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Show 1 Friday, February 13, 987 Pag 8 Ten light up your Valentine with unique gift ideas A love potion could do it or even a singing gorilla By Christine E. Dangerfield Chronicle staff writer 17th South, offers gifts with a mystical slant. "We have things no one else has," Candy and flowers are a tradition on Valentine's Day. But if you really want to let your sweetheart know how you feel, consider something a little more original and blends. "They help bring about this year. There are many unique possibilities, ranging from the conserva- 1 I tive and thoughtful, to the zany and M outrageous. If your taste leans toward the romantic, a barbershop quartet will serenade your lover for a mere $25. Singing "Heart of My Heart," the .hi yr.t group Syncopation specializes in barbershop songs. "It's a old-fashion- ed lot of fun," said Vern Schmidt, member of the group. For those that prefer props with their song, employees of Animal Quackers, a a I- ' -- -- s VJr . - J , balloon and singing telegram service, will dress up in a variety of costumes, sing a song and deliver balloons. This is the busiest time of the year for Animal Quackers, with their unusual Valentine's gift in large demand. Singing a verse especially designed for Valentine's Day, they deliver the balloons dressed in a gorilla-with-tucostume. also and a hound have rooster dog, They costumes. Their pink poodle is especially popular for Valentine's Day. Balloon Floral, a company located in Bennion, won't sing, but it will deliver balloon bouquets anywhere in the city. The most popular arrangement includes a foil heart balloon with "I love you," dozen regular written on it and one-ha- lf balloons. They will also tie the balloons down with candy, and include a florist type of card with the bouquet. The arrangement sells for $15 and includes free delivery. "Compared to roses, balloons aren't very expensive," said Venda Coombs, owner of Balloon Floral. Gypsy Moon, located at 11th East and tu do gorilla-in-a-tuxe- "ii " 4& , ; 3-f- , . ,: v. ' 'r'' Chronicle photo by Boone Xijrjro Forget mundane flowers and boring bonbons. This Valentine's Day, merchants are suggesting more mystical gifts like those sold at Gypsy Moon, 1100 E. 1700 South. said Sarah, owner of the store. Love potions, bath salts and incense, especially designed to evoke the "fire of love" arc available in a variety of scents love," Sarah said. Dream bags can also be purchased "for sleeping on to give you nice dreams of love." Rose quartz crystals that are good for the heart and heart-shapamber, with ed magical traditions, are also sold. Hand-wove- candles that are unique can n be purchased. Basically a bookstore, Gypsy Moon carries a large variety of special Valentine's Day cards. Many of the cards are hand painted, while others are shaped like hearts. They also sell handmade heart shaped wreaths, made from all natural hand-wove- n materials. For those with a sense of humor, Castlcton's offers mens Garfield Meets Jockey underwear, that range in price from $5.50 to $7.50. Pictures of Garfield saying "eat your heart out" are surrounded by red hearts on a white background. Many of the local hotels are offering special room rates just for Valentine's Day. Embassy Suites Hotels has a special package that is available for the entire month. It includes such things as a two-roosuite, a bottle of champagne, a romantic carriage ride, dinner for two, breakfast presented with a fresh rose in your suite and late check-ou- t. The 13th Floor, in the Radisson Hotel offers a special "Valentine evening for two." The atmosphere of love is created with flickering candlelight, a steak and lobster dinner, sparkling beverage, a gift m box of Mrs. Fields chocolates and dancing. If you decide to "let love linger," you can choose to spend the night in a deluxe room or suite. Love is an understandable Send dead roses to the swine! paradox, professor says tulips, weeds, thistles and Love's effect on the sensibilities has thorns. For $20, through romantic love, creating and sharing a sense of being they don't have with anyone else. "It is one of the paradoxes of romantic love. Because of that tenuous nature, it's never dull or static or flat," he said. "It is a dialectic of consciousness; a shared self," Chatterjee said. "Romantic love is personal, passionate and dynamic. But it is not living happily ever after, because people change. The shared self changes, too. Our notion of romantic love is more like fantasy and living on the edge. We try for unrealistic ideals, fail and end up blaming ourselves." People are reluctant to connect reason Rent-A-Craz- ee owner Toni Hansen will dress in black and deliver black spray-paint- roses to ed your former sweetheart's self-estee- m autonomous people extend themselves your "ex" the kind of Valentine he or she deserves: a box of dead roses, black By Dee L. Naquin Chronicle city editor probably been evident in some form since time began. It is an orientation. It is an emotion. And of all types of emotions, nothing can as well as love, says enhance our Deen K. Chatterjee, University of Utah philosophy professor. The positive reinforcement we get from our lover gives our life a magical touch. On the other hand, as we all know, the course of true love never did run smoothly. And maybe nothing else but love can give us such a feeling of insecurity. That is because of its nature. Two If romance has done you more harm than good this year, get revenge by sending door. And that's not all. She'll sing a personalized telegram as well. Love is an emotion, based on experience; not an end product, says Deen K. Chatterjee, U. philosophy professor. "Well, look out baby, I'm here to sing. And with this telegram I'm here to bring to tell you STOP BUGGING ME," Hansen sang. "I can rhyme any crazy with love, believing it to be mysterious and unknowable, Chatterjee said. They seem to think if rationality enters the scene, love leaves. As Woody Allen said to Mariel poem if the customers just give me information." Hansen said her company will also try to create any character or situation customers want: a bag-lad- y com- love is. Nobody out there knows what the hell is going on." plete with Hemingway in Manhattan, "You don't know what love means. I don't know what In "Philosophical Issues in Romantic Love," a class Chatterjee teaches, the goal is to help students develop some clear idea of what romantic love is, he said. It is used as a catalyst to discuss deeper social issues, such continued on page eleven mud-pac- k and curlers: a mock funeral with a violin player, a eulogizer and mourners; a Valentine cupid; a sexy devil or a Pee Wee Herman type stripper. "Just remember," Hansen paused, "whatever we do, we'll ultimately do it with good taste. Sure we can give an a gold, black-bowbox with a dozen dead roses inside, and I have been known to throw pies, but we'll do it with tact and common sense." ed Loreen Erickson |