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Tags: Valentine's Day / Celeb Travel / → All Tags

Stars Who Love To Love

Even if celebs were out and about their business, Saturday still wasn't a normal day. Beyonce and Jay-Z attended a charitable event together in Mesa, Arizona, where they and baller LeBron James donated 150 musical instruments to a local school.

Jennifer Lopez performed in New York's Madison Square Garden Saturday night, bringing onstage not only husband Marc Anthony but their nearly one-year-old twins Max and Emme. The kids looked a little shell-shocked, but it was their first show!

Since they love the cameras as much as (maybe more than?) they love each other, it's not surprising Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt of "The Hills hosted a V-day bash at Pure nightclub in Las Vegas.

Of course, not all of them could be with the ones they loved. Heidi Klum left her beloved Seal at home as she hit New York Fashion Week to attend the Barbie Fall 2009 runway show and pose with some festive balloons. After a high-profile spat with girlfriend Samantha Ronson on the 13th after sis Charlotte's fashion show in New York City, Lindsay Lohan slipped out on the morning of the 14th to pick up a little something at Blue & Cream -- maybe an "I'm sorry" gift?

And Miley Cyrus' rumored fling Justin Gaston was nowhere in sight as the starlet and her mom hit London's TopShop, which opened after-hours just for her. After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend, but new clothes show up better on TV.

Related Stories:
· Mexican City Elevates Kissing From Crime To Raison d'être [Jaunted]
· For Richer or Poorer, Lots More V-Day Tables This Year [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]

Tags: Valentine's Day Travel / Valentine's Day / The Franklin Institute / Museums / → All Tags

Celebrate Your Love By Crawling Inside a Human Heart

It's Valentine's Day. How will you show your special one the depth of your love? If you're near Philadelphia and appreciate a hyper-literal interpretation of symbolism, we suggest taking a journey into a human heart. The Franklin Institute's Giant Walk-Through Heart provides visitors with an inside look at the "engine of life," with narrow passages that follow the flow of blood through veins, arteries, valves, and chambers to the ever-present cadence of a heartbeat.

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Tags: Valentine's Day / Gourmet Travel / → All Tags

We're In Love With Pizza And Wine

Is your sweetheart a wine expert, or does he or she just want something to wash down some delicious pizza with? A Valentine's Day culinary tour in Detroit will satisfy either way.

Taste-Full Tours was founded by two foodies and former Williams-Sonoma employees who take foodies on a bus ride to sample all kinds of treats from the Detroit metro area. The Pizza and Wine Lover's Tour begins at noon and involves four and a half hours of all-in tastings (included with your $60 fee).

We guess this could work just as well as an Anti- Valentine's Day activity as well, if you are brave enough to actually leave the house for your pizza and wine. Which you totally are!

Related Stories:
· Upcoming Tours [Taste-fulltours.com]
· Detroit's New Terminal Opens Today [Jaunted]
· Recession Restaurants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Abstract Gourmet]

Tags: Valentine's Day Restaurants / Valentine's Day / Restaurants / Food Travel / Romantic Travel / → All Tags

For Richer or Poorer, Lots More V-Day Tables This Year

We know, we know, everyone hates Valentines Day. But when it comes down to it, if you have a significant other, you really don't get the option of skipping it completely. The good news for V-Day slackers is that while it still promises to be one of the busiest restaurant nights of the year, the battered economy means a lot more romancers will be offering to cook at home, and it's markedly easier to get a table out than in past years.

For example, just browsing through OpenTable New York this morning, we see you can't get seats at any of the super-obvious V-Day restaurants like Greenwich Village proposal hotspot One if By Land, Two if By Sea or under-the-bridge Brooklyn beauty River Café, but if you just search for what restaurants still have space Saturday night, you'll see there is plenty of room at the next tier down; say, trendy Village wine bar Cru or Midtown foodie fav BLT Market. Not exactly wow-inducing settings, but trust us, you could not get reservations at restaurants this nice two days before V-Day last year, and the same holds true searching most cities.

Of course, the whole reason all these seats are available is because no one has any damn money. But don't worry—cheap Valentine's dates are in this year. Restaurants that would have never aimed for the romantic crowd in years past are betting they can reel in cheapskates in this economy. Example A: The Waffle House, which will be serving candle-lit steak dinners at 32 of its restaurants. And no, reservations are not needed. Did you want that scattered or smothered, sweetie?

· How Do I Hate Thee? Let Me Count the Ways [Jaunted]
· Valentine's Day Hotels [HotelChatter]

Photo: [Stringbot]

Tags: Valentine's Day / LGA / Southwest / Airports / → All Tags

LGA Wants to Be Your Valentine

Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year, and the airlines are hoping that results in at least some customers shrugging off the economic blues and opting for long-distance love.

New York's LaGuardia airport, for one, is getting in on the V-Day love early, giving away complimentary chocolate kisses at the airport shops and restaurants, now through February 14. Last-minute valentines can also pick up special romantic "gifts to go" for their loved ones, which will be offered outside terminal stores like Borders and the Body Shop.

Kisses and gifts sound nice, but if LGA really wants to be our valentine, how about an update on those rumored Southwest slots?

· Southwest Could Start LaGuardia Flights in 2009 [Jaunted]
· LaGuardia travel coverage [Jaunted]

Photo: [Daniel Y. Go]

Tags: Valentine's Day / Train Travel / Travel Deals / Canada Travel / VIA Rail Canada / → All Tags

Via Rail Canada Ok with Sexytime on Their Trains

Singapore Airlines may frown upon passengers enjoying hanky-panky in one of their in-air suites, but VIA Rail Canada has no such qualms when it comes to riding their rails. They're determined to prove that transcontinental trains are not just for murder mysteries and chasing bad guys with guns across the tops through tunnels; they can instead be aphrodisiacs.

If the swaying of a train car and occasional moose sightings turn you on, opt for the "Romance by Rail" package onboard their Vancouver—Jasper—Toronto line. Hunker down for the long-haul into a private suite with queen bed, two private washrooms, complimentary in-room sparkling wine, fresh-cut flowers and even breakfast in bed.

The even better news is that February is off-peak, meaning that the lowest prices apply for this package: $2,926 for Toronto to Jasper and $1,739 for Jasper to Vancouver. Considering how that would be your bill for two nights in a cheap suite at The Plaza, the changing scenery of the train is well worth the price.

Related Stories:
· Via Rail's "Romance by Rail" Package [Official Site]
· Ride the Rails in Style as Luxury Trains Proliferate [Jaunted]
· Train Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Via rail map: Great Canadian Travel]

Tags: Valentine's Day / HotelChatter / → All Tags

Adventures of Link: Lookin' for Love

Well, we avoided the lovey-dovey talk as long as we could. But it *is* Valentine's Day, and there're a bunch of mushy, bleeding hearts out there gagging for news of the romantic.

Fortunately, HotelChatter has lots of ideas for sexy hotel stays that'll woo your love even after tonight. Even if you blow it, you can always make it up to her (or him!) with a spa getaway.

But if you're one of those types who hates all the V-Day garbage, you're not alone. If you can make it, find us at Johnny Utah's tonight riding the mechanical bull instead of the roller coaster of love.

Related Stories:
· Valentine's Day Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Noted Fameball/Dating Columnist Julia Allison Partying at a W Hotel Tonight [HotelChatter]
· Hitting the V Spot [Jaunted]
· Dallas: They Don't Call It "Breakup Field" [Jaunted]
· Valentine's Day coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ButterflySha]

Tags: Love / France Travel / Ski Travel / Valentine's Day / → All Tags

France Ski Slopes Are For Love, Baby

How can we not keep thinkin' of love on Valentine's Day? We already figured out--a little sadly--that Paris is the ciy of arguments, if not a damn fine place to break up with your other half, at least for the British. But all is not lost with the we-thought-they-were-romantic French, because Singles Week at Avoriaz Ski Resort exists.

Yep, the UK Times checked out a special Singles Week in the French Alps. The travelers are all singles who've found out about the week through one of a variety of online dating sites, like the UK's Dating Direct.

Single you come, and single you might well leave unless you get really lucky, but in the middle of your week in France you definitely won't be lonely. Various games and activities are set up to help people get to know each other (there's a "musical snowball fight" for example), and big meals and plenty of booze help things along.

Being Europe, you may find yourself attracted to someone who doesn't speak your language--about two thirds of the last Singles Week participants were French-speakers--but the language of love is international, right?

Related Stories:
· Looking for Love in the Alps [UK Times]
· Paris, the City of Arguments [Jaunted]

[Photo: Yaaaaan]

Tags: Paris Travel / Surveys / Love / Valentine's Day / → All Tags

Paris, the City of Arguments

And to think we'd always considered Paris the capital city of Love. It might be for some, but a recent British survey unearthed the disturbing result that 34 percent of British travelers consider it:

the city most likely to cause them to argue on a romantic break, with lovers' moods darkened by a "grey" and "difficult to navigate" city and surly restaurant service.

What might be worse is the fact that 10 percent of Britons surveyed have ended their relationship while on vacation with their partner. That makes going on holidays sound kind of risky.

Other top cities for arguments and break-ups included Marrakesh, Morocco and Amsterdam, so take these results to heart next time you're planning your hopefully-romantic trip.

Related Stories:
· Scant Entente Cordiale for British Lovers in Paris [Reuters]
· 'Til Travel Do Us Part [Budget Travel]
· Pam to Paris for V-Day [Jaunted]

[Photo: smudie]

Tags: Missed Connections / Bars / Clubs / Bookstores / Books / Valentine's Day / → All Tags

Missed Connections in Dallas: They Don't Call It "Breakup Field"

What better place to look for love before Valentine's Day than Love Field? We've never hooked up at Dallas' secondary airport, but with that kind of name we expect at least mild passenger-to-passenger flirtation. Or alternately, a secret Flickr admirer.

For better luck and less chance of getting frisked in the security line, try these other Dallas locations:

Frankie's Sports Bar and Grill -- The NFL season may be over, but there's still time to find a cute guy drinking with his brothers at this big-screen-and-pool-table joint. They even have WiFi, so you can post your connection right after you miss it, you wuss. 3227 Mckinney Ave.

Ghostbar -- This W Hotel hot spot with a sister bar in Vegas isn't cheap, especially when it comes to $300-plus bottle service. But while you're contemplating the LED-lit bar you might get to lock lips with a fellow Van Halen fan. 2440 Victory Park Ln.

Crossroads Market Bookstore & Cafe -- Well, even if you don't find a guy who can take a hint, at least you'll come out with something good to read. 3930 Cedar Springs Rd.

Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· Dallas Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: thirtytwogallon]

Tags: Hotels / HotelChatter / Valentine's Day / → All Tags

Adventures of Link: Romancing HotelChatter

HotelChatter is totally getting ready for Valentine's Day. Our sis site may not be planning any New York spa trips, but HC does have plenty of hotel deals for ya.

Meanwhile, all that romance isn't distracting HotelChatter from Fashion Week parties or the fact that Nicky Hilton can't get into 'em. Luckily our very own Amanda P was there and can fill us in on all the details.

Related Stories:
· Valentine's Day Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Love by the Hour at the Hotel Amour [HotelChatter]
· Nicky Hilton Definitely Not Welcome at the Rose Bar [HotelChatter]
· Tibi Fashion Week Party at the Bryant Park Hotel [HotelChatter]
· Inside Liverpool's New Beatles Hotel [HotelChatter]

Tags: Spas / Valentine's Day / New-York-Spas-Map / → All Tags

Spa Travel: Hitting the V Spot

In the days leading up to February 14, do you find yourself spending your commute mentally composing love sonnets--and annoyingly sharing them with anyone who'll listen? Boozing it up with unattached friends and denouncing the holiday for the commercial farce that it is? Collectively cursing St. Valentine, Cupid and Hallmark for forcing you to dream up yet another romantic present? Well, we can't help the besotted or the bitter, but we might be able to do something for the befuddled. And by that we mean, well, guys.

If you're not quite ready to present your sweetie with something small, sparkly and potentially appraisable, you can still look like the hero by giving her a couple's massage, an experiential gift that's also a pretty sweet present for you. Spas throughout New York are actually discounting treatments for the holiday, and since they rarely lower their rates, it's a prime time to take advantage. Snag a gift certificate now and score major points later--no love poem required:

Oasis Day Spa: You can get 15 percent off any purchase you make online, from massage to facials to body wraps. Check out the weekly specials for other deals on services.

Metamorphosis Day Spa: While several therapies, like scrubs and masks are being offered at $10 to $25 off, go for the couple's chocolate oil massage, which includes a 50-minute Swedish rubdown with candles, wine, roses and chocolate kisses.

Shizuka New York: Couples get a 10 percent discount at this Japanese day spa when they come in together, from now through February 17. The services don't have to be identical, just booked at the same time.

Bunya City Spa: This Soho-based facility is offering four Valentine's themed treatments at special prices. We recommend the Steamy Love package--an organic ginger and honey scrub designed to increase circulation and boost the heat between the two of you.

Related Stories:
· Spas Coverage [Jaunted]
· Valentine's Day coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: zosiablue]