Columnist Muriel Stevens: Sweet gift ideas for V-Day

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000 | 9:01 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@vegas.com or 259-4080.

Love and all its expressions are in play on Valentine's Day. No, it's not too early to think about this day devoted to showing affection. It's just a few weeks away.

Whatever you decide to bestow upon your special person, give the gift some thought.

Some gifts never go out of style -- candy, flowers and jewelry are favorites with both men and women.

If your love is a sexy young woman, "shoe" her you care with a sexy pair of high-heeled shoes. The Sexy Shoes catalog is filled with tantalizing footwear with heels as high as six inches. Heel heights begin at just under four inches. Prices start at $39.88.

A Sexy Shoes catalog is available by mail: call 800-716-8617; fax to 517-734-4337; or go online at www.sexyshoe.com. Orders are shipped the next business day.

Put on your dancing shoes: As a pre-Valentine gift, take your sweetie out Feb. 11 for an evening of nostalgic music and dancing with Buddy Greco and Lezlie Anders at the Flamingo Hilton.

The price is right, $24.95, and includes dancing lessons from 8 to 9 p.m. Then it's star time and that's when Old Las Vegas kicks in with surprise guests, dancing or just listening to the 15-piece live band. Pretend you're Ginger and Fred. It's a romantic fantasy that's a real Valentine.

Tiffany's message of love: Keep the flame of love burning with a gift from Tiffany & Co. at Bellagio.

How about a Tiffany heart locket with a chain of 14-karat gold? Traditional in design, this symbol of love is available in two sizes and can be engraved with initials or your own sweet sentiment. Inside there's room for a miniature photo.

A heart-shaped Tiffany Private Stock Limoges porcelain box is a lovely gift. Delicately painted in pink and white with gold highlights and inscribed, "I love you," this charming memento is a small treasure.

The gold of Godiva: Chocolates, of course. Valentine tradition calls for sweets -- chocolate lovers yearn for them. Is it just mere coincidence that chocolate is said to be an aphrodisiac?

A splendid variety of Godiva chocolates can be found at the new Godiva boutique in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. Pamper your Valentine with a gold ballotin (gift box) of assorted chocolates, a themed gift basket or a selection of Godiva products: mini-biscotti, chocolate-dipped biscotti, Godiva cocoa and coffees and the company's newest treats, Godiva cookies.

Valentine gift with a cause: Light up a loved one's heart and home and contribute to a worthy cause when you purchase a special Valentine's Day candle at a J.C. Penney store. The decorative pink Valentine's Day candle is set in a silver-tone, heart-motif holder and costs $12.99. When lit, a delicate scent fills the air.

A contribution of $1 for each candle sold will be made to J.C. Penney's Afterschool, a groundbreaking program. Afterschool is committed to "expanding the quality and quantity of affordable programs for America's children." This Afterschool alliance will also benefit from every purchase made on a J.C. Penney charge card, Sunday-Feb. 12.

More ideas: A book of poetry with a dried flower to mark a favorite page, tickets to a romantic movie and a lace handkerchief are tender gifts. Of course, this is only the tip of the Valentine iceberg. More to come.