Valentine's Day: A Depressing Day For Singles?

For those of you who are already planning ahead this weekend for perfection on Valentine's Day, remember this: while there are many couples who are losing sleep to plan for this romantic holiday, there are also many singles who are not looking forward to seeing couples head-over-heels for each other on Valentine's day. This post is for all the singles out there.

In a recent study, there are more singles than couples in the UK. Perhaps this goes for the US as well? So if the couples are out enjoying their night, where do the rest of the population (the singles) go? The answer is simple: home. Well, for most of us.

For those who are single and looking for something to do with a friend, friends, companions or family, here's a list of some things to do and places to avoid:

Avoid:
-Anywhere upscale with upscale restaurants: men want to make their ladies feel like the world and nothing beats an expensive tab!
-Central Park: Couples on horse-drawn carriage rides? Check. A proposal on the bridges? Check! Definitely a place to avoid.
-5th Avenue (49th Street to 60th Street, respectively): Come on, men picking out last-minute inscribed gifts at Tiffany's for their ladies or women picking out Rolex watches? Super no-no area!
-Museums: Museums are well-known places for dates. This is where all the "in-common likes" start.
-Times Square: If you truly don't like being surrounded in an area of 200,000 tourists at a time, you will already have a reason not to be here. People will witch Broadways shows, did you forget?
-Anywhere by a river. That includes Gantry State Park (Yes, I'm talking about you, Riverview Restaurant!), Brooklyn Bridge (The River Cafe is probably overbooked by now)
-Empire State Building: You already should know people propose at the top!
-Lincoln Center: If it weren't for that fountain, there'd be no trouble!
-Midtown: Midtown is the home for expensive cuisine.

Yes!:
-St. Mark's Place. Looking for simple cultural food? St. Mark's is no fancy schmancy place, an area mostly for those who are looking for cheap thrills and bargains, such as thrift shopping and food under $10.
-Chinatown: I guarantee you, only tourists will be here to explore the Chinese culture in America. Try not to turn in Little Italy, unless you really are starving for pizza.
-SoHo: Stay on Broadway or Mercer Street, anywhere that has does not have restaurants. And try not walk all the way down to the South Village. There are plenty of pretty restaurants there!3
-Chelsea: May I suggest while you're around Madison Square Park, get some Shake Shack!
-Union Square: Lots of food shopping and shopping and shopping. And cheap food!
-Herald Square : Do you really think people go shopping on Valentine's day? Go to Koreatown while you're at it and stop by Karaoke Duet 35 if you're in the mood to end the day with losing your voice!

Maybe's/Maybe Not's:
-Grand Central: Romantic-getaways to Upstate? Then again, a lot of romantic stories have occured at Grand Central.