Cheap Valentine Ideas

Since V-Day is next week, I offer some tips that are basically the same tips as last year.

It's one of those artifical holidays, and I believe in expressing affection throughout the year. However you might be in need of some ideas for next Tuesday.

My hope is not to act like a cheap bastard -- but to maximize the experience for the effort whether it's time or money.

So even though the Kinsale may have a 2-for-1 entree deal, cooking for your lover would probably be more romantic.

Maybe I'll come up with better ideas. Does anyone have suggestions?

FYI: Wednesday's cheapness is on the calendar.

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* Write a note of adoration in 25 words or less. Brevity is forceful, there's less opportunity to screw it up. Make it a haiku for poetic flair. Use some creative paper (and creative doesn't have to be fancy)...

* Why write something when you can use previously-tested literary panty-droppers?

* If none of those don't feel right and you can't find something appropriate on this page filled with love poems, then you have to write something original.

* Just look into their eyes, and say something heartfelt.

* Maybe a little image with some text may do the trick.

* SomeEcards has the best cynical messages for this and every occasion.

* Digital valentine candy is fun, low calorie, sustainable, and cheap:


* Get a jug of wine and incense; call it "60s free love night".

* Have a movie night and make up a sexy game -- for example, "Drive": whenever there is a car scene, someone has to close their eyes and pretend the other person is Ryan Gosling...

* Have an indoor picnic of any kind. Even if you get fancy stuff, it'll probably be cheaper and no reservation is required.

* When was the last time you gave a massage?

* If you're going to give a present, consider supporting an independent store of any kind (some hints).

* Spread the love, go with the "heart" theme and give blood together.

* I like making a mix CD.

* Of course a good, old-fashioned shag is nice any time of year...

TUES 2/7: Film & Music, Etc

Today's best cheap bets are a film and music gig, but there are also a few talks today.

You can either listen to MIT's President speak about the school's 150th anniversary at the Boston Public Library (6pm) or hear a MIT neuroscience professor explain how our brain patterns determine our identity at the Harvard Book Store (7pm).

Artist Nicole Eisenman is speaking at BU about the psychological process in her work (6:30pm).

Or you can go to the MBTA Pubic Meeting in Lynn tonight...

Reminder:

As I mentioned last week, there's a pre-SXSW show at Great Scott on Wednesday 2/8 with a mystery lineup of local bands heading down to Austin next month.

It's $5 at the door, but the Converse store on Newbury Street still has about 30 to 40 free tickets to whoever wants them (limit 2 per person). Just give them your name and email address.

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TUES 2/7

7pm
Thinking Big on a Small Budget: "Atomic Brain Invasion"
at Bright Screening Room, Paramount Theatre, 559 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

Director Richard Marr-Griffin will attend the screening and will talk about how good movies can be made with a small budget.

The tongue-in-cheek homage to 50s sci-fi flicks played at the Boston Underground Film Festival last year, so you don't even have to pay by waiting 10 months...

TUES 2/7

9pm
Elephant Wrecking Ball, Cashed Fools, 3 Wheeled Fonk Cirkus
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
FREE / 21+

MySecretBoston continues to present free jammy/funky music on Tuesdays at Church.

Elephant Wrecking Ball is anchoring each week in February, and the trombonist from John Brown's Body leads this trio with spacey, heavily-processed horn playing for a dub-reggae vibe playing around jazz & funk.

2/6 to 2/8: This Week's MBTA Meetings

The complete list of sessions through TUES 3/6 is on my original post (along with links to relevant "Discussion Guide", etc.

MON 2/6

5pm to 7pm
Lowell City Hall Council Chambers, 375 Merrimack Street

TUES 2/7

6pm to 8pm
Lynn City Council Chambers, 3 City Hall Square

WED 2/8

4:30pm to 6:30pm
Shriners Hospital Auditorium, 51 Blossom St, Boston (behind MGH)

6pm to 8pm
Hingham Town Hall, Central Meeting Room, 210 Central Street

At that time, I offered a few ideas on how to express yourself and/or effect change regarding the potential fare increases/service reductions (including holding fundraisers, which could be fun/funny/provocative event).

However I forgot to mention the The T Riders' Union who have been active on general MBTA issues.

Someone named "Sean" later commented:

I suggest those of us who want sustained, if not improved public transit in Greater Boston, take a cold, hard look at not just protesting, but proposing what it is that we do support to fix the T's finances. That is, if want decent, or even improved transit, we do have to pay for it somehow.

[snip]

Mass Inc., a non-partisan think-tank has some truly reasonable and realistic proposals; backed by cold-hard data that I believe we all should take a good look at, and debate.

[another snip]

The whole thing is at the bottom.

Personally, I felt better after I spoke at a meeting and asked a few questions...

Monday Calendar

Okay, I guess we need to shake off what happened last night.

SUN 2/5: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

You might've already seen this. Without knowing the game's final outcome, I couldn't pick a football-related clip.

Note: This blog is usually profanity-free, but there are a couple F-bombs below.