It can be rough to spend Valentine’s Day alone anywhere, but especially in New York City. The Big Apple is known for going big on holidays. Thankfully, February 14th celebrations stop short of a “Bloomingdale’s Valentine’s Day Parade” or a “Time Warner Center Heart Lighting”. Still, if you walk the streets on New York on Valentine’s Day, every shop window is covered in hearts, every restaurant romantically draped in red and candle light, and every bodega florist’s over-flow inventory spills out onto the sidewalk. Men carrying huge bouquets will make your subway commute even more crowded and the line to buy any sort of sweet treat will be infuriatingly long.

If you can make it (through Valentine’s Day) here, you’ll make it anywhere.

I put out a call to my fellow New Yorkers to share how they spend Valentine’s Day alone in the city. Here are 10 responses:

Work

1. “I’ve watched people get dumped on Valentines Day while waiting tables TWICE (once that included a manila envelope filled with RECEIPTS that he had been cheating!). I also had my pants split while serving champagne on V Day at a restaurant once. Super embarrassing and management wouldn’t let me leave either… they had me tie a second apron around the back! My table and I had a good laugh about it though.” – @amydetriotgirl, Mixed media artist who has some perfect Valentine’s Day art available here.

Go out with friends

2. “I actually have a tradition with my best friend that we go out and be very fancy whether we have boyfriends or not. We give one small gift and try to find a show like comedy, music, a screening, or some weird event. This year we are going to an improv show! The headlining group is called ‘Extra Chowder’.” – Maria, my bf’s bff from high school

3. “I spent many a Valentine’s Day single in NYC and I actually have very fond memories of most of them. I think my favorite was going to see a V Day drag show with girl friends. We laughed up our cliche Galentine’s Day status with the phenomenal host Bianca Del Rio who would later go on to win Season 6 of Rupaul’s Drag Race. – Mary Lane, author of this blog! Read more about my drag show V day: “Single on Valentine’s Day: What a Drag”

Go out alone

4. “In the past, I had done things like a pizza and movie night with other single friends. This year I’m excited to be going to a burlesque show solo. I think you should figure out what sounds fun, set your expectations appropriately for it maybe feeling a little weird to be alone, and not to get too wrapped up in tbe bullshit. In the end, it’s just another day. There’s a lot of pressure but make of it what you will. Today’s chocolates will be in the clearance bin tomorrow, so clean up on Feb 15 if bargain candy is your thing.” – @PolyGalSeeks, PhD and co-host of the podcast A Mighty Love

5. “If you think about it, being a single guy on Valentine’s Day has its advantages because all the single ladies (#Beyonce) go out to the bars with their other single friends. Thus, I decided to go out this past Valentine’s Day and test my luck. After walking past a few bars, I noticed a five dollar bill on the pavement. As I reached down to pick it up, something caught my eye. There was a wad of cash a foot away from the $5 bill. There’s no doubt that this was drug money and it was my humbled responsibility to spend it wisely. So, I put a skip to my step as I surreptitiously scooped up the cash and headed for cover inside the closest bar.

I felt like a million bucks – well, $287 to be exact. Hell, I tend to spend close to $100 on my date this time of year and now I’m making money (it made me wonder if Cupid shot an actual arrow at a handler, who then dropped their cash onto the ground for me to find). Fully loaded and a grin on my face, I requested the best draft in the house and walked up to two pretty brunettes outside the bar’s backroom (which contained live music).” – @SingleGuyInNYC, this is an excerpt from his blog, read the full post here.

Hook up

6. “The one time I remember being single on V Day in NYC was a time where I had two FWBs.  But instead of going for a sure thing…  I decided to call this waitress who had given me her number the week prior.  We went out drinking, then back to her UWS apartment and I was able to touch the most beautiful pair of breasts I have ever touched (to this day!).  I might have scored that night, but instead I made a fool of myself by getting WAY too stoned and passing out.  She never returned another call and her breasts will haunt my dreams forever.” – Walter, (remember Walter??) my best dude friend who I used to mention in many a blog before he moved away to Florida

Get out of town

7. “I usually try to travel on Valentine’s Day! It’s perfectly timed for a winter escape, especially with President’s Day.”- @GirlFliesSolo, travel blogger who’s most recent post went live today ”
Travel, My One True Love “

8. “Prior to meeting my boyfriend (my first ever Valentine!), I loved celebrating Galentine’s Day. My first year in the city, I escaped to Boston and spent a long Galentine’s Day weekend with my best girlfriend making peppermint vodka martinis, having late night pajama dance parties, and watching How to Be Single. Still one of my favorite trips.” – @girlingothamcity, blogger/photographer/co-creator of Music & Mojitos. Check out her blog post: A New York Twist to Valentine’s Day

Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

9. “Here’s how I used to ignore Valentine’s Day. I never went out for dinner, drinks, singles events, or any of those Anti-Valentine’s Day events that have become pretty popular. I’d go home, maybe buy a six-pack of my favorite beer, or a bottle of my favorite spirit, and just veg out. I’d watch a movie I love, maybe binge watch a good series, or spend time playing videogames. I didn’t go out of my way to avoid romantic things, but I didn’t seek them out either. The most important thing was keeping in mind that it was just another day, and my romantic involvement, or lack thereof, didn’t reflect on me as a person.” – @DemetriusSays, dating expert/blogger/podcaster.  Check out his blog post “Valentine’s Day is Just Another Day“

Give No Fucks

10. “I know it’s expected of me to be a Bitter Betty on Valentine’s Day because I don’t have a significant other at the moment, but sorry. I won’t do it. I can’t.

Why? Because Valentine’s Day is nothing. It’s a day. A random-ass day in February. One day out of the year where people feel an immense pressure to do something for their boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife because society tells them to. I won’t lie to you; I “celebrated” it when I was in my past relationships; we’d go to dinner somewhere and maybe (but not always) I’d get flowers or something. But is that really celebrating? I’d go out to dinner all the time with the person I was dating. That’s just a thing you do. It never felt any more special or important or significant on this day. And if I can be honest, it actually felt more annoying and inconvenient. Restaurants were packed, reservations were scarce and prices were jacked up. Meh.” – @allisona15, retired blogger. This is an excerpt from her article:“I’m 32 and single and yet I don’t hate Valentine’s Day – here’s why”.

There you have it. Something for everyone. If we missed anything, comment below!

I’ve always loved the people watching fodder this Hallmark holiday presents. If you can view it as a spectacle rather than “WHY NOT ME!!!” Valentine’s in the city becomes much more fun. A game of guessing the level of relationship by size of bouquet. Of placing bets on whether those macarons he’s buying are for the wife or the kids? Great mysteries are revealed: exactly what type of person buys the huge teddy bears sold at Duane Reade and how do they manage to get them home via public transportation?

If you’re looking for a fun event tonight to go out to alone or with friends (suggested by numbers 2 – 5!), Thrillist has this excellent list: Things to Do on Valentine’s Day in NYC When You’re Single