Do You Live in the Most Romantic City in the US?

Amanda DiGiondomenico
Feb 03, 2015

Conversation hearts, 3D printed roses and twee cards — if you’re head over heels for all things Valentine’s Day, here’s to hoping that you live in one of the top cities that’s not afraid to whip out their wallets for V-Day. The data team at Mint.com looked at the 10 largest cities in the country and did some number crunching, studying how much, on average, residents spent on romantic gifts, spa days, lavish dinners and luxury hotels for Valentine’s Day. Here’s the countdown of the most romantic cities, at least when it comes to spending big in the hopes of making cupid proud.

10. Atlanta, GA: (Spa + Massage: $49, Gifts: $69, Hotel: $201, Restaurant: $28)

The lowest spenders on average for Valentine’s Day, Atlanta makes up for it with gorgeous weather, renowned restaurants and its stunning botanical gardens. Being in the south, there are plenty of quaint B&Bs graced with elegant architecture that would make for a perfect romantic night away. (photo via Fotos by Fola)

9. Los Angeles, CA: (Spa + Massage: $53, Gifts: $69, Hotel: $172, Restaurant: $32)

Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and hit the coast for one of the many luxurious resorts that overlook the ocean. Sign up for a couple’s massage or spend quality time in a jacuzzi, and you’ll forget all about your city being number nine on this list. (photo via One Love)

8. Philadelphia, PA: (Spa + Massage: $48, Gifts: $71, Hotel: $188, Restaurant: $31)

When you live in the city of brotherly love, romance and history can be found around every corner. Maybe that’s why this city doesn’t spend too much money on V-Day, but it really doesn’t matter since there are delicious restaurants and stunning hotels year-round. (photo via 34st)

7. Washington, DC: (Spa + Massage: $58, Gifts: $72, Hotel: $175, Restaurant: $28)

You don’t have to spend a lot of money for a fun Valentine’s Day in DC, especially if your date is into history or art. The monuments and collection of Smithsonian museums are free to enjoy, and they can be surprisingly romantic. Especially if it’s followed by a dinner in Georgetown. (photo via Soltren Photography)

6. Chicago, IL: (Spa + Massage: $53, Gifts: $74, Hotel: $158, Restaurant: $30)

With such a vivid nightlife scene, it’s not difficult to find something a little out of the box to do on Valentine’s Day. From the comedy at Second City to maybe even a sexy burlesque show at the Gorilla Tango Theatre, you’re not tied to an expensive date night in the Windy City. (photo via Saavedra Photograph)

5. Boston, MA: (Spa + Massage: $49, Gifts: $74, Hotel: $186, Restaurant: $29)

How could you pass on a decadent night at one of Boston’s historic hotels or a delicious Italian dinner in the North End followed by authentic Italian pastries at any time of the night from the 24-hour Bova’s Bakery? If your significant other throws in a gift from one of Newbury Street’s famous boutiques, it definitely won’t be a cheap night. (photo via Elario Photography)

4. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX: (Spa + Massage: $55, Gifts: $72, Hotel: $184, Restaurant: $28)

Dallas doesn’t mess around when it comes to unique, extravagant date ideas. First there’s the Dinner & Flight, which not only includes a three-course dinner, but also a sightseeing flight over the city. Then, there’s the sunset flight package complete with champagne on a hot air balloon from Rohr Balloons. Either one will have you flying high both literally and figuratively. (Photo via Rachel Meagan Photography)

3. Houston, TX: (Spa + Massage: $54, Gifts: $78, Hotel: $196, Restaurant: $29)

You know what they say: Everything is bigger in Texas, including Valentine’s Day, which is why two Texan cities appear near the top of this list. Plus, with Houston’s warm weather, it’s not too difficult to find plenty of fun, romantic outdoor activities to do this year, from a low-key picnic in Hermann Park to an adrenaline-pumping tandem skydive at Skydive Spaceland. (photo via Thrillist)

2. New York, NY: (Spa + Massage: $57, Gifts: $95, Hotel: $223, Restaurant: $36)

There are few cities more famous for their romance than New York City. So many classic romantic movies have been set in the City That Never Sleeps, from An Affair to Remember and Breakfast at Tiffany’s to Annie Hall and, of course, Sleepless in Seattle, which made going to the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day a cliche. How could you not do it up big when you live in a city that’s just innately romantic? (photo via Kelly Prizel)

1. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA: (Spa + Massage: $71, Gifts: $82, Hotel: $230, Restaurant: $34)

Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you a great Valentine’s Day, at least in San Francisco. There’s no end to the opportunities for a romantic dinner here; in fact, San Francisco has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the US. Plus, when you live in one of the most expensive cities in the country, and you want to spend money on Valentine’s Day, it’s pretty easy to spend way more than anyone else on this list. (photo via Emily Scannell)

Do you plan on spending big on Valentine’s Day, or do you prefer a more creative date? Let us know in the comments!

Upgrade Your Thanksgiving With A Crescent-Roll Cornucopia

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

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Your Ultimate Guide To Holiday Shopping In 2024

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our best 2024 gift guides, shopping advice, and all things holiday!

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When Is Starbucks' Red Cup Day?

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.

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