Yikes! It's Valentine's Day and you don't have a clue

Warwick — You have been oblivious to the commercials for the past three weeks telling you that the only real way to show your true love for her is with diamonds. You have walked through supermarkets and department stores yet haven’t noticed the red heart boxes filled with candy. The kids writing out their little cardboard cards didn’t clue you in. You even missed this article over the weekend to help you out. Okay, so you missed all that subtlety and suddenly you wake up on Tuesday, Feb. 13, and realize that the next day is Valentine’s Day. What’s a guy to do? The first rule is don’t panic. There is still plenty of options to make the day memorable. • There is the traditional route. Sweets, flowers and jewelry are always a hit. You can head over to Sweetbriars on Railroad Avenue for some yummy sweets for your sweetie. Or you can go to Jean-Claude’s Patisserie in the Mitchell Corners Plaza to take home a scrumptious dessert for two. You can’t go wrong with flowers and they are a Valentine’s Day tradition. Corwin’s Florist on Galloway Road is open late on Tuesday and Wednesday for you last-minute shoppers. They have a wonderful variety of fresh cut flowers, including roses, of course, as well as potted plants. If you want your love to have roses throughout the summer, think about a gift certificate at Corwin’s for when rose bushes are in season. • Gold, diamonds, platinum, gems. They all go well on Valentine’s Day. Even if you didn’t plan it for months, you can still make a last-minute buy at the jewelers in town. Try Liz’s on the corner of West and Main, or Forever Jeweler’s on Main Street for a great variety of rings, earrings, watches, pendants and pearls. For a less expensive, funkier look, go across to Mima’s. • How about dinner? It may be hard to get a reservation at this late time, but you can try. Warwick has some great restaurants. This way you can share good food and have some quality time together. • Alternatives. If candy, flowers, dinner, and jewels just won’t do it for you this year, Warwick has other options as well. Want to pamper her? Get her a facial or massage gift certificate. Raksha at Professional Touch Day Spa on West Street does a wonderful job, as do the people in Florida at New Beginnings Spa, where, in addition, you can also get her a pedicure and manicure. Did she take a healthier turn this year? Is she trying to quit smoking? New Beginnings Spa in Florida won’t only pamper her; they can also help her quit the habit. Deborah Marks uses cold laser therapy to help clients quit smoking for good. Gift certificates are available. What better way to say ‘I love you’ than by showing her you want her around for a long time. • Is she focusing on getting in shape? How about a gift certificate for some yoga classes or Pilates? The Pilates Coach of Warwick offers both. Yoga classes are offered at many places in Warwick, including at the Warwick Valley Community Center and the Chosun Tae Kwon DO Academy on Main Street. Curves in Mitchell Corners is great for women who don’t have lots of time to work out. Want to do something fun together and get fit? How about dance lessons! Most women love to dance, once they get out there. La Montiel Dance in Warwick has just opened its new studio at 17 Main Street and is offering classes in Tango, Zumba, even belly dancing. That’s something the two of you can do together, making the gift even more precious. • It’s alive. It’s a big commitment, granted, and you both have to be ready for it, but you can take a ride down to the Warwick Animal Shelter off King’s Highway by the DPW garage. There you will find dozens of dogs and cats looking for a loving home. The shelter is open from noon to 4 p.m. This gift is not just for the occasion, though. Fido or Patches will bring joy to your home for years to come. So there you have it — some traditional, some different ideas for your love. Except for Curves, these suggestions are good for the women out there buying for their guys, too. (But we know you’ve already had good ideas since January; the gift has been personalized, wrapped and waiting in your closet for weeks.) Inside: Roger Gavan’s weekly Warwick Business Notebook takes a look at some of the Valentine’s Day promotions now underway along Main Street.