Valentine’s Day is, in a word, fake. So fake! What is even the significance of having a dozen red roses show up at your desk or going out to dinner with every other schmuck in town on a predetermined day? Thanks, but no thanks. I’m happy to share takeout pizza and a Netflix marathon with my significant other, which, it turns out, you don’t need to make reservations for three months in advance. Valentine’s Day is just like New Year’s Eve: amateur hour.

Things I do love about Valentine’s Day: crafts, chocolate and cocktails. But, really, I like those things every day of the year. I made a DIY version of these adorable cards for my friends, ate plenty of red velvet Oreos, and am going to throw back several cocktails over the weekend. Join me, will ya?

I am love-love-loving this drink. It may be my new go-to, which, in recent months, has been reserved for the Ninth Ward, which is fantastic. This cocktail includes smoky mezcal and the bitterness of Campari. I adapted it from the cocktail menu at The Star, the best pizza place in our neighborhood (even superior to the cult favorite Boot & Shoe Service, if you ask me). Their version is called Su Casa and includes grapefruit juice and Aperol, while I subbed in blood orange juice and the Campari.

Despite my Valentine’s rant, I hope all you romantics out there have a lovely evening with the one you love. Even a cynic like me can get on board with that sentiment.

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The Bloody Valentine
makes 2 cocktails

• 3 oz mezcal (non-mezcal lovers, tequila would be a great substitution)
• 1 oz Campari
• 3 oz fresh blood orange juice
• 1.5 oz lime juice
• 1 oz agave
• 4 dashes orange bitters

Assembly
Add ice and all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously until cold. Strain and serve up with a blood orange twist. Cheers!

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Barware notes: The glasses were a major find at World Market over the holidays, at just $4 a pop. It was a seasonal item and they sold out by the time I went back for more. I snagged the yellow juicer at Bambino Thrift Shop in Rockridge. The arrow cocktail picks are from Umami Mart in Old Oakland – which is perhaps the coolest cocktail shop around. I may as well just start signing my paychecks over directly to them.