Love is in the neighborhood

dynamic, Ricardo Pitones, Campus Life - By Ricardo Pitones on Thursday, February 10, 2011 - 03:15

As Valentine’s Day approaches couples scramble to find gifts for their significant others and ponder ways to spend the romantic day. This year, lovebirds have to look no further than our very own Uptown businesses.

If a sweet treat is what your partner’s heart desires visiting Candylicious or Village Sweets will do the trick. Candylicious offers an array of heart shaped candies, chocolates and little Valentine-inspired knickknacks. Charming cards for this occasion can also be found at the candy store. Village Sweets becomes “Valentine’s Day central” every year around this time says owner Monica Sanchez. Some specials offered at this candy shop include buying a pound of fudge which then gets the customer a quarter of a pound free.

Another Valentine’s Day classic at the store are the chocolate-covered strawberries. All of them are long-stemmed and freshly hand picked from local fruit farms. This makes the berries not only a romantic treat but an eco-friendly one as well.

One of the popular gifts offered for February 14 at Village Sweets are the love baskets and buckets. These are filled with anything from teddy bears to sweets to flowers and can be custom ordered. Sugary delights are perfect for this time of year.

If these small treats are not big enough, pastries also come in abundance on V-Day. Sugar Expressions is currently taking orders for cupcakes and other baked goods. And down the street, Los Compadres Panaderia has tons of heart shaped cakes and tarts. Almost all of the desserts in the display window are Valentine’s Day themed, making them suitable for an end of the night indulgence on this love infused day.

Aside from dessert and sweets restaurants will also be having a Valentine inspired special or night. Rocky Cola Café and Sierra Verde will both amp up their menus with a few Valentine’s Day dishes. The Dine Lounge will have happy hour from 5 to 8 p.m. and is already booking reservations for the upcoming holiday.
Steve’s BBQ will have a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner on Sunday, Feb. 13 and Monday, Feb. 14. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and there will be mariachi starting at 7:30 p.m. and a band starting at 9 p.m.

If all the food deals are not enough, Ebony Couture and Mozart Salon will also be having Valentine’s Day specials. If any ladies are in the mood to shop for some fashionable clothing for the holiday, a purchase of $25 or more will get a free gift and a long stemmed rose. Over at Mozart’s package bargains and gift certificates will be available starting today. The salon will also be holding a raffle for a Valentine’s Day gift basket that includes a beauty makeover worth of $395. These are great places to find anything to get dolled up on the special day.

On this occasion full of passion and love one thing is for sure, there will be no shortage of Valentine’s Day spirit in Uptown Whittier. If plans for this day are yet to be made these venues are ideal for a romantic day.