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Valentine’s Day can be an intimate, loving and emotional holiday for some people. But “emotional” can be taken to another level if it starts to become stressful, as it can be easy to put too much pressure on yourself to make this day special beyond expectation.

Even the simplest dates can be made special, and Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be as expensive and materialistic as it’s made out to be. Students recommended a few affordable but romantic date ideas in Syracuse that won’t break your wallet.

Although it’s a holiday traditionally geared towards couples, if you are single this Valentine’s Day, consider planning a day out with friends.

“I love everything cheesy about Valentine’s Day,” said sophomore Jenny Lee. “Me and my friends are gonna get brunch at Rise N Shine, dress up cute and take a bunch of pics.”

Located on Westcott Street, Rise N Shine Diner is one of the many restaurants in Syracuse that doesn’t require a reservation. The diner offers a variety of different foods, including an assortment of pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict and french toast.

The choice to stay in and enjoy a movie is a romantic but feasible option as well. Streaming services have many romantic comedies to choose from. The Netflix movie “Valentine’s Day” — with Taylor Swift, Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts and other well-known actors — is a classic, Lee said.

“Everyone from the 2000s who was famous during that time is in that movie. Me and my friends rewatch it every other weekend, but it’s a tradition that I don’t think we’ll ever stop doing,” Lee said.

Restaurants like Rise N Shine Diner are delicious and affordable places to check out this Valentine’s Day. Courtesy of Jenny Lee

For students in a “situationship,” making Valentine’s Day plans can feel awkward. If your significant other asks you to be their Valentine, a more relaxed date night will help to relieve the pressure.

Freshman Sage Simmons recommended going to the sushi restaurant Bleu Monkey on Marshall Street, another restaurant that doesn’t require reservations and has a reasonably priced menu.

“It’s a really casual vibe there, but still nice. The decorations are also not too over the top, so it doesn’t seem so serious,” said Simmons.

If you and your significant other choose not to go out for a meal, you could consider making a small gesture or giving a gift instead, though not all gifts need to be store-bought. The simplest gift, like a handmade card, could mean everything to the person who receives it. Sophomore Grace Sacco received a thoughtful gift from her boyfriend last year that she said she will never forget.

“My boyfriend told me over winter break that he was recording something with his friend but he wouldn’t tell me what it was for the longest time,” Sacco said. “Then we were hanging out on Valentine’s Day and he played me a song he made for me called ‘You’re Mine.’ It was honestly the sweetest thing I’ve ever gotten.”

Stephanie Santos, a sophomore, recommended writing a card or letter to your significant other.

“I once had a guy hand make me a card, like the ones you make in middle school with the colorful paper and markers,” Santos said. “But it was so special because he hand wrote me a love letter inside of it which made me cry.”

Published on February 13, 2022 at 8:58 pm