Locking Down Some Local Love for Valentine's Day

From prix fixe menus to concerts to kickboxing, local things to do with your honey on Valentine's Day.

  A romantic dinner isn't the only option available to locals this Valentine's Day. Local businesses are offering ingenious ways to show your love — from a kickboxing class to cake decorating to a vintage photograph of your home from an old real estate listing. And, of course, there are the traditional Valentine's Day dinners and concerts! Read on -- and be sure to call ahead for weather-related cancellations. Did we miss a Valentine's Day special in your town? Contact us here.

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Photo of the Day: Valentines for Veterans

From Mt. Pleasant Elementary students, with hugs for being so brave.

Mt. Pleasant Elementary students created Valentine's Day cards for veterans at the Lyons VA Hospital Center and East Orange VA Medical Center. Typical of the messages: “We are so proud of you. Thank you for being so brave.”

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A Promo that Smacks of Love (or Something Like it)

Kissing customers at Qdoba on Valentine's Day can get one free meal.

Qdoba Mexican Grill is spicing things up this Valentine's Day - bringing back a promotion that left tens of thousands of in the mood for love, or at least a free meal last year. Customers paying for one entre at the Qdoba restaurant in The Mall at Short Hills can get a second entre for free on Tuesday, if they don't mind playing a little smashmouth in public. All they have to do for the free food is kiss a fellow customer at the cash register be it a significant other, friend, family member or even an understanding stranger. It makes no difference (at least to Qdoba) who it is, said Karen Guido, Qdoba's chief marketing officer. “After such a strong response last year, we knew we had to bring it back again. We hope by offering our guests an…

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5 Things You Need To Know

Forgot Valentine’s Day? We Can Help!

In-town places that can save your relationship on Valentine's Day.

So you didn’t remember that today is Valentine’s Day.  Don’t worry!  We’ve got you covered!  There’s still time to find your honey a wonderful gift in-town at these inspiring merchants: Your sweetie will never know you forgot!  

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The Way I See It

Matters of the Heart

And a humorous look at other candy.

Valentine's Day. Already? We still haven't finished the holiday candy from Christmas. There is a partial bag of red and green M&M's, a half eaten box of special truffles, (OK, maybe not so special, they were from Costco), a forgotten chocolate Santa that had fallen beneath the candy drawer, and some chocolate gelt from 2009. Now, we switch gears to L-O-V-E. Remind me again, why do we celebrate this holiday?  I L-O-V-E my family every day. When I was a kid, we handmade valentines. I remember using doilies and construction paper.  We put a lot of thought into them. We often used red AND pink. Sometimes we even taped candy onto the front and wrote poems on the inside.   Now, we take an hour at the card store and spend $35 making sure no one …

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What You're Saying When You Say it With Flowers

As every flower lover knows, flowers have a language of their own.

The Victorians have a reputation for stodgy propriety that has outlived Queen Victoria’s reign by a century. Maybe they deserve to be remembered for modestly covering piano legs with frills, but let me tell you; they knew how to say it with flowers. Floriography is the language of flowers, a fitting lesson for Valentine’s Day. Victorian suitors sent single flowers or bouquets of carefully-chosen posies, each of which signified a particular message. Etiquette books such as the 1883 “Our Deportment, or the Manners, Conduct, and Dress of the Most Refined Society; including Forms for Letters, Invitations, Etc.” served as code breakers. The blushing young recipient of a bouquet no sooner said “Thank you,” than she ran into the back parlor to …

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Patch Picks

Our Most Romantic Places

Looking for some heart to heart? We found special places in Livingston to reconnect with your sweetheart.

When you think of romance, you might think of Paris, Tahiti, Hawaii, but Livingston? Don’t laugh. Livingston has some very romantic places where a couple can reconnect ... with or without kids.  Here are just a few: ♥          Il Ripasso. Chances are you’ve noticed the lights in the charming greenhouse windows of this cozy, pleasant little restaurant. Dress is casual and it’s BYOB. Lest you think it’s too fancy for kids, I brought my little one there and, even though they didn’t have a kids’ menu per se, she was able to get a lush plate of buttered noodles that had her giggling with delight. The staff is also quite willing to work with your child to find something he/she will eat (chicken fingers and French fries, spaghetti and meatballs…

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View Finder

A Swinging Night on the Town

Give them a hand: Ready or not, a closeup of LHS jazz musicians in rehearsal.

The LHS jazz bands are hosting a Valentine’s Dinner Dance on Saturday night, Feb. 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Livingston High School. The event is a fundraiser for the Band Boosters, which supports all the bands and grant scholarships to graduating seniors. Take a date, try a dance class, and taste great food. Our View Finder by photographer Bob Krasner gives a hand to the hours of rehearsals for the big event.

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