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valentine’s day

Design

20 Unusual and Adorable Valentine’s Day Cards

By Julia Pugachevsky on

Valentine’s Day can be the source of frustration even for those celebrating, as finding a card that isn’t sub-par can become a life-or-death mission. After all, once the flowers prove more temporary than desired (sorry!) and the chocolate’s been eaten, the only physical reminder your significant other will have of the occasion may very well be the card, and no one wants to gift their hip/awesome/perfect guy or girlfriend with another sparkly cherub disaster. Luckily, the Internet is a great source for truly imaginative cards that don’t skimp out on the cute. Here are 20 choices that are downright frame-worthy. … Read More

Gift Guide

25 Presents for Your Valentine That Don't Suck

By Caroline Stanley on

In the interest of making things a bit easier for everyone involved this Valentine’s Day, we’ve rounded up presents for that special dude or lady in your life that are actually desirable — ie, there’s nary a sad plush toy clutching a rose in sight. From pretty affordable prints to DIY pickling kits, click through to check out our… Read More

Partner Buzz

Photo Gallery: Flavorpill’s Heineken Serenade Party in NYC

By Doug Levy on

Remember that Heineken commercial “The Date” from last year? You know, the one that was so entertaining, you didn’t even mind the fact that it was an ad and most likely watched it ten times in a row on YouTube? (If you did miss it, take 90 seconds to see what all the fuss was about.) Well, just in time for Valentine’s Day, the fantastically strange band from that spot is back, and now they’re at your beck and call in Heineken’s hilarious Serenade app. You can use the app to create a custom video for your object of desire, highlighting his/her special qualities while sending an invitation to do anything from karaoke to hot-lava surfing.

To celebrate the spirit of the serenade, we teamed with Heineken to throw a party at New York City’s Hiro Ballroom last week. Compered by comedian Dave Hill, the evening featured an onstage singing competition backed by the notorious live rock n’ roll karaoke band from Arlene’s Grocery and a live feed from a simultaneous bash in Amsterdam. Click through for our exclusive gallery of photos from the night, and then start creating a serenade of your own. … Read More

Music

A Very Twee Valentine’s Day: 10 Indie Pop Love and Heartbreak Songs

By Sophie Weiner on

Twee pop may seem an obvious go-to for a Valentines Day playlist, with its reputation for painfully sweet melodies and lyrics coupled with cutesy instrumentation and aesthetics. However, as we’ve explained before, this genre isn’t just Zooey Deschanel and heart-shaped sugar cookies. With this playlist for your indie-pop Valentine’s Day, we’ve rounded up the best twee music both for basking in love and wallowing in heartbreak — or, you know, just telling it all to go to hell. As with all music in this genre, whatever the subject, if it’s not making you feel at least a bit warm and fuzzy, it should start looking for new work. … Read More

Comedy

Watch a Funny and Depressing Valentine’s Day Short by Ben Schwartz

By Judy Berman on

Even the most lucky-in-love among us probably has a crappy Valentine’s Day lurking somewhere in our history. But whether we fought with our beloved or were merely depressed about being single, it’s likely we didn’t have quite as tragic a holiday as Ben Schwartz’s character in “Valentine’s Break Up.” A short film that the House of Lies and Parks and Recreation actor directed almost five years ago, the two-minute clip co-stars Sarah Burns from Enlightened as his girlfriend, who (to put it mildly) isn’t quite as enthused about the relationship as he is. Enjoy it because it’s funny, and also because it provides a rare glimpse of Schwartz pre-Jean Ralphio hair, after the jump. … Read More

Film

10 Romantic Comedies That Aren’t Terrible

By Jason Bailey on

Well, kids, it’s Valentine’s Day, and those of you who aren’t looking to go out and spend a fortune at a swanky restaurant (read: those of you who are married or in relationships that have been going long enough that you’re not trying to impress each other anymore) may very well choose to stay in for the holiday, cuddling up on the couch and enjoying a nice romantic comedy. Except, ugh, they’re all terrible.

Or so it seems, in this Heigl/Hudson/Hugh/Sarah-Jessica saturated cinematic marketplace. But believe it or not, there are some genuinely great romantic comedies out there — smart, tender, funny movies that make you laugh and warm your heart. No, seriously! We’ve not only managed to collect ten of them, but even an alternate choice or two for each. Snuggle up and enjoy after the jump. … Read More

Books

Books That Will Change the Way You Think About Love

By Judy Berman on

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, love is in the air… but wait a second, what is love, anyway? For anyone who’s ever wanted a satisfying answer to that question — you know, besides, “Baby, don’t hurt me no more” — we’ve put together a list of great books that will challenge your assumptions about love, sex, and relationships. From a surprisingly short history of heterosexuality and an attack on monogamy to a classic novel of betrayal and an exploration of a different sort of love altogether, there’s something to shock, test, and perhaps even titillate you after the jump. … Read More

Design

10 Inspired DIY Projects for Valentine’s Day

By Emily Temple on

In case you’re just kicking around the house today and tomorrow, hiding from the inclement weather, we have a suggestion: use this last pre-Valentine’s day weekend to your advantage and cook up one of these awesome love-themed do-it-yourself projects — either as a surprise for your honey or a super adorable couples activity (or, as the case may be, an effort to distract yourself from the impending holiday). The internet abounds with DIY tips, tricks, and full-on instruction manuals, and we’ve sifted through and collected a few of our favorites here — from yummy (and romantic!) food ideas to cute crafts to the both adorable and functional, we think there’s a project here for everyone. Click through to check out ten inspired DIY projects to occupy you this weekend, and if you’ve got ‘em, be sure to pitch in any of your own ideas in the comments! … Read More

Web

What’s On at Flavorpill: The Links That Made the Rounds in Our Office

By Alison Nastasi on

Today at Flavorpill, we learned about one young man’s journey to live “Amish-style” for 90 days. We read about Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut, which will feature Scarlett Johansson. We enjoyed this guide to literary Tumblrs. We followed the adventures of the Devil. We voted for… Read More

Art

The World’s Most Romantic Public Art

By Judy Berman on

There’s nothing more romantic than a stroll with the one you love — and since it’s been an unseasonably warm February in many places, you might be able to manage one this Valentine’s Day without freezing to death in your companion’s arms. As long as you’re outdoors, you’ll score points with your beloved (and spend exactly $0) if you plan your walk around a particularly romantic piece of public art. In case you’re strapped for inspiration, we’ve collected some of the best love-inspired specimens, past and present, from around the world, and our finds range from the dreamy to the outright bizarre. Claes Oldenburg’s Cupid’s Span in San Francisco, Jenny Holzer’s provocative projections, and, of course, Robert Indiana’s Love await you after the jump. … Read More