Need something to do this weekend? Here are five pro-Valentine's places to help you celebrate the amorous occasion in one way or another.

Flower Factory, 3604 Main Street 

This atmospheric petal paradise—a regular in our Best of Vancouver awards—does amazing things with roses on Valentine’s Day. Gorgeous fluffy cabbage roses abound, and traditional blood-red versions get an artful update with unusual greenery, buds, and green hydrangea. The expansive heritage space on Main Street, whose windows currently feature a love poem in calligraphy, also gets innovative with orchids, pairing them with succulents, moss, or curly willow, and setting them in offbeat ceramic planters. Or simply let the inspired designers go wild with pincushion-like protea, eucalyptus, and other weird and wonderful flora with whatever descriptive you give them: will that be “funky”, “rock ’n’ roll”, or “feminine”? Want something nontraditional for Valentine's Day? Get your minimalistic babe an air plant or alien-looking succulents in a modern-sleek glass terrarium.

Vancouver Brewery Tours

Because nothing brings people together like beer, Vancouver Brewery Tours is offering a special “For the Love of the Craft” jaunt for thirsty couples this Sunday (February 14). The popular Valentine’s Day–themed tour starts at Big Rock Urban Brewery, where you and your sweetie will have the chance to knock back a pint’s worth of craft beer while stealing a behind-the-scenes look at the in-house brewing process. Whet your appetite with a small treat and then kick back as you’re chauffeured to Storm Brewing, where a specially brewed selection of Valentine’s-inspired suds await. And, finally, because no V-Day is complete without a little sugar, you’ll be shipped to Strange Fellows Brewing for a tasting of Thomas Haas chocolates alongside—what else?—even more beer. Not sold yet? Consider that your date will be so charmed by the end of it that any unfortunate forgotten-anniversary debacles will be a fuzzy figment of the past—at least, temporarily anyway. Tickets for the romantic, brew-driven affair are going quick, so act fast to snag your seats online.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread, 1876 West 1^st Avenue and 4186 Main Street

Valentine’s Day is an occasion to indulge, and Rocky Mountain Flatbread will undeniably capture the hearts of existing chocolate and pizza lovers. The cozy eatery is offering a three-course menu ($30) this Sunday (February 14), but with a twist. Every course begins with a raw handmade chocolate from Koko Monk’s Chocolates. Guests will be able to try flavours including chili and mango, balsamic vinegar with caramel and sea salt, as well as blue cheese—yes, blue-cheese chocolate does exist. Start off your love-infused night with a choice of a traditional salad or feature soup. Go for their signature flatbread pizza or pasta for your main, and end off with one of many house desserts available. Be sure to make a reservation beforehand, as the unique offerings from this restaurant will probably attract more than a few sweet couples. 

XOXOLAT, 1271 Homer Street

Contrary to popular opinion, a box of chocolates won’t guarantee maximum Brownie points on Valentine’s Day, and not just because of the Forrest Gump adage “you never know what you’re gonna get.” Here’s the problem with giving a box of chocolates: your loved one knows damn well that, at some point, you’ll be pillaging his/her stash when no one is looking. Not the case when you pick up one of XOXOLAT’s chocolate shoes. That’s right—shoes made out of high-end milk, white, and dark chocolate. So eye the expansive Yaletown shop’s Cardamom Creme Brulee chocolate bars. Salivate over a selection of artisan chocolates ranging from stateside offerings (Amano and Askinosie) to international imports (Domori from Italy and Kah Kow from the Dominican Republic). And feel free to load up on what are billed as the “world’s smallest truffles”, mostly because—given their size—you won’t be judged for mowing down two dozen while watching Season 1 of Fargo on Shomi. But when it comes to Valentine’s Day, opt for nothing but XOXOLAT’s chocolate shoes. There’s no way of clandestinely gnawing off the heel of something that doesn’t belong to you without getting totally busted. And when you keep your grubby fingers off their gift, your better half will truly know that they are loved.

Kitty Nights Presents My Purple Valentine at the Biltmore, 2755 Prince Edward Street

What do Prince, Valentine’s Day, and burlesque have in common? This Sunday (February 14), they all converge at the Biltmore Cabaret, where Kitty Nights, voted Vancouver’s best burlesque show by Straight readers, is putting on a rock burlesque tribute to the hot and heavy music of Prince. What better way to up the sizzle on Valentine’s Day than to take your significant other out for a night of titillating tunes and tantalizing performances? Organizer Burgundy Brixx has brought together an impressive group of performers for the extravaganza, including Iva Handfull (Seattle), Frankie Faux, Audrey Hipturn, Voracious V, Rebel Valentine, and Jenny Magenta. If that's not enough, all of the music will be performed live by the epic Hot and Heavy Band. If you’d rather trade your chocolates and roses for beer and sexy dances to songs like “Kiss” and “Little Red Corvette”, there’s no better place to head on Sunday than the Biltmore.