Thanks to the greeting card industry and American culture’s obsession with romance, you are probably aware that this coming Sunday is Valentine’s Day. Or, for all the single people out there, President’s Day Eve. Whether you are single or attached, hoping to get hit by cupid’s arrow, or wanting to hunt him down and take a few shots at him yourself, the fact is that many of us do not have to work on Monday. So why not go out on Sunday and make a night of it?

Lucky for us St. Louisans, local establishments are providing quite a few opportunities to do something fun and a little more interesting than the standard romantic dinner of the wine/roses/chocolate variety (not that there’s anything wrong with that). If you’re game and haven’t made plans yet, here are a few local events that sound like they’d be worth checking out:

Romantic dinner at White Castle

Yes, the words “romantic dinner” and “White Castle” are not often associated with each other, but it looks like everyone’s favorite producer of tiny square indigestion-inducing cheeseburgers is hoping to make Valentine’s Day an exception to this rule. Either that or they find great amusement in slapping you in the face with irony. For Valentine’s Day only, White Castle pulls out all the stops: candlelight, flowers, tableside service…and sliders. Admit it, you’re intrigued. Call 314-535-7430 ext. 12 for reservations (available from 5pm – 8pm).

Shred your Ex at Bar Louie

Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day. And so is bitterness. If you have an ex who deserves to be ripped to shreds but pesky laws and possible jail time are preventing you from getting your just rewards, head over to Bar Louie in Kirkwood or the Central West End where the “V” in V-day stands for vindication.  Bring a picture of he who shall not be named and put it through the shredder as you enter the bar. Then collect your complimentary drink and toast to the symbolic beauty of the shredder blades slicing through his face. Karaoke begins at 9pm for those whose angst will only be tempered by belting out Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know. Warning: This activity may put you at significant risk for drunk texting – proceed with caution.

Sweetheart’s Jazz Brunch at Café Ventana

If brunch is your meal of choice and you and your sweetie prefer live tunes to the often strangely random canned restaurant music, get thee to Café Ventana for their Sweetheart’s Jazz Brunch on Valentine’s Day. For $30 you get two breakfast soufflés, two strawberry chocolate beignets, two mimosas, and two medium coffees. Good food (this place is known for their delicious beignets), good drinks, good music – and it won’t break the bank.

Tapas, cocktails and flamenco dancing at Sanctuaria

Want to add a little spice to your Valentine’s Day? Head over to Sanctuaria in The Grove. For $70 you’ll get five small plate items, two specialty cocktails, one dessert and two glasses of champagne. The cozy, gothic atmosphere and sultry vibe of Sanctuaria definitely enhance the romance factor, and just in case you get tired of staring lovingly into each other’s eyes, there will be flamenco dancers dramatically sashaying throughout the restaurant. Who knows, after a couple drinks, you might be inspired to get up and do a little dancing yourself!

Image Credit: BlogCDN.com

Carlie is the Food and Drink Editor for Girls Guide. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly. You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.