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Local hairstylist Ali Young recalls the marriage proposal she received just days before Valentine's Day. Photo by John McCreadie.
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While there are some in the community who see Valentine’s Day as just a “Hallmark holiday,” many couples in the area embrace the saint’s day as a way to express their inner Cupid.
From marriage proposals to packed area restaurants, Feb. 14 is a day filled with last-minute gift shopping in addition to a focus on togetherness, sharing and love. While many choose to avoid the crowds at eateries – especially on the big day – many romantics make it a day local businesses love.
“Like Mother’s Day, it’s just the one day that everyone goes out to eat,” said Terry Galli, owner of Lugi’s Little Italy Restaurant in Downtown Auburn. “It’s a huge day for restaurants.”
Case in point: Dan and Patrice Moores, owners of the Auburn Running Company, treat themselves each Valentine’s Day to fine French cuisine at Le Bilig in North Auburn.
In fact, many restaurateurs report an increase in business leading up to and following Valentine’s Day. While many locals seek the romance of an intimate meal with their significant other, they also want to avoid heavy traffic.
“We learned long ago that you don’t go out on Valentine’s Day,” said Dennis Freidig, an Auburn-area resident and one-time restaurant owner. “We traditionally dine out the day before to beat the crowds.”
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Lynn Robinson, manager of Dawn Co., spends a quite evening at home with her husband on Valentine's Day for a traditional steak and lobster dinner. Photo by John McCreadie.
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Still, the romance of the day is not lost on the Freidigs; it’s the
day he proposed in 1993 while a Jimmy Durante song – “Make Someone
Happy,” made popular in the romantic-comedy “Sleepless in Seattle” –
played in the background.
Yet, not everyone finds the romance
they seek during this special time. Ali Young, a hairstylist in Auburn,
said her boyfriend once came into her place of work several days before
Valentine’s Day and proposed marriage. She smiles, recalling his lack
of timing and romance, before declaring with certainty, “I said no.”
He’s now an ex-boyfriend.
Others find the day perplexing. Take
North Auburn-resident Doug Carmichael, who finds it difficult to
express his love each year. “My wife’s allergic to flowers and she
doesn’t want chocolate,” he said. “What am I supposed to do?”
Local
retailers are there to help, of course. Lynn Robinson, manager of
Dawn’s Co., a Hallmark store in the Raley’s shopping center, said
candles and earrings make ideal gifts for that special someone. Balloon
bouquets, which she reports have fallen out of favor in recent years,
may find resurgence this year and are a nice way to say “Be my
Valentine.”
Gift-seeking bargain hunters should check out
Downtown Auburn’s RikkiDees gift and candy shop, which will be offering
a half-off sale, leading up to its closure in March.
Diamond
pendants are sure to put a sparkle in the eyes of many this Valentine’s
Day as Roper’s Jewelers in Downtown Auburn reports they are the big
sellers this year. “Although we usually see more engagement ring
purchases,” said Roper’s Linda Parkhurst. In Old Town Auburn, there are
plenty of gift shops and jewelers including Sierra Moon Goldsmiths and
Oz! Gallery of Fine Jewelry.
Don’t count the traditional gift
of chocolates out, either. Lois Gallagher, owner of The Chocolate
Shoppe and Gift Emporium in Downtown Auburn, said they are inundated
with customers selecting custom, gourmet “delights.” They provide a
range of chocolates, including champagne-filled morsels. The perennial
favorite, however, remains chocolate-shaped roses.
For florists,
Valentine’s Day accounts for a significant part of their profits for
the entire year. Ben Asgharzadeh, owner of The Golden Swann in Downtown
Auburn, never disappoints local florists as he buys roses each year for
his wife, Margareta. And what does she get him? Asgharzadeh responds
with a wry smile. “Oh, she takes care of me,” he said. Margareta simply
rolls her eyes at this, a testament to their enduring love and 15 years
of marriage.
Yet, while locals Laurie Rubel and her husband
Michael Stark rarely celebrate the day due to Stark’s busy travel
schedule, they never lose sight of what the day is all about. Said
Rubel: “It’s always Valentine’s Day at our house.”
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