Idées pour la Saint-Valentin à New York

[Didier]

Un petit communiqué de l'office du tourisme de New York :

ROMANCE IN NEW YORK CITY

Where to Find Romance, Fall in Love and Say “I Do” in the Big Apple

There’s no better place to say “I love you” than New York City, home to hundreds of romantic restaurants, luxurious hotels, and skyline views that would make anyone swoon. This February, treat your sweetie to a romantic New York City getaway and you’ll both be saying “I Love New York.”

Big Apple Romance

The top of the Empire State Building (350 Fifth Avenue, 212-736-3100, www.esbnyc.com ) is perhaps New York’s City’s most famous romantic spot. With its stunning views and storied history, it’s easy to see why the legendary skyscraper has been party to countless affairs to remember. Just north of the Empire State Building is the recently opened Top of the Rock (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 212-698-2000, www.topoftherocknyc.com ), an observation deck atop the 70-story Rockefeller Center building offering breathtaking 360-degree views.

If you and your beloved would rather stay firmly on the ground, a handsome cab ride through Central Park is another one of the city’s top romantic experiences. Enjoy the magic of Central Park as you snuggle up with your sweetie in the back of a plush horse-drawn carriage. Handsome cabs can be picked up along Central Park South year round.

See the city’s romantic skyline from the water. Spirit City Cruises, New York (Pier 62, Chelsea Piers, 212-727-7735, www.spiritcitycruises.com ) combines breathtaking views of New York Harbor with dining and dancing on their Bateaux New York; World Yacht Dining Cruises (Pier 81 W. 41st St. and Hudson River, 212-630-8100, www.worldyacht.com ) offers a special caviar and champagne menu. If you’d rather see the sights by foot, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge hand-in-hand with your honey is one of the most romantic ways to see the city lights.

Shopping for Your Sweetie

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and there’s no better place to pick up a sparkling bauble than the Shopping Capital of the World. Illustrious Tiffany & Co. (727 Fifth Ave., 212-755-8000, www.tiffany.com ) is the place to go for that perfect, shining token of affection. Or head down Fifth Avenue to Fortunoff (681 Fifth Ave., 212-758-6660, www.fortunoff.com ) where you’ll find four floors of jewelry, watches, crystal, silver flatware and more. Michael C. Fina Company, Inc. (545 Fifth Ave., 212-557-2500, www.michaelcfina.com ) is a veritable emporium of jewelry and watches, sterling silver, fine china, and crystal.

For a truly dazzling experience, visit the legendary Diamond District on 47th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. The World’s Largest Jewelry Exchange (55 W. 47th St., 212-719-5235, www.jewelry55exchange.com ) houses three floors with 115 independent wholesale jewelers displaying creative designs catering to every taste and price range, and Jack of Diamonds (52 W. 47th St., 212-869-7272, www.jackofdiamondsintl.com ) has everything from loose diamonds and strings of pearls to watches and charms.

Buy sweets for your sweet at one of New York City’s many chocolatiers. Right across the Brooklyn Bridge in the trendy DUMBO neighborhood, Jacques Torres Chocolate (66 Water St., Brooklyn, 718-875-9772, www.jacquestorres.com ) handcrafts such treats as a Chocolate Heart Box, filled with chocolate bonbons or visit Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven in Greenwich Village (350 Hudson Street, 212-414-2462, www.jacquestorres.com ). In addition, the top of the box can be inscribed with a special message. Li-Lac Chocolates (120 Christopher St., 212-242-7374) can provide a foot-high chocolate sculpture of the Empire State Building, the famous site of countless declarations of love.

Treat your love to a relaxing massage facial, or other luxurious spa treatment. Clarins (1061 Madison Ave., 212-734-6100, www.clarins.com ) is an oasis of pampering on the Upper East Side that offers a couples massage in a private room with soft lighting, music and aromatherapy candles. At the Juva MediSpa (60 E. 56th St., 212-421-9501, www.juvaskin.com), couples can share the Juva Nirvana Day of Beauty, featuring private limousine pickup and drop off; customized body treatments and massage; and a healthy lunch followed by pampering skin and beauty treatments. Among refreshing treatments offered at the Cornelia Day Resort (663 Fifth Avenue 8th floor, 212-871-3050, www.cornelia.com ), a Midtown oasis of calm, is the Signature Facial, a deep-cleansing, clarifying treatment that hydrates and rebalances.

Valentine’s Day Hotel Packages

Whisk your honey away for a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway. For the ultimate in extravagance, the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park (50 Central Park South, 212-308-9100, www.ritzcarlton.com ) offers “Love on the Rocks,” the world’s most expensive Valentine’s Day hotel package ringing in at $850,000. For this staggering cost, you’ll get roundtrip transportation on a private jet, three-night luxury accommodations, a 10 carat diamond from Tiffany & Co., personal white-gloved butler, a chauffeured Bentley, candlelit dinner for two, a couples La Prairie spa treatment, a 90-minute couples massage en suite, rose petal turndown and embroidered his and her signature robes.

High rollers looking to impress their Valentine can book the “Pampering Romance” package at the Regency (540 Park Avenue, 212-759-4100, www.loewshotels.com ) with spa service from Cornelia Day Resort (663 Fifth Avenue, 212-871-3050, www.cornelia.com ). For $10,000 couples will get a night in the Regency’s Park Avenue Suite, three hours of his-and-hers spa treatments, a gift from the Cornelia boutique and a gourmet, table-service dinner prepared by famed New York caterer Abigail Kirsch.

Those looking for a more economical option can head downtown to the Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park (2 West Street, 212-344-0800, www.ritzcarlton.com ) for a scrumptious trip to the Chocolate Bar, a gourmet buffet of decadent chocolate desserts and bottomless champagne. Take in breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty from the 14th floor Rise Bar while indulging in the sinful selection of chocolates as prepared by the Ritz-Carlton pastry chef. The Chocolate Bar is open Friday and Saturday nights February 3 to February 25 and on Valentine’s Day. The cost is $75 per person.

Cupid’s arrow strikes the Roosevelt Hotel (45 East 45th Street, 212-661-9600, www.theroosevelthotel.com ) with the “Cupid’s Classic New York Romance Getaway” package which includes chocolate covered strawberries, champagne and breakfast in bed. A consultation with the hotel’s Romance Concierge will give couples suggestions on some of the best places to find romance in the city. Packages start at $429/night February 10 to 18.

The Shoreham Hotel (33 West 55th Street, 212-247-6700, www.shorehamhotel.com ) turns up the heat with the “Whatever Your Pleasure” package starting at $529/night February 11 to 15. This package is for lovers with admission for two to the Museum of Sex, Aveda massage oil, and romantic turn down service that includes a covered bed of rose petals, fresh strawberries with caramel and chocolate dipping sauce and a bottle of champagne.

Wine and dine your Valentine at the Hilton Garden Inn (1100 South Avenue, 718-477-2400, www.statenisland.gardeninn.com ) with special overnight packages starting at $170 per couple, including complimentary champagne and breakfast buffet. Treat your sweet to a Valentine’s Spa Dream, a package featuring a half hour couples massage, $220 per couple.

With Valentine’s Day falling mid-week this year, business meetings may keep loved ones away from each other, but road warriors won’t have to go home empty handed with the “Love on the Road” package at the Westin New York at Times Square (270 West 43rd Street, 212-201-2700, www.westinny.com ). This package includes a phone call home for guests to say hello to their honey, a box of chocolates and a Victoria’s Secret gift card to bring back to their sweetie for a belated Valentine’s celebration, $379 per person.

Romantic Restaurants

One if by Land, Two if by Sea (17 Barrow St., 212/647-9385, www.oneifbyland.com ), in a historic Greenwich Village carriage house formerly owned by Aaron Burr, consistently tops the list of the city’s most romantic restaurants due to its live piano music, soft lighting, fresh flowers, and fireplace. Café des Artistes’ (1 W. 67th St., 212/877-3500, www.cafedesartistesnyc.com ) murals of gamboling nymphs are a fitting romantic backdrop for fine French cuisine near Lincoln Center. The romantic Terrace in the Sky (400 W. 119th St., 212/666-9490, www.terraceinthesky.com ), in Morningside Heights near Columbia University, has breathtaking 360-degree views of the tri-state area, an outdoor terrace to gaze at the stars and delicious French-Mediterranean cuisine. Water’s Edge Restaurant (44th Drive at the East River, 718-482-0033, www.watersedgenyc.com ) in Queens, offers spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline with a glass façade overlooking the East River.

Eat your heart out at Barbetta (321 West 46th Street, 212-246-9171, www.barbettarestaurant.com ), one of the city’s most romantic restaurants, with a multi-course menu from Cupid’s kitchen and dancing to live music, $65 per person. There’s no more romantic place to spend Valentine’s Day this side of the Seine than Paris Commune (99 Bank Street, 212-929-0509, www.pariscommune.net ) in the West Village. Dine “a deux” in the candlelit restaurant and enjoy classic Parisian cuisine, $65 per person. Or feast on French food at Meli Melo (110 Madison Avenue, 212-686-5551, www.melimelorestaurant.com ) with a special five-course prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu, $50 per person. All wine bottles will be offered at a 20 percent discount.

Zagat calls Aleo Restaurant (7 West 20th Street, 212-691-8136, www.aleorestaurant.com ) a “date haven” and this Valentine’s Day is no exception with a special menu featuring aphrodisiac foods and live music. Spend Valentine’s Day in bed with your sweetie at BED New York (530 West 27th Street 6th Floor, 212-594-4109, www.bedny.com ) a restaurant and lounge where diners eat on oversized beds. Eating in bed is sweet with BED’s four-course dinner, champagne toast and exclusive bedside pampering, $125 per person.

Celebrate being a kid at heart with the Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Snack at Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop (240 Sullivan Street, 212-677-3995, www.ilovepeanutbutter.com ) including four heart-shaped peanut butter sandwiches, fresh milk with a straw built for two, cookies and conversation hearts. Take home a jar of gourmet peanut butter as a delicious souvenir of your sweet date, $30 per couple.

“Lazy Lovers Lobster” and “Chocolate Bleeding Heart Torte” are just two of the specialties Philip Marie Restaurant (569 Hudson Street, 212-242-6200, www.philipmarie.com ) will be serving in their three-course Valentine’s Day menu, $59.50 per person. Or dine in the Wine Room and enjoy a five-course, five-wine feast, including a bottle of champagne for $325 per couple.

Couples can spice up their night at Rosa Mexicano (www.rosamexicano.com ), with Valentine’s Day specialties including a “Fruits of Love” ice cream dessert and red snapper dish topped with passion fruit sauce. Sushi Samba (www.sushisamba.com ) offers a five-course aphrodisiac inspired menu featuring oysters, sushi and chocolate.

Romance reigns at French bistro Jean-Luc (507 Columbus Ave, 212-712-1700, www.jeanlucrestaurant.com ) with a special prix-fixe menu that starts with a caviar kiss amuse bouche and ends with a selection of desserts including lover’s passion cake. Vegetarian valentines will delight at Gobo (401 Avenue of the Americas, 212-255-3902, www.goborestaurant.com ) with a four-course veggie feast, including champagne toast for $65 per person.

Find amore this Valentine’s Day at Moda (135 West 52nd Street, 212-887-9880, www.flatotel.com ) featuring a sweethearts menu of culinary delights. After the main courses, love-birds can satisfy their sweet tooth with a selection of desserts including chocolate cake and tiramisu, the classic dessert which translates as “pick me up” in Italian because of its intoxicating ingredients and light and airy taste.

Valentine’s Day Entertainment

Get on the “Love Train” this Valentine’s Day with a special performance by the O’Jays at the Apollo Theatre (253 West 125th Street, 212-531-5300, www.apollotheater.com ). Or take a trip to the Rose Theater for a concert by Dee Dee Bridgewater at Jazz at Lincoln Center (33 West 60th Street, 212-258-9800, www.jazzatlincolncenter.org ). Both concerts start at 8pm.

Culture and cuisine converge this Valentine’s Day at St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral (109 East 50th Street, 212-378-0200, www.stbarts.org ) with a performance by Manhattan Voices, a 12-member a cappella chamber choir. Before and after the performance, a romantic three-course dinner will be served in the Cathedral’s Great Hall.

Laugh it up with the National Comedy Theater’s (347 West 36th Street, 212-629-5202, www.manhattancomedy.com ) special Valentine’s Day show, “House of Cards” which uses couples in the audience as inspiration for a comedic look at the trials and tribulations of love.

Watson Adventures (212-726-1529, www.watsonadventures.com ) will host the “Naked at the Met Scavenger Hunt” on February 11, where couples and singles alike will take an unblushing look at nudity in art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Get in the mood with the passionate voices and dance at the Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue, 212-691-9740, www.joyce.org ) with a special Valentine’s performance from Richard Alston Dance Company of London. Tickets for this performance are specially priced at a two-for-one discount.

Say “I Do” to a NYC Wedding

New York is such a glamorous, exciting, and romantic city, where better to begin a lifetime of wedded bliss? The possibilities are so endless it’s no wonder people come from all over the world to get married here. There are so many unique ways to propose: On a stroll through one of the city’s many parks and gardens, atop the Empire State Building, via the Yankee Stadium scoreboard or high above the city skyline in a helicopter ride.

The Algonquin Hotel (59 West 44th Street, 212-840-6800, www.algonquinhotel.com ) offers a unique proposal idea with its exclusive Martini on the Rock, a $10,000 cocktail that includes a diamond from the hotel’s in-house jeweler. The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center (www.rockefellercenter.com , 212-332-6868) is one of the city’s most prized treasures and can be the setting for an unforgettable proposal with the “Engagement on Ice” package offered by Restaurant Associates (212-332-7655, www.restaurantassociates.com ). The package offers front-of-line access to the ice rink, skate rentals, signature song played during the proposal, a private “victory lap” around the rink for the couple, champagne toast at rink-side restaurant Rock Center Café and a set of six crystal wine glasses from Michael C. Fina. The rink is open October through April.

Set your love in lights with a special message broadcast for all to see at the Crossroads of the World. Toys R Us (1514 Broadway, 646-366-8800, www.toysrustimessquare.com ) offers an unforgettable proposal option with a customizable LED screen overlooking Broadway. Say “Will You Marry Me,” “I Love You” or any other personalized message for your sweet heart and take home a keepsake photo of the display.

Once a date has been set, New York City is second to none when it comes to preparing for a wedding. The most essential element of any wedding is the perfect white gown and Kleinfeld Bridal (110 West 20th Street, 212-352-2180, www.kleinfeldbridal.com ) is the perfect place to find it. A New York City institution since 1941, Kleinfeld’s is famous for having the world's largest selection of exclusive European and American designer wedding and evening gowns.

There’s no place like the Big Apple when it comes to finding the perfect venue. One of the city’s most celebrated wedding reception venues is the legendary Tavern on the Green (67th & Central Park West, 212-873-3200, www.tavernonthegreen.com ) in Central Park. With thousands of twinkling lights decorating the overarching trees and several private rooms to choose from, Tavern offers the perfect ending to a classic New York City wedding. Another famous New York institution is the renowned Waldorf=Astoria (301 Park Avenue, 212-355-3000, www.waldorfastoria.com ), which has hosted thousands of weddings over the years. From large parties in the Grand Ballroom to more intimate groups in the Basildon room, the Waldorf offers a truly opulent setting.

The spring and autumn seasons offer perfect weather for outdoor weddings in one of the city’s many parks or gardens. With intimate gardens and spectacular views of the Palisades, Wave Hill (675 West 252nd Street, 718-549-3200, www.wavehill.org ) in the Bronx offers a romantic setting for an unforgettable wedding. Central Park’s Conservatory Garden (212-794-6564, www.centralparknyc.org ) is one of the hidden treasures in this well known park. Tucked away at 5th Avenue and 105th Street, the garden has six acres of lush flora in Central Park's only formal garden. Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island each offer a botanical garden. Ranging in size from the 250-acre New York Botanical Garden (200th Street & Kazimiroff Boulevard, 718-817-8700, www.nybg.org ) in the Bronx, to the intimate 35-acre Staten Island Botanical Garden (1000 Richmond Terrace, 718-273-8200, www.sibg.org ), each offers a uniquely beautiful setting to say “I do.”