Girlfriends Valentine’s Day in NYC

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As store windows quickly fill up with oversized stuffed animals and brilliant bouquets, one thing is clear: Valentine’s Day has reared its ugly head once again.

While a holiday celebrating the joys of romantic love can be a real drag if you find yourself un-coupled, New York City has a never-ending supply of engaging activities to take your mind off finding that special someone. So whether you’re in pursuit of new love or just looking to blow off some steam, grab your girlfriends and check out these great activities:

Take a stroll around the city: You’d never believe how quiet New York gets when all of its couples are somewhere kissing over martinis, so make the most of it by checking out some of the outdoor hotspots that are usually packed to the gills with kids and joggers. If you’re uptown, a leisurely walk through Central Park can feel nearly as good as a date, if you’re happy having hot dogs for dinner. If your evening finds you downtown, take a walk along the High Line, where you’ll get beautiful views of the water, as well as some of the unique new buildings going up nearby, like 505 West 19^th Street, the lobby of which is being built directly under the park.

Catch a chick flick: Valentine’s day is the romantic comedy industry’s bread and butter, so there’s no better time to indulge in some guilty pleasure movie watching than on the most romantic day of the year. Grab your girlfriends, some snacks, and head to the nearest movie theater and meet Hollywood’s latest version of Mr. Right. If your building happens to have a screening room of its own, like the state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor theater at 56 Leonard Street, you won’t even have to change out of your pajamas to see on-screen love bloom.

Feel the burn together: Cardio isn’t just good for your waistline, it’s good for your mood, too. There’s no better way to brush off frustration and heartache than with some high-intensity exercise, so give SoulCycle a spin, shake things up at Zumba, or try out your passion for punching at a boxing class and feel those endorphins flow.

Nurture your inner Nigella: There’s nothing sexier than a woman who knows her way around a kitchen, so channel your inner domestic goddess at one of the countless cooking classes. If meeting your future mate is the name of the game, try out Appetite for Seduction, where you’ll learn to whip up aphrodisiacs in a fun group setting.

Do a mini staycation: Dorothy may have said, “there’s no place like home,” but once in a while, it feels pretty darned good to get some shut eye under a set of sheets you haven’t had to turn down yourself. If you’re looking to stay in the center of the action, try out the Four Seasons hotel. The best part? If you love the service at the hotel, you can always make your stay permanent in one of the apartments on the upper floors coming soon at Thirty Park Place!

Just because you’re still flying solo when the temperatures have dipped, that doesn’t mean Valentine’s Day has to leave you cold — just remember to surround yourself with friends, keep yourself occupied, and, when all else fails, there’s always chocolate.