Operation Valentine Day's: Where to eat, go and what to buy in Pittsburgh

Whether you're planning a romantic date or fun night out with friends, Valentine's Day is a great excuse to try a new restaurant or activity that Pittsburgh has to offer. No matter what your budget is, you can create a memorable evening with just a little research.

Where to eat:

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, many restaurants and cafes are offering special promotions.

If you are looking for a dinner location that is guaranteed to impress your date, McCormick & Schmick's in the South Side Works is a great solution. The seafood restaurant provides a special themed menu perfect for Valentine's Day. For an extra charge, the restaurant will even deliver roses to your table when you arrive and inscribe a personalized message on your menu or on a table card. Half a dozen roses is $40, and a full dozen is $65.

A more student-friendly option Mad Mex's Valentine's Day deal, which is perfect for both couples and groups on a budget. The "Mad Lovin" special is a complete, four-course dinner for two for $35.The meal includes an appetizer, soup or salad, entrees and a dessert.

Rachael Thurber, manager of the Oakland Mad Mex, thinks that the deal is a great value for college students looking for a relaxed meal on Valentine's Day.

"This would be a great spot, because you don't have to make a reservation, the food  is good, and the atmosphere is casual," Thurber said. "If you don't have a date, come with a group of friends."

Like Mad Mex, Caribou Coffee, located in the South Side Works, is capitalizing on the holiday by offering buy-one-get-one-free drinks on Valentine's Day.

If you follow the café on Twitter, like it on Facebook or join the e-mail list, you will receive the coupon. Coffee or a favorite espresso drink may provide the perfect ending to a night out with friends or a significant other.

"There is not a lot of pressure to come with a date, and it's inexpensive and close to campus," said Kayla Woods, a Caribou Coffee barista and a junior education major at Duquesne. "Plus, the drinks are delicious."              

What to do:

For most people, Valentine's Day means dinner and a movie, but this year is an opportunity to think outside of the heart-shaped box. Pittsburgh offers a variety of romantic experiences to fit the interests of any couple or group that can provide a memorable twist on the holiday.

For those wishing to combine dining and scenery, take advantage of Pittsburgh's rivers with a ride on the Gateway Clipper Fleet's Valentine's Day Dinner Cruise. The cruise departs from the Station Square dock at 7 p.m. for a three-hour tour around the city.

Diners can enjoy a buffet dinner against a stunning city backdrop while listening to live entertainment. The cruise is $50 per person, and you can make reservations on the Gateway Clipper website.

Couples with a taste for the arts will appreciate "Soiree Voyage D'Amour," a performance by a jazz quintet led by world-renowned trumpeter and Duquesne professor, Sean Jones. The concert will be held at the Cabaret at Theater Square Downtown at both 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m and tickets are $42.75 each.

The music featured in the performance is intended to convey each phase of a couple's evening. Tickets are available online or through the theater's box office.

Even the Pittsburgh Public Theater is getting into the spirit of the season with performances of Shakespeare's "As You Like It". The play is a romantic comedy chronicling the relationship of a young couple who fall in love at first sight.

The play will be performed at the O'Reilly Theater at 7 p.m. on Valentine's Day. Tickets are discounted to $16 for those under 26 years old, making this a perfect choice for college students with budgets who want to celebrate the holiday in style.

If you are seeking a more celestial experience and don't mind celebrating Valentine's Day a little early, then check out the Buhl Digital Planetarium and Observatory the Buhl Observatory offers Skywatch featuring views of Jupiter's clouds, Saturn's rings and the moon's surface for an admission price of $1. Experts offer helpful tips and guidance to visitors inexperienced with stargazing.

Every weekend, the Buhl Planetarium offers a variety of laser shows based on the music of Lady Gaga, Queen, Led Zeppelin and more. Laser light shows are $8 for non-members and $2 for members, and admission to a second laser show can also be purchased for an additional $5.

Gifts to give:

One of the most stressful choices to make on Valentine's Day is the perfect gift for a significant other. If you want to keep it simple, keep in that Valentine's Day would cease to exist without flowers and chocolate. While they're cliché, they're also timeless.