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Make a holiday-inspired cocktail: It’s time to be your own mixologist. Browse “Valentine’s Day cocktails” on Pinterest, and pick a festive one to make yourself. Take photobooth-style snaps: Ready, set, pose. Set up a backdrop on a blank wall, pull out some props and take silly photos with your partner or roommate. Watch a romantic comedy on a projector: Who needs a movie theater when you have a projector? Pop some popcorn, grab your blanket and watch your favorite romantic comedy projected onto your wall or a backdrop outdoors.
take-out: Whether it’s Italian or Mexican, 8 Order keep it casual and order dinner to-go from a local restaurant. Set up a picnic at a park or eat on the couch watching Netflix.
your loved ones Valentine’s Day cards: Bring 9 Mail back the art of receiving love letters in the mail.
Handwrite a letter or mail a handmade card to your loved ones to show them you care.
chocolate-covered strawberries: Strawberries 10 Make should start arriving at the Red Stick Farmers Market
this month. Snag a few so you can finish the evening with this go-to Valentine’s Day treat. They are sweet, easy to make and affordable.
Make a scrapbook: Hold on to your favorite memories with a scrapbook. Make a creative book of letters, stickers and pages featuring photos of yourself, your partner or best friend.
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a picture of your Valentine: Want a 11 Paint personalized and thoughtful present? Get artsy and
Bake heart-shaped treats: What’s Valentine’s Day without sweets? Bake heart-shaped cookies, a cake, rice crispy treats or cupcakes, and top them with red, pink and white decorations.
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to a Valentine’s Day playlist: Get grooving and 12 Dance dance to a romantic or heartfelt playlist on Spotify or
Plan a romantic dinner: Candles? Check. Tablecloth? Check. Fresh flowers? Check. Wine? Check. You don’t have to go out to get fancy. Turn your dining room table into a restaurant-quality fine dining experience.
your heart out during karaoke: Valentine’s Day 13 Sing can be bittersweet. Whether you’re happy or sad,
Have an at-home spa day: Show yourself some selflove. Do a facial, paint your nails, deep condition your hair, massage your feet and relax.
couples yoga: Get in zen mode with your partner. 14 Do Do your own freestyle yoga flow or watch a free
Apple Music.
sing your heart out to classic love songs with the lyrics on your phone or a karaoke machine.
couple’s yoga class on YouTube.
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break out the paint brushes. Paint a portrait of your loved one, and wrap it with a bow.
Josh Simmons
Black is beautiful 10 songs by local Black artists to listen to in celebration of Black History Month
RAEGAN LABAT
BATON ROUGE IS bursting at the seams with local talent. From R&B to folk music, Black musicians are taking the local industry by storm. Here are 10 upbeat, head-bobbing, foot-tapping songs to listen to by local Black music artists. Some songs contain explicit language. 1. “Monteagain” by _thesmoothcat and Wakai 2. “Somebody Smile” by Alabaster Stag 3. “Swag x 2” by Crazy Swag 4. “Cortana Mall” by Michael Armstead ONLINE Listen to all of these songs 5. “Just Bizz” By Dave $tokes on Apple Music, Sound6. “No Cap” By Josh Simmons cloud, Spotify or YouTube. 7. “Weekend” by Ronday 8. “The Prefix” by Adam Dollar$ 9. “Breathe” by Cypress Whyman 10. “James Bond” by Matt Good and Nanoesca
“If we get serious in the South about building Black and marginalized voting power, we can flip the South. Pay attention: Stacey Abrams has had us all in class.”
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The number of charcuterie boards Bites & Boards sold in February 2020 during Valentine’s Day season. During the pandemic, sales for the snack board business increased dramatically, Bites & Boards’ Robyn Parker says. Locals wanted contactless ways to send treats to their loved ones’ homes, show health care workers they are appreciated and gift edible presents. Find Bites & Boards on Instagram
VALENTINE’S DAY MAY look a lot different this year. Instead of packing movie theaters, restaurants, bars and cooking classes, locals will have to explore other ways to celebrate the holiday due to the pandemic. That doesn’t mean your day of love has to be boring. Here are some fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home.
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14 creative ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home
KRISTIN SELLE
LL CO
—Baton Rouge social justice activist Gary Chambers tweeted in January 2021, after he announced he was running for congress in Louisiana’s second congressional district. 225batonrouge.com | [225] February 2021
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