Oregon Daily Emerald

Make your own Valentines this year for that extra special touch

by Lisa Kislingbury Anderson | Freelance Reporter

My mom loves making cards. She's an artist and calligrapher. Over the years, she's filled a desk drawer in her art studio with creations for every holiday and occasion. Last weekend, she shared some Valentine card ideas with me. Some are inspired by her calligrapher friends, some are adapted from art books and some are her original designs.

Morning Glory offers vegan and vegetarian cuisine for breakfast and lunch

The popular Eugene eatery also recently began offering dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings

by Colette Crouse | Freelance Reporter

Morning Glory Cost: $ Atmosphere: 5 Taste: 4 Service: 3 Drinks: 4 Tucked away in a quaint yellow storefront in the Growers Market Building at 450 Willamette St. and right around the corner from the railroad station, Morning Glory is one of the most popular places in Eugene to eat breakfast and lunch.

Sweet Life offers an overwhelming, dizzying selection, like a Periodic Table of the Desserts

The patisserie offers special concoctions for Valentine's Day, including Love Rocket éclairs

by Adam Gray | Freelance Reporter

Sweet Life RATING: Taste: 5 Drinks: 4 Cost: 3 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Sweet Life Patisserie is a local coffee shop and bakery with just the right mixture of quality and style to call itself a patisserie without pretension. A Eugene favorite, Sweet Life, located at 755 Monroe St.

Café Soriah's diverse, intimate menu is perfect for a romantic night out

The restaurant's cuisine features Mediterranean food with a Eugene flair

by Laura Fong

Café Soriah RATING: Cost: (4) Atmosphere: 5 Taste: 5 Service: 5 Drinks: 5 This Valentine's Day, Café Soriah will leave you smitten. After all, it took first-place for "Most Romantic Dining Spot" in the Eugene Weekly. While pricey for the college student budget, the excellent service and selection of savory dishes will surely not disappoint.

Beppe & Gianni's Trattoria cooks up vintage romance for hungry couples on Valentine's Day

The Italian restaurant's meals are an experience from start to finish

by Lauren Fox | Freelance Reporter

Beppe & Gianni's Trattoria Ambiance: 5 Cuisine: 4 Service: 4 Price Range: $$-$$$ If a quiet and intimate Valentine's Day is what you're craving, look no further than 19th Avenue. Whether you are looking to impress a new crush or keep the flames alive with an established love, you cannot go wrong with the vintage romance that Beppe & Gianni's Trattoria provides.

Recipe: Sugar cookies

by Leslie Montgomery

Do your friends ever say you are a horrible cook or that you could not bake to save your life? Fear not; this simple recipe will be sure to make them think otherwise, and these cookies will score you "brownie points" with your significant other. If you don't have a current partner, get some friends together and decorate to your heart's content with fun frosting and sprinkles.

Recipe: Shortbread cookies

by Tiffany Kimmel | Freelance Reporter

Packaged in rose-colored plastic wrap, these cookies are the perfect gift to give your Valentine. Shortbread cookies: 1/2 cup white sugar One cup butter, softened 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon vanilla Melt butter in microwave for about 30 to 40 seconds.

Valentine's Day gift guide

On a budget for Valentine's Day? 30 bones can get you...

by Tiffany Reagan

The coolest thing since sliced bread... seriously. Pop Art Toaster, $29.99, Target.com Pages and pages filled with sexy, dirty, disgusting and spectacular photos. "The Vice Photo Book," $29.70, amazon.com Fun technology, and it's earth-friendly. Water Powered Alarm Clock, $24.

Napoli treats diners to tasty Italian amid baked treats

by Tiffany Kimmel | Freelance Reporter

Napoli Cost: 4 Stars Atmosphere: 3.5 Stars Taste: 5 Stars Service: 4.5 Stars Drinks: 5 Stars Are you and your Valentine pining for a taste of Italy? With atmosphere akin to Lady and the Tramp's romantic spaghetti scene, Napoli, an Italian restaurant and bakery located on 13th Avenue is a heart-stopping winner for both you and your Valentine this year.

The Bad Plus breaks boundaries...and all that jazz

The avant-garde trio has flipped the jazz genre on its head

by Grace Pettygrove | Freelance Reporter

The Bad Plus In the spirit of improvisation and free jazz, live is always better; the Bad Plus' brief stay in the Pacific Northwest is not to be missed. When: Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Where: John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, 868 High St. Cost: $16.

Not in a relationship? No big deal

In My Opinion | Radtastic!

by Matt Sevits

Apparently love is in the air. But unless love is in the form of fluffy white snowflakes, the air is currently loveless in my eyes. Yes, it's Valentine's Day, and yes, I'm single - but don't worry; I won't turn this column into a woe-is-me declaration of love lost or a rant against corporate holidays.