FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2005
VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 9
9
SOLID GROUNDS
By Peter Van Auken, KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Valentine's Day is another great reason to plan a charming outing with an existing or potential sweetheart, and coffee shops are the perfect place to celebrate such an occasion.
This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Monday, which means you'll probably have school work to do. Schmoozing at a coffee shop for a bit will allow you to steer clear of the booze and keep a fit mind while still enjoying yourself. Also, coffee shops are action hubs: see, be seen, move, relax, chat, whatever. If you put yourself in this type of environment, you'll defeat boredom, the latent foe of intimacy.
I often battle with the choice of drink to savor: coffee or tea. If considering your health, tea is the best selection. The caffeine in coffee can keep you up late and the sugars or sweeteners compound the problem. John "Lofty" Wiseman, author of the "SAS Survival Handbook," writes: "Tea quenches thirst — coffee aggravates it!"
But on Valentine's Day, you should choose coffee. A little caffeine intake will help stimulate conversation during your date. As a bonus, coffee goes hand-in-hand with chocolate, a V-Day tradition.
To impress your date, you may ask yourself, "How can I create the most beautiful cup of coffee?" Tall or skinny don't matter, its all about the shade. I like to try to recreate the tone of Halle Berry's skin; this means just enough whitener to color.
Price of coffees 12OZ SPECIALTY COFFEE
Starbucks
12OZ REGUALR COFFEE
647 Massachusetts St.
832-0300
La Prima Tazza
638 Massachusetts St.
832-2233
Milton's Coffee & Wine
920 Massachusetts St.
832-2330
Henry's
Z's Divine Espresso
$2.85
11 E.8th St.
331-3511
10 E. 9th St.
843-3007
Aimee's Coffee Shop
1025 Massachusetts St.
843-5173
17 E. 7th St.
745 New Hampshire St.
841-3282
749-5282
Café Nova
$1.45
ON THE STEREO: STARBUCK'S CONTEMPORARY GRIND VOL. 40
16 oz $2.25
16 oz $1.25
ON THE STEREO: YO LA TENGO
$1.50 BOTTOMELSS CUP
16 oz $3.25
ON THE STEREO: JAZZ RADIO
$2.70
$1.25
ON THE STEREO: THE PIXIES
$2.75
$1.25
ON THE STEREO: LPJ BOOKEM
$1.25
$1.00
ON THE STEREO: KANSAS PUBLIC RADIO
$2.60
$1.15
ON THE STEREO: DJANGO REINHARDT
$1.00
$2.45
ON THE STEREO: WIDESPREAD PANIC
Give the Perfect gift to the Perfect Girl
Garden & Floral Design
514 E.9th St. 843-5954
Order by Friday, Feb. 11 for 15% discount on flowers
flowers, gourmet chocolates & confections
-“Something Sweet”
-Unforgettable dozen roses with exotic accents $70
-Alternative tropical and spring bouquets available