Leave Time for Some Valentine’s Day Bromance

Valentine’s Day, for some, represents special and intimate couple time for them and their partner, and for everyone else, an emphasis on loneliness and feelings of pressure to engage in mingling activities. We decided to challenge those trumped-up norms and demonstrate the fulfillment that can come from spending your Valentine's with your friends.

We kicked off our adventure with a stop at Cafe Rosalina to grab some of San Jose’s best breakfast burritos. Located just a mere ten-minute car ride away from campus, Cafe Rosalina’s is always full of happily chattering people enjoying their breakfast. The burritos did not disappoint; not only did the eggs, potatoes, cheese, and sausage hit the spot, but their salsa put the whole thing over the top. The burritos were just $12 a piece and were massive in size, providing not just deliciousness but incredible bang for your buck for the portion size.

Next, we journeyed to Crossroads Trading to do some thrift shopping. Located about 15 minutes from campus, this used-clothing store is a great place to fill your closet and sell some of your items you’d like to get rid of. As Spring approaches, knitted polos, bright-colored tops and t-shirts remain a focal point across the store. After picking up a blue knitted polo, we went to our next thrifting stop. 

Moon Zooom Vintage, just down the street from Crossroads, provided more of the same and it continued our excellent shopping experience. While Crossroads has a much more modern vibe, Moon Zooom is full of items from the 80’s and 90’s. So if you’re into faded t-shirts, 1980’s Dior coats, or leather jackets, this is the place for you. Overall, we came away with two places to come back to, full of unique and exciting clothing pieces

The final stop on our adventure was the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, located only a mile away from campus on 1660 Park Avenue. According to the museum’s website, it is home to “the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in western North America.” There was indeed no shortage of artifacts, as we wandered around for about a half hour, especially intrigued by the animatronic talking pharaoh on display. 

Too often, Valentine’s Day is marketed as a day only for people in romantic relationships. The commercialization of the holiday can make you feel left out if you aren’t spending it with a partner. But, what we found throughout our day of fun is that you can spend it with your friends and have just as good of a time.