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Got love on the brain? If so, you might be thinking about taking a Lyft ride to your paramour’s home in the next week or so. But if you don’t know your sweetheart’s love language, you could be setting yourself up for a rough visit. Counselor Gary Chapman, Ph.D., coined the term to describe the different ways that people express and receive affection. And trust us: If your partner responds to gifts, you don’t want to show up offering words of affirmation.
To help this Valentine’s Day go off without a hitch, here’s a look at where Lyft riders went last year on February 14 — and what that might say about their cities’ love languages.
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Quality time
It’s no surprise that couples in most cities prioritize going out on Valentine’s Day — a sure sign that they value quality time. Most opt for typical date-night destinations like movies (cinemas receive 3.5x more rides than the typical Wednesday) and restaurants (1.7x as many rides). So that’s the love language, but what’s the love cuisine? Romantics in Columbus, Ohio, and New York head out for Italian food (Marcella’s and L’artusi are the most popular spots, respectively), Philadelphia lovebirds choose French food (at Parc), and San Francisco’s couples go for Japanese and Peruvian (at Ozumo and Chotto Matte). In some warmer cities, people enjoy the night al fresco: Riders in Atlanta are 2.4x as likely to rendezvous at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, while lovers in Miami head to the Versailles-esque Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.
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Gift giving
Some cities’ couples are most likely to express their affection by buying stuff for one another. The most popular gift? Flowers. Indeed, florist shops see 6.5x more rides on Valentine’s Day than usual. The trend is particularly prominent in northern cities (Chicago, Portland, Toronto, Vancouver), where the desire for greenery is most urgent in mid-February.
Jewelry is another popular gift, with jewelry stores receiving 75% more rides than usual on February 14. In Houston, riders head to James Avery Artisan Jewelry, while in Seattle, it’s Fred Meyer Jewelers. And then there’s sweets — rides to sweet shops like candy stores and bakeries are up 70% on Valentine’s Day. From Sweet Potato Sensations in Detroit (yum) to Oak Bakeshop in Providence (double yum), there’s no shortage of opportunities to indulge in some sugar on the holiday.
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Words of affirmation
“Be mine.” “U R Cute.” Anyone who has received a candy heart can attest to the power of words of affirmation. That’s why over 190 million cards are exchanged every February 14. But some go the extra mile and make their own Valentines. Perhaps that’s why so many Lyft riders head to craft stores on Valentine’s Day, with record-level attendance at the craft stores Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Joann, and Blick Art Materials in eight major U.S. cities, most notably Buffalo, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee.
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Acts of service
What’s more romantic than cooking a meal for your love (provided you don’t burn the house down)? Even the AARP suggests it as a way to heat up a relationship. If nothing else, it’s performing an act of service for someone you care about. And on Valentine’s Day, rides to grocery stores spike by 20%, most notably in Denver and Memphis (causing some crowded King Soopers, and Krogers). Bonus points for avoiding crowded restaurants.
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Physical touch
Valentine’s Day is for hugging and smooching. But if your love language is physical touch, some couples bring in the professionals on Valentine’s Day. In Westchester County, New York, people are 80% more likely to go to a spa (notably Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa and the Opus Spa), those in San Jose, California, are 30% more likely (H2O Head Care), and in Las Vegas, they’re 20% more likely (Paradise Massage) to check in for some zen and pampering than other days.
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