Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BY CRYSTAL JEFFERSON THE GAMECOCK Ah, there’s love in the air, and that can only mean one thing — Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. Feb. 14 can either be a wonderful day spent with that special someone or a sour reminder of your pitiful love life. Once you’re old enough to date, Valentine’s Day becomes an important event. Gone are the days when you brought Valentines to class and had to give one to every classmate, including the smelly kid who put bubble gum in your hair at recess. Now we’re in the big leagues. But there’s good news: You don’t have to spend the most romantic day of the year utterly alone. You could work up the courage to ask someone out on a date. But remember, we’re adults now — "Do you like me? Check ‘Yes’ Or ‘No’” will no longer suffice in your search for.an evening companion. So you have two choices: Ask out your crush, or call up Stinky from your fourth grade class — hey, the bald patch from where you cut strawberry-flavored Bubblicious from your locks has surely grown back by now. bet s assume tnai you cnoose opuon a; Rejoice. Your dream girl or guy has ac cepted your invitation for a night of ro mance. But your happiness is quickly over shadowed by fear. Where should you go? What do you do to entertain him or her? Relax — everything you need to know in order to create a magical night is right here. Just follow our advice, and Cupid’s arrow will be sure to aim right for you. Planning a date would be so much easi er if you knew what your date would like to do, right? We’ve tapped into the fantasies of fellow students and found out what their ideal dates are. Jennifer Duke, a third-year advertising student, revealed, "My ideal date is some thing simple. A nice dinner where we can talk and get to know each other and then a good movie afterwards to cozy up a bit.” When it comes to choosing a restaurant for dinner, you’ll want to be sure to pick one you know you both will enjoy, one where you’re familiar with the menu se lection. And by all means, steer clear of McDonald’s. There are many options tor tme dining here in Columbia, and an apt choice can make you look more like a Big Mac than a small fry. Seemingly, the best way to get into the mood for love is to dine at an Italian restau rant. Duke suggested Mangia Mangia. Third-year economics student Aaron Walton suggested Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill "because nobody knows about it.” There is also a kind of unwritten Code of Conduct in the dating game you should be made aware of. Some Do’s and Don’ts for the big date: Aaron Walton advised guys to "be smooth and funny, and don't try too hard.” Duke offered an important tip for our techno-savvy students: "Don’t have distractions. No one likes to be constant ly interrupted by a cell phone.” Most importantly, do have a good time. Now that you’ve been prepped for any V-Day adventures in dating, you should have no worries. Get out there and enjoy a day of amore. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu ^6ani Valentine’s Special Edition ^ \ FRONT COVER: Amber Justice and Shawn Rourk DESIGNED BY: Chaz McCarthy and Brian Ray EDITED BY: Meg Moore and Steven Van Haren Columbia's BEST Kept Secret For Ladies~Accessories & Sportswear Double Strand Pearl Bracelet Bangle Watch Jelly Purse Pearl Necklace w/Ribbon $ 1 2 ^rom or Belt $26 w/Ribbon $ ^ ® Walk From Campus Corner of Lady & Assembly St. 252-7102 for ski wear www.yourstoretoexplore.com OneE^ HandBlown Glass \ Gallery/Studio offers finely crafted, hand blown glass, all of which are designed and crafted on site. \ We specialize in original, yet \ affordable, works of art. Perfect \ for gift giving, collecting, n. and/or decorating. Visit us at one of our locations: I_