It seems that when it comes to Valentine’s Day, most of us resort to the tried-and-true. A recent survey by the National Retail Federation showed that 61% of men plan on giving flowers while 50% of women are going to woo their men with chocolate (hopefully my wife is among them).

Here’s where to track down what the National Retail Federation says is on your gift list right here in Lake Oswego.

FLOWERS. (Given by 61% of the men and 15% of women). R. Bloom’s has been in business in Lake Oswego for 26 years so they know a thing or two about Valentine’s Day. Their advice this year—try pairing your flowers with a little something extra that can serve as a memento. “It’s all about creating memories,” Richard Bloom explains. One of Hot Skwash’s three inch velvet strawberries might be just the thing or a pearl strand wrapped around the vase. As far as flower selection goes, R. Bloom’s offers the traditional roses but Richard suggests a garden mix for something new and romantic. He is full of ideas so let him put his years of experience to work creating just the right message for you.

CANDY. (47% of the men, 50% of women). If you’re like me, candy is just another name for chocolate and there are lots of places in Lake Oswego to track that down. Chocolates by Bernard’s is the resident chocolatier in town where you’ll find the traditional chocolate filled red velvet boxes for $36 or four champagne truffles housed in a champagne split bottle for $19.50.

Papa Haydyn’s Chocolate Cube (a bittersweet chocolate shell filled with dark chocolate mousse) is my wife’s favorite and luckily for me, Zupan’s Lake Grove Market carries it.

GREETING CARDS. (44% men, 58% women). Great finds are in places you’d expect like Graham’s Book & Stationery and Paper Caper as well as ones you wouldn’t like Lucky Me and Zupan’s Flower Shop.

EVENING OUT. (39% men, 36% women). Local restaurants are planning Valentine’s Day special menus and some, like Zeppo, who don’t normally take two person reservations, will do so for that night. Mix things up by buying tickets to the Lake Oswego Art Council’s Art Throb gala event on Saturday, February 14 in the Hawthorne Room at Marylhurst University. Admission is $125/person and includes silent and live auction, dinner and dancing to the music of Pepe and the Bottle Blondes. But hurry—registration closes February 11.

If you want to get an earlier start in your day, you could sign you and your valentine up for  My Muddy Valentine 5K Obstacle Mud Run at Lee Farms in Tualatin. Doors open Saturday at 8:00 a.m. with 60 person waves leaving every ten minutes beginning at 9:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Sunday the fun starts all over again with waves leaving every ten minutes between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Register online. $70/Run; $109 VIP which includes almost bottomless beer/mimosas, gourmet breakfast, showers and parking. Register as a pair and get a discount.

Get a jump start on your Valentine’s celebration with wine tasting at World Class Wines. Resident wine geek Rick Baldwin will be featuring a variety of reds, whites, and rosés to please all palates.

JEWELRY. (29% men, 9% women). Maybe your valentine is someone whose motto is like this one posted on Lake Oswego Jewelers’ Facebook page: “If someone tells you that you have enough jewelry and you don’t need anymore, stop talking to them. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.” If so, get yourself over to one of Lake Oswego’s jewelry experts like Lake Oswego Jewelers, Dyke Vandenburgh Jewelers or Trios Studios. Local shops like Accessories from the Heart also carry pieces from regional artists like Deb Funches or Dina McNally. Point is, you can’t go wrong shopping locally.

A NEW HOUSE. Okay, so that didn’t show up on the survey, but if you or your valentine are in the market for a new home, give me a call at 503.939.9801 or check out my website. I’d love to show you around because I love Lake Oswego!

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net