The Rattler February 10, 2010 v. 97 #7 - St. Mary's University

Features14 The Rattler02-10-10www.stmurattlernews.comThe Flip SideHere weare, friends,approachingthat specialtime of yearagain—Valentine'sDay.Cristina Pardon meGonzalez as I engagein the yearlytradition of cynical eye-rollingand questioning that wouldget me branded as a bittersingle person in certain circles.And maybe I am. Someonehas to be, to balance out allthe sappy romanticism flungabout like so many roses at aspecial production of Romeo& Juliet.Actually, to be very honest,I consider myself quite thehopeless romantic. However, Iam a realistic hopeless romantic,and I am certain that I amnot the only one.It is really very simple. I believein the beauty of love andthat it should be celebrated inall its forms. I could not writethe things I do in my off-timeif I did not. What I bear grudgewith is the way people suddenlytrip all over themselvesto be as romantic as possibleon one day out of the year!We are driven as much byadvertising as our desire tohave the best gift or the bestdate. Men are more willingto sit through the silliest andmost implausible of romanticcomedies, women more willingto buy the sexiest lingerie.I know what supporters ofthe holiday are quick to bringup: "Valentine's Day is notjust for lovers!" Sure, but hasanyone seen Zales advertisingdiamond-encrusted friendshipbracelets lately? Andjudging from the trailers forromantic comedies, I am certainthe main characters windup changing their relationshipstatus on Facebook.My idea of romance and itshonorary day is simpler thanHollywood expects and oftenparodies in movies it aims atwomen. The "bitter" femalelead is "reformed" of her notionsby falling in love with themale lead.As I've gotten older andgrown comfortable in my independence,this has troubledme. Is it really so hard to believethat someone like mewould still have similar opinionswithin a relationship? Ibelieve that if we strive to be asromantic and loving all year aswe would be on a single day,then who really needs to marka calendar? Certainly not me.By Pamela AlvaradoStaff WriterSAYwhat?What's the mostromantic thinganybody hasever done foryou?Compiled by:Felix ArroyoValentine's Day, what will you do?Choose from two alternatives of celebrating Valentine's DayGoing OutDining out on Valentine’s Day can be a hassle – long waits, expensiveprices, loud atmospheres and occasionally the food is just notthat great – but with the right attitude and keen knowledge of whereand where not to go, you can impress your Valentine’s date whereveryou go.Fortunately, San Antonio offers plenty of affordable and romanticplaces to dine out for a special night.Capparelli’s, located on Main Street near downtown, is a smallItalian restaurant with big personality. This restaurant has much moreto offer than just delicious food. You will surely woo your date withromantic dim lighting, classic Italian music and intimate candle littables. This classy restaurant has affordable prices with dinner platesranging from $8 to $15.Often times, especially on the days preceding Valentine’s Day, restaurantswill be completely booked with reservations. As with any romanticdinner date, call well in advance and set reservations for two.If you are searching for a more exotic alternative to the typical Italianrestaurant, try Valentino’s Mediterranean Restaurant, located onMcCullough Avenue near North Star Mall. But be sure to verify withyour date before venturing to any new type of cuisine. Fortunately,with beautiful paintings and large chandeliers, this homey restaurantoffers a gorgeous setting anyone will enjoy. The restaurant containsseating inside and outside; the outside seating has intimate tablessurrounding the building and candles lit on every table. Valentino’soffers a wide variety of wine at their wine bar as well. Be sure not toforget your credit card, dishes at this establishment range from $9 to$19 a plate.If these two restaurants still do not fit your style, then stick withgreat old American food at the Little Red Barn Steakhouse, locatednear Roosevelt Park. Waiters and waitresses in full cowgirl attireappropriately accompany this steakhouse’s invitingand homey setting. Dining tables are picnictables filled with a vast choice of condiments.The setting itself is fun and great for anyyoung exciting couple. The price for platesranges from $10 to $19.Graphic Illustration by Amanda RodriguezAlyssa Esteves, freshman pol. science major Tatiana Huerta, sophomore biology major Chris Vilanueva, senior finance major“My boyfriendtook me on one ofthose horse drawncarriage thingsdowntown.”By Jasmine GarciaStaff WriterWith Valentine’s Day around the corner, the pressure is on – butthere is no need to go out to eat at a fancy restaurant downtown tohave a romantic candlelight dinner. Looking at an overpriced bill isthe last thing you want on your mind on Valentine’s Day. Althoughrestaurants may be having specials available, why not make a quicktrip to the grocery store? Nothing is more personal than cooking anice, romantic dinner at home. Save yourself the money and cook upa nice dinner for two.RecipesAsk family and friends for delicious recipes to prepare for your Valentine.Get a hold of grandma’s famous chicken dinner or take a lookat Recipezaar.com, a Web site with user-generated recipes.” Browsethe site for recipes for beverages, appetizers, a main dish, side dishesand dessert. Pick a recipe that will take no more than one to two and ahalf hours to complete and are measured to serve two people.If you are really in the mood for something sweet, try making oneof these desserts together. This will not only be a fun way to spend theevening, but this can also be a more intimate experience for the bothof you.MusicRestaurants have live music available for the occasion, but why notcreate your own playlist with music you and your Valentine like. Youcan control the volume and the songs, plus, you do not have to paythe mariachi band for a song request. If no songs come to mind, visitthe iTunes store and look through their Valentine’s Day 2010 playlist.Artists vary from Colbie Caillat and Corinne Bailey Rae to MichaelBublé and Dierks Bentley.After your special dinner, head over to the nearest RedBox and renta romantic flick like “The Notebook” or “A Walk to Remember.” Orhave some fun competition playing a classic board game – the loserhas to give a back massage. Or simply end the night snuggled up in ablanket by candlelight.“My boyfriendwalked into ourhigh school cafeteriawith a big basketfull of presents.”Staying In“My girlfriendbought me a card,but I bought her,like, the world.”