It’s wonderful when your loved one snuggles up beside you and reveals an unexpected gift, or takes you by the hand with your eyes closed into a candlelit setting for a surprise dinner. However, creating those kinds of magical experiences doesn’t come so easily for everyone.
We have a guide to help the romantically challenged this Valentine's Day. A box of chocolates and a greeting card can be just the beginning of the holiday, which falls on a Sunday this year.
This story originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of Living Northside magazine.
START WITH MORNING BREAKFAST
A yellow craftsman-style bungalow is home to Douceur de France in Roswell. "Sweets of France" is the literal translation, but the café serves more than tarts, eclairs, brulées and soufflés.
On the menu, chef Luc Beaudet offers Le Pain Perdu (French toast) served as a thick slice of caramelized brioche dipped in crème brulee and topped with strawberries, a fruit coulis sauce and whipped cream. You will also find three egg omelettes and panini breakfasts served with two poached eggs.
Beaudet serves special candies, cakes and colorful pastries for Valentine's Day each year, such as macaron de l'amour prepared with vanilla cream and raspberries.
"For Luc, making pastry is not a job but a passion," says co-owner Danielle Beaudet of her husband.
1173 Alpharetta St., Roswell. 770-650-1173. douceurdefrance.com
GET A COUPLE’S MASSAGE
A variety of treatments at the intimate Sufii Day Spa in Johns Creek can make for a memorable afternoon. For example, following a tea rose oil massage atop side-by-side beds of roses, couples can receive a pedicure and foot mask. Or they can take a 75-minute couples workshop and learn how to give each other massage therapy. Walk-ins are usually welcome, however this time of year appointments go fast. Owner Amy Bafi recommends making appointments ahead of the big day.
3719 Old Alabama Road, Suite 300 C, D & E, Johns Creek. 770-674-4446. sufiidayspa.com
VENTURE OUT
Go to the park
After relaxing your body and mind, invigorate the spirit with an outdoor or indoor excursion. Nearby, Vickery Creek and the waterfall at Old Mill Park in Roswell provide a scenic backdrop for an amorous afternoon, as well as the many Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area parks and trails.
Hang out at a record store
Stop in Comeback Vinyl vintage record store in Alpharetta and thumb though some of your favorite classic albums from rock, disco, country, jazz, reggae and more genres.
Comeback co-owner Karen Vernon first started selling her record collection down the street at Green Bean Exchange Antiques and Interiors. Just over a year ago, Alex Vernon, who is Karen's son and business partner, helped expand the inventory to include more recordings, stereo equipment and music memorabilia at a second independent location.
520 S. Main St., Alpharetta. 678-580-0583. comebackvinyl.com
Insider tip: Look for deep scratches when buying previously owned vinyl records. A dusty or dirty record can be cleaned off and still have good sound. Light scratches will likely play OK but have a pops or ticks. Deeper scratches may cause the record to skip.
See an exhibit at the High Museum of Art
Drive inside the Perimeter to see Iris van Herpen's "Transforming Fashion" exhibit at the High Museum of Art. The 31-year-old Dutch designer is inspired by nature, infrastructure, metal, architecture and other objects. Also walk through one of the museum's ongoing collections, such as Paradise Garden by folk artist Howard Finster.
1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-4400. high.org
GO OUT FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER AND A SHOW
As early evening approaches, circle back to the Northside for a romantic bite. The dining room of Villa Christina at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter provides an intimate ambiance. The dinner menu has a wide selection of entrees and rich pasta dishes like sacchetti — purse-shaped pasta filled with black truffles and cheese in a pesto cream. For Valentine's Day, the hotel is offering a romance package that includes room accommodations and dinner at the restaurant.
Complete Valentine's Day with the comedy "I Hate Hamlet" at Stage Door Players in Dunwoody. It's the story of a famous television actor who despises Hamlet yet has an opportunity to play the Shakespearean character on a New York stage. Moreover, the ghost of John Barrymore in full Hamlet attire visits him.
The Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina, 4000 Summit Boulevard N.E., Brookhaven. 678-539-1234. villachristina.com; Stage Door Players, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-396-1726. stagedoorplayers.net
Insider tips: If your Valentine is a fan of wine and chocolate, Hinton Wine Store has tastings that include the best wine to pair with each treat. The store owned by former NFL lineman Chris Hinton and his wife, Mya, also offers wine gift baskets, crystal stemware, wine totes and iron wine racks.
8455 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta. 770-641-1900. thewinestoreinc.com
Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails in the Crabapple Historic District has a pre-set menu for Valentine's Day. On warm, sunny days its garden serves as a getaway for patrons, with ingredients grown for the restaurant's southern fare.
800 Mayfield Road, Milton. 770-817-0161. miltonscuisine.com
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