert, guests receive root beer floats. Tickets cost $18 and $20 at the door. The event takes place at the Grover Beach Grange Hall from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Proceeds help support the library.
On Valentine’s Day, a free “Moonlight Movie Night” will conclude the holiday. “Sleepless in Seattle,” the film that united Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks for the first time onscreen, will be shown outdoors in Arroyo Grande.
A local restaurant will provide boxed dinners for moviegoers to purchase and enjoy with the movie, as well as popcorn. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to keep warm.
“It’s an inexpensive date and all students are interested in that,” said Greg Steinberger, owner of Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab in Arroyo Grande and a sponsor of the event.
The event will take place Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Arroyo Grande City Hall Parking Lot.