It’s my party, and I’ll charge if I want to?

Dear Alix,

My birthday is just around the corner and I need to come up with a plan. Since it generally falls on or near Memorial Day I tend keep it low key as many people leave town; small groups over to my apartment for drinks, meet friends out at the bar, nothing major.

This year I have come up with something a little more fun. I would like to host a dinner party for about 20 guests.

The party would start with a cocktail reception in my apartment and then move across the hall to a vacant unit for a seated dinner. I would rent the necessary tables and chairs and set up, what I believe to be a great dining room with minimal decor that would allow for maximum impact. Being that I am in the event planning business I have access to discounts on most items, including a great caterer, rentals, and wine and I am positive it would be a great party.

So here is my question: Is it appropriate to ask my invited guests to bring $30 per person to subsidize the costs of this party? I would love to be able to pay for this all on my own, but being 26, going on 27, and in the event industry, my pockets are not that deep!

$30 for your thoughts,

- Penny-less Planner

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Dear Penny-less Planner,

Ooh, that’s a tough one, and I know whereof you speak: That desire to throw a fabulous party, if only you had the cash to make it spectacular.

The only catch is that really, you can’t ask your friends to pay to attend your birthday party. Unless you put a bit of a twist on it, of course…

How about making it a fundraiser instead, where you donate all proceeds from the dinner to a particular cause or charitable organization? In inviting your 20 favorite people, you could explain that you want to spend your birthday with them, have the chance to throw a great party, and benefit a worthy cause all at the same time. Perhaps you could let them know that in lieu of a birthday gift the suggested donation for the evening is $40, but if they felt inclined they might give more. And depending on the selected organization you might even have a thematic décor element present itself. Zebra-print table runner in honor of the Woodland Park Zoo?

If all goes well, you’ve covered your costs and you have at least $200 to donate to a good cause. Maybe you really can have your cake and eat it, too.

Happy early birthday, and good luck!

Quick party turnaround

Hey Alix,

I am hoping you can help me with something:

We are having somewhat of a last minute “big wig” dinner on our boat for a group of eleven this Thursday! The higher ups from a large corporation are coming in from all over the nation -- including Hawaii -- for this occasion. I am thinking finger food and cocktails along with our tour. We have hired a captain but feel like we don’t need catering staff. Looking for Northwest-y food, artfully displayed.

Help!!!

- Happy Boater

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Dear Happy Boater,

A small event two days from now, and you want the party to have a Northwest flair? Here are a couple of options:

1. If you’re looking for easy, my first suggestion would be to call caterer Madres Kitchen and see if they can get something together this quickly. They are great -- two mothers own it (hence the name) -- and they are terrific to work with. They can likely put together lovely platters that they simply drop off, rather than having to hang around and be "cater-y."

2. Or, if you're up for a little bit of assembly and a little bit of cooking, how about the Whole Foods route? Their prepared food section would have a bunch of good options, including outstanding crab cakes if you have access to an oven. A quick bake and some bottled sauce, and you’re all set. Chicken and vegetable skewers can be done slightly in advance, so that you’re not slaving over the grill and trying to be hostess with the mostess at the same time. Add a couple of salads from that same section, maybe a shrimp something and whatever orzo variety they have on hand.

Elsewhere in the store, pick up packaged lox, cream cheese, capers and sliced tomato, along with thin rye toasts; such a Northwest kind of thing to serve. A cheese plate with a selection of two to three always helps to round out heavy hors d’oeuvres; Mt. Townsend’s Seastack is one of my favorites.

3. As for beverages, how about St. Germaine gin and tonics, made with gin from Spokane’s own Dry Fly Distilling. You might also want some beers on hand, and perhaps at the same Whole Foods you’ll be able to find some local options. Two of my personal favorites are made locally in Georgetown, Georgetown Brewing Company’s Manny’s Pale Ale and Baron Brewing Company’s Baron Pilsner.

4. For dessert, how about a tray of artfully broken up bars from Theo Chocolate or Fran's salted caramels -- both available at Whole Foods, I'm nearly certain. Add a couple of small bowls of different berries (strawberries and blueberries, say) and you're set.

Breakfast joints

Dear Alix,

Help! I’ve worn a path to my same old breakfast spots and need some suggestions for other places to try. No specific area of town in mind…

Thanks in advance!
Molly

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Molly,

Ah, the never-ending search for a good breakfast that doesn’t also come with a line out the door. On occasion the line is worth it, but more often than not I think there are plenty of places that will fill the bill and don’t require a long wait.

By no means a comprehensive list, but some of my favorites:

Oddfellows - It’s not fancy food or a particularly extensive breakfast menu, but they have some interesting options and I like the big, open interior. Also, you get to soak up some of the hipster Capitol Hill vibe along with your latte.

Hangar Cafe - Situated in an old house a little bit off the Georgetown strip, Hangar Café has fantastic sweet and savory crepes. If you’re not up for the trip to Georgetown, sibling Citizen Coffee in Queen Anne has a similar menu with a totally different interior vibe.

Café Soleil - Talk about no lines! I’ve never had to wait for a table at this sunny, corner spot in Madrona, and they serve good, solid American breakfast. Curiously, the menu turns to Ethiopian for dinner, something I definitely need to check out.

Vera’s - If it’s a dive-y, diner-y experience that you that you’re looking for, Vera’s in Ballard is a good bet, as is The Shanty in lower Queen Anne. Country fried steak? Yum.

Le Pichet - If you like the French-y version of breakfast, and I do, Le Pichet downtown on First Ave just east of Pike Place Market is one of my favorites. Whenever I go, no matter weekday or weekend morning, it’s always fun and bustling and somehow cozy all at the same time.

Verve - I just went to this Columbia City wine bar for the first time, and I said it then and will say it again that my breakfast was one of the best I've had in the city. Sunny, happy atmosphere and absolutely delicious, interesting food. Great combo, no?

Volterra - One of the best in the upscale brunch category. If savory herb bread pudding topped with two eggs, asparagus tips and smoked Gouda cream isn’t enough to get you to Ballard, I don’t know what is.

Bakery Nouveau - Although there are several fantastic bakeries in the city, West Seattle’s Bakery Nouveau is worth the drive for a breakfast of the quiche-y and pastry-y variety.

The gifting of wine

I don’t know if anyone else caught this little tidbit in a recent edition of Daily Candy, but these funky, sticky wine bottle labels certainly put to rest the question of where that fabulous Malbec came from. The Toast-its website describes them as “greeting cards that wrap around wine bottles,” giving you a way to write a pithy little note on the bottle you’re gifting. After a quick scan of the label options it looks as though there are a few cool designs available. Though doesn’t this lovely little greeting card cover up the label the wine came with, the one that, um, tells you what kind of wine it is?

Private event locales

Dear Alix,

I’m planning to throw a 40th birthday party for my husband and need some inspiration. Do you have any suggestions for interesting Seattle party venues?

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Dear Party Planner,

Ah, the age-old question of location… It all depends, doesn’t it, on what kind of vibe you’re looking for, how big or small the party might be and in what part of town you want to throw this shindig. I’m not suggesting that the list below is a comprehensive one, not by a long shot; there are a gazillion restaurants and bars not to mention dedicated event spaces that are vying for your business. Instead, this is a short list of venues that I think are interesting or well laid out or geographically desirable or all of the above. And I’m thinking somewhere in the 25-40 guest range for the most part, a nice party size.

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big
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Some of the restaurants and bars I like that also happen to have private spaces:

Chez Shea (Pike Place Market)
94 Pike St, Ste 34
(206) 467-9990

Soul Repair (the back room at Quinn’s on Capitol Hill)
1001 E Pike St
(206) 979-SHOP

Chapel (Capitol Hill)
1600 Melrose Ave
(206) 447-4180

BalMar (Ballard)
5449 Ballard Ave NW
(206) 297-0500

Volterra (Ballard)
5411 Ballard Ave NW
(206) 789-5100

Or in the case of one of my favorite little spots, they don’t have a private space because it’s so small but they do rent out the whole place:

Licorous (Capitol Hill)
928 12th Ave
(206) 325-6947

If your guest of honor -- or maybe just the bulk of your guests -- are more beer-oriented, you might consider either one of these:

Elysian (SoDo)
542 1st Ave S, Ste B
(206) 382-4498

Hale’s Ales (Fremont/Ballard)
4301 Leary Way NW
(206) 706-1544

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Bigger
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And if by chance I have it all wrong and you’re interested in throwing a bigger party:

Palace Ballroom (Downtown)
2030 5th Ave
(206) 441-5542

Pravda (Capitol Hill)
1406 10th Ave, Ste 200
(206) 728-1177

Given my recent affection for Georgetown, it’s not too terribly surprising that I would recommend two in that neighborhood, both very different spaces:

Georgetown Ballroom (Georgetown)
5623 Airport Way S
(206) 763-4999

Georgetown Studios (Georgetown)
5890 Airport Way S
(800) 517-1052

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BIGGEST
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Or if we’re talking blowout and you need a space that’s ballroom-sized, The Dome Room at the Arctic Club Hotel is a little something different. With rococo gilt and a stained glass dome ceiling, as well as the Polar Bar in the hotel lobby when you want to slip away for a game of pool, it’s very throwback in all the right ways. Though it was sold to Hilton and added to the Doubletree brand last year; hopefully they maintain all that is good in this unique hotel.

Arctic Club Hotel (Downtown)
700 3rd Ave
(206) 340-0340

Unanticipated dinner guests

Dear Alix,

What to do if you’ve planned a casual dinner for six, the table is set, the dinner is made. But then neighbors drop off their daughter for the Halloween party in progress and end up staying a while and chatting, totally oblivious to the fact that dinner service is imminent… and they’re not on the guest list. How to resolve a situation like this without making anyone feel bad, or ruining the dinner I’ve worked hard to prepare?

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Kind Hostess:

I’m a fan of giving people a chance to catch on, thinking surely they will see the table set and just waiting to have dinner placed upon it. How long must you wait? As long as what you’ve prepared can bear it, assuming that your other guests are sufficiently supplied with drinks and snacks. If the lasagna is drying out in the oven and still no light bulb has appeared over the heads of your drop-ins, try something like “Ah, there goes the timer! We’re just about to sit down for dinner and would love it if you would join us.” Likely they will refuse, but your gracious invitation -- issued with real sincerity, one hopes -- will leave your excellent neighborly relations intact. And if they accept, squeeze in two more place settings, cut the pieces of lasagna a little smaller, open another bottle of wine and it will be as though the meal was always meant for eight.

Eat, drink and be merry: Phinney, Ravenna, Ballard

Welcome to another installment in my occasional series on interesting neighborhoods to check out, and my recommendations on where to sample the local food and drink.




Phinney

Plan your tour of Phinney for a Thursday night so that you can start at Picnic’s (pictured above) weekly wine tasting. For a mere $8 you’ll get the chance to sample some terrific wine as well as a selection of the meats, cheeses and other nibbles straight from the pantry of this fantastic eat in/take out neighborhood spot.

Continue on to Oliver’s Twist for a Parish Boy (cognac, St. Germain, fernet-branca and lemon bitters ) and small plates like the Mt. Townsend Seastack cheese, bacon compote, brioche crouton and orange marmalade.

Take a u-turn from the upscale and march down the block to El Chupacabra. Go for the kitschy “Mexican baroque” décor (as I’ve heard it described) and stay for margaritas in tall tumblers and several rounds of pool.

Ravenna

Frank’s Oyster House & Champagne Parlor is the sort of place where you want to settle in and stay for a while, and I encourage you to do just that. Maybe it’s the small scale of the bar, all of the warm wood or the excellent service, but I can’t think of a better place to start your night.

I feel a little like I’m cheating as Frank’s and Pair are owned by the same couple, but it’s such a great combination that I couldn’t resist. Pair is a sweet little neighborhood restaurant that happens to have fantastic food like the smoked pork belly with a farro and spring onion salad, wilted chard and ginger-mustard gastrique. I mean, come on!

For dessert check out Peaks Frozen Custard, working hard to teach Seattleites the joys of this Midwest staple.

Ballard

Start your evening with drinks in the bar at Volterra, with a White Peach Thyme Bellini or maybe the Nocciola Manhattan if you’re feeling a little sturdier.

Just up the street from Volterra is La Carta de Oaxaca, with to-die-for black chile mole and my favorite, molotes (potatoes and beef sausage wrapped in fried homemade tortillas with guacamole, hot sauce and Oaxaqueno cheese). No matter that the line is always out the door; just order up a margarita and settle in for the wait.

Another small plate option, though likely to be just as busy, is Ocho. Come here for fantastic Spanish tapas like seared sea scallops with an English pea purée, Serrano ham and lemon vinaigrette, and stay for a very well-poured San Miguel (gin, St. Germain and rhubarb bitters). Can you tell? I love the St. Germain.

If you’re still standing after all of this good food and drink, make your way to King’s Hardware and play a few games of skee ball while you ponder the use of taxidermy as décor.

[Photo of Picnic courtesy of BUILD LLC]

The transferable skill of fitted sheet folding

A funny thing happened to me this weekend. I was working an event in Federal Way for Friends of the Hylebos and we were using three of those pop-up canopies with detachable covers. (You know, like the kind used by all of your favorite vendors at the farmers market.) After two days and a couple of set-ups and tear-downs of the canopies I came to an interesting realization about folding the covers, once detached. I picked one up and realized that it had shaped corners, exactly like a fitted sheet. With the help of another pair of hands -– it’s bigger than your average sheet, after all –- we were able to fold the cover lickety split. The peaked shape of the canopy makes for a funny pokey-out bit when you’re trying to wrangle it, so the sail folding skills learned in childhood came in handy with evening out the uneven shape.

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that the skills used in folding a fitted sheet can be applied to other aspects of one’s life. If you too would like to become a folding wizard, check out my previous post and how-to video.

Birth announcement how-to's

Divine Ms. Alix,

I recently received a birth announcement from a former colleague who I worked with briefly a few years ago. While I'm delighted at the birth of his child, I was surprised to be included since we did not socialize when working together and have not been in touch recently. I'd like to do something to acknowledge the new addition to his family, but I'm not sure what is appropriate. Help!

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Dear Properly Acknowledged:

How thoughtful of your former colleague to include you on his announcement list. I picture him absolutely thrilled, pleased as punch, and wanting to shout his news from the rooftops.

Given that your relationship was a professional one and that you didn’t socialize outside the office, I think that there is no need to send a gift. (As you might if the announcement had been from a good friend, or from someone with whom you felt a strong personal connection.)

Rather, I suggest sending a card with a nicely written personal message. Surely he would have included his return address on the announcement mailed to you, but if not you can try WhitePages.com to locate the information. And if it happens that you’re not able to find the address without too much difficulty, then consider yourself off the etiquette hook. In that case you’ve tried your best to send a note, but now are only required to think very happy thoughts for the new family and the best for their future.

Sushi round-up

It’s time to talk sushi. In a city like Seattle that’s a dangerous topic. Everyone has their favorite, and for all kinds of reasons. Location, price, ambiance, freshness of the fish, it’s all part of the mix. I’ve collected below a short list of my favorites and I invite your comments in return. Have a fabulous spot that I haven’t mentioned, or totally disagree with one of my choices? I’m always interested in getting the scoop on what’s available in and around our fair city.

Wasabi Bistro and Umi Sake House, both in Belltown, excel at what’s termed “modern Japanese cuisine” typified by the long list of wacky rolls available –- green decadence, crunchy lizard, that sort of thing. At Umi Sake I especially like Duff’s rock n’ roll, a super-human concoction of a shrimp tempura roll topped with avocado, barbecued eel, and teriyaki sauce. At Wasabi I’m a fan of the Belltown roll with crab, scallop, mayo, tobiko (flying fish roe), and cucumber topped with fresh salmon. Clearly, neither of these rolls lies within the scope of what one might consider typically delicate Japanese dining…

Musashi’s in Wallingford serves some of the biggest cuts of fish, and I particularly like the fresh salmon here. Let the consistently long lines outside (despite the cash- and check-only edict) attest to the fabulousness of what’s inside. Add to that friendly service and a very reasonably priced menu, and you’ve got a real hit with this one. Blue C Sushi in Fremont is perfectly good kaiten (conveyor belt style) sushi, and it gets points for immediacy of food and fun factor. I hear that it’s a big hit with the kids. Plus, if you find yourself at U-Village, Bellevue Square, Southcenter, or Alderwood malls with a hankering for sushi, you’ll know that this expanding sushi empire is a safe bet. Its neighbor across the street, Chiso, is another one of my favorites. Classic style sushi beautifully prepared in a lovely atmosphere.

I love Maneki in the International District for its history -- 100 years plus and still going strong -- and ambiance of old-school Japan. (Complete with the tyrannical obaasan, who might be grandmotherly in another context, but here gives you the hard stare if you have the audacity to be an irregular customer who didn’t think to make a reservation.) When I make the pilgrimage to Maneki I always include an order of the hiyayako, chilled tofu with shaved bonito flakes and thinly sliced green onion strewn over the top. My one favorite outside Seattle proper is Toyoda Sushi in Lake City. Completely unassuming but consistently delicious, they offer traditional sushi in the kind of place where you are likely to be greeted by name after just a couple of visits.

Some other resources that might be of interest:

Sushi Monsters has what appears to be a reasonably thorough list of the sushi joints in the Seattle area, as well as other resources like tutorials, recipes, and an immense gallery of photos. Though if we’re talking photos, I’m most impressed by Matthew Lankford’s array of visual deliciousness. I stumbled on Matthew and his “Sushi for 30 Days Straight” project via the All You Can Eat blog penned by Nancy Leson, former identity-withheld food critic for the Seattle Times and now its blogger and foodie-about-town among other things. Of course, there are always the reviews available on Citysearch (slightly less painful to navigate now that they have revamped the website) and on Urbanspoon if you have something in mind and just need to know some basic info.

Now go out there and get yourself some eel, or some octopus, or some sea urchin, or…

[Photo courtesy of Matthew Lankford]

To hang, or not to hang: that is the question

Dear Alix,

I want to reorganize my closet. I have more space for hanging clothes than for folded clothes. Can I hang my t-shirts or will I just end up with puckered shoulders? Is there a "what to hang and what to fold" rule?

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Dear Potentially Puckered,

Actually, you’ve hit dead center on the rule for what to hang and what to fold: Do more of whatever you have space for. It sounds simple, but because things like jeans, pants, and shirts can go either way you have some flexibility in how you allocate your space. Even men’s shirts can come back from the dry cleaners freshly laundered in either hanging or folded form.

As for the question of which hangers to use, I’m a big fan of wooden hangers. They look great, and they leave your t-shirts and other lightweight shirts pucker-free. You can get them in all sorts of finishes, generally available in a standard version as in this photo, or in a deluxe version that's a bit wider. I say no need for the wider deluxe, but if you’re really, really fussy about rounded corners, go for it.

Another option is this felt-covered number, called the friction soft grip. Word on the street is that they are also great for hanging t-shirts, and take up less room in your closet. They have little more than the width of wire hangers, but are a whole lot easier on your clothes.

Whichever hanger you choose, opt to use all of that single kind of hanger if possible. Doing this will make your closet visually more uniform, and thus appear more organized – even if you haven’t ordered your clothes in color groupings, lightest to darkest (as, ahem, some might). Everything I’ve mentioned above can be purchased from one of my favorite organizing resources, Organize.com. Though, between you and me, I bought all of my wooden hangers for cheap at IKEA and they work beautifully.

And, bravo to you for tackling closet reorganization. Write in and let us know if you come across any other stumpers!

The ins and outs of folding a fitted sheet

Dear Alix,

It’s driving me nuts, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m proceeding into a precarious world of neat-freakiness. You see, the thing is, I like ninety degree angles. All of my household linens fold up into tidy, orthogonal bundles for stacking and storage. All of them, that is, except for the fitted bed sheets. When I’m finished doing laundry I’m usually left with a pile of perfectly ordered sheets, pillow cases and towels – a straight and symmetrical tower of linen. Dolloped on top, in all its asymmetrical rebellion, is the fitted sheet. Like a pound of whip cream dumped on a perfectly executed crème brûlée, there it sits. I suspect that there is a way to fold a fitted bed sheet so that it does not involve funny curves and wrinkles the size of small mountain ranges. Does the answer exist or is this the anomaly of laundry organization? Should I just roll the fitted sheet up and conceal it out of view?

What Would Alix Do?

Sincerely,
Orthogonally Obsessed

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Dear Orthogonal,

This sheet-folding business is a real challenge, and the more I ask around to determine who actually knows how to do this, the more furrowed brows and puzzled frowns I see. It turns out that you’re not alone in your frustration with the fitted version of the sheet species. You’re in luck, though, because I was fortunate enough to have a mother who taught me the finer points of this household chore (thanks, Mom!) and now I’ll share them with you. Check out the video below for step-by-step instructions:

Eat, drink and be merry: Wallingford, Belltown, Capitol Hill

You know it: That panic you feel when your friends say, “Why don’t you decide where we’re going on Friday night,” or you’re plotting out a big date and are stuck for ideas on where to go to look knowledgeable/hip/interesting. I’m a big fan of Urbanspoon for restaurant info and reviews, but sometimes you just want someone to tell you where you should go.

I’m all about deciding what neighborhood you’re in the mood for on a particular evening, as much as what kind of food or vibe of a restaurant or bar. (Side note: If you like reading about neighborhoods check out Build LLC’s "Better Know a Neighborhood" section on their blog. I love that they delve into the cool design – and other – elements of select areas around the city.) Accordingly, I’ve broken down my suggestions below into neighborhood categories, and included a few other helpful tidbits. I’ll be back in future posts to offer new suggestions, so stay tuned.

Want to play cool kid in Wallingford?

Rancho Bravo taco truck (how more of-the-moment do you get than the taco truck?)

Ice cream at Molly Moon’s (the salted caramel ice cream makes my taste buds do a little jig)

Al’s Tavern for pool and Rainier on tap (divey dive of the best kind)

The traditional Belltown vibe:

Drinks at Branzino (clubby goodness)

Tavolata (the lamb ragu is fantastic; this is my favorite of Ethan Stowell’s restaurants)

Dessert at Restaurant Zoe (the citrus vanilla creme caramel is to die for, though starting there with a drink and an app of the fresh ricotta gnudi isn’t a bad idea either)

Or maybe you’re in the mood for Belltown, but not the usual scene:

Drinks at Cyclops (good beer and always-interesting art on the walls)

Rendezvous (it’s true – they serve food)

Shorty’s for Coors Light bottles (and pinball, of course)

Going for the foodie end of Capitol Hill:

Drinks at Licorous (we already know that I love it there)

Osteria la Spiga (the open, modern interior is a perfect compliment to the food)

Café Presse (go for coffee and seriously hipster atmosphere before heading over to…)

Dancing at the Century Ballroom

Wine: to gift or not to gift

Dear Alix,

I'm no sommelier but I enjoy wine and usually have a small population of bottles coming and going. My wife and I like to throw dinner parties and the occasional large celebration. We have extraordinary friends that usually contribute a bottle of nice wine when they are invited over. Each of our friends deserves to be honored and in an ideal world we'd sit down and savor each gifted bottle of wine. But the reality is that we like to bring wine to other people's parties too, and quite often we just grab something that looks good from our collection. My concern is that we may, at some point or another, re-gift a bottle of wine back to the same person who once brought it to our home (or maybe we already have!), which would seem inconsiderate. I've thought about keeping some tags in the kitchen to label where each bottle of wine came from, but given that our wines are out in the open, the tags could seem a bit tacky.

What would Alix do?

Sincerely,
Wino with a Conscience

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Dear Wino with a Conscience,

The good new is that if you have already return-gifted, I'm sure the recipient assumed that the two of you shared the same excellent taste in wine. First and foremost, though, I applaud the question. I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one who thinks about this! (Anyone else, or is it just me and Wino, folks?) I've spent some time pondering this question for myself, and finally came up with a very low-tech system: sticky notes. Keep a pad handy and at the end of the night, label any of the wine your friends brought that remains unconsumed. I recommend writing the name of the bearer and the date, and sticking the note to the underside of the bottle where it rests on the shelf. Out of view when others gaze longingly at your wine collection, but not so well hidden that when you pull the bottle out to bring to another party you'll hand it over with the note still attached. It's for that reason that I don't suggest putting the note on the bottom of the bottle, which could make for a, um, sticky situation.

Valentine's Day gift-giving from afar

Over a cup of coffee recently a friend of mine recounted the thought process he went through as he considered what to do for his sweetheart for Valentine's Day. You see, it's not as easy as it might be because his wife will be thousands of miles away so an in-person activity just isn't an option.

He admitted to me that his first response was "Whew! I'm totally off the hook this year!" But this is one very thoughtful guy, and quickly his better instincts kicked in. We talked about getting a reservation at a fabulous restaurant for her to have dinner that night, but how much fun would it be if they couldn't enjoy it together? A gigantic bouquet of flowers? Always welcome, but a little ho-hum. Sometimes the opposite of over-the-top lavish is just the right thing, and I agreed that his first -- or rather, second -- thought was the best: Overnight a card with his handwritten note and have it waiting for her at the hotel. A gesture that clearly required some effort, while being sweetly thoughtful and very personal.

Advice in its many forms... Every once in a while it's not so much a recommendation we need, as confirmation. Go forth and Valentine, my friends!