Did recession talk hurt Valentine’s Day on Seventh Avenue? From anecdotal evidence: maybe.

At 4:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, there was a long line at Key Food’s outdoor flower stand, where they were selling two dozen roses for under $30. The Apple Market on Garfield was selling a dozen red roses with baby’s tears wrapped in green tissue paper for $25.

There seemed to be far more pre-prepared bouquets than customers.

The Park Florist, the high-end Seventh Avenue flower shop. seemed to be doing a busy delivery business—I saw workers loading gorgeous arrangements into a van. But the store didn’t seem as busy as previous Valentine’s Days.

Over at Mr. Choi’s Lingerie Shop on Seventh Avenue, one of the owners told OTBKB that it wasn’t a very busy Valentine’s Day.

“Recession,” she said with a frown. “Not a busy day. Same with the flower shop across the street.” She pointed to a gorgeous vase of flowers that her husband had bought for her at the Park Florist. The store was decorated with red cardboard hearts and silky lingerie.

At Possibilities, the card and knick-knack shop on Seventh Avenue near President Street, there were more than ten people waiting on line to buy last-minute cards, balloons and Valentine’s Day gifts. The store was quite crowded.

As for me, I bought Whitman’s valentine’s boxes from Neergard and card and “string doll gang” dolls (from Scaredy Kat) for OSFO and Teen Spirit.

Diaper Diva and Bro-in-Law got a 5:30 reservation at Po on Smith Street. It was the only restaurant where Bro-in-Law could get a reservation a week ago. And at 5:30.

Hopefully Seventh Avenue/ Fifth Avenue/Smith Street restaurants were doing well last night. DD said Po was fantastic. It is now one of her fave Brooklyn restaurants.

We had dinner at home. Hepcat made a chicken dish using the Tikka Masala Indian sauce they sell at the Food Coop and Back to the Land. He added almonds. It was delicious.