NOVEL WAYS TO MAKE FEB. 14 A BOROUGH A AIR
BY ERIK SCHONING
For most Brooklynites, Red Hook is still a little bit of an adventure: a once-in-a-while destination… a change of pace. When you’re willing to go that literal extra mile, the waterfront Red Hook Winery awaits. Known for tastings, it sources grapes from the Finger Lakes and the North Fork of Long Island, and puts out an incredible 150 labels. In addition to the standard tastings, there is also an extended tour available, wherein visitors can taste wines directly out of the barrel. Stick around for an unforgettable sunset over the bay. 175 Van Dyke Street, redhookwinery.com
EXCHANGE OF IDEAS
The Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, in the heart of Brooklyn Heights, was founded in 1854 as a location for women to make and sell needlework and handcrafts, as well as teach those skills. It has over time also become a shop full of interesting items made by craftspeople across the country. You can find jewelry, carvings, ceramics, cards, woodwork all of it handmade and free of big-box conventionality. You can also have a custom piece made for your Valentine. Seen here is a Brownstone Pitcher and Mug by Brooklyn potter, Sabine Rosenstein (one of the Exchange’s crafters). 55 Pierrepont Street, brooklyn-womens-exchange.org
CULTURES CLUB
Founded by chefs Alex Raij and Eder Montero, La Vara is a Spanish restaurant that enthusiastically embraces the Jewish and Moorish influences on that country’s cuisine. Its spiceheavy menu includes Iberian classics as well as unsung staples one of our favorites the pechuga de pato, a house-cured duck breast covered in a subtle chocolate sauce. Expect lots of fresh seafood, too, including marinated octopus and a Valencia-style paella. Located on a quiet corner of Cobble Hill, La Vara’s rustic storefront and minimalist décor make it a beautiful and delicious place to spend a few hours with a special someone. Reservations are a must. 268 Clinton Street, lavarany.com
You can throw a little gift into the V-Day mix with The Basque Book: A Love Letter in Recipes from the Kitchen of Txikito (Ten Speed Press, 2016, $18.40 at amazon.com), by Raj, along with Montero and Rebecca Flint Marx. It’s a literary tour of the Basque countryside, “in the process revealing the iconic ingredients, techniques, and traditional dishes that define the region’s cooking.”
LOVE, JULIANA
A staple of the indie music scene since the 1980s, Juliana Hatfield’s prolifi c creative output includes eighteen studio albums, numerous collaborative projects, and a book (When I Grow Up: A Memoir, Wiley Publishing, 2008). She formed The Juliana Hatfield Three in 1993 with high-school friend Dean Fisher on bass and drummer Todd Philips, and their early hits included “My Sister” and “Spin the Bottle.” Her latest, disc, Juliana Hatfield Sings The Police, consists of covers of songs originally recorded by Sting and the boys (following 2018’s widely praised Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John). She’ll be playing the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Valentine’s Day, and it’s likely the set will be tailored to the occasion. With a musical style that ranges from rocking to refl ective, her well-honed show is guaranteed to be part of a date night worth remembering, especially if paired with a dinner at the wonderfully romantic Zenkichi just down the street. Tickets start at $22. 66 N 6th Street, musichallofwilliamsburg.com
ONE-STOP WONDER
If your ode to cupid includes sweatpants, a couch, and perhaps a home-cooked meal, BKLYN Larder is a winning pre-destination. This Prospect Heights shop is all one needs from a high-end deli: a sweeping selection of cheeses and meats served up by a knowledgeable (and unpretentious) staff. There are also lots of gift-worthy provisions, including variety baskets, nut butters, honey, syrups, spices, hot sauces and treats (just a very few of its in-stock chocolates seen here). They also offer gift cards, in case your partner’s taste in fromage is still a mystery. Add a bottle of wine and the night is made. 228 Flatbush Avenue, bklynlarder.com
EAT YOUR HEART OUT
The typical cocoa-fueled bar makes for a paltry gift compared to the edible art of Park Slope’s Not Just Chocolate, which opened in October. With a lineup of incredibly detailed chocolate sculptures including animals, buildings, cars, flowers, and dolls (the 11-oz. Bear With A Heart Chocolate Figure seen here, $40) the shop is fast defining itself as a remarkably thrifty destination for those who like their sweets any way but plain. For purists, there are standard bars, too, typically in 5-oz. sizes and equally taste-remarkable. The store was founded by husband-and-wife duo Helen and Sergi Potekin, whose experience running a chocolate shop in St. Petersburg, Russia (Helen trained at Moscow’s Barry and Callebaut Chocolate Academy) guarantees that whether you’re picking up a hot chocolate, a box of mendiants, or one of those amazing sculptures, no one’s going to be unamazed. 537 5th Avenue, notjustchocolate.nyc
A not-so-secret speakeasy in Williamsburg, La Milagrosa, tucked behind a laundromat storefront, is a perfect date location for proving you know your way around town. Featuring a mezcal-heavy menu and a world-class sound setup, this spot rewards audiophiles and liquor nerds alike. Its bartenders know their stuff, too, and their quality mezcals blend with fresh juices to make for delightfully turbocharged cocktails. It can get crazy on weekends, but most nights expect a laid-back, romantic atmosphere. Last-minute date planners be warned that reservations are required. 149 Havemeyer Street, cerveceriahavemeyer.com