I suck at birthday stuff -- could use assistance for gifts/NYC restaurant ideas!

[VertexSquared]

I had tried both of those places as well (but no available times were ripe for the picking) -- this is what happens when you're an absentminded dumbass and wait too long to make proper reservations. @_@

[xpaperxcutx]

Sorry -- I mean what do you think of the food/experience there? Good choice?

 

I have eaten at the Pierre, but not the Four Seasons on Lexington.

[xpaperxcutx]

I had tried both of those places as well (but no available times were ripe for the picking) -- this is what happens when you're an absentminded dumbass and wait too long to make proper reservations. @_@

 

Well that sucks... not good to hold off making reservations until the week of your gf's bday...

 

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/la-grenouille/ here try this one. The reviews are pretty good and the restaurant looks very quaint. Should be romantic by candlelight.

 

Okay I recommend you do a thorough search on nymag and if that doesn't help try zagat.

Edited February 23, 2011 by xpaperxcutx

[VertexSquared]

Thanks for the link

[Chocolat]

Must remember this thread for the next time I visit New York.

 

I'm a foodie and would suggest a nice "food basket" as a gift. You could pick a theme, say mediterranean, and choose good olive oil, tapenade, aged balsamic vinegar, a few good cheeses, chocolate, salt (yes, I'm a salt snob!), good wine, potentially her favorite cooking magazine, a cook book, etc. etc. etc. Then you could proceed to have an indoor picnic with the perishable elements in the basket.

 

Ps: and obviously I mean get the fancy olive oil and balsamic vinegar, the kind she wouldn't buy for herself.

 

This is the one I'd most enjoy receiving!

[VertexSquared]

Any other gift/event ideas?

 

So far all I really have is the dinner reservation and a birthday card... will probably go buy a gift soon and figure out maybe a lunch plan and maybe one other event?

[VertexSquared]

I am so screwed

[Kamille]

I am so screwed

 

What? Why? It sounds like you totally have it under control!

Anything happened?

[VertexSquared]

I am just running out of time and I don't have things planned out too well. She's been spending a lot more time with me after work this month and so it's been impossible to have sufficient alone time to go shopping/planning. On top of that, I'm already REALLY bad at figuring out holiday stuff as it is. The weather here in NYC is also crappy so romantic rooftop events or strolls in the park or picnics are out of the question.

 

It's especially bad because she threw such a nice birthday for me when I turned 24 (brunch, a play, a great dinner, an ice cream dessert she made me). The problem is that she's lactose intolerant (most cakes/cupcakes/desserts make her feel uneasy) and all I have planned so far is dinner (and I am running out to get her a card).

 

I took today off so I could finally have some breathing room to get stuff done (without her knowing), which was unfortunately the only day I was able to negotiate for the past month or so and it's dangerously close.

 

I'm stressing out and I am going to screw up her birthday. :X

[Kamille]

I am just running out of time and I don't have things planned out too well. She's been spending a lot more time with me after work this month and so it's been impossible to have sufficient alone time to go shopping/planning. On top of that, I'm already REALLY bad at figuring out holiday stuff as it is. The weather here in NYC is also crappy so romantic rooftop events or strolls in the park or picnics are out of the question.

 

It's especially bad because she threw such a nice birthday for me when I turned 24 (brunch, a play, a great dinner, an ice cream dessert she made me). The problem is that she's lactose intolerant (most cakes/cupcakes/desserts make her feel uneasy) and all I have planned so far is dinner (and I am running out to get her a card).

 

I took today off so I could finally have some breathing room to get stuff done (without her knowing), which was unfortunately the only day I was able to negotiate for the past month or so and it's dangerously close.

 

I'm stressing out and I am going to screw up her birthday. :X

 

You're so not going to screw up her birthday! You already have dinner planned, and from the looks of it, it's probably a great reservation.

 

What about a winter theme day? Skating, hot chocolates, a "home-spa" massage (meaning that you give her), complete with fancy bath-beauty products that you can use to massage her (and flowers at home to welcome her), followed by a well-deserved nap and then dinner? If you have the energy, follow that up with a concert or a night of dancing (or a play or an art opening?)

 

Or pick and choose one activity in the above list.

[VertexSquared]

Thank you for the suggestions, but herein lies my dilemma:

 

Unfortunately I don't have a tub or anything like that. We do the massage stuff regularly actually, haha -- as well as trips to MoMA.

 

She doesn't like chocolate and has a fear of skating. >.<

 

Doesn't look like there are any good movies out right now, either. :<

 

I'm so, so, oh so very screwed.

[Kamille]

Thank you for the suggestions, but herein lies my dilemma:

 

Unfortunately I don't have a tub or anything like that. We do the massage stuff regularly actually, haha -- as well as trips to MoMA.

 

She doesn't like chocolate and has a fear of skating. >.<

 

Doesn't look like there are any good movies out right now, either. :<

 

I'm so, so, oh so very screwed.

 

No bath eh? That gives me an idea. Could you afford a day at a water spa??? :bunny: those are the absolute best. I'm off to googling NY water spas.

[Kamille]

what a quick search turned up:

http://newyork.timeout.com/shopping-style/spas-salons/60937/water-spas-with-day-passes

[xpaperxcutx]

I did not know your gf was lactose intolerant so that means getting a customized cake is out of the question. Does she like candy or sweets? Dylans's Candy Shop has some amazing candies, maybe you can go there and see if you can get a a little birthday basket of quirky candies. Also, if you haven't gotten her a gift yet, I suggest you check out Tiffany's. You don't have to buy something that's over the top and pricey but Tiffany's tpically have jeweleries and trinkets that are of sentimental value when gifted.

[Kamille]

I mean, I know the idea didn't get picked up the first time I pitched it - but I'm still a big fan of you hitting a specialty food store and building a "foodie" dream basket, filled with fancy stuff she would never buy for herself.

[VertexSquared]

She isn't normally a candy fan at all but I can check that place out -- not sure where I'd get a foodie basket either but that sounds like a good idea, too

[Kamille]

She isn't normally a candy fan at all but I can check that place out -- not sure where I'd get a foodie basket either but that sounds like a good idea, too

 

Go to a dollar store or a decoration store and get a basket.

 

Go to Dean and Deluca or some such "high range" foodie specialty store and buy products you know she might like.

 

Foodies tend to be specific about:

Non-perishables:

Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, (chocolate but that's out), coffee, tea, wine, pasta (all durum), spices, olive spreads, olives, paté, dried fruits and nuts, etc.

Perishables: (cheese, but that's out); bread, fruits (organic), cold cuts-saucisson (if she's into that kind of stuff). Usually just walking into the store will give you cues as to what foodies are into.

[Confusedalways]

I mean, I know the idea didn't get picked up the first time I pitched it - but I'm still a big fan of you hitting a specialty food store and building a "foodie" dream basket, filled with fancy stuff she would never buy for herself.

 

Building on this idea- there are some 'X food of the month clubs" where X is hot sauce, BBQ sauce, wines, beers that arrive 1 time a month and it usually something new/ unique that i've never tried. They're really delish, my boyfriend loved his.

 

Also: what about a day of skiing in Vermont? A broadway play later in the month?

[Kamille]

Building on this idea- there are some 'X food of the month clubs" where X is hot sauce, BBQ sauce, wines, beers that arrive 1 time a month and it usually something new/ unique that i've never tried. They're really delish, my boyfriend loved his.

 

Also: what about a day of skiing in Vermont? A broadway play later in the month?

 

OOh, another idea, bouncing off of this one, is to register her to one of those farmer's cooperative baskets (where an association delivers locally farmed products to the door of urbanites). The only problem is that they usually run May-November.

[xpaperxcutx]

I mean, I know the idea didn't get picked up the first time I pitched it - but I'm still a big fan of you hitting a specialty food store and building a "foodie" dream basket, filled with fancy stuff she would never buy for herself.

 

Love this idea. A gift basket of some quirky and specialty foods will really impress her. It's like opening a cookie jar and finding something delectable asides from chocolate chips.

[Confusedalways]

Loving these food ideas, especially since you're in NYC it can't be that hard to find unique stuff!

[VertexSquared]

I'm unfortunately not creative enough and my girlfriend just said that her boss let her off early from work so she's coming back early today

 

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** Aaghghhh! FML

[Kamille]

I'm unfortunately not creative enough and my girlfriend just said that her boss let her off early from work so she's coming back early today

 

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** Aaghghhh! FML

Water spa???? You can probably book by phone.

[VertexSquared]

How do water spas work? If it's something I just send her off to by herself, I'm not sure (she likes doing everything together or it's meaningless) -- I think we'd both have to do it (is that what most couples do, or no?). I'm trying to fit in a play/movie in the afternoon and figure out a brunch idea. I might get her tiramisu with a candle.

 

Foodie basket would be a great idea but I'm not sure what I'd put in it (in terms of what she'd like or which brands of what would be good etc) ... I've only got a couple of hours now (she's going to stop by my work when she's done as that's where she thinks I am, agghhh. We're going to a party later).

 

My brain is all over the place right now and I can't think properly. X_X

[Kamille]

How do water spas work? If it's something I just send her off to by herself, I'm not sure (she likes doing everything together or it's meaningless) -- I think we'd both have to do it (is that what most couples do, or no?).

Some are gender-specific and some are mixed. You would have to make sure you make reservations at a mixed one.

 

I'm trying to fit in a play/movie in the afternoon and figure out a brunch idea. I might get her tiramisu with a candle.

 

You know what? This could be enough Vertex. I love how much thought you're putting into this. She's going to appreciate little things such as a play, brunch and tiramisu with candles.

 

 

Foodie basket would be a great idea but I'm not sure what I'd put in it (in terms of what she'd like or which brands of what would be good etc) ... I've only got a couple of hours now (she's going to stop by my work when she's done as that's where she thinks I am, agghhh. We're going to a party later).

It sounds like this idea is only stressing you out, so don't feel obligated to do it. Scratch it for now. ( If you do decide to give it a go, go to a store and ask one the shopkeepers for help. In some of the snazier stores, they will let you try out the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cheeses and olives before buying (at least they do in Toronto). The goal isn't for you to match what she usually buys, but to offer her fancy alternatives.)

 

 

My brain is all over the place right now and I can't think properly. X_X

 

Again, the idea of a brunch, play/movie, tiramisu and dinner is already a fantastic day. That's already a great plan. I would add a little keepsafe for good measure, such as the jewellery papercut suggested earlier (a nice pair of earings, a bracelet, a necklace. Something simple that will never the less make her think of you when she wears it. And yes, that's why most women love jewellery. It isn't about the style. it's about thinking of you).