Making sure cupid's arrow hits the target

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and generally guys and gals have different ideas on how they should spend the evening with that special someone. For girls, Valentine's Day can be a time when they can get dressed up, go out to eat at a fancy restaurant, receive flowers or other presents and see where the romantic night will take them. Guys, on the other hand, might rather have their Valentine's Day be a low-key affair. Their idea for a good night could consist of eating in and just hanging out, which may be cheaper than going out on the town. Of these two scenarios, one doesn't have to be Dr. Phil to figure out which one will emerge the victor. Valentine's Day is an event for the girls. \nJosh Holmstead, a junior, says Valentine's Day is a day geared toward women. Guys are more focused on making their date happy and giving her what she wants than thinking about what they want to do, he says. \n"I think guys generally don't care about it much. It's almost just another day," he says. "But if you don't do anything, you'll be in the doghouse." \nSince staying in and watching the latest Vin Diesel movie isn't exactly an option for some couples, a guy should attempt to plan a romantic evening to please his date. So what exactly should a guy do to ensure the night lives up to his date's expectations? \nMany girls at IU seem to favor the more traditional route when it comes to experiencing a great Valentine's date. A guy should definitely start the evening off right by bringing his date flowers or else they should be ready to feel the wrath of disappointment. \nSamantha Sturgill, a sophomore, says her perfect date would include flowers, preferably white roses. For Cynequa Ervin, also a sophomore, she would like her date to bring her tulips instead of the traditional roses. Last year, college students bought more than 6,000 roses, says manager of Ellis Floral Jenny Williams.\n"Red roses are the most popular flower here in Bloomington," she says. \nWilliams says other colored roses are gaining popularity elsewhere, but here in Bloomington, Gerber daisies, orchids and calla lilies are also in high demand. \nFlowers on the date are a good first step, but as Marilyn Monroe famously said, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend." So perhaps guys should consider spending a little more money to get their date a nice piece of jewelry. \nErvin doesn't know if she's going to get jewelry this year, but she says in the past, she has received a necklace and rings on Valentine's Day. Stacey Stoffer, manager of Argentum Jewelry, 205 N. College Ave., says that about 15 to 20 percent more college guys have come into the store specifically shopping for Valentine's Day, many of whom have needed a little extra guidance in selecting the perfect gift. \nThis year silver jewelry, heart shapes, diamond stud earrings and pendants have been popular. Guys have dropped on average around $200 buying jewelry for that special someone, she says. \nIf the guy's bank account can't spare the money for a nice piece of jewelry, there are alternatives. Some girls enjoy getting a little teddy bear or other stuffed animal. Brooke Solomon, a senior, says anything beyond a card is good. Tanya Neczwid, a junior, would like to get something "cutesy," but not cheesy from her date. \nSome girls say getting a hotel room to have private time with their significant other is a good idea. The Grant Street Inn, 310 N. Grant St., is always very popular, employee Matthew Thompson says. About 20 percent of the inn's cliental are college students and Thompson says he feels a stay at the inn is worth it because of the very romantic rooms. \nBefore embarking on a romantic evening in a hotel, the couples should probably eat dinner. After all, they may be up for a while. While both sexes agree that dinner plays a big role during a Valentine's date, the girl's wishes usually win out, so dinner on this night will be out at a nice restaurant. Monica Bruder, bed and breakfast manager at Scholar's Inn, says that seating on Valentine's Day is very limited for the restaurant. They began taking reservations for dinner after the first of the year and the reservations are going quicker as the big day draws closer.\nNeczwid says she would like to go somewhere Italian for dinner. \n"I wouldn't want it to be Wendy's," she says. \nNot all girls have to have dinner, flowers and jewelry to have a great night. Many girls just want to be able to see their boyfriends and spend time with them because they have long distance relationships. For Neczwid, even though dinner and flowers would be nice, all she really wants is for her boyfriend to drive from Kansas and see her. \n"He doesn't have to spend a lot of money," she says. "But it would be nice for him to get the hotel room. I always have to get it."\nSometimes guys can feel the pressure from girls to plan a perfect date. Holmstead says there is a lot of pressure on guys to come up with a good date. He has heard girls talking at the end of January about Valentine's Day and that girls often just expect the guy to know what to do to make the girl happy. Senior Ray Pawulich agrees that guys are often pressured from men's magazines or Hollywood to make a girl happy. He says that women are the focus of the holiday. Sophomore Bob Cook says the responsibility to plan the date is entirely dependent on the guy's creativity.\n"Girls want evidence behind each action that occurs on the date," Cook says. \nPawulich doesn't have a problem with making the girl the focus of the evening and doing all the work. \n"I would want a chance to show her how much I care in every cliché, sappy traditional way, but put my own bend on it," Pawulich says. \nEven though most guys are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure their date gets the evening she wants, they would be happier doing something different. \nCook says his perfect Valentine's Day would consist of he and his girlfriend waking up and having someone there to serve them food. They would watch movies and then maybe go for a walk if the weather is nice. If a girl was to get him something though, he says he wouldn't mind a painting he could hang in his room. \nHolmstead describes his "perfect" date as something casual where he wouldn't have to dress up and he and the girl could just go back to his house, rent a movie and relax.\nJoel Lanie, a junior, says he would want to spend the day with his significant other and not have to worry about the hype. \n"You want to do a little something, but not a Valentine's Day marathon," he says. "Guys just want to be appreciated." \nBoth guys and girls agree that in the end, all that really matters is that they get to see their boyfriend or girlfriend. Sturgill and Cook say they just want to be able to hang out with their dates. \n"It's more about spending time with someone than spending money," Cook says.