Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year but some downtown businesses plan to kick-off the holiday this coming weekend.
Downtown customers can purchase gifts and sweets for their significant others. Among them include Coffeeology, which will sell mugs and decorative items for the occasion, and the Greater Gouda, 12 N. Sandusky St., which has three different size custom boxes, two of which are heart-shaped, for customers to create an assortment of chocolates, candies and cheeses.
Baskets and trays are another option.
“We’re all about providing a custom experience,” said Mark Smiles, the owner of the gourmet cheese shop.
Following Main Street Delaware’s Chocolate Walk last Friday, Asbury United Methodist Church, 55 W. Lincoln Ave., will have an all-chocolate festival 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information call 740-363-3611.
Downtown’s selection of venues to dine for the holiday include Opa Tavern and Grill, 18 S. Sandusky St., and 1808 American Bistro, 29 E. Winter St., which will be offering dinner specials for couples starting this weekend through Feb. 14.
On the entertainment side, the Strand Theatre will have 11 showings for the film “Fifty Shades Darker” during the weekend based on the popular erotic romance novel by E. L. James. There will also be a 4:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. showing on Valentine’s Day.
Though not directly in downtown, the Arena Fair Theatre invites couples for its “Absolutely, Mr. Lerner, Positively, Mr. Lowew,” musical revue. The event will feature a selection of music by lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe from musicals such as Gigi, Brigadoon and Camelot. It takes place at Blend of Seven Winery, 1400 Stratford Road, 7 p.m. Saturday. For reservations or more information go to www.arenafair.com.
Have children? Ruffing Martial Arts, 12 Troy Road, will host children from ages 6-14 from 6-9 p.m. Saturday. It will feature video and physical games such as dodge ball and provide pizza and drinks. Registration is limited to the first 20. More information is at www.ruffingmartialarts.com.
But some businesses will focus their holiday efforts solely on Tuesday such as J. Gumbo’s, 9 N. Sandusky St., which will have local saxophone player, Jerry Carmon, perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Owner Richard Upton said he will have a special menu prepared for couples that day.
