Hong Kong is aglow with 25,000 white roses made from LED lights making it the perfect place for couples seeking a romantic spot for Valentine's Day. The light rose garden, which took six months to create and is based in the city's business district, is lighting up skyscrapers at night and drawing crowds of visitors. Each pure white rose, which consist of seven layers of petals, has been planted individually and is water-proofed to withstand the elements for the exhibition which lights up every day from 6pm until February 22. Illuminated white rose-shaped LED lights, numbering a total of 25,000, are seen in Hong Kong, surrounded by dominating skyscrapers Beautiful sight: The roses, which are lit up from 6pm every night until February 22, are bringing in crowds as couples mark Valentine's Day The organisers, creative agency Pancom, chose Hong Kong as the first destination for the garden as part of a world tour which will include other locations in Asia and Europe As romantic as it is spectacular, the garden sits in one of Hong Kong's most symbolic landmarks - the Central Promenade - here a visitor takes a selfie in front of dozens of the roses As romantic as it is spectacular, the garden sits in one of Hong Kong's most symbolic landmarks the Central Promenade. The organisers, creative agency Pancom, chose Hong Kong's Central Promenade and Tamar Park, as the first destinations for the garden as it begins a tour of the world. They first displayed the garden in Seoul, South Korea, in October 2014 and was reinstalled in April last year. The Pancom team spent months in preparation and visited Hong Kong several times before eventually settling on the Central Promenade and Tamar Park areas. Officials say it is the first time Tamar Park has held any exhibit for the public since it has opened. As well as marking Valentine's Day, the exhibition will also represent China's Lantern Festival as part of the Chinese New Year period. SK Lam, creative director of events planner, AllRightsReserved, told Ejinsight, the lights cost an 'eight-digit figure' to create. 'We want to make Hong Kong the most beautiful place in the world for Valentine's Day,' Mr Lam said, adding that the art installation will be exhibited in Europe and two other Asian destinations next. For around $100 Hong Kong Dollars, or 9, anyone keen to take a permanent souvenir from the garden can buy a rose. The flowers' layout is based around the landscape and environment of the promenade and Tamar Park with two different heights - 70cm and 80cm - of roses being used to create the stunning visuals. The flowers' layout is based around the landscape and environment of the promenade and Tamar Park with two different heights of roses being used to create the stunning visuals The Pancom team spent months preparing and visited Hong Kong several times before eventually settling on the Central Promenade and Tamar Park locations The garden is packed tightly with more than 25 white roses per every three square metres in the business district of Hong Kong In the daytime, the roses are equally as breathtaking with their subtle pale colour before lighting up at night - here the roses are after being lit-up which happens every day from 6pm Selfie lovers can make use of a specially designed photography corner to capture, in the best angle possible, their perfect memories The garden is packed tightly with more than 25 roses per every three square metres. In the daytime, the roses are equally as breathtaking with their subtle pale colour before lighting up at night. Selfie lovers can make use of a specially designed photography corner to capture, in the best angle possible, their memories.
New polling data is out for Valentines and singles alike, and the verdict is clear: many think it's an overrated commercial for roses and chocolates. Almost half of the women surveyed 46 percent said they would rather not receive flowers on Feb. 14, I4U News reported. Two out of three women polled said they don't enjoy flowers because they die too quickly. "As a symbol of love, it would be nice if they lasted longer!" said Tamara Kullback, spokeswoman for survey organization Caption Fragrance Co. In fairness, many recipients allow their flowers to die early because of poor care. "Most floral arrangements last four to seven days or longer, depending on the flowers used and the care they receive," wrote Lisa Greene, a floral marketing director in Massachusetts for Flower Factor. In other words, a vase of roses will almost certainly last longer than a heart-shaped box of chocolates, but candy remains the most common Valentine's Day gift this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Flowers are the catch-all gift for sweethearts who forgot the impending holiday; 22 percent of men surveyed admitted they picked up flowers in a rush. That said, 70 percent of women surveyed did not necessarily frown on flowers; they just saw the holiday as a good excuse for a gift that lasts forever a hint for diamonds, perhaps? Jewelry is the third most-common gift this Valentine's Day, with nearly 20 percent of consumers planning to treat a loved one to something with sparkle. Altogether, Valentine's Day spending is expected to reach a record $19.7 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Consumers are spending an average of $146.84 per person on the holiday, up from an average $142.31 last year. The anti-flower sentiment parallels a trend seen elsewhere in American society fewer flower purchases for special occasions. The "in leiu of flowers" movement has already contributed to floral decline in funerals, reports the American Society of Florists. While flower arrangements were once a traditional mainstay of holidays including Easter, Mother's Day, and Christmas, their importance is wilting in an increasingly casual society. Roughly one in four Americans bought flowers for Valentine's Day in 2015, a number that has held steady for the last two years. In 2015, 48 percent of florists saw a drop in Valentine's Day sales while 37 percent saw sales increase, according to the Society of American Florists. Many florists whose sales dropped blamed the Saturday holiday "weekend holidays are notoriously challenging for the floral industry," and the terrible weather in the Northeast. Even in an off year, Valentine's Day sales provide 14 percent of an average florist's average sales, and a majority of the sales last year were for red roses.
Whether youre dating or have been married to your sweetheart for years, you want to have a romantic dinner on Valentines Day. Here are a few restaurants offering special Valentines Day menus. (These Valentines specials are only good thru February 14, 2016, so dont miss out and make your reservations now.) TR Fire Grill1035 N Orlando AveWinter Park407-708-3600 If industrial-chic is your style, then TR Fire Grill is the place for you. Their Valentines $60 Dinner for Two includes choice of one appetizer (Prime Rib Eggrolls or Farmhouse Flatbread), Choice of two salads (Chop salad, Caesar salad), choice of two entres (Flank Steak with Balsamic pepper sauce, caramelized onion, smashed potatoes; Salmon & Zoodles; Roasted Chicken; Seared Scallops with tomato butter, spinach, cauliflower puree; Cauliflower Steak), choice of one dessert (White Chocolate Cheesecake with Blackberry sauce or Buttery-Seared Lemon Pound Cake). You can also book an optional wine package for two for $20. Tony Romas8560 International DriveOrlando407-248-0094 Steak lovers prefer Tony Romas for their tender, delicious offerings. The Valentines Day special $60 Dinner for Two includes choice of Filet Medallions, Grilled Salmon or Baby Back Ribs, along with a house salad and the choice of either a Red Velvet Cake or Raspberry Brownie Royale for dessert. Perfect for a night out. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar8030 Via Dellagio WayOrlando407-352-5706 933 N. Orlando Ave.Winter Park407-699-9463 Enjoy a three-course Valentine's Day Brunch on February 14, from 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., paired with a worldwide Flemings exclusive - wine from the LVE Collection by award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend. Flemmins regular dinner menu is also available 11:00 a.m. to close. Valentines Day Brunch is $39.95 per person. American Kitchen Bar & Grill1905 Hotel Plaza BlvdB Resort & SpaLake Buena Vista407-827-3080 Located inside the B Resort & Spa, American Kitchen Bar & Grill is offering a prix fixe three-course menu featuring a smoked scallop and shrimp ceviche, braised beef osso buco and a chocolate fondue for $60 with complimentary sparkling wine. Morimioto Asia1600 Buena Vista Dr.Downtown Disney Whether youre dating or have been married to your sweetheart for years, you want to have a romantic dinner on Valentines Day. Here are a few restaurants offering special Valentines Day menus. (These Valentines specials are only good thru February 14, 2016, so dont miss out and make your reservations now.)
Elbowing each other in the stampede to buy Valentine's Day chocolate for the men in their lives, Japanese women brought stores to a standstill Saturday. In Japan, the menfolk do sweet nothing on February 14 while the women do battle in heaving aisles, loading up on confectionery treats for the object of their desire. If they are lucky, the guys will reciprocate on White Day in March, when traditionally they give a white gift, from sweets to lingerie. "My feet hurt, my arms hurt, and my head hurts!" winced Kana Shimizu, clutching two dainty bags of Belgian chocolate that cost more than 10,000 yen ($90) at a plush store in Tokyo's Ginza district. "This one is for my boyfriend, the other one is for me. I don't want him having all the fun." Having splurged on "honmei" (true love) chocolate, the 27-year-old hair stylist raced off to find somewhere less upmarket to buy "giri" (obligation) treats for her male work colleagues. "They can make do with cheap chocolate," she laughed. "No, seriously. It's such a pain every year." Entire floors of Japan's cavernous department stores are dedicated to Valentine's Day, showcases brimming with heart-shaped goodies by international chocolatiers. "I'm here with my wife," said 42-year-old architect Riki Taniguchi. "I've got my eye on the Belgian chocolate but I'm not sure she thinks I deserve it." Valentine's Day first appeared in Japan in the late 1950s as the economy picked up steam after the devastation of World War II and Western products were highly prized as the country acquired a taste for sophistication and luxury. Currency of romance At the time, a firm called Mary Chocolate advertised February 14 as "the only day of the year a woman professes her love through presenting chocolate" -- establishing it as Japan's currency of romance, to the chagrin of florists, jewellers and makers of skimpy lingerie. Chocolate has been available in Japan since the late 18th century, when Dutch traders -- the only Europeans allowed a foothold in an otherwise closed country -- gave it to prostitutes as a form of payment. These days, it seems, almost anything goes and couples can share a bowl of chocolate-drizzled ramen noodles, tuck into McDonald's chocolate fries or even hop into a chocolate hot spring bath courtesy of some of the most bizarre recent marketing gimmicks. Half of Japan's $11 billion chocolate business, Asia's biggest, is spent in February, retailers say. It is not hard to see why: a department store in Osaka recently unveiled a chocolate cake topped with 125 diamonds that will set you back an eye-watering $125,000. In Tokyo, chocolates released by British rockers The Rolling Stones decorated with the tongue-flapping Mick Jagger logo, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their first Japan tour in 1990, were selling out fast. "I rushed over on my lunch break to buy some, but they had sold out," said 45-year-old fan Mariko Imai. "No satisfaction," she deadpanned. Proving that, even in Japan, and even on Valentine's Day, you can't always get what you want.
Image copyrightAFPImage captionValentine's Day is popular in much of Pakistan Pakistan's president has denounced St Valentine's Day, saying the festival has no connection with Pakistani culture and should be avoided. President Mamnoon Hussain told students that it was a Western tradition and conflicted with Muslim culture. His remarks came after a district in north-western Pakistan banned Valentine's Day celebrations. Valentine's Day is popular in many cities in Pakistan, but religious groups have denounced it as decadent. Image copyrightKohat District Government Earlier this week, the local government in Kohat, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told police officers to stop shops from selling Valentine's Day cards and items. Kohat district is run by a religious political party and borders Pakistan's conservative tribal areas. Meanwhile, the Peshawar local council also passed a resolution to ban celebrations of what it called a "useless" day. Kohat district administrator Maulana Niaz Muhammad told the BBC Urdu: "Valentine's Day has no legal grounds, and secondly it is against our religion, therefore it was banned." Image copyrightAFP/GettyImage captionProtesters in Karachi hold banners with slogans such as 'No love, no Valentine' While giving cards and flowers was not in itself a bad thing, linking this to a specific day was not appropriate, Mr Muhammad said. He added that he felt such practices could encourage obscene behaviour. However, officials in both places later said the bans had been discarded or ignored for being unpopular. Earlier this week, there were unconfirmed media reports that Valentine's Day gifts had been banned in the capital Islamabad - although this was subsequently denied by the government. Image copyrightAFP The issue of St Valentine's Day is a polarising one in Pakistan, a country where it has only become widely marked in recent years,writes the BBC World Service's South Asia editor Charles Haviland. In the run-up to this year's festival, one conservative newspaper described it as a "festival of obscenity", asking if Pakistanis would next start celebrating the Hindu Diwali or the Christian Christmas. In past years, conservative social groups, who view the day as a festival of immorality detrimental to traditional marriage, have declared the day to be "shameless". Renowned civil society activist Sabeen Mahmud once set up a demonstration with slogans including "Karachi says Yes to Love". (Last April, she was killed in a drive-by shooting, although not necessarily for that particular issue.) In neighbouring India, Valentine's Day also garners opposition, usually from Hindu conservatives who say it is alien to Indian culture and - as argued by Pakistani Muslims - contrary to traditions such as arranged marriages.
We've all been there- February 13th and no ideas about what to get. We promise to alleviate your procrastinator's guilt with this handy gift guide. These thoughtful gifts will make you look like you prepared well in advance, all in time for the 14th. Sugarfina For a quirky twist on a traditional gift, pop by Sugarfina to pick up their "Olive You" Martini Olive Almonds. Fret not, no actual olives were used to produce this candy, just dressed up chocolate covered concoctions masquerading as cocktail garnishes. At $7 a box, make sure to pick up a variety of their additional candies from carefully curated selection. Especially handy for those out-of-town Valentines, BloomNation is the worlds largest online flower marketplace that connects you with the most creative floral designers in not only Los Angeles, but in over 3,000 other cities across the countryall in one place. They are offering same day delivery and BloomNations florists are open this Sunday, Valentines Day. Note your zip code and pick your price range, they will handle the rest. Hanro has been Switzerland's not-so-best-kept secret for 132 years. Their line of products has offerings for both men and women, all with their "less but only the best" approach. Their minimalist designs are executed with the finest materials and perfect cuts. The Constance Modal and Silk robe is a timeless gift that is priced a $320. Hanro products can be found at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus stores. If you have a partner that likes to sweat (but you don't!) LA's hottest new Athleisure boutique is the place for you. They can happily take care of the shopping and pick out items for your sweetheart, don't worry- they won't tell. "Your" purchase can be sent via messenger service if you live in the greater Los Angeles area. They offer a curated selection of popular and trendy athleisure pieces like Zoe Karssen's whimsical Lip sweatpants. Visit www.sweatNSK.com for additional offerings and brands. Tanya Heath, a shoe store from Paris, opened its first US location on trendy Robertson Boulevard. The shoes are both stylish and practical, as the whole concept of the brand revolves around interchangeable heels that allow for you to wear the same pair of shoes with endless possibilities. The one-click technology allows women to pick their desired height and anybody who has heard their significant other complain after a long night of high-heels can appreciate the sentiment.
Kevin Patrick (Field Medic, Rin Tin Tiger) has been doing this for three years consecutively. For the past three years, Patrick--under his moniker Field Medic-- marks the 14th of February as a special release day for his Valentines Day E.P. This year,that beer called becks reminds me of a haikuiwrotecommemorates the occasion. Field Medic, know for their knee-buckling heartache, has released a 5-song set that is both sweet and sour. In Patricks unique style keeps pace with celebrated songwriters like Jeff Tweedy (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco), Gary Louris (Jayhawks) and Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes); regardless of stylistic alteration, the music is unmistakably his.that beer called becks reminds me of a haikuiwroteis just a further testament to his growing body of work. The E.P. itself drives through a soundscape that touches on rock (that beer called becks reminds me of a haiku i wrote), classic Americana (like a feather or a pawprint) and solemn country-laced ballads (OTL, not a normal boy). The entire project reminds listeners that Patrick does need no stinkin' full-length to bring you to your knees. The truth is, Patrick is one of the most emotionally disarming lyricists that the bay area has to offer. ---------- As an added gift to you, I got to chat with Kevin Patrick regarding his take on Valentines, and the experience he draws from: Q: This is the second year in a row you've released a project. What''s significant about this holiday? A: (this is actually the third year, the first one 'a book worth reading' came out in 2013) i love cartoon hearts & construction paper & scissors & gluesticks & bumblebees & cartoon dogs with cartoon hearts for eyes & making cards for people. my favorite poet, ted kooser put out a book of poems that he'd written & sent to his single female friends for valentines day over the years & as the years past the number of people he sent them to kept growing because everyone enjoyed them so much. he had to stop one year & decided to publish them all in a book. he's an amazing poet & i think any excuse to use art to brighten someones life for a moment is a good one. that inspired me a lot, secretly, now that i'm reflecting on my youthful love for that nebraskan poet. Q: Your field medic stuff seems quite different from your Rin Tin Tiger stuff--more intimate. Would you agree? What's all that about? A: i wrote the RTT stuff that's out now back when i was a girl disguised as a cowboy... now i'm boy in a scarf wearing capris that dances alone into the mirror at 1 a.m with a smile on his face. Q: What if I told you that VD was just a corporate sceme to make some cash at the behest of our most intimate relationships? A: i would say... i disagree. but, buy a tape a give it your girlfriend. lol!! Q: Do you have any Valentine's stories you'd like to share? A: one time i made a girl a card with a construction paper bumblebee, & the mayan calendar on the front. on the inside it said: "bee mayan". i also picked her up a rose from one of the ladies on mission. when i gave it to her she didn't really laugh that much, & then told me she had begun making me a card but stopped halfway & never finished it. Q:: It seems like there's some heartache behind the FM stuff. Are there any experiences in particular that you pull from? A: confusion, anxiety, weird paranoid fantasies, overstimulation, strange thoughts brought on by being drunk & high & surrounded by strangers, guilt, doubt, reconciling my own mistakes & others, questioning humanity at large, wondering what the point of life is, trying to stay positive in the midst of a world gone wrong, being willing to be open with myself & others about my true feelings without feeling ashamed or self conscious, being vulnerable & proud. realizing that it's not over till it's over & you create your own world. at the end of the day only you can bring yourself peace. chrz. FOLLOW Field Medic on Facebook LISTEN to "that beer called becks reminds me of a haiku i wrote" via Soundcloud.
You got: Ryan Gosling Hey girl, The Gos has a box of chocolates with your name on it. You got: Zac Efron Clear your plans on the 14th because Zefron and every one of his 26 abs wants to cuddle you all night long. You got: Beyonce I hope you’re feeling blessed, because the Queen wants to grace you with her presence. You got: The Rock Get ready to spend February 14th wrapped up in this rock hard bod. You got: Jennifer Lawrence J-Law has an extra-large pizza and a Netflix queue ready to go. Talk about V-Day DREAM. You got: Michael B Jordan More like Michael BAE Jordan, amirite. How did you get this blessed??? You got: Kim Kardashian Spend February 14 learning how to take the best selfie of your life, surrounded by a lavish garden of roses and 25 boxes of the most luxe chocolate in existence. #Blessed
There are more ways to declare your undying love for your significant other this Valentine’s Day than to shower them with chocolates, roses and flowers. Nothing says “I love you” more than a Netflix-inspired card because in this day and age, who doesn’t love a little Netflix and chill? 1. (NickLackeArt/Etsy) From NickLackeArt on Etsy. 2. (CrefftauCartref/Etsy) From CrefftauCartref on Etsy. 3. (esmy77/Etsy) From esmy77 on Etsy. 4. (esmyy77/Etsy) From esmy77 on Etsy. 5. (nocturnalpaper/Etsy) From nocturnalpaper on Etsy. 6. (BettieConfetti/Etsy) From BettieConfetti on Etsy. 7. (OhDeerDesign1/Etsy) From OhDeerDesign1 on Etsy. 8. (bushelpeckstationary/Etsy) From bushelpeckstationary on Etsy. 9. (YeaOhGreetings/Etsy) From YeaOhGreetings on Etsy. 10. (OhDeerDesign/Etsy) From OhDeerDesign1 on Etsy.
ZURICH Uetliberg Mountain. Photographer: Evgeny Murtola/Getty Images/iStockphoto 12:00 p.m., Feb. 13:Take the SZU train from the main station up Zurichs etliberg Mountain. The main line runs to the top of the hill where you can visit the observation tower and see a panoramic view of the entire city of Zurich and Lake Zurich. The SZU runs weekdays every half hour and takes just 20 minutes to get to the etliberg. On weekends it runs every 20 minutes. (Check online for timetables.) 2:00 p.m.:From the plateau at the top of etliberg, walk the trail over to the Felsenegg, where you can take a cable car down to Adliswil and the SZU train back to Zurich. 3:00 p.m.:Warm up in the Stadtbad on Helvetiaplatz with its intimate hammam. The bath is based on the traditional Turkish bath, with a central navel stone and various niches and washing pools around. You can enjoy saunas and fog showers with others or schedule private treatments, including Ayurveda, mud applications, mens care, scrub rituals, and oil detoxification. 10:00 p.m.:After showing and dressing for dinner, go to Pavilion, a warm, elegant restaurant in the Baur au Lac Hotel. Designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the space has a glass gazebo with a 16-foot rotunda and 1920s-era chandeliers. The menu is run by Chef Laurent Eperon and focuses on modern interpretations of classic dishes. 12:30 a.m., Feb. 14:Work your way over to Kronnenhalle Bar, famous for its Mahogany panels and leather banquettes offset by paintings by Mir and Klee. Its known for its Old World cocktails and superior for its attentiveand discreetservice. BUENOS AIRES 5:00 p.m., Feb. 14:Spend the early evening walking around the striking Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires, which was built in 2001 after a global open call for designs was won by three Argentinian architects. It hosts an impressive permanent collection of contemporary work and shows indie films and documentaries in the evenings. 7:00 p.m.:Take a stroll next door in Palermo's lush Tres de Febrero Park, dotted with little lakes and gazebos. Paddle boats are optional, but make sure you stop in the beautifully landscaped rose garden, which hosts nearly 20,000 blooming bushes. 9:00 p.m.:Make a reservation at the playful, ultra-modern Aramburu for dinner and ask for the table overlooking the kitchen; it's one of the city's most exciting to watch in action. 11:30 p.m.:Drinks at the Oak Bar, a cozy, elegant room, conveniently tucked into the Palacio Duhau, a neoclassical palace run by Park Hyatt, where you should definitely make a reservation to stay the night. NEW YORK A wallsize fridge, packed with hanging ducks and aging lamb at Momofuku Ko. Photographer: Zack DeZon/Bloomberg 4:30 p.m.:On Feb. 14, sunset over Manhattan will be at 5:28 p.m. Take your date to the most spectacular room on the island, the Top of the Standard at the Standard Hotel. Normally impossible to get into, the room is open for late afternoon drinks and snacks, and its quite romantic. Get a stiff drink, because youll never guess what youre doing next . 6:00 p.m.:Say it with ink: There are tattoo artists, and then there is Scott Campbell of New York's Saved Tattoo, where Marc Jacobs goes. Just plan for those crazy romantic tats to be small and subtle--Campbell's rate is $1,000 an hour. 8:00 p.m.:Fancy restaurants tend to overdo it on Valentine's Day, so go somewhere unpretentious and consistently delicious, where the lighting is warm and beautiful, and you still feel sexy even after eating dinner, at a place such as Estela. If you want to splurge, do it somewhere chill, like Momofuku's exceptionally great chef counter, Ko. 10:30 p.m.:After dinner, head to Mace Bar for nightcaps, where they'd never be so gauche as to call their complex, spice-driven drinks aphrodisiacs. MOSCOW The Metropol in Moscow, Russia. Source: Wikimedia Commons 7 p.m., Feb. 13:Go to the Stanislavsky Theater (the Bolshois younger, more adventurous cousin) to see a production of Puccinis Madama Butterfly, the story of a 15-year-old Japanese girl and her fickle American husband. Its not a story about perfect lovefar from itbut its a gorgeous opera about thepowerof love. 10 p.m.:From the Stanislavsky, its an easy, 5 minute walk to Ugolek restaurant, a bustling, modern restaurant with superb food. A great option for those who want to skip hyperformal, fancy dinners, the cuisine tends toward lightly deconstructed dishes with fresh ingredients and pleasantly fashionable tableware. Make a reservation now, though: Beloved by hordes of the citys fashionable young-ish people, the place isnt exactly a secret. 11:30 p.m.:Take a cab (15 minutes or so without traffic) to the Fassbinder Cinema bar, a laid-back lounge with a well-stocked bar and live music (ranging from Reggae to Punk to Indie-Rock) most Saturday nights. The dozens of comfortable lounge chairs, banquettes, and tables mean that you can hang out or, when the spirit moves you, get up and dance. 10:30 a.m., Feb. 14:Breakfast at the Metropol: Its Valentines day, youre a little hung over from last night, so its time to treat yourself and your date to a lavish brunch under the soaring painted dome at the Metropol, arguably Moscows best-known luxury hotel. Breakfast is set up as a buffet, including caviar, with the soft accompaniment of a live jazz band. TORONTO Nathan Phillips Square is now open for skating, as are all the city's outdoor rinks. Photographer: Rene Johnston/ Getty Images 4:00 p.m., Feb. 14:Is your idea of the perfect date a trip to the basement level Hockey Hall of Fame? Well, rethink it. During warmer months, Nathan Phillips Square is home to a reflecting pool that sits under three massive concrete arches, but when the temperatures drop and the pool freezes, it's groomed into a rink filled with locals and tourists alike. 7:00 p.m.:Having worked up a bit of a sweat in the bracing chill, it's time for a drink. Luckily, just down the street from the rink is Nikai, a hip cocktail bar from the Momofuku team. If you haven't already booked a table at Shoto for dinner, better luck next year, but you can still enjoy either a festive sparkling cocktail, such as the grapefruity Brisca Fresca, or something a little more substantial, such as the sake and chartreuse Preta. 8:00 p.m.:It's time to start soaking up that sake. On the edge of Toronto's Fashion District, Alo was one of the most celebrated new restaurants in the city in 2015. The five-course tasting menu highlights Canadian ingredients and preparations that are clearly fine dining but without falling into fussy territory. Expect such dishes as fois gras with sweet potato and chestnut to get you going and Ontario pork with swiss chard and apple to carry you though. 10:00 p.m.:Braving the crowd at a nightclub or trying to squeeze into one of Koreatown's great karaoke joints is more trouble than it's worth on Valentine's Day. (Plus, its Sunday.) A low-key cocktail joint where you can actually talk is a much better call. The aptly named Cocktail Bar and hip Montauk are both swanky choices close to dinner, or you can hoof it a little farther to the Ace for tip-top cocktails before you call that Uber home. HONG KONG Women sit on a rock at Hung Shing Ye beach on Lamma Island in Hong Kong. Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images 1:00 p.m., Feb. 14:Hong Kong is at its most beautiful from the water. Grab your Octopus card and a pair of sneakers and head for the Central Ferry terminal. Oh yeah, youll need a date as well. Grab one of those before you hop on a boat for Lamma Island. 2:20 p.m.:Spend the afternoon meandering along the trail from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan. Lamma is just a short boat ride from Central, but it feels as if its a world away. There are no cars or large developments on the islandyet. The whole place has a distinctly free-spirited vibe. If Woodstock were to be held anywhere in Hong Kong, it would be on Lamma. 4:00 p.m.:Take a break for a shared pot of chilled lemongrass tea at Herboland, a beautiful tea shop and small herb farm near Hung Shing Yeh Beach. 6:00 p.m.:Reward yourselves for making it to the beautiful fishing village of Sok Kwu Wan by pausing for a seafood dinner. Pick one of the restaurants with seating right on the sea wall and watch the sunset (6:19) over the bay while you share an order of razor clams. 10:00 p.m.:Hop back on the ferry and grab a cab to Duddells for some beautifully crafted cocktails while you work up the courage to ask your date to grab a nightcap (or seven) in Wanchai. SHANGHAI El Coctel in Shanghai. Photographer: Derryck Menere 10:00 a.m., most Saturdays:While like most of mainland China, Shanghai celebrates Qixi as the primary love holiday, this date itinerary works for most Saturdays when you want to spend a romantic day with your date. (The Saturday of Valentine's Day weekend will be a little quiet this year, as it falls on the last weekend of the Chinese lunar new year holiday when everyone is scurrying back from their hometowns.) Start by taking one of unTours Hands on Dumpling Delights tour, on which youll sample some of the best dumplings Shanghai has to offerincluding street stall potstickers and soup-filled xiaolongbao. Finally, youll learn how to make your own pan-fried dumplings in a tasty cooking class. 2:00 p.m.:After all that walking and eating, the perfect remedy will be a massage in a beautiful Shanghainese setting. Yu Massage on Wuyuan Lu, just off historic Wukang road, has charming wood-lined interiors and antique wallpaperand youll get sweet red date tea served to you before and after your treatments. Try the four hands oil massage. 4:00 p.m.:If you're gong to go to a museum, make it the New Shanghai History Museum. Shaped like a nautilus, this modern structure, opened last year, has a 140-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton and fossils of extinct prehistoric animals once indigenous to the area, such as the Yangtze Alligator. 6:00 p.m.:Logan's Punch was one of the first in a newly gentrified area of Shanghai that's fast becoming cocktail-bar central. Logan fancies itself a punch bar, with such heaping bowls of cocktails as the Salted Caramel Old Fashioned to share. Try El Ocho next door if you can't get in, or El Coctel, which is nearby to your dinner. 8:00 p.m.:Impress your date with one of Shanghais best French meals, at Franck in the Ferguson Lane complex. It is cozy and candlelit, and the prices will let him or her know right away this is a special occasionbut the incredible food, prepared with top-quality ingredients, lives up to the price tag. The menu varies, depending on what was at the market that day, and vinophiles are able to wander the wine cave and peek at what theyd like to drink with dinner. 10:00 p.m.:Just over a year old, the Heyday Vintage Jazz Lounge on Taian Lu still feels under the radareven though its beginning to win awards for its infectious live music and luxurious vibe. TOKYO Hot springs. Photographer: Bohistock/Getty Images/Moment RF 7 a.m., Feb. 13:Pull on some comfy shoes, a small pack, and Heat-Tech layers and start your day-date early with the express Romancecar (sightseeing train) from Shinjuku station to Hakone-Yumoto, gateway to Tokyos favorite mountain hot springs escape. Grab anekiben(train bento) to make the journey specialand for when youre feeling snacky. At the station, grab a Hakone Tozan Bus heading toward Moto-Hakone (K line) and alight at Hatajuku (approx. 20 minutes). 9:00 a.m.:Surrounded by misty, towering cedar trees, hanging moss, and centuries of history, the Old Tokkaido Highway is a stone-paved road that once connected to imperial Kyoto. The best-preserved bit connects Hatajuku to Moto-Hakone as a moody hiking trail (an easy, 75-minute walk). After pumping fresh air into your lungs, stop at the Amazake Chaya, a thatched-roof, dirt-floor teahouse thats been serving gooey, charcoal-grilled mochi and its namesake hot rice drink to travelers for more than 350 years. Nows an excellent time to break out the days honmei choco. 11:00 a.m.:Once on the scenic shores of Lake Ashi, poke around the Hakone Shrine, a 757 A.D. Shinto marvel secreted in dense wood with a giant, blazing orange torii gate right on the water. (Unfortunately, for views of Mt. Fuji, youll need to head more south around the lake.) Afterward, catch the H bus toward Miyanoshita (22 minutes). Consider bringing some Dramamine, or close your eyesits a windy ride. 1:00 p.m.:Built in 1878, the creaky, charming Fujiya Hotel was the first "Western-style" lodge in the region, a crown jewel when Japan opened its borders and Miyanoshita became a summer respite for city folk. Today the lunch, though pricey, evokes its lavish heritage with waiters in 1930s French-style uniforms to match the food. Antique shops line the hill stations main drag for some after-meal strolling. 3:00 p.m.:Twenty minutes away by foot or train, the Hakone Open-Air Museum (Japans first outdoor sculpture collection) offers a spectacular collection of more than 120 sculptures in a unique natural setting both indoors and al fresco. Rodin, Mir, Brancusi, Shin Hongo, and Moore, plus a dedicated Picasso Pavilion. 5:30 p.m.:Inspiredand no doubt tiredcheck into the Gora Kadan ryokan, a luxury inn under the Relais & Chateaux umbrella. Change into youryukatarobe and dont move till morning, except for your in-room kaiseki dinner. Book a room with an open-aironsen(hot springs bath) and private garden for ultimate romance. Morning After:Trade the bus for the Hakone Tozan Train, which has a series of unique, heart-dropping switchbacks and connects in Hakone-Yumoto for the return trip to Tokyo. LONDON Stonemasonry with Bompas & Parr. Photographer: Nathan Ceddia 11:00 a.m.:Public declarations of lifelong commitment often involve lawyers or tattoo artists (see above). Either way, love hurts. A painless alternative is available in London on Valentine's weekend, when a master stonemason will pass on the secrets of his craft during a workshop in the courtyard of Southwark Cathedral. Guests will learn how to use medieval craft tools to create a design or inscription on a megalith that they can take home. There are just 15 places at 75 ($107) for Megalith Carving: Set Your Love in Stone. The four-hour class on Feb. 13 will be led by Neil Luxton, who carved the gravestone of Malcolm McLaren, manager of the Sex Pistols. Luxton is head stonemason at Highgate Cemetery, whose denizens include Karl Marx. It's all the idea of Bompas & Parr, two friends who create unusual parties and events. Last year's Valentine's celebration was Anatomical Whisky Tasting, in which aged spirits were consumed from the contours of bodies of people the same age as the drink. Sam Bompas and Harry Parr are also the team behind Alcoholic Architecture, where guests inhale cocktails in a walk-in cloud bar. 4:00 p.m.:After the carving session, classmates will be invited to Alcoholic Architecture for a breathable gin cloud and cocktails based on drinks originally created by monks near the Gothic cathedral, with its hundreds of years of history. The stones weigh more than 5 kilograms (11 pounds) and measure 300 mm x 210 mm (11.8 inches x 8.3 inches), so take care not to drop one on your foot: Breathe sensibly. 5:30 p.m.:After a day like that, youll need to get some food into you. Stop by Portland, a favorite of London chefs, for a delicious, low-key, early supper without all the Valentines Day fuss. The game pithivier is always a surprisefilled with a variety of meats and game sauce. Its richness always feels like an indulgence, though. 7:30 p.m.:The popular revival of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward theater will end its run at the end of this month, so catch it now. The romance, sorrow, and incredible score will have you and your date feeling weepy and energized, just in time for: 11:00 p.m.:Drinks and table tennis at Bounce Ping Pong. It specializes in gin cocktails and the kind of gameplay that no one is good at, but everyone enjoys. SEOUL Love Locks in Seoul. Photographer: Wei-Te Wong/Flickr 3:00 p.m.:Valentines Day tradition in Seoul may dictate that women give men chocolatewith men returning the favor on White Day (March 14) and singles crying into their Jajangmyeon on Black Day (April 14)but hey, youre a modern couple, so dispense with that and share in the gift of art from the Samsung Corporation. On the edge of trendy, multicultural Hannam-dong, the Leeum Museum has permanent and special exhibitions dedicated to traditional Korean artwork (calligraphy, painting, ceramics), as well as a modern and contemporary wing. The complexs three buildings, designed by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas, are lustful for any architecture fan. 6:00 p.m.:From there its a short walk to a restaurant masquerading as a museum. Si Hwa Dam translates to poetry, painting, and conversationand its not overselling itself. Elaborate set menus stretch modern Korean fine dining into the fantastical with dishes inspired by art and nature. Fire up that Instagram. 8:30 p.m.:Now its time to take a selfie. Huff up the stone stairsor opt for the cable carto the 860-foot peak of Mount Namsan. Yes, the N Seoul Tower is touristy and full of love-struck teenagers, but at night its a riot of multicolored light and offers some of the best views of the glittering skyline. Bring a padlock: like Pariss Pont de lArchevch, Locks of Love are snapped onto fences and purpose-built structures by lovers who then throw away the key (into provided recycling bins). 10:00 p.m.:Back down to earth, grab a cab to the new Four Seasons hotel to settle into the rich leather and mahogany speakeasy vibes of the subterranean Charles H. James Beard Award-winning head bartender Chris Lowder (from New Yorks NoMad hotel) tweaks rakish 1900s-era tipples into the citys best cocktails with such Korean ingredients as chilli flakes, jujube, and grape molasses. Theres also a flight of Manhattan variations. And, ahem, some luxurious rooms upstairs.
This Valentines Day, theres a good chance your flowers came from Kenya. I know the flowers are for giving on Valentines Day, said Phanice Cherop, a worker at a flower farm in Kenya. They are very beautiful. On a crisp February morning, Cherop squeezed through a row of shoulder-high white roses, cut a flower and methodically placed it in the bunch she carried. The Kenyan-grown flower was likely headed for a vase in Australia, England, Japan or the United States. Kenyas cool climate and high altitude make it perfect for growing large, long-lasting roses. Such conditions have helped make Kenya become the worlds fourth-biggest supplier after the Netherlands, Ecuador and Colombia. Flowers are intricately tied to the global economy. When it collapsed in 2008, the cut-flower trade lost $1.5 billion the following year. In 2013, global exports of cut flowers, cut foliage, living plants and flower bulbs amounted to $20.6 billion, more than twice the amount in 2001. Cherop, a 29-year-old single mother of two, works at AAA Growers Simba farm in Nyahururu, four hours drive north of the capital, Nairobi. Its the one of companys four 50-acre farms that make them Kenyas third-largest grower of vegetables and flowers combined. Cherop was one of 600 workers bused in from surrounding villages to pick or pack thousands of roses to be sent around the world ahead of Feb. 14. Flowers are intricately tied to the global economy. When it collapsed in 2008, the cut-flower trade lost $1.5 billion the following year. In 2013, global exports of cut flowers, cut foliage, living plants and flower bulbs amounted to $20.6 billion, more than twice the amount in 2001. International events, including Russias war in Ukraine and plummeting oil prices, have shaped flower fortunes for numerous Kenyan farms. Sales to oil-producing nations, such as Norway and those in the Middle East, have dropped due to their reduced spending power, said Britain-born Andrew Mules, general manager of AAA Growers Simba farm. Up until two years ago, flowers would have been the most profitable part of the farm, he said. Now it is our third after soft fruit and then vegetable crops. The timing of Valentines Day is perfect for Kenya because it falls in the dry season. Unfortunately, this year, due to El Nio, it has lengthened the so called short rains. Instead of stopping in November we were getting rain in January. Andrew Mules, general manager of AAA Growers Simba farm Kenya is the sixth-largest flower exporter to the U.S., according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. As east Africas agricultural powerhouse, Kenya supplies the European Union with 38 percent of its cut-flower imports, partly due to a tax-exemption trade agreement. Mules, who farmed in Zimbabwe before being evicted under President Robert Mugabes land reforms, said prolonged rains due to the El Nio weather pattern have pressured the companys bottom line. The timing of Valentines Day is perfect for Kenya because it falls in the dry season, he said. Unfortunately, this year, due to El Nio, it has lengthened the so called short rains. Instead of stopping in November we were getting rain in January. Another lament is about Russia. In 2012, flower exports to Russia, the worlds fifth-largest flower importer, began shrinking due to its tanking economy and depreciating ruble. Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 only worsened the situation, said Cindy van Rijswick, a fruit, vegetables and floriculture analyst at Dutch bank Rabobank. A more indirect effect is that, because of the declining cut-flowers exports to Russia, these flowers are supplied to other markets, which causes pressure on prices, she said. Dana Malaskova, AAA Growers commercial manager, said that up until September 2014, the company was sending a quarter of their flowers to Russia, with a steady 5 percent annual growth; now the volume has shrunk to 5 percent of the total. We no longer rely on Russia for International Womens day on March 8, the years second-biggest flower-giving event, she said. The drop in Russian demand isnt translating into a drop of the price of a bouquet this Valentines Day, said Neville Ratemo, a director at Kenyas Horticultural Council. There is always a big volume at this time of year and people will always be buying roses, so the price goes up, he said. The Kenya Flower Council said exports rose from 86,480 tons in 2006 to 136,601 tons in 2014. Kenyas flower business continues to employ half a million Kenyans and earned more than half a billion dollars last year, according to government statistics. In the temperature-controlled storeroom of AAA Growers warehouse, stacks of cardboard boxes bound for Canada, Australia, the United States and France are the end point to the process that started with workers like Cherop. Cherop, who earns Kenyas rural minimum wage of $80 a month, said the arduous manual work is a necessity to feed her family. Giggling, she admits, after a bit of prodding, that shes never received flowers. We do not really do this here in Kenya, she said. No man has ever given me. I would like some.
This Valentines Day, theres a good chance your flowers came from Kenya. I know the flowers are for giving on Valentines Day, said Phanice Cherop, a worker at a flower farm in Kenya. They are very beautiful. On a crisp February morning, Cherop squeezed through a row of shoulder-high white roses, cut a flower and methodically placed it in the bunch she carried. The Kenyan-grown flower was likely headed for a vase in Australia, England, Japan or the United States. Kenyas cool climate and high altitude make it perfect for growing large, long-lasting roses. Such conditions have helped make Kenya become the worlds fourth-biggest supplier after the Netherlands, Ecuador and Colombia. Flowers are intricately tied to the global economy. When it collapsed in 2008, the cut-flower trade lost $1.5 billion the following year. In 2013, global exports of cut flowers, cut foliage, living plants and flower bulbs amounted to $20.6 billion, more than twice the amount in 2001. Cherop, a 29-year-old single mother of two, works at AAA Growers Simba farm in Nyahururu, four hours drive north of the capital, Nairobi. Its the one of companys four 50-acre farms that make them Kenyas third-largest grower of vegetables and flowers combined. Cherop was one of 600 workers bused in from surrounding villages to pick or pack thousands of roses to be sent around the world ahead of Feb. 14. Flowers are intricately tied to the global economy. When it collapsed in 2008, the cut-flower trade lost $1.5 billion the following year. In 2013, global exports of cut flowers, cut foliage, living plants and flower bulbs amounted to $20.6 billion, more than twice the amount in 2001. International events, including Russias war in Ukraine and plummeting oil prices, have shaped flower fortunes for numerous Kenyan farms. Sales to oil-producing nations, such as Norway and those in the Middle East, have dropped due to their reduced spending power, said Britain-born Andrew Mules, general manager of AAA Growers Simba farm. Up until two years ago, flowers would have been the most profitable part of the farm, he said. Now it is our third after soft fruit and then vegetable crops. The timing of Valentines Day is perfect for Kenya because it falls in the dry season. Unfortunately, this year, due to El Nio, it has lengthened the so called short rains. Instead of stopping in November we were getting rain in January. Andrew Mules, general manager of AAA Growers Simba farm Kenya is the sixth-largest flower exporter to the U.S., according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. As east Africas agricultural powerhouse, Kenya supplies the European Union with 38 percent of its cut-flower imports, partly due to a tax-exemption trade agreement. Mules, who farmed in Zimbabwe before being evicted under President Robert Mugabes land reforms, said prolonged rains due to the El Nio weather pattern have pressured the companys bottom line. The timing of Valentines Day is perfect for Kenya because it falls in the dry season, he said. Unfortunately, this year, due to El Nio, it has lengthened the so called short rains. Instead of stopping in November we were getting rain in January. Another lament is about Russia. In 2012, flower exports to Russia, the worlds fifth-largest flower importer, began shrinking due to its tanking economy and depreciating ruble. Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 only worsened the situation, said Cindy van Rijswick, a fruit, vegetables and floriculture analyst at Dutch bank Rabobank. A more indirect effect is that, because of the declining cut-flowers exports to Russia, these flowers are supplied to other markets, which causes pressure on prices, she said. Dana Malaskova, AAA Growers commercial manager, said that up until September 2014, the company was sending a quarter of their flowers to Russia, with a steady 5 percent annual growth; now the volume has shrunk to 5 percent of the total. We no longer rely on Russia for International Womens day on March 8, the years second-biggest flower-giving event, she said. The drop in Russian demand isnt translating into a drop of the price of a bouquet this Valentines Day, said Neville Ratemo, a director at Kenyas Horticultural Council. There is always a big volume at this time of year and people will always be buying roses, so the price goes up, he said. The Kenya Flower Council said exports rose from 86,480 tons in 2006 to 136,601 tons in 2014. Kenyas flower business continues to employ half a million Kenyans and earned more than half a billion dollars last year, according to government statistics. In the temperature-controlled storeroom of AAA Growers warehouse, stacks of cardboard boxes bound for Canada, Australia, the United States and France are the end point to the process that started with workers like Cherop. Cherop, who earns Kenyas rural minimum wage of $80 a month, said the arduous manual work is a necessity to feed her family. Giggling, she admits, after a bit of prodding, that shes never received flowers. We do not really do this here in Kenya, she said. No man has ever given me. I would like some.
This Valentines Day, theres a good chance your flowers came from Kenya. I know the flowers are for giving on Valentines Day, said Phanice Cherop, a worker at a flower farm in Kenya. They are very beautiful. On a crisp February morning, Cherop squeezed through a row of shoulder-high white roses, cut a flower and methodically placed it in the bunch she carried. The Kenyan-grown flower was likely headed for a vase in Australia, England, Japan or the United States. Kenyas cool climate and high altitude make it perfect for growing large, long-lasting roses. Such conditions have helped make Kenya become the worlds fourth-biggest supplier after the Netherlands, Ecuador and Colombia. Flowers are intricately tied to the global economy. When it collapsed in 2008, the cut-flower trade lost $1.5 billion the following year. In 2013, global exports of cut flowers, cut foliage, living plants and flower bulbs amounted to $20.6 billion, more than twice the amount in 2001. Cherop, a 29-year-old single mother of two, works at AAA Growers Simba farm in Nyahururu, four hours drive north of the capital, Nairobi. Its the one of companys four 50-acre farms that make them Kenyas third-largest grower of vegetables and flowers combined. Cherop was one of 600 workers bused in from surrounding villages to pick or pack thousands of roses to be sent around the world ahead of Feb. 14. Flowers are intricately tied to the global economy. When it collapsed in 2008, the cut-flower trade lost $1.5 billion the following year. In 2013, global exports of cut flowers, cut foliage, living plants and flower bulbs amounted to $20.6 billion, more than twice the amount in 2001. International events, including Russias war in Ukraine and plummeting oil prices, have shaped flower fortunes for numerous Kenyan farms. Sales to oil-producing nations, such as Norway and those in the Middle East, have dropped due to their reduced spending power, said Britain-born Andrew Mules, general manager of AAA Growers Simba farm. Up until two years ago, flowers would have been the most profitable part of the farm, he said. Now it is our third after soft fruit and then vegetable crops. The timing of Valentines Day is perfect for Kenya because it falls in the dry season. Unfortunately, this year, due to El Nio, it has lengthened the so called short rains. Instead of stopping in November we were getting rain in January. Andrew Mules, general manager of AAA Growers Simba farm Kenya is the sixth-largest flower exporter to the U.S., according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. As east Africas agricultural powerhouse, Kenya supplies the European Union with 38 percent of its cut-flower imports, partly due to a tax-exemption trade agreement. Mules, who farmed in Zimbabwe before being evicted under President Robert Mugabes land reforms, said prolonged rains due to the El Nio weather pattern have pressured the companys bottom line. The timing of Valentines Day is perfect for Kenya because it falls in the dry season, he said. Unfortunately, this year, due to El Nio, it has lengthened the so called short rains. Instead of stopping in November we were getting rain in January. Another lament is about Russia. In 2012, flower exports to Russia, the worlds fifth-largest flower importer, began shrinking due to its tanking economy and depreciating ruble. Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 only worsened the situation, said Cindy van Rijswick, a fruit, vegetables and floriculture analyst at Dutch bank Rabobank. A more indirect effect is that, because of the declining cut-flowers exports to Russia, these flowers are supplied to other markets, which causes pressure on prices, she said. Dana Malaskova, AAA Growers commercial manager, said that up until September 2014, the company was sending a quarter of their flowers to Russia, with a steady 5 percent annual growth; now the volume has shrunk to 5 percent of the total. We no longer rely on Russia for International Womens day on March 8, the years second-biggest flower-giving event, she said. The drop in Russian demand isnt translating into a drop of the price of a bouquet this Valentines Day, said Neville Ratemo, a director at Kenyas Horticultural Council. There is always a big volume at this time of year and people will always be buying roses, so the price goes up, he said. The Kenya Flower Council said exports rose from 86,480 tons in 2006 to 136,601 tons in 2014. Kenyas flower business continues to employ half a million Kenyans and earned more than half a billion dollars last year, according to government statistics. In the temperature-controlled storeroom of AAA Growers warehouse, stacks of cardboard boxes bound for Canada, Australia, the United States and France are the end point to the process that started with workers like Cherop. Cherop, who earns Kenyas rural minimum wage of $80 a month, said the arduous manual work is a necessity to feed her family. Giggling, she admits, after a bit of prodding, that shes never received flowers. We do not really do this here in Kenya, she said. No man has ever given me. I would like some.
This Valentines Day, theres a good chance your flowers came from Kenya. I know the flowers are for giving on Valentines Day, said Phanice Cherop, a worker at a flower farm in Kenya. They are very beautiful. On a crisp February morning, Cherop squeezed through a row of shoulder-high white roses, cut a flower and methodically placed it in the bunch she carried. The Kenyan-grown flower was likely headed for a vase in Australia, England, Japan or the United States. Kenyas cool climate and high altitude make it perfect for growing large, long-lasting roses. Such conditions have helped make Kenya become the worlds fourth-biggest supplier after the Netherlands, Ecuador and Colombia. Flowers are intricately tied to the global economy. When it collapsed in 2008, the cut-flower trade lost $1.5 billion the following year. In 2013, global exports of cut flowers, cut foliage, living plants and flower bulbs amounted to $20.6 billion, more than twice the amount in 2001. Cherop, a 29-year-old single mother of two, works at AAA Growers Simba farm in Nyahururu, four hours drive north of the capital, Nairobi. Its the one of companys four 50-acre farms that make them Kenyas third-largest grower of vegetables and flowers combined. Cherop was one of 600 workers bused in from surrounding villages to pick or pack thousands of roses to be sent around the world ahead of Feb. 14. Flowers are intricately tied to the global economy. When it collapsed in 2008, the cut-flower trade lost $1.5 billion the following year. In 2013, global exports of cut flowers, cut foliage, living plants and flower bulbs amounted to $20.6 billion, more than twice the amount in 2001. International events, including Russias war in Ukraine and plummeting oil prices, have shaped flower fortunes for numerous Kenyan farms. Sales to oil-producing nations, such as Norway and those in the Middle East, have dropped due to their reduced spending power, said Britain-born Andrew Mules, general manager of AAA Growers Simba farm. Up until two years ago, flowers would have been the most profitable part of the farm, he said. Now it is our third after soft fruit and then vegetable crops. The timing of Valentines Day is perfect for Kenya because it falls in the dry season. Unfortunately, this year, due to El Nio, it has lengthened the so called short rains. Instead of stopping in November we were getting rain in January. Andrew Mules, general manager of AAA Growers Simba farm Kenya is the sixth-largest flower exporter to the U.S., according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. As east Africas agricultural powerhouse, Kenya supplies the European Union with 38 percent of its cut-flower imports, partly due to a tax-exemption trade agreement. Mules, who farmed in Zimbabwe before being evicted under President Robert Mugabes land reforms, said prolonged rains due to the El Nio weather pattern have pressured the companys bottom line. The timing of Valentines Day is perfect for Kenya because it falls in the dry season, he said. Unfortunately, this year, due to El Nio, it has lengthened the so called short rains. Instead of stopping in November we were getting rain in January. Another lament is about Russia. In 2012, flower exports to Russia, the worlds fifth-largest flower importer, began shrinking due to its tanking economy and depreciating ruble. Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 only worsened the situation, said Cindy van Rijswick, a fruit, vegetables and floriculture analyst at Dutch bank Rabobank. A more indirect effect is that, because of the declining cut-flowers exports to Russia, these flowers are supplied to other markets, which causes pressure on prices, she said. Dana Malaskova, AAA Growers commercial manager, said that up until September 2014, the company was sending a quarter of their flowers to Russia, with a steady 5 percent annual growth; now the volume has shrunk to 5 percent of the total. We no longer rely on Russia for International Womens day on March 8, the years second-biggest flower-giving event, she said. The drop in Russian demand isnt translating into a drop of the price of a bouquet this Valentines Day, said Neville Ratemo, a director at Kenyas Horticultural Council. There is always a big volume at this time of year and people will always be buying roses, so the price goes up, he said. The Kenya Flower Council said exports rose from 86,480 tons in 2006 to 136,601 tons in 2014. Kenyas flower business continues to employ half a million Kenyans and earned more than half a billion dollars last year, according to government statistics. In the temperature-controlled storeroom of AAA Growers warehouse, stacks of cardboard boxes bound for Canada, Australia, the United States and France are the end point to the process that started with workers like Cherop. Cherop, who earns Kenyas rural minimum wage of $80 a month, said the arduous manual work is a necessity to feed her family. Giggling, she admits, after a bit of prodding, that shes never received flowers. We do not really do this here in Kenya, she said. No man has ever given me. I would like some.
With all due apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I had never heard of her that Saturday morning before Valentine's Day. No disrespect, or disregard for English literature. I was 7. Or would be in two weeks. I knew nothing about St. Valentine either -- the legend or the lore. That came years later when, as a writer, I did research for a story on Valentine's Day. Nor did I have a Great Love that long ago February day. That came in the fifth grade. Valentines I knew. They were part of Valentine's Day. Something you gave to classmates or nice neighbors or loved ones. And that Saturday morning being well before the rise of Hallmark, there were no ready-made cards to show I cared enough to send the very best. I made my valentines. From a packet of colorful Valentine's Day cards that my grandmother had bought me, very old-fashioned -- roses and hearts and cupids by the yard, as they say. Straight out of the Victorian era, they even came with lace-like papers, first cousins to the paper doilies still used today with candies and cookies and other goodies. The lace-like papers were not to be pasted to the cards; they were to go over the roses and hearts and cupids. About a half-inch above, actually. Narrow strips of paper, bent to have little flat "feet" on each end, were provided to attach the lacy papers. Not having Scotch tape, I used paste. And, still deep in the Great Depression, we made the paste. I forget the proportion of flour to water, but my grandmother knew. And I spent the better part of that long ago Saturday making my valentines, the hard part being the attachment of the lacy papers, even with the thin strips of paper with the little flat "feet." Perhaps it was all that labor, or the sweetness inherent in the occasion, but when I finished, the afternoon sun starting to fade and the first hint of dusk showing through the living room windows, I decided I wanted chocolate pudding for dessert that night. My grandmother was occupied with the laundry in the basement. So I went to the kitchen, took down my grandmother's cookbook -- we didn't have mixes then, either -- and began to assemble the ingredients. The milk was in quart-size glass bottles in the icebox. The cocoa in a tin in the cupboard with the sugar, flour, and vanilla. I measured carefully, stirred everything into a pan that I placed on the front burner. The stove sat up on curved legs, the knobs across the front easy to reach. I adjusted the flame. And stirred. And stirred. And stirred. My pudding still had the consistency of chocolate milk. Looking back, I think that while I could read, I did not go deep into the fine print. Or, perhaps the recipe didn't get into thickening, presuming anyone making the pudding knew that. I did not. Stirring -- in vain, still -- I decided it must need more flour. Which is when I thought of the paste. The flour already mixed with water. And was it not thrifty to use up what had been made for the Valentine's Day cards? I stirred the unused paste into the pudding-to-be and ...voila! A few extra stirs for good measure -- it was getting harder -- and I poured the pudding that had thickened up so nicely into the pretty glass dessert dishes. At the given hour, we sat down to dinner -- my grandmother seated opposite me, my father and uncle at each end of the long dining room table, with curlicues of dark mahogany peeking through the lace tablecloth. We talked ... and passed the salt. Another family dinner. When we finished, I helped my grandmother clear the table. Then, proudly -- vanity before the fall -- I brought in dessert. Alas, while it was still chocolate to the core and had a pudding heart, it had taken on certain qualities of concrete. My grandmother gave up trying to get her spoon into the mix, as did my uncle. Not my father. He chipped off a piece, swallowed it, and managed a smile. "It's very good, honey." How's that for love? What's more he took a second bite. True love. And a third with another smile -- if somewhat lower on the Richter scale of sincerity. Even the poets concede love has its limits. The love my father showed that night has come to be more fully appreciated with the years. Today, when the red hearts appear in the stores, the candy boxes become heart-shaped, I think of those long-ago valentines with the lacy papers. Putting the paste in the pudding. And I hope that Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who was thinking of Robert Browning when she asked, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways," won't mind if I think of William Lauder. Chipping off a bite. Managing a smile. Even an "It's very good, honey."
Every year Valentine's Day draws a mixed response from people, with some supporting it and others celebrating it but a few protesting against its observance. This year seems no different, as on one hand people are excited about the day while some are staging protests and moving the court against it. But amid all this, the people who benefit nonetheless are the shopkeepers and vendors. Hawkers selling heart-shaped balloons stake out street corners and florists do a brisk trade. Despite it is termed a Christian holiday, Valentine's Day has gained popularity among Pakistanis, with flower vendors reporting booming sales this year, as in recent years. However, in Peshawar, members of the district assembly on Friday had unanimously passed a resolution to ban Valentine's Day celebrations. A particular segment of our society wants to impose Western values and culture on our youth by celebrating Valentine's Day, said the resolution, which was presented by a member of Jamaat-i-Islami.
Across the United States and in other places worldwide, February 14 is hailed as a day of love. Flowers, candy, and gifts large and small are exchanged between loved ones on Valentines Day. This day, however, is not just for romance, it is a time to celebrate love. Love is a powerful emotion that is more easily experienced than defined. It is an oxymoron. The paradox of love is that it is supremely free yet attaches participants with bonds stronger than death. For those in a romantic relationship, Valentines Day conjures up strong imageries of passion, while those who are single often experience overwhelming loneliness. Not everyone has a significant other to celebrate this special day with, but if one should announce that they are spending it alone – by choice – it is as if they are committing a crime. Being single on Valentines Day is not as bad as people assume, as long as it is met with the right attitude. Believe it or not, it is possible to be single, but not lonely. Everyone can celebrate love because it is not subjected solely to eroticism. Valentines Day is about love all expressions of it. Love has many variations and on February 14 whether in a relationship or single, all can celebrate this powerful stimulant. Love is that is a plethora of emotions which are typically not experienced with one person. The most notable variations of strong emotion are: Philiaa deep, but non-sexual intimacy which is felt among family members of close friends. Ludusa more playful affection which revolves around flirting or fooling around. Pragmaa mature love that develops over a longer period of time between couples. This type involves actively practicing commitment, goodwill, understanding, and compromise. Agapea more generalized love for all humanity void of exclusivity. Philautiais an unselfish form of self-love. This variation understands that before a person can truly love another, they must first love themselves. Self-love serves as a barrier against abuse because it will not allow others to abnormally use them through physical or emotional measures. Erosis the least, but often causes the most trouble. It is centered on desire and sexual passion. However, it always burns itself out unless it morphs into pragma and/or philia. Love is all of the above, but ironically, not all-inclusive. All of these expressions of love can be experienced, but they not designed for one special person. This is why family and community is important. Valentines Day is about celebrating love, and as such creates a celebration of the freedom to express it any way one desires. If romance is a factor, be romantic, but if a person is single there is no reason to feel left out of the great opportunity to benefit from this special day. Life is all about perspective. On Valentines Day, instead of harping on negative emotions which often accompany failed relationships or the lack thereof, replace those feelings with the paradox of love. It can be with that special someone, family, friends or by visiting a homeless shelter or nursing facility. Valentines Day is not just for romance, but a time to celebrate all facets of love. The paradox of love is that it is supremely free yet connects people with bonds stronger than death. Real love cannot be bought or sold; there is nothing it cannot conquer and it is one of life’s greatest blessing. Opinion byCherese Jackson (Virginia) Source: Psychology Today:What Is Love, and What Isn’t? Photo Credits: Top Image Courtesy of Stuart Williams – Flickr LicenseInline Image Courtesy of Jessy Rone – Flickr LicenseFeatured Image Courtesy of Jan Karlo Camero – Flickr License love and relationships, valentine, valentines day
Does a love note sound any less sweet if sent via text? Around Valentine's Day, most people seem to think so. Consumers are expected to shell out an average of$150.33 on the holiday this year, on everything from flowers and candy, to jewelry and dinners out.And then, of course, there are the cards. An estimated 40 million Valentine's cards are exchanged in Canada each year, and another 131 million in the U.S. It's the second-most popular card-buying holiday after Christmas. "There's irreplaceable value in a greeting card," says Carlos LLanso, president of the U.S.-based Greeting Card Association. "The sentiment that goes with it, the time that the person took to send it, the ability to hold that card, to smell itif you like the smell of ink and paper, as I do and to have something you can put up on your mantle." Downward trend for cards? Greeting cards are still a $7- to $8-billion industry, according to GCA statistics, but the industry is struggling to stay relevant in the digital age. A recent report projected a "downward trend" for greeting cards, with sales forecast to drop by five per cent annually over the next five years. But LLanso, who is also the CEO of Massachusetts-based Legacy Publishing, says all indications show that today's social media-engulfed millennials are still sending cards, especially "when it matters." "We're not oblivious to the fact that social media adds another way of doing some of what a greeting card does," he says. "But it's not an industry that's in dire straights, like some people would like to say." People continue to value what LLanso calls "mail moments," that feeling you get when you receive a brightly coloured, card-sized envelope in your mailbox and immediately know it's not a bill or junk mail. He also says he sees a lot of young entrepreneurs entering the industry, bringing along fresh ideas and a touch more humourcards that tend to speak in the voice of a younger generation. That's part of what inspired Cassy Collins to launch her own line of cards. A graphic designer by trade, the Halifax-based Collins launched her online store, Classy Cards, on Etsy about a year ago, and says sales instantly took off. She also sells at the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market and a few other local stores. "Especially with younger couples, they're not necessarily going to go out and purchase a card expressing how much they love their significant other,"says Collins. "I think something more like an inside joke between two people could possibly say a lot more than some mushy poem that Hallmark wrote up." Cassy Collins, of Halifax, launched her own line of cards, Classy Cards, about a year ago, saying she wanted to infuse more humour into card-making. (Provided/Classy Cards) Collins says wine-themed cards remain her most-popular seller, including this one for Valentine's Day. (Provided/Classy Cards) Collins sells on Etsy and at the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market, where she says customers are sometimes 'shocked' (in a good way) to see swear words on some of her cards. (Provided/Classy Cards) She says wine-themed cards are her most-popular seller, along with cards with swear words on thempeople seem to like the "shock factor," she says. But Collins also plays with a lot of pop culture references: She has an entire line ofFriends-themed cards, one featuring the Left Shark from Katy Perry's 2015 Super Bowl performance, and aGame of Thrones"Red Wedding" card. "I'm a fairly sarcastic person, and I feel like there are a lot of people who are," she says. "So the typical Hallmark card, I hated buying to give to people because it's not how I would express myself." Return to 'retro' Another trend LLanso sees is a return to a more "retro" way of doing things. Much like vinyl has made a comeback in the music industry, letterpress cards are in vogue once again, he says. As are cards that have more embellishment, more glitter and, in general, offer a more tactile experience. Pop-up cards seem to be popular, again, toothough now they're 3-D pop-ups. Handmade cards bring about a sense of nostalgia, perhaps reminding us of when we received our first card, LLanso suggests. At Valentine's Day, it may have been a cut-out heart from a classmate. The trick is about "making the card more than just a four-panel printed piece of paper with a nice message on it," LLanso says. Kid Icarus is a Toronto-based print studio and paper shop that focuses on hand-crafted design. In addition to featuring a number of local card-makers, the store has its own line of greeting cards as well. (Provided/Kid Icarus) This was the most popular card at Kid Icarus for Valentine's Day last year. (Provided/Kid Icarus) Bianca Mickmore and Michael Viglione, the duo behind Toronto-based print studio and paper shop Kid Icarus, have built their business on hand-crafted design. "There's definitely a resurgence in hand-printed material, just because everything is digital these days," says Viglione. "People can hit print and get a full-colour print right off their desktop. When people come in, they're a lot more intrigued by how we're printing things, and how things are being made." Kid Icarus customers like being able to actually pick up a card, says Mickmore, feeling the weight and the quality of the paper, and seeing the actual ink impressions. "It's really easy right now to send a text message to somebody and say 'I'm thinking of you,'" Mickmore says. But a card "doesn't just get deleted or taken for granted." Meet your maker There's also something special about being able to meet the "maker" of a card and knowing its backstory, says Malika Pannek, of Made in Brockton Village. Designed and printed in Toronto by a German-Canadian couple, their cards are offset prints of Pannek's hand-painted designs. They are as much art as they are stationary. Designed and printed in Toronto by a German-Canadian couple, Made in Brockton Village cards feature hand-painted designs and are blank inside. (Provided/Made in Brockton Village) Made in Brockton Village's Malika Pannek is German, but has been living in Canada for about eight years. She says her inspiration is a mix of clean European design and nature-based Canadian influences. (Provided/Made in Brockton Village) Pannek, who sells on Etsy and in shops across Canada, says her customers seem to like being able to meet the maker behind the cards their buying. (Provided/Made in Brockton Village) "People feel they can really relate to my designs," says Pannek, whose cards are sold on Etsy and in a number of independent shops across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. "For me it's not so much about puns, but it's something they have seen or experienced before." And, as LLanso points out, a card offers enormous "emotional value" at a very low price-point especially if there's a heartfelt message inscribed inside. But no matter your card-buying preference, he says a romantic email come Feb. 14 is a definite no-no. "That would be the kiss of death for Valentine's," jokes LLanso. "If ever there was a time not to do that, Valentine's is probably it."
It’s Valentine’s Day and there’s so much to do. There are so many choices on offer I really can’t make up my mind. There are such good discounts on chocolates, but which ones should I choose? Should it be Choco Delicacies or those heart-shaped ones called Hearty Bonanza? For a small fee, helpful people will deliver flowers to your loved one. Which combination to pick? Should it be the wicked ‘Sweet Sin’, or ‘Romantic Thrill’ or even better, ‘Chocolicious Roses’? I think I’ll keep it simple with the KISS ‘Keep it Simple Silly’ bouquet. Best of all, these offers come with ‘easy refund and cancellation’. What else can I buy? I’ve got an email about a ‘Be Mine Forever’ gift made exclusively for Valentine’s Day, consisting of a red teddy bear clutching a heart and a personalised mug at a ridiculously cheap price. The thing about personalised mugs, I’m told, is to ‘make them feel the warmth of your love with every sip’. I was wondering why they used ‘them’ instead of ‘her’ or him’, but then I read the fine print which mentioned a hefty discount for bulk orders. Bulk orders for Valentine’s Day? Some people have all the luck. I’m tempted to check out the power sunglasses, which say ‘buy one get one free’. It isn’t clear, though, whether one gets another pair of sunglasses or a partner free. But one shouldn’t be a skinflint today. So maybe a more expensive gift? The mobile phone with cash back looked good, until I found out it had ‘conditions attached’. Or should I rent a gorgeous car to impress her? The thought occurred to me after seeing this masterpiece in my inbox: ‘Make her heart go vroom.’ There’s also jewellery, of course, with up to 60% discounts and a ‘4,000 bonus membership rewards points as welcome gift’. Gifts sorted out, which restaurant should we go to and what’s on the menu? I think we should have oysters and figs, both with aphrodisiac qualities that will ensure a gratifying end to a Valentine’s Day dinner. I’ve already booked a hotel that advertised, ‘The savings have never been sweeter with Valentine day hotel deals’. There is the small problem of getting a partner for all this. If you don’t have a significant other, choose an insignificant one. I have already asked a Nigerian lady who very graciously wants to gift me a million dollars and a woman who mailed me saying, ‘Hi, I want to be your friend’ to be my Valentine. If they don’t make it, I’ll have to take my wife out. Of course, online dating services are just a click away. For women, I recommend going to Hong Kong, where you can rent a guy from ‘Rent-a-Gent’ for a reasonable fee. Their gents are trained to ‘act like a gentleman — caring, attentive, no swear words nor smoking allowed’. Their premium services are called ‘Handy Randy’ and ‘Beyond Brad Pitt’. Rumour has it that Valentine of Rome, the first guy to sign a note to a lady with ‘Your Valentine’, was shortly thereafter thrown to the lions. That’s probably because he didn’t have a credit card. Manas Chakravarty is Consulting Editor, Mint and can be reached out at manas.c@livemint.com The views expressed are personal
What's better than a box of chocolates on Valentine's Day? A homemade chocolate dessert, of course. From Chocolate Bread Pudding to Chocolate Cupcakes to Chocolate Cream Pie, these desserts are sure to make your sweetheart swoon. 1. Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream Spiked with bourbon and studded with chunks of dark chocolate, this warm, chocolate-y bread pudding is the ultimate comfort food. Top it with vanilla ice cream and it's like a grown-up brownie sundae.GET THE RECIPE 2. Flourless Chocolate Almond Cake with Chocolate Ganache Frosting Adapted fromMaida Heatter's Cakes, this is my all-time favorite flourless chocolate cake. It's made with ground almonds and a decadent chocolate ganache, which make it rich, elegant and surprisingly light.GET THE RECIPE 3. Chocolate Cream Pie With a dark chocolate cookie crust, silky chocolate pudding center and generous whipped cream topping, this pie a chocolate lover's dream.GET THE RECIPE 4. Baileys Cheesecake-Marbled Brownies These boozy brownies with a swirl of tangy cheesecake are cakey on the bottom, alternately fudgy and creamy in the center, and crisp on top. They look elaborate but are easy to make.GET THE RECIPE 5. Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Just mention chocolate and peanut butter and people will feel giddy. This pie -- with a chocolate crust, creamy peanut butter filling and chocolate ganache topping -- lives up to the hype.GET THE RECIPE 6. Chocolate Cupcakes with Creamy Chocolate Frosting The cake portion of the recipe is modestly adapted from Magnolia Bakery in NYC and the frosting comes fromCook's Illustrated. Together, they make an old-fashioned chocolate cupcake that is sweet enough for children but also intensely chocolate enough for adults.GET THE RECIPE 7. Chocolate Pudding Sundaes Silky chocolate pudding sundaes topped with whipped cream and sprinkles make the perfect after school treat for your little Valentines. And, if you've never had homemade pudding, you're in for a treat!GET THE RECIPE 8. Double Chocolate Pavlova with Mascarpone Cream and Raspberries A pavlova is a cake-shaped meringue with a soft and marshmallowy center and crisp outer shell, usually topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. In this gorgeous chocolate version, cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate are folded into the meringue and mascarpone cheese is added to the whipped topping. (Bonus: it's gluten-free!)GET THE RECIPE 9. Flourless Chocolate Cake with Meringue Topping A rich, fudgy slab of flourless chocolate cake topped with peaks of light, marshmallowy meringue -- this cake is as impressive to look at as it is delicious to eat.GET THE RECIPE 10. Chocolate Fondue Who doesn't love a bowl of melted chocolate surrounded by cookies, marshmallows and fruit?! This swoon-worthy dessert has only four ingredients and can be made in the microwave. Happy Valentine's Day!GET THE RECIPE
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