Forget the bodega roses and cheesy Hallmark card. If you really want to wow your loved one this Valentine's Day, we suggest a few days away.

Here are six options for every type of getaway. Go for the big day itself (which falls on a Thursday) or anytime in February (when prices typically go down, but romance levels remain pretty stable).

ACTIVE GETAWAY:

Mohonk Mountain House New... » more

'The House at Sea' AMOR DE DÍAS 2.5 stars The 2011 debut collaboration between Alasdair Maclean, late of English twee-pop group the Clientele, and Madrid-based musician Lupe Núñez-Fernández of Pipas, had the feel of an Englishman who scrimped and saved for a Spanish holiday, stepped off the plane and promptly fell in love. The hushed musings Maclean had perfected with the Clientele were losing luster,... » more

'Hotel Transylvania' I'm conflicted. On one hand, this animated movie about Dracula, who builds a hotel to protect monsters from the townsfolk, is directed by expert animator Genndy Tartakovsky, who did "Dexter's Laboratory." On the other hand, it features the voice of Adam Sandler, who made "Jack and Jill." The result of this amalgam is a decent flick that is a bit cringe-worthy.... » more

The Lumineers were one of the biggest surprises of 2012. Seemingly out of nowhere, the band's single "Ho Hey" sold more than two million copies and at one point was the most shared song in Manhattan on Spotify.

Not bad for a band that was once forced out of New York because it couldn't make ends meet. Rather than give up, the trio regrouped in Denver and developed its folk-rock sound.

amNY... » more

This video is nothing short of absolutely hilarious and is perfect to cheer up your Tuesday morning. Something happens when one Scottie pup knocks into another, causing a chain reaction of little black puffs of fluff moving around like a pinwheel.

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FEMA released its first new maps of the New York City area since the 1980s, Monday, designating an additional 35,000 businesses and homes in flood zones of Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Rockaways and Westchester.

FEMA scheduled to release new flood maps, which determine flood insurance rates, this summer, but after the damage Superstorm Sandy caused in the state, the agency used the information... » more

Hip-hop star Rick Ross crashed a car into an apartment building in Florida Monday while trying to avoid gunfire, according to authorities.

Ross, real name William L. Roberts, and a woman heard gunshots being fired at a Rolls Royce Ross was driving in Fort Lauderdale early in the morning after celebrating his 37th birthday, police said.

While trying to escape from the gunshots, the rapper... » more

Picking a place to eat in New York City can be so overwhelming that sometimes slickers want a solid recommendation from a trustworthy food industry professional - by doing little more than touching their phone screen, of course.

A new iPhone app called Find. Eat. Drink. is the answer to that prayer.

Robin Dorian, a Manhattan-based former Food Network producer and host, launched the app... » more

Boy Scouts of America is discussing ending a longstanding ban on gay members and whether to allow local organizations to decide their own policy, a spokesman said on Monday.

Lifting the ban would mark a dramatic reversal for the 103-year-old organization, which only last summer reaffirmed its policy amid heavy criticism from gay rights groups and some parents of scouts.

"The BSA... » more

Movie 43 Zero Stars Directed by Peter Farrelly, Elizabeth Banks, Brett Ratner and nine others Starring Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Greg Kinnear, Dennis Quaid, many others Rated R

You might have noticed that a comedy called "Movie 43," starring a lot of famous people, opened over the weekend. And you might have thought, "Gee, how bad could it be?" The answer: Very, very... » more