I say it all the time, and I mean it: I love Valentine’s Day. Honestly. A lot of that love stems from the fact that companies are hilarious in their quest for business. Take, for example, the tried and true favorite that is … White Castle. They have, for a handful of years now, been offering a Valentine’s Day special where they “serve” guests at their tables and give the faux air of an expensive restaurant. People go for it. They really, really do. And hello, anyone who makes a reservation gets a free dessert. I’ll all about the gratis calorie. Valentacky Day, your time has come.

 

It doesn’t stop with White Castle, though. So, so many companies are trying to steal Hallmark’s thunder by offering weird, offbeat, and downright strange incentives for spending Valentine’s day in their weird, offbeat, and downright strange establishments. My husband and I contemplated going on a sewage treatment plant tour in Brooklyn this year but opted instead for a painful night at the gym.    

 

It’s not about high expectations / low results vs low expectations / high results. What you’re paying for (or allowing someone else to pay for) is the memory. Expensive dinners and romantic gestures are great. But they’re not that … special. I guarantee a trip to the Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania is a lot more stick-in-your-mind than a stroll through Central Park. (Note: There is nothing actually riding on this guarantee. I just, like, really believe it’s true.)

 

There’s an understanding in writing that says if you know a rule, you can break it. That’s totally how I feel about the tacky-factor. If you genuinely think White Castle is going to entrance a girl, you, sir, are mistaken. But if you’re into the kitsch value and want a funny-cute story to tell later, go ahead and make that reservation. You don’t, after all, want to miss out on the free dessert.

 

What do you think? Should Valentine’s Day be all about roses and chocolates and teddy bears, or is there room to bring the tack out? What’s your best Valentine’s memory? Worst? And if anyone has been to the White Castle love fest, fill us in!