Eric Richardson [Flickr]

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I'd like to think that these last second tips for a Downtown Valentine's Day are completely unneeded by our organized readers. Hopefully you've all had your plans perfected for weeks now, and are just now kicking off a well-orchestrated romantic chain of events.

Even for the forgetful, though, there's still hope.

One of Downtown's best Valentine resources is the Flower District. Don't pay those marked up florist costs -- get your roses wholesale and save. While the main markets are early-morning affairs and may not be available by the time your act gets into gear, surrounding the markets at 8th & Wall are a number of flower shops that'll surely still offer a break in prices.

At Tiara Café, restaurateur Fred Eric has conjured a characteristically fabulous and offbeat evening. He is hosting a seven-course dinner with smaller plates, served in either a vegetarian or vegan track. Guests arrive between 8 and 9 pm, and while eating and drinking into the night (Eric vows not to turn tables), formidable record producer Daniel Lanois will be on hand to play steel peddle, and DJ sets from several other gentlemen, including actor Max Perlich. “This is the funny part,” Eric told blogdowntown, “it’s only $46 dollars, and that’s including drinks. And it’ll go until 2 a.m.”

If interested call immediately. There may be a few spots left.

The Downtown Center BID has outdone itself with Valentines recommendations and online reservation site OpenTable can give you a quick rundown of what’s available. Sure, there’s very little in the 7 pm range, but Downtown’s like a box of chocolates in the 5 and 9 pm slots. Happy V-Day!

Tiara Café / 127 E. 9th / 213.623.3663 / http://tiara-cafe-la.com