Last night, we had a pre-Valentines Day Celebration. We attended Opera Grand Rapids performance of Donizetti's 'The Elixir of Love.' This was preceded by dinner with some friends at the University Club during which we enjoyed the expansive view of the Grand Rapids skyline.
The Elixir of Love is a touching love story with some good comedy thrown in. The happy ending in which true love eventually trumps class differences, competition and financial hardship is quite different from some of the more somber dramatic operas with tragic endings. The show is running for two day, February 13 & 14, 2009 at the DeVos Hall. There was a good crowd on opening night.
Partly because we'd planned the evening at the Opera and partly due to sheer busyness, no dinner plans have been made for Valentines Day itself. So, this morning, on the spur of the moment, we decided to see if there would be any chance of getting into any of Grand Rapids, MI finer restaurants.
Well, we were not surprised to learn, that Valentines' Day is recession proof! Most fine restaurants in Grand Rapids, Michigan are solidly booked unless one wants to eat at near midnight or shortly after lunch! This is good news. Apparently, love is triumphing over all the doom and gloom of economic recession at least for the time being.
As for us...it was off to the grocery store to get some nice steaks and trimmins'. The roses arrived earlier in the day and they are simply beautiful. They'll decorate the dinner table tonight. So here's to you for a Happy Valentines Day and hoping that regardless of where you are, it's a day in which you take the time to embrace and enjoy those whom you love.
Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511. Thanks for visiting our blog. Here are links to some of our most popular posts for you to enjoy!
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We do the stay home and have a nice dinner thing too. Too crowded to eat out today. Sounds like you had a really nice friday the 13th though.
Lola,
Your post says it all!!! Happy Valentine Day...!!! Thanks, Fran
Lola even though it is nice to go out on Valentine's Day, I really enjoy a nice quite dinner at home with my Valentine :) :) :)
I hope your dinner turned out to be special.
Awww nice post Lola. Here's to YOU also - for you are a endeared by so many of us.
Lola, that is good news, indeed. People in Grand Rapids apparently are still comfortable enough about the future to go out and enjoy themselves. This is actually pretty big news. Hugs, my friend. Hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day.
I think you may be right about Valentine's Day being recession proof. The restaurants are booked down here, too. Luckily, I remembered to order flowers for my sweetie and that got me the brownie points I needed! Ain't love grand!
Hi Lola...It sounds like you had a wonderful, wonderful Valentine's Day celebration spending time with good friends and your husband.
Kate
So going to Costco and getting laundry detergent and laying around the house in your sweats isn't a romantic Valentine day. Don't tell Bonnie.
Lola...
You're gonna love my little story :)
Many many years ago Broker Bryant and I were talking the sheltered life I had lived in NH. I told him that I had never been to an Opera. That being the case the following Christmas he bought us tickets to see Phantom Of The Opera. Needless to say I was upset with him and told him to never buy me another gift again. Just give me the money to buy my own gift. The Phantom of The Opera is NOT The Opera. Duh :)
TLW...ROAR!
We always prefer to stay home on Valentine's Day. Sitting in a crowded noisy restaurant is somehow just not that romantic. We have our 'romantic' dinners in 'off peak' times so we don't feel rushed and pressured.
So glad you had a beautiful weekend. Sounds like that opera you saw was very unique. Maybe it will be in our neck of the woods someday and I'll be able to catch it!
Hi Lola, Hubby was sick so I ended up making a gourmet dinner, easy on the spices. He did enjoy the port au chocolate for dessert 'tho. I get to finally meet you at the Ann Arbor Area Board blogging/con ed on Thursday! Cool.
Hope your Valentine's Day was wonderful. I think any time you can spend with the one you love is a great day!
Kathy