RED ALERT: Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. If you’re like me and had to Google that, you probably don’t have a gift for your significant other yet. Don’t panic, there’s still plenty of time to grab something between your evening commute today and your evening commute tomorrow. Whether you’re looking for a tried-and-true favorite or something more alternative, we’ve got your back with a few great local options.
Also, be sure to check out last year’s guide.
Heartful.ly
Heartful.ly, the wedding registry for charitable giving, is hosting a Valentine’s Day Share the Love initiative to raise money in support of Syrian refugees for Mercy Corps. Choose from options like clean drinking water ($15), hygiene and baby kits ($40), blankets for a family ($50) and more. On the 14th, emails will be sent to those who received a donation in their honor.
Dangerously Delicious Pies
Pie is not a romanic dessert, typically. Blame the butter-laden crusts, or that it reminds you of Grandma Debbie. Here in D.C., though, we value forward-thinking and innovation, pie on Valentine’s Day.
Dangerously Delicious Pies has been voted the area’s best pie seven years running. They have a wide variety of sweet and savory flavors, with even a few vegan options. Single slices are $6.50 and whole pies are $30. You can try them at one of their three brick-and-mortar stores in D.C., at their traveling food truck, or by delivery via Postmates or UberEats.
I. Gorman Jewelers
If you’re looking for ethically-sourced diamonds and gemstones, try I. Gorman Jewelers. Located just south of Dupont Circle, I. Gorman Jewelers have committed to providing only conflict-free diamonds and fair trade gemstones. Read more about that here. They’re also LGBT-friendly.
Little Acre Flowers
For a traditional Valentine’s Day bouquet, try Little Acre Flowers, which provides “beautiful, environmentally and socially conscious floral designs” to the DMV. They only offer one daily arrangement, which reduces waste, and they locally source in-season flowers, which reduces the use of chemicals needed to preserve flowers while they’re imported.
Find them at littleacreflowers.com or on Instagram @littleacreflowers.
Love & Carrots
For an out-of-the-box gift for your long-term sweetheart, consider gifting a spring consultation with Love & Carrots, a local urban gardening service that turns your yard, porch, balcony or rooftop into a produce and/or herb garden. Prices depend on the size of the job, but they’re happy to work within your budget. Also, they welcome you to get involved as little or as much as you’d like.
It’s a different choice for Valentine’s Day, but unlike most Valentine’s gifts that will be dead or gone in the next week, a Love&Carrots garden has some longevity and potential for growth. Which sounds more like your relationship?
Cocoa Vienna
If you happen to find yourself in the NoVA suburbs, try Cocoa Vienna, a local artisan chocolate shop started by DC area natives Sam Aboulhosn and Staci Meruva. They pride themselves on the quality of their ingredients and the freshness of their chocolate
Insider info: Try their chocolate-covered bananas. They’re incredible.
