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The
Front Row
Cupid’s Calendar for a Sweet Valentine’s Day in Sacramento
By
Jean Cress
I have sweet memories
of the Valentine’s
Days of my childhood.
Most involve construction
paper, glitter, doily
hearts and candy message
hearts that spelled
out “Be Mine.” My
family always had a
special dinner, highlighted
by Mom’s raspberry
Jell-O with mini marshmallows
set in a heart-shaped
mold.
As I got older, Valentine’s Day became more of a “Hallmark” holiday — doilies
and glitter and library paste made way for mass produced sentiments. If it hadn’t
been for Mom’s special Jell-O surprise, Valentine’s Day might have
lost much of its sweetness.
Fortunately, I found my inner Cupid again as I grew older, not just by sharing
romantic dinners with a special someone, but by arriving at work early every
Valentine’s morning and leaving “red hot” candies and candy
message hearts on my unsuspecting co-worker’s desks. I also carried on
Mom’s Valentine’s tradition by making my very own raspberry/marshmallow
Jell-O desserts. Best of all, I rediscovered the joys of creating personal Valentine’s
with paste, glitter, and … yes, doilies.
Jell-O and homemade cards may not be your thing, but fear not; Sacramento offers
countless ways to treat your sweetie to a very special and romantic Valentine’s
celebration.
If you are looking forward to stepping out with your sweetheart, Valentine’s
weekend offers some wonderful opportunities. Have a heart for art? Head for Second
Saturday in midtown. In case you don’t know, every month, art galleries
in the Sacramento metro area stay open late and invite the public to the Second
Saturday Art Walk. You can stroll from gallery to gallery, enjoying the best
of the region’s art scene. There is live music and an immense variety of
art and activities behind every door. Most galleries are open between 6 and 10
p.m. Best of all, it’s free.
Speaking of art, check out the City of Sacramento’s nationally renowned
Art in Public Places. It includes a collection of more than 400 permanently sited
works of art integrated into Sacramento’s built and natural environments.
Self guided and guided walking and bus tours are available for free to groups
of five or more. See works at the Sacramento Convention Center and Sculpture
Garden, at City Hall, Embassy Suites, the California Environmental Protection
Agency building, Light Rail, the Sacramento International Airport, on Del Paso
Blvd. in North Sacramento, and more! To arrange a tour contact Dixie Laws, APP
education coordinator at (916) 386-8240.
This month, the Sacramento History Museum, at 101 I Street, offers a chance to
step back in time with “Victorian Valentine Cards & Poems.” Make
your very own Victorian Valentine Cards & Poems. All craft activities are
free with museum admission. Not to be outdone, Crocker Art Gallery features “Love,
Life and Death,” examining how Cupid’s arrow hits and misfires in
stories of love, life and death at the Crocker. Phone (916) 808-7000 for details.
How about a little Sinatra for your sweetie? “That’s Life,” a
delightful production at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret (10th & K streets) features
more than 58 songs made famous by the chairman of the board. Ring a ding, ding.
And if that isn’t enough, the Sacramento Ballet will stage a Valentine’s
weekend presentation of Twyla Tharp’s “Nine Sinatra Songs,” along
with Trey McIntyre’s “Second Before the Ground” and Michael
Smuin’s “Frankie & Johnny.” Call Sacramento Community Center
Theatre, 1301 L Street, at (916) 808-5181.
Many of our city’s finest restaurants will be offering special Valentine’s
menus this year, from lavish multi-course, Prix Fixe dinners at The Firehouse,
The Melting Pot, and the Bistros – 33rd Street Grill, Riverside Clubhouse,
Bistro 33 Davis, Bistro 33 Midtown and the historic Delta King.
Of course, if you are like me and watching your wallet, there’s nothing
like a special homemade dinner for two. Throw in a special dessert, and cuddle
up on the couch with a favorite movie. I love the classics: “Casablanca,” “Now
Voyager,” “An Affair to Remember” and “Sabrina.” Plus
newer films, like “The Way We Were,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “While
You Were Sleeping,” “An Officer and a Gentleman,” and one of
my all-time favorites — “Somewhere in Time.”
Whatever you choose to do on Valentine’s Day, do it with all your heart.
And it wouldn’t hurt to include a special home-made Valentine made with
paste, glitter and a frilly doily or two.
This page and its contents ©2010 Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
