It’s about to get real basic up in here. Let me have this.
Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays, though not because I’ve ever been on a special V-Day date (unless you count buying one ticket to a Gatecreeper show). I just happen to love pink, hearts, love, and the overall aesthetic of this Hallmark holiday. (But I’m not into Galentine’s Day. That’s taking it too far.) In that spirit, here's my super-sweet early Valentine's Day gift to you: a list of places to celebrate this day of love ... with your ex.
Yes, your ex. At some point, you've surely contemplated putting on your hottest fit, meeting up with an ex, and showing them what they’ve missed. Some of us have actually done this. Hell, half of my friends don’t even know I’ve met up with my exes (uh, sorry guys). As long as it’s a safe situation and will prove to be beneficial in whatever way you need, I say: go for it.
Here are five places in the Valley to do some making up, making out, or further mistake-making.
Copper Star Coffee
4220 North Seventh AvenueBest for: Making up
Each table at Copper Star is like a private study room in Hayden Library — no one’s getting in on your business, and you can speak freely. If you’re looking for an intimate and homey place to facilitate conversation about unresolved (or resolved) feelings, this is your spot. And the surrounding neighborhood is beautiful to wander around in if you feel the need for a walk-and-talk.
Lux Central
4400 North Central AvenueBest for: Making up
Lux is the anti-Copper Star: loud, busy, and pretty much a local fashion show. You can grab an oat milk latte and a salted chocolate chip cookie, and talk out your feelings without feeling like someone’s listening in. Trust me, everyone is too worried about how they’re presenting themselves to listen in on your spill sesh.
Chaparral Park
5401 North Hayden Road, ScottsdaleBest for: Making out
It’s a sweet, big park. The weather’s beautiful right now. Need I say more? Check it out, my friends.
SRP Arizona Falls at G.R. Herberger Park
5802 East Indian School RoadBest for: Making out / Further mistake-making
We first praised the make-out potential of the Arizona Falls in our 2016 Best of Phoenix issue, and we stand by that assessment. Both secluded and loud, this is a place where nobody is going to bother you, which also makes it an ideal setting to open up some old emotional wounds. You and your ex might not even hear each other, and that might be for the best.
Phoenix Bat Cave
3694 East Colter StreetBest for: Further mistake-making

Are you really going to hold hands with your ex with this little shit flying around?
Doug Bowman/Flickr Creative Commons
Make good choices this Valentine’s Day.