Valentine’s Day is a time to set aside your cynical ideas about Valentine’s Day and just do something to get lucky. Even though it’s not about luck at all. The holiday itself opens a door. All it takes is suppressing your Hallmark-holiday indignation and walking through the hearts-and-teddies laced portal to private time with your special someone.
Let us make it even easier for you. Here are ways to shop local in Oak Cliff and find a little tenderness on Valentine’s Day.
Paired with our 18 hours of inexpensive Oak Cliff dates, there’s no way this could go wrong. Good luck.
Flowers
Dirt, $55-$550
Do you love your sweetie “insanely”? If so, Dirt has the perfect gift. For just $550, your maniacally beloved will enjoy “forty-eight roses nestled in a bed of purple grapeseed and ribbon-folded leaf accents. Arranged simply in our signature handmade DIRT box, finished with twine and a wax seal…” Dirt has many beautiful arrangements that are more affordable, including the fragrant “peacock Jane petite” for $65.
Also see: Flowers by Conde, the decades old flower shop now at 407 S. Madison, 214.941.8058.
Chocolate
CocoAndré Chocolatier champagne pairing or gift basket, $24-$60
Find chocolatier Andrea Pedraza’s hand-rolled truffles (try the spicy chile or Fortunato No. 4 for extra sex appeal) along with chocolate-covered nuts or marshmallows and molded chocolates in cute gift baskets. A chocolate and champagne pairing event starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Tickets cost $35 per couple, and the class is limited to 15 couples.
Dude, Sweet Chocolate potions, fudge and truffles, $8-$30
These are gifts for the daring lover. Katherine Clapner’s chocolate potions can be eaten on ice cream, from the spoon or right off the skin. This year’s Valentine’s special potion is “chosmo.” Inspired by the cosmo cocktail, it combines Breckenridge Distillery vodka, orange liqueur and lime. Other V-day specials include “stag party,” Jim Beam Red Stag Black Cherry whiskey and walnut fudge. The Soraya is chocolate toffee with pomegranate and Persian salt. And Preservation Hall is a truffle with preserved lemon and Bailey’s Irish Creme.
Bikes
A brand-new ride from Oak Cliff Bicycle Co., $1,250
There’s nothing like a bike ride to set the mood. The Pashley Britannia and Guv’nor are both in stock at OCBC. If that’s a little spendy, there are a few vintage bikes for under $500. And if your special friend loves having warm feet, a pair of pink Woolie Boolie socks is only $16.
Fashion
A statement piece from House of MacGregor, $145-$250
Our neighborhood’s haberdashery hosts a party from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, your potentially lucky day. Try on hats, sip cocktails and sit for the V-Day photo booth.
Booze
Local craft beer from North Oak Cliff Beer and Wine, $9-$14
Deep Ellum Brewing’s Cherry Chocolate Double Brown Stout sounds just about right for the big VD. Our neighborhood’s most comprehensive beer shop (OK, wine too, but this is craft beer country) carries it, along with a range of local and national labels to taste with someone whose eyes you think are nice.