Grooming supplies and services from the Boardroom. We all enjoy a little pampering, and a membership at the Boardroom Salon for Men (with multiple locations around the Metroplex) is an excellent gift for him… or for you both. Depending on the level, joining allows unlimited haircuts, discounts on products (including from Jack Black and St. James of London) and services, as well as some perks like the Fountain of Youth for covering up that grey. Memberships start at $185; boardroomsalon.com.
A Valentine’s Gift Guide for LGBTQ lovers
Show your love for your someone special with these affordable gifts that go straight for the feels.
— Mikey Rox and Arnold Wayne Jones
Neon LOVE sign. Flexible LED tubing that mimics the real glow of neon turns your romantic passion into illuminated wall art with Amped & Co’s white “love sign” mounted on clear acrylic backing for easy hanging. “Love” in purple and a red heart also are available. $60, ampedandco.com
Vibrating couple bracelets. Sensory technology in Bond Touch’s vibrating bracelets allow couples to ping each other — no matter the distance — to calm anxiety, create a sense of intimacy and strengthen relationships. A quick tap on the bracelet relays to your partner that they’re on your mind, plus you can create custom codes like three taps for “I Love You.” $98/pair, bond-touch.com
Same-Sex cake toppers. While finding a bakery to supply your Valentine’s wedding cake could be tricky in some parts of this country, head Down Under for exquisitely designed same-sex cake toppers. Australia’s Marri Tree Lane offers both sexes singly in light, medium, and dark skin tones to accurately represent the betrothed. $20, marritreelane.com.au
Sweet treats. Indulge in straight-from-the-farm sweets from the Fabulous Beekman Boys with their Chewy Gooey Caramels, salty goat milk fudge cookies or the Snuggle Bundle, which includes a pair of Beekman 1802 enamelware mugs and your choice of Heirloom Pantry Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa or double chocolate hot cocoa – which calls for a stay-in-bed snow day. $15-$30, shop.beekman1802.com
Fog of Love game. Settlers of Catan meets RomCom in Fog of Love, a two-player strategy game where players role-play as couples to experience all the milestones, hurdles, compromises, and celebrations of a typical relationship to end up happily ever after or in heartache… because ya win some and ya lose some. $50, walmart.com
This Date in Music book. Your favorite music lover will appreciate author Mike Walter’s On This Date in Music book, which features stories of significant events in audio history for each day of the year – from Edison patenting the phonograph to Pharrell Williams’ 10-week “Happy” run in 2014. Bar trivia is in your future. $30, amazon.com
Love-themed beaded pins. Handmade beaded pins from celeb-worn Jewels for Hope — in a Pride heart or bouquet of flowers — keep Valentine’s gift-giving sweet and simple. Upon checkout, select one of several charitable organizations that a portion of proceeds will benefit, including the Born This Way Foundation. $35-$55, etsy.com/shop/jewelsforhope
Starry sky map. Did the stars align the night you two met? They did, and you can take away a memento of that specific time and place with an exact depiction of how the cosmos looked overhead. My Sky Memento provides a personalized print of your celestial encounter that blends astronomy and art with a dash of sentiment. $50, myskymoment.com
Customized skin care. Artificial intelligence uses your partner’s skin type, age, living environment, stress, and other factors to design a personalized Y’OUR Skin Care regimen that includes a cleanser, day cream, night cream and serum for a smoother, more kissable complexion. $180, y-ourskin.com
Léon and George plants. Keep a symbol of your love fresh and vibrant with help from Léon & George, purveyors of stunning, responsibly-sourced statement-piece houseplants styled by interior design pros. Choose from 13 varieties of flora, including peperomia, silver evergreen, and bird’s nest fern, that each arrive with a wood-crafted dock. For every plant purchased, a donation is made to plant trees for humanity. $79-$109, leonandgeorge.com
Travel-tracking maps. Travel the country (or the world if you’re ambitious) while tracking your progress on push-pin maps from GeoJango. Framed versions as wall art provide a special way to look back on a lifetime of adventure. Sports maps also are available to chronicle tours of MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA stadiums. $99, geojango.com
What I Love About You book. If whispering sweet nothings isn’t your forte, pick up a copy of the fill-in-the-blank book What I Love About You, which prompts you to complete evocative checklists, deliver compliments, and otherwise tap into your sensitive side for a gift that your partner will cherish forever. $9, amazon.com
