Looking for a present to give your significant other this Valentine’s Day? If you’re feeling a little lost on what to give, you may want to consider gifting around their love language.
According to counselor Gary Chapman, there are five love languages that are used to express and receive love: quality time, receiving gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, and physical touch. Proposed by Chapman in 1992, the concept has since become the subject of interest for many online quizzes, acting as a conversation starter for couples looking to better connect and understand each other’s needs.
We’ve curated a list of Valentine’s Day gift ideas on the North Fork for every kind of love.
For the valentine whose love language is quality time
♡ Get creative together with an art workshop
VEME Studios, a new collaboration between local artists Melissa Gabrielson and Verona Peñalba, is offering pottery classes, abstract art lessons and more. Visit vemestudios.com to sign up for one of the studio’s upcoming public workshops or to inquire about a private workshop at a location of your choice.
♡ Become winemakers in the comfort of your home
RGNY’s home blending kit is the perfect gift for a wine lover who values quality time with their partner. This specially curated “Blending Session in a Box” includes four red wine varietals to taste and mix, tools, activity mats, and a booklet with links to videos that will guide you through the tasting and wine blending process. The kit also features a bottle of RGNY’s winemaker blend, Scielo Tinto. To learn more about this experience, go to rgnywine.com.
♡ Get your blood pumping with axe throwing
The North Fork’s newest axe throwing lounge, Axe & Smash, is an ideal date spot for the adventurous couple looking for an adrenaline rush. The new spot, located inside Mattituck Cinemas offers a variety of game modes, from a traditional bulls-eye target to zombie hunting. It also features a Lucharitos Taqueria & Tequila Bar concession stand, so you can sip on margaritas and nosh on some delicious Mexican food between turns. Reservations can be made at axesmash.li for 60-to-90-minute sessions.
For the valentine whose love language is receiving gifts
♡ Honor the age-old tradition of giving chocolates on Valentine’s Day
For those who love tradition, Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without gifting your loved one some sweets. Luckily, the North Fork has plenty of options when it comes to chocolate. Check out one (or all) of these chocolate shop spots:
❥ Atelier Disset, 28080 Main Road in Cutchogue
❥ North Fork Chocolate Company, 8700 Main Road in Mattituck
❥ Love Lane Sweet Shoppe, 125 Love Lane in Mattituck
♡ Show your love for your valentine — and your local community — by signing up for a Spring Flowers CSA
Why limit yourself to gifting just one bouquet of roses on Valentine’s Day? You can sign up for The Jamesport Farmstead Spring Flower CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and give your date four weeks of local, pre-reserved spring flowers. Shopping local for flowers not only ensures freshness but can reduce your carbon footprint, as grocery store alternatives are often shipped internationally and are heavily sprayed with chemicals to prolong shelf life. Jamesport Farmstead’s flower bouquets will be available for pick up on Fridays from April 7 to April 28. To learn more about this CSA program or to sign up, go to jamesportfarmstead.com.
♡ Give your valentine “the universe” to wear around their neck
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, especially when they’re used by Greenport native Alexa Suess to make stunning necklaces. This beautifully crafted 14k diamond necklace features a soft matte solid gold oval inset with a baguette white diamond as well as six star-set brilliant cut white diamonds. Common Ground Fine Jewelry + Studio is located at 29 Front St. in Greenport.
For the valentine whose love language is words of affirmation
♡ Write them a love letter with these heart-shaped notecards
Arni Paperie in Southold is selling these adorable heart-shaped notecards for Valentine’s Day. Each pack comes with eight cards — perfect for scribbling down little love notes and leaving them around the house for your partner to find. Arni Paperie is located at 54127 Main Road in Southold.
♡ Tell them you love them with a locally-themed Valentine’s Day card
These locally-themed cards are not your average Hallmark card. Inspired by local landmarks like The Big Duck and the North Fork’s wildlife, they’re a fun and unique way to tell your valentine how you feel about them. Each card is crafted by local artist Nicole Kennelly and designed with her original photography. You can find her cards, stickers, mugs and other products that she’s designed at The Treatery in Jamesport and at her Etsy storefront, LoveLongIsland.
♡ Give them the gift of word art
For the valentine that loves to read — In The Attic Too sells a range of whimsical
graphics and quotes that are printed on vintage dictionary pages. These
unique pieces are mounted on a hardwood board and attached to a hanger, ready
to be displayed. In The Attic Too is located at 10200 Main Road Unit 4 in
Mattituck.
For the valentine whose love language is acts of service
♡ Organize a picnic
A carefully curated, romantic picnic goes a long way in showing a date with this love language just how much you care. Pick up a selection of their favorite snacks, make some sandwiches and take them to their favorite scenic spot. Here are a few local shops that offer a wide range of gourmet cheeses and meats for your picnic:
❥ The Village Cheese Shop, 105 Love Lane in Mattituck
❥ The French Picnic, 50 Griffing St. in Cutchogue
❥ Love Lane Market, 170 Love Lane in Mattituck
❥ Cheese & Spice Market, 5768 NY-25A in Wading River
♡ Help your loved one conquer their clutter
Having an uncluttered home is a form of self-care. If your valentine is looking to reorganize, consider purchasing them a gift card for a session with The Graceful Space, a professional organizing company based on the North Fork. Each session starts off with a three-hour, personalized consultation to learn more about your loved one’s needs, goals, and lifestyles. Next, a plan is made and action is taken to declutter and organize their space. Organizing services are $100 an hour and a minimum of two hours must be purchased to receive a gift card.
♡ Arrange a privately catered dinner
Want to plan a special at-home dinner for your date but don’t have a chef’s touch? Private Chef Jess Dunne of Rustic Roots and Recipes is offering a Valentine’s Day menu that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Each meal is delivered to your doorstep and includes salad, your choice of appetizer, an entree of either marinated skirt steak or whole spatchcock chicken, raspberry cheesecake brownies and a bottle of prosecco, $200 per couple. To learn more or place an order, go to rusticrootsandrecipes.com.
For the valentine whose love language is physical touch
♡ Help them to destress with an herbal facial
Give your significant other the gift of relaxation by signing them up for a bespoke herbal facial with The Apothecary Girl, a holistic esthetician that offers luxury facials. Each facial is 50 minutes long and includes a massage using botanical oils. Appointments can be made at theapothecarygirl.square.site.
♡ Gift them a mani-pedi
Treat your valentine to a manicure and pedicure at Neytiv Natura Spa and Boutique. Instead of the traditional foot soaking that you might find at a nail salon, this spa uses aromatic hot towel service, which helps nail polish last longer and is more hygienic. To book an appointment, go to neytivspa.com. The spa is located at 28320 Main Road in Cutchogue.
♡ Book a massage at Eastern Sun Holistic Health
Eastern Sun Holistic Health offers a variety of massage therapies, including deep tissue massages, hot stone massages and Swedish/European massages. To learn more about pricing and options, go to easternsunholistichealth.net. Eastern Sun Holistic Health is located at 53345 Main Road in Southold.
