Love it. Hate it. Ignore it. Whatever your strategy for facing the Valentine’s Day glut of pink hearts and smooshy every-kiss-begins-with-kay commercials, if anything, let’s see it as a reason to circulate, not hibernate. Above all, if you like any of these ideas, let’s shake a tail feather and make a call, shall we? Procrastination is not becoming.

Saffron is doing a five course tasting menu for $65 per person. Sultry lighting, exotic spices, and poached lobster tail. Hello.

A little more casual, Claddagh Irish Pub in Maple Grove is doing a three course menu for $50 per couple. Available from Fri. the 10th through Tues. the 14th, choices include lobster vol-au-vent, Scotch eggs, and a hearty fisherman’s pie.

N. M. Kelby will be signing her book White Truffles in Winter at Golden Fig this Saturday from 11am – 2pm, if you need to pick up a last minute gift. The book is a delicious story of the loves and life of Escoffier. Romantic AND food-driven. Win.

Alix in Candyland has special extended hours (Mon/13th until 7pm, Tues/4th until 8pm) plus a pop-up flower boutique so you can deliver the double whammy!

For something different, something unexpected, see if you can still snag a table at the Como Conservatory. On Sun. through Tues., a collection of candle-lit two-top tables will be interspersed among the greenery. Within the lush gardens a Baroque trio will play and dinner will be served featuring grilled prawns and beef tenderloin, for $165.

There are still seatings for Chowgirls’ Locavore Love Affair dinner which celebrates the best local ingredients for a five course meal that will run you $75 per person. They are also hosting a pop-up V-Day market on Saturday form 1pm – 8pm. Smarties.

The Marsh is running a V-Day happy hour from 4-7pm with small plates for $5 (oyster shooters, crab cakes, prosciutto wrapped figs) and Benny Weinbeck ticking the ivories. I like the idea of popping by for a drink and a snack on the way to a movie or something.

Work a little kitchen music into the night by attending Monday’s Chef’s Night Off at Kitchen in the Market. Thom Pham will be in the house throwing all kinds of exotic ingredients about the room. Maybe you can learn something to work into your repertoire, you know, keep it fresh.

Cafe Ena is throwing an aphrodisiac dinner on Monday. The $75 six course menu is paired with wines and is primed to knock your socks off with food. Ahem. If that’s not your bag, you can still partake in the special V-Day menu that runs Fri. through Tues.

If you can’t afford to whisk your mate away to a vacation destination, consider the room at Caribe which sorta feels like the islands. The Tuesday dinner is five courses plus a bottle of wine for $100 per couple and features beef tenderloin with jerk bernaise over purple yams and Muddy Paws cheesecake for dessert.

The three course meal at Rice Paper includes a beverage and runs $30 per person. You’ll have to choose between the Double Happiness Jewels, pea pods and asparagus with ginger and lemongrass steamed in a banana leaf, and Double Hearts clay pot with beef and sweet potato in green coconut curry sauce.

If you’re planning to hit the MOA for a little gifting, you can stop in at Tucci Bennuch for the That’s Amore menu: braised artichoke pizza, shrimp ravioli, tiramisu and a fizzy cocktail for $49.95 per couple.

Sea Change is putting up a special five course menu all weekend through Tuesday. The $60 per person menu starts with oysters and finger lime caviar, moves through trout with pork cheeks in a brown butter vinaigrette, and finishes with a little bittersweet chocolate and passion fruit. Oysters are LOADED with zinc, y’all.

If you’re one for setting the stage I have to give props for the V-Day deal at Psycho Suzi’s. In the better-than-Love-Boat Shangri-La cocktail lounge, you’ll enjoy a medium MInnesota pizza, a sixer of beer or bottle of wine, plus the musical stylings of the live tiki band, all for $30. Reserve ahead.