Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so naturally it is time to contemplate suicide — or get some plans together for you and your loved one. The loved one being your boyfriend or girlfriend or best friend or dog. Whoever that partner in Valentine’s crime may be, it is important to get back to basics with things. When February 14th rolls around, you can bet that these quintessential New York spots will be basically filled with other basics just trying to get a good Instapic and a good buzz.

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MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 

Whether you’re heading to MSG to watch an All Star NBA practice or enjoy some soul jams, there is nothing more basic than getting dressed up just to trek to Penn Station with your beau on Valentine’s day.

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FREDS AT BARNEYS 

How basic is being able to pick out what you want to eat as well as what you want for Valentines day all in the same establishment? So basic!

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THE SMILE

You will feel so accomplished because you found this cute little gem in Soho that serves some delicious bites. You’ll Insta a pic, check the geotag, and realize the abundance of basics that did the exact same thing.

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BOWLMORE LANES

The only thing more basic than going on a date and enjoying a nice meal is going on a date and throwing around some balls. This is the perfect place to go if you don’t really feel like giving your date any attention — simply get your head in the game and knock down some pins.

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THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER

Being a vegetarian these days is becoming more basic than not being vegetarian. Having a Valentine’s date sans meat is kale-tastic and totally instagramable.

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WHISKEY BROOKLYN

Doing anything in Brooklyn that involves a specific liquor is just like going to Cafe Gitane and ordering avocado toast… it just always happens. What’ll make it even more basic is if you drink too much Whiskey and (after consulting your friends) text your ex.

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LADUREE SOHO

Do we even have to say anything? Fabulous overpriced sweets straight from Paris. It’s basically Valentine’s Day every day inside of Laduree.

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THE MET

Going to a museum on Valentine’s Day and gazing at the Romanticism paintings is so trying to be Blair Waldorf it’s sickening, but in all the best basic ways.

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SERENDIPITY 3

Settling for a box of chocolates is basic enough, but chowing down on an ice cream sundae takes that to an entire new level.

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WILLIAMSBURG CINEMA

Your sex life has been lacking and you think Valentine’s Day is the perfect date to finally spice things up. Get inspiration from the ultimate basic girl book turned blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey. Shockingly basic!

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CONTINENTAL

Maybe you’ve found yourself alone on Valentine’s Day and just need a date with a glass of something strong. How about you have five glasses of something for $10. Nothing more basic than a hopeless romantic getting drunk on cheap drinks.

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SUSHISAMBA

Something’s fishy and it’s not just that “co-worker” your date keeps texting. It’s the damn fatty tuna sashimi you’re scarfing down along with every other girl that moved to the city from Long Island after going to college in the midwest.

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THE RAINBOW ROOM

The view of the New York City skyline, the rich elegant decor, NBC… things are suddenly turning more basic than Allison Williams’ character on Girls.

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The Smith

When you eat at a restaurant that is named after one of the most common last names in America, your night is bound to turn basic quicker than you can snap a foodstagram of your glass of champagne.

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