Shopping the Square for Your Valentine

Valentine's gifts are a touchy subject. But a tour of Harvard Square reveals enough romance and kink to liven up your lover--be it the first-year cutie in the back of your Ec 10 section or the long-haired god in your English seminar.

On the quirky extreme, there's Hidden Sweets, tucked away on Church Street. You can be sure your heartthrob has never received these treats from Mom and Dad.

Right next to the register sits chocolate body paint. For a $10 eight-ounce jar and paintbrush, you can lather your lover or top ice cream. Just heat to 96.4 degrees and enjoy!

Further in the shelves there's more kink to be found.

If your evenings lack a certain flavor you might consider penis pasta. Or perhaps "penis gummies," "gummy boobs," "pasta boobs" and something mysteriously called a "Chocolate Willie." Head down the street to Sage's for a red sauce and you'll be all set for a...umm...romantic dinner d'amore.

After your Italian feast, you might consider rounding out your evening with another Hidden Sweets specialty--a bondage "starter kit." It comes in a little box that offers no clue as to the contents. The $12 package begs the buyer to "Show No Mercy!" You can also pick up a novelty card that shows the Clintons (minus Monica) showing little mercy.

Of course, you could go the traditional route and get that special someone a bouquet of flowers from the Brattle Street Florist. Ted Gomatos, who was arranging a lovely bouquet of pink tulips earlier this week, says Harvard romantics often venture into the store--and most don't stick to the traditional long stemmed roses (which are $4 apiece). Instead, he says, flowers of all sorts are popular Valentine's Day gifts, notably tulips, irises and some of the shop's tropical varieties.

And while we're on the subject of flowers, we might as well talk about chocolates--the other traditional Valentine's Day offering. For a date that demands the best, Godiva chocolates, although verging on the pretentious, will impress. These dolled-up boxes of goodies are available at Cardullo's and the Coop. At the Coop, the largest box of Godiva will set you back about $60. For romantics on a modest budget though, CVS sells Russel Stover for $3 to $20.

CVS also features "Swing 'N Sway Dr. Love." This dirty dog, clad in a doctor's uniform and sunglasses, responds to a loving squeeze by bobbing its head and singing a cheerful melody--"Bad Case of Loving You," by Robert Palmer. Like all good gifts, Dr. Love promises to keep on giving.

This year on Valentine's Day, many lovers will head home and relax with newly purchased aromatherapy from the Body Shop. The company claims these scents can relax, and even arouse, on a cold winter night. Mysteriously, chocolate is this year's sizzlin' scent, according to Body Shop employee Audrey K. McMorrow. Perhaps the answer lies in chocolate's powers as an aphrodisiac for women. Good enough for 10,000 men of Harvard.

For the man who needs no extra push, vanilla and strawberry have been flying off theshelves. McMorrow says she thinks they are popularbecause they are "clean."

Valentine's Day has helped the Harvard SquareBody Shop recently become the thirdhighest-selling outlet on the East Coast, McMorrowsays. The busy men who pass by the store come inand say "Give me whatever you've got!" accordingto McMorrow.

A similar phenomenon happens at Origins, TheBody Shop's Square competition and a "last-minutestore" according to assistant manager DebbieSarita. So far, salt rub is a big hit, and thetrend continues with Origins chocolate candles.

And for those who need to spark some action ina relationship, WordsWorth Gifts is selling "Lust:A Box of Devious Delights." For $15 you too cangive your love goodies like tattoos, fireballcandies, smokecrackers and passion gum. "Everybodygets such a crack out of it," says Wordsworthemployee Liz Robbins.

If you still haven't found the right gift,though, you may need to head on back to HiddenSweets or Christy's. Both stores sell"Grow-A-Date" for a few dollars. Plop your Romeoor Juliet in a cup of water, and it expands justenough to resemble the perfect date--flowersincluded.

Hidden Sweets clerk Judd M. Braverman says over100 Grow-A-Dates sell every year. "People likethat," he says.

And the best thing about your "Grow-A-Date?"It's still there in the morning

Valentine's Day has helped the Harvard SquareBody Shop recently become the thirdhighest-selling outlet on the East Coast, McMorrowsays. The busy men who pass by the store come inand say "Give me whatever you've got!" accordingto McMorrow.

A similar phenomenon happens at Origins, TheBody Shop's Square competition and a "last-minutestore" according to assistant manager DebbieSarita. So far, salt rub is a big hit, and thetrend continues with Origins chocolate candles.

And for those who need to spark some action ina relationship, WordsWorth Gifts is selling "Lust:A Box of Devious Delights." For $15 you too cangive your love goodies like tattoos, fireballcandies, smokecrackers and passion gum. "Everybodygets such a crack out of it," says Wordsworthemployee Liz Robbins.

If you still haven't found the right gift,though, you may need to head on back to HiddenSweets or Christy's. Both stores sell"Grow-A-Date" for a few dollars. Plop your Romeoor Juliet in a cup of water, and it expands justenough to resemble the perfect date--flowersincluded.

Hidden Sweets clerk Judd M. Braverman says over100 Grow-A-Dates sell every year. "People likethat," he says.

And the best thing about your "Grow-A-Date?"It's still there in the morning