It’s Valentine’s Day, and, like it or not, probability indicates you have two things on your brain: love and chocolate. Not only are they both very sweet things, but chocolate also contains over 300 metabolic compounds, with quite a few that mimic the effects of love by stimulating pleasure receptors, creating feelings of relaxation, alertness—and the desire to text all of your friends (research pending). So, whether or not you need a reason to pair love and sweets, we’ve filled these pages like a box of chocolates for you to choose from.
Sweets for Your Sweetie
Nedley’s Ice Cream & Coffee Cafe
I dip, you dip, we dip
200 E. South Boundary St., Perrysburg.
419-874-1176 | facebook.com/nedleysicecreamandbakery
Noon-8pm Sunday-Thursday
11am-9pm Friday & Saturday
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. No matter what season, it is never a bad time to treat yourself to this sweet delight. Give back in a nontraditional way and take your sweetie to enjoy one of 32 different hand dipped Hershey’s and Toft flavors, chocolate covered red velvet whoopie pies
and cake pops, too.
Kathy’s Confections
Size up your love life
2746 W. Sylvania Ave.
567-312-8244 | kathys-confections.com
6am-4pm Monday-Friday
8am-2pm Saturday & Sunday
Does your love come in all shapes and sizes? Match baked goods to your affection with a handful of hearts. Decorated, mini heart cakes? Chocolate fudge cake hearts? Cupcakes? Kathy’s Confections even offers individual servings of favorite desserts in case your V-Day is
spent solo. Read more on pg. 15.
Royal Cravings
Doctor’s orders
2111 N. Reynolds Rd.
419-472-5235 | royalcravings.com
1-9pm Monday & Wednesday-Sunday
Closed Tuesday
An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but what if you want to keep someone around? Treat the doctor of your heart to Royal Cravings candied apples for a fruity treat sure to keep them coming back for more house calls. Choose between old-fashioned cherry, cinnamon and caramel apples with topping options also available.
Diva Supreme Chocolates
A little piece of love
5833 Dorr St.
734-915-3127 | divasupreme.com
7am-4:30pm Tuesday-Sunday
Owner, Kelly Smith, doesn’t think she is a diva, but she still applies high standards to the chocolates and baked goods she’s made for the past 25 years. Treat your beau like the treasure they are with tiny delicacies. From homemade, preservative-free, hand-dipped chocolate by the pound, turtles and creams, barks, clusters apples, popcorn and truffles, with plenty of sugar-free options— in case your sweetheart is
already too sweet.
Maumee Valley Chocolate and Candy
Spice up your love
101 E. Wayne St., Maumee
419-893-2388 | valleycandy.com
10am-9pm Monday-Saturday
11am-7pm Sunday
Maybe your sweetie wants something traditional for the holiday— or maybe your want them to feel the heat of your love with something unconventional. Maumee Valley Chocolate’s chocolate dipped jalapenos are the perfect way to say “you’re sweet, but damn, you’re hot.”
Boyd’s Retro Candy Store
Some things never change
954 Phillips Ave.
419-720-7387 | boydsretrocandy.com
11am-7pm Monday-Thursday
11am-8pm Friday & Saturday, closed Sunday
Having a crush can turn a strong, burly man into a lovesick puppy. Need to get something off your chest? Send yourself back to the days of elementary school valentines and use conversation hearts or other retro candy to take the anxiety out of debuting your feelings.
Schakolad Chocolate Factory
Customize your love
3105 Chappel Dr., Perrysburg
419-873-1600 | schakolad.com
7632 W. Sylvania Ave.
419-841-0600 | schakolad.com
Noon-8pm Monday-Saturday, closed/Sunday
Your significant other is as unique as a box of chocolates— so organize your feelings by choosing a box of chocolate and filled with confections. Opt for sweet, salty, tangy, and nutty, choosing from 18 toppings to customize an 8 oz chocolate bar, perfect for the person you know best. Let your feelings bubble up by filling chocolate martini glasses with champagne. Everything is made in store. Order deadline of February 12.
So Sweet Lebanese & French Pastries
Love sandwich
4038 Talmadge Rd. 419-474-5445
25950 N. Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg 419-873-4051
sosweetpastries.com
9am-9pm Daily
Couples dream of bringing something new into the mix on Valentine’s Day. Enjoy a love sandwich that is a little less risqué with Parisian macarons. Pick a mix of flavors, like blueberry and pistachio, for your handmade and fresh almond sandwich cookies. For those with big, big love, opt for a single flavor macaron cake–— one large macaron decorated with tiny macarons.
Choconotes
Eat your words
5665 Main St., Sylvania
419-517-4455 | mychoconotes.com
9am-5pm Monday-Friday
Find it hard to put feelings into words? Why not use chocolate? Choconotes are personalized chocolate notes (made from 67% cocoa) in dark chocolate, and milk chocolate. Customize this unique bar (even order online) and say what you really mean.
Rachel Michael’s Gourmet Popcorn
Let your feelings pop up
5305 Monroe St.
419-318-0800 | rachelmichaelspopcorn.com
10am-7pm Monday-Thursday
10am-8pm Friday & Saturday, closed Sundays
Eating popcorn is a lot like flirting— not a lot of substance, but sweet, flavorful, and has the ability to let a little bit stretch over a long time. Feel as airy as you did when you first fell in love with homemade popcorn, with options ranging from bacon to dill pickle. Rachel Michael’s offers Valentine’s Day flavors, like sauvignon blanc or black cherry, that will surely help your flirtationship grow.
So Sweet Lebanese & French Pastries
Love sandwich
4038 Talmadge Rd. 419-474-5445
25950 N. Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg 419-873-4051
sosweetpastries.com
9am-9pm Daily
Couples dream of bringing something new into the mix on Valentine’s Day. Enjoy a love sandwich that is a little less risqué with Parisian macarons. Pick a mix of flavors, like blueberry and pistachio, for your handmade and fresh almond sandwich cookies. For those with big, big love, opt for a single flavor macaron cake–— one large macaron decorated with tiny macarons.
Christie’s Candies and Mints
A sweet bouquet
2002 Glendale Ave. 419-382-7313
3139 W. Central Ave. 419-535-0608
christiescandies.com
11am-5:30pm Monday-Saturday
Closed Sunday
Chocolate and flowers are the quintessential Valentine’s gift. A chocolate bouquet of roses enliven taste buds while stimulating the heart.At Christie’s Candies and Mints, open since 1973, they know how sweet love and chocolate can be.
Showered with Flowers
Glendale Flowers & Gifts
Coming up roses
5658 Mayberry Sq. Suite A, Sylvania
419-385-5785 | glendaleflowerandgifts.com
9am-5pm Monday-Friday
9am-3pm Saturday, closed Sunday
While love might prick you with a thorn, the velvet petals of affection have kept people coming back for more since the dawn of time. Glendale Flowers and Gifts will keep you love growing— or help coax new love into blossoming— this Valentine’s Day with a bouquet specially picked out just for you.
Hoen’s Garden Center
Organize your love
1710 Perrysburg Holland Rd., Holland
419-865-6566 | hoensgardencenter.com
9am-5pm Monday-Friday
10am-4pm Saturday, closed Sunday
Is your Valentine a free-spirited nature lover? Hoen’s provides elegant desert plants in exotic vases. They also sell honey, for your honey. This Valentine’s Day, Hoen’s is letting you get involved in the action for free. Bring your own container and build a terrarium for yourself or that someone special. Visit website for more details.
Floral Pursuit
Unusual love
48 S. St. Clair St.
419-260-3532 | facebook.com/Floral-Pursuit
11am-6pm Monday-Friday
11am-3pm Saturday, closed Sunday
While your unconventional significant other might not be easily impressed by traditional, Floral Pursuit thinks outside of the vase with unusual, exciting arrangements and an eye for details. Celebrate your beau with an appropriately unique gift that twists traditions in the right direction.
Bartz Viviano Flowers & Gifts
A handful of lovin’
4505 Secor Rd.
419-474-1600 | bartzviviano.com
8am-7pm Monday-Friday
8am-6pm Saturday
10am-3pm Sunday
2963 Navarre Ave., Oregon
419-698-5911 | bartzviviano.com
9am-6pm Monday-Saturday
Wear your love on your sleeve and keep you gift in hand this Valentine’s Day by bestowing upon your beaux a boutique of delights. Known for decades as a leading area florist, Bartz Viviano Flowers and Gifts has a array of affectionate accoutrements to be arranged into a bright, colorful fresh floral gift. Want to look like you tried harder than you did? Choose a pre-arranged Valentine’s Day gift will provoke, “Oh, you shouldn’t have!”
Oysters: A Pearl of Love
Mancy’s Bluewater Grille
The better half (shell)
461 W. Dussel Dr., Maumee
419-724-2583 | mancys.com
11am-10pm Monday-Thursday
11am-11pm Friday, 4-11pm Saturday
4-9pm Sunday
Mancy’s Bluewater Grille’s happy hour just got happier. Exclusively offered at the bar, $8 martini bar burgers and Bavarian Oysters for $2. Fresh seafood everyday.
Element 112
The Maine oyster
5737 Main St., Sylvania
419-517-1104 | element112restaurant.com
5-9pm Monday-Thursday
5-10pm Friday & Saturday
Closed Sunday
A favorite of many, Element 112’s oysters are freshly shucked on demand. Selling dozens every night, they have access to private harvesting areas exclusive to Element 112– Brown Trading Company out of Portland, Maine. This company practices wild harvesting and receives insider tips on where to find the best oysters. Thursdays are $1 oysters.
The Real Seafood Co.
The world is your oyster
22 Main St.
419-697-4400 | realseafoodcotoledo.com
11am-10pm Monday-Thursday
11am-11pm Friday
11:30am-11pm Saturday
Noon-9pm Sunday
The Real Seafood Co. sets the oyster expectations high, serving the same Shamrock oysters that are served at the White House. Ordered fresh from Sully Fisheries, the oyster selection rotates seasonally. During Happy Hour at the bar (4-9pm daily), the oysters are offered for $1.75/shell, or anytime in the dining room, starting at $13.95/half dozen.
Events
Thursday, 2.11
Valentine’s at Evans Street Station
Celebrate the holiday with a seasonal Valentine’s Day menu. Or, take your celebration to the next level with Chef Alan Merhar’s tasting menu. Reservations are recommended. Through February 14.
Evans Street Station, 110 S. Evans St., Tecumseh.
517-424-5555 | evansstreetstation.com
Heart Canvas Painting
Instructor Donna Ebert will show how to create a seasonal heart. All materials included along with one complimentary glass of wine and snack.
6pm | $42
Schedel Arboretum & Gardens, 19255 W. Portage River S. Rd., Elmore
419-862-3182 | schedel-gardens.org
A pairing for two
The perfect date includes a creative 7-course dinner with unique libation pairings. Reservations required.
Thursday, February 11-Saturday, February 13
6:30pm Thursday, 7pm Friday & Saturday
Call for pricing
Aidriana’s, 6060 Renaissance Place Suite G.
419-214-0599 | aidrianas.com
Friday, 2.12
Wine By the Glass Pavilion: Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles
Enjoy four wines and light snacks during the Museum’s annual Valentine’s Day celebration.
6:30-8:30pm
$25/members, $35/non-members
Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle, 2445 Monroe St.
419-255-8000 | toledomuseum.org
A Valentine’s Day Romance
Enjoy a special 7-course tasting menu that will take you through Element 112’s interpretation of “Classic Dates”.
Friday, February 12 & Saturday, February 13
$85 | Reservations are recommended
Element 112, 5735 N. Main St., Sylvania
419-517-1104 | element112restaurant.com
Saturday, 2.13
A Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner
Make your Valentine’s Day dinner extra special with a red rose and a bottle of champagne on ice at your table upon arrival. Just $25, ask for the Blooms & Bubbly Special when you make your reservation. Three dinner seatings on Saturday, February 13: 5, 7 & 9pm & on Sunday, February 14, 4-8pm. Reservations requested.
Treo Restaurant, 5703 Main St.
419-882-2266 | treosylvania.com
St. Valentine’s Day Wine & Dine
Enjoy a sit-down dinner in aquatic surroundings with Chef’s Choice wine pairings.
6-9:30pm
$80/members, $85/non-members.
Toledo Zoo Aquarium, 2 Hippo Way
419-385-4040 | toledozoo.org
Valentine Wines
Sample a variety of wines perfect for your “sweetie” including a dinner wine, as well as the perfect complement for dessert.
2-4pm | Prices vary
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield Blvd.
419-794-4000 | waltchurchillsmarket.com
Valentine’s Chair Dance Event
Kick-off Valentine’s Day weekend learning how to do a sexy chair dance for that special someone. Get your sassy on!
For women, 18+
Registration required
6-7:30pm
Studio Fitness, 1413 Bernath Pkwy.
studiofitnesspoledivas.com
Valentine Chocolate Tasting and Partner Yoga
In this playful workshop, you and a partner will assist one another in poses that stretch, strengthen and relax then enjoy a chocolate tasting. For all levels. Registration required
1-3pm | $30
Yogaja Yoga at Cricket West Shopping Center, 3145 W. Central Ave.
912-308-2185 | yogajayoga.com/workshops.html
Sunday, 2.14
Exclusive Gourmet Valentine’s Day Brunch
Join Tree City Catering and Vendome Pastry for a classy and exclusive gourmet brunch complete with cocktails, canapés, sophisticated menu items and a take-home treat.
Reservations required
1-4pm | $125/person, $250/couple
The Libbey House, 2008 Scottwood Ave.
917-587-5907 | [email protected]
A Curated Valentine’s Day
Enjoy 2 price-fixed menus that include creative entrees in a romantic setting. Reservations required.
4-9pm | Prices are per couple: $80/4-course menu, $110/7-course
Sage Steak and Seafood, 8505 Secor Rd., Lambertville.
734-568-6045 | sagebedford.com
