Best Lingerie Shop for Men:Knickers of Hyde Park. From intimate apparel to sleepwear, owner Jenalyn Schneider (a veteran of the lingerie departments at Saks and Nordstrom) imports exotic and erotic items from all coasts. Even better, she puts on "men's nights" with free beer and snacks, when men can purchase items for lovers (or for themselves) without having some other woman staring over at them. Knickers of Hyde Park, 2726 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 533-9592.

Best Romantic Weekends Without the Kids: Unity Woods, a country cottage so secluded no one will ever find you. Nestled in a secluded 175 acres next to a state nature preserve, there's a fully equipped kitchen (you bring the groceries) and the nearby spring-fed pond is stocked with bass and bluegill. You can hang out on the large porch and cuddle while wild turkeys, grouse and the occasional Amish horse buggy amble by. Unity Woods, 1095 Marjorie Johnson Road, West Union, 937-544-6908.

Best Romantic Weekend if You Have to Take the Kids: The Queen Anne B&B, a grand 1881 home with six fireplaces and a striking open curved stairway. Hosts Mildred and Paul Crane suggest that children will enjoy sleeping in the tower rooms - and haven't you always wanted to banish the little ones to the tower? The Queen Anne, 243 S. Broadway, Lebanon, 932-3836.

Best Place to Find an Antique Bauble for Your True Love: Old Washington, a great historical village brimming with quaint gift, antique and furniture shops, not to mention history. Established in 1786, Old Washington is home to a couple dozen shops stretching along five blocks of Main Street, including the Carousel Shop, Phyllis' Antiques (including lamps and dollhouses), the Strawberry Patch (crafts and teddy bears) and the Washington Hall Shops (all gathered inside an 18th-century hotel). Old Washington, located just a few minutes south of Maysville. Call the Washington Visitors Center at 606-759-7411 for a guidemap.

Best Restaurant for a Romantic Evening: Germano's, where the wine list is long, the service exceptional, the classic Italian menu simple yet elegant and the tiramisu to die for. Germano's, 9415 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, 794-1155.

Best Group Hug: The support and camaraderie of the Ohio Valley Romance Writers of America, who meet the second Saturday of every month at Barnes & Noble in Kenwood. Kathleen Gerberick founded the organization in 1986 to "connect with writers" in the area. Today there are 70 members, 15 of whom are published. And they all have one mission in common - to spread a little love. What's wrong with that?

Best news for gay couples: With same sex marriage an iffy proposition outside of Vermont and with Cincinnati's lack of legal protection for gays, gay couples might think no one wants them. But two churches in the city consciously seek out the gay community in an effort to be more inclusive - Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church and St. John's Unitarian Church in Clifton. In a time when many organized religions shun gays, the Rev. Harold Porter at Mt. Auburn has made a name for himself as someone who lives Jesus' teachings to love thy neighbor. Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church, 103 William Howard Taft, Mount Auburn, 281-5945. St. John's Unitarian Church, 320 Resor Ave., Clifton, 961-1938.

Best Advice: Sure, we're a little biased, but Erma Sanders has been dispensing sage advice as The Dating Diva for 230 consecutive weeks in CityBeat (4-plus years) and appearances on Fox 19 in the Morning and at numerous singles events. As Erma points out, her track record is pretty good, since she found herself a husband during the time she's written the column.

Best Florist: Jones the Florist, multiple locations.

Best Place for a Clandestine Meeting: A hotel.

Best Place to Buy Sex Toys: Elyse's Passion, 1569 Chase Ave., Northside, 541-0800.

Best Place to Make Out (Indoors): Bed.

Best Place to Make Out (Outdoors): Ault Park.

Best Place to Meet Men: Electra, 1133 Sycamore St., Downtown/Over-the-Rhine, 621-BEAT.

Best Place to Meet Women: "Let me know" or "My bedroom."

Best Place to Meet a Personals Date: Starbucks, multiple locations.

Best Romantic Getaway: Wildwood Inn & Fundome, 7809 Hwy. 42, Florence, 371-6300.

Best Romantic View: The Celestial, 1071 Celestial St., Mount Adams, 241-4455.

Best Singles Bar: No winner.