Valentine’s Day Plans: Wrap Them Up in Buffalo
Valentine’s Day is coming. So is the pressure to plan. Expectations for the perfect date can be high. In Buffalo, it’s a lovestruck breeze to check every Valentine’s Day to-do-list box. Here are a few ideas for all the romantics out there.
Flowers? Check! Wildroot Floral, 1250 Niagara St., a festive shop, now decorated in hearts and giant lollipops, has bouquets themed for the seasons. February’s “sweet treat” bouquets are named for cocktails and candies. The bright pink $115 “Negroni” has no Campari, but red comes through in the butterfly ranunculus, roses, and frilled tulips. The $100 “French Macaron” bouquet pops with purple hyacinths and snapdragons. Curious to step up your DIY skills? Couples or groups of three can take a $140 bouquet-making class on Feb. 29. Owner Kayla Grazen invites “Galenetine’s” groups to book some flowery fun.
Bring out the artistic cupid inside at the Painting with a Twist studio, 3735 Union Road, Cheektowaga, about a 15-minute drive from downtown Buffalo. Bring your drinks of choice and take the $40 Valentine’s Day “Love Path” class: Partners paint on separate canvases that, in the end, fit together and make a heart shape. Register online. If the spots fill up for Valentine’s Day, there are more heart-painting options on Feb. 9, 10 and 16.
Get swept up in the ups and downs of starstruck love from within the gilded Tiffany-designed glamour of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. An award-winning cast performs the classic musical “Funny Girl,” based on the life of comedian Fanny Brice, Feb. 13-18. Tickets to the show about a Broadway star’s rise to fame and her rocky love story range from $57 in the balcony to $95 for the orchestra.
Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, 76 Pearl St., is a good spot for a laid-back, casual dinner. The 1870 brick building, once a dressmaker’s warehouse, has views of the city lights at night and a long list of intriguing beers on tap, like the Blueberry Lemonade Sour. The $13 Giant Pretzel is just right for two. Save room for their tender beer-braised pot roast made with Pearl Street’s own Trainwreck amber ale. No knife necessary.
Aguacates, 765 Elmwood Ave., is a warm, inviting Mexican restaurant that makes for a cozy dinner over margaritas. Add to the romance, and quench your tequila thirst, by sharing the fishbowl-sized “Mega-Rita” for $27. The tangy $15.50 tacos al pastor, made with chili-marinated pork and pineapple, pairs nicely. End the night with their classic Mexican flan custard dessert.
For the cheesiest of Valentine’s Dates, order in! Pizza lovers at heart can bite into the real thing on Feb. 14 from Mustachio’s Pizza, 2701 Elmwood Ave. Try their large heart-shaped pizza for $18.99 on Valentine’s Day only. At Franco’s Pizzeria, with four locations, they make medium or large pies in a heart shape any day of the year.
Valentine’s Day is on a Wednesday this year and House of Charm, 517 Washington St., will host its usual Wednesday trivia nights with questions all about the romantic holiday. Glowing red lights backlight the bar and tables for two line the walls. Study up and head over for some friendly competition with other trivia-loving couples.
For a surprising twist on sweets for your sweetheart, Blue Table Chocolates, 799 Seneca St. For Valentine’s Day, created four new heart-shaped truffles, including a creamy cherry-cognac in dark chocolate and a milk chocolate pineapple bourbon. Assemble a custom box – $10 for four – with your favorites. Their signature $45 hollow chocolate hearts come with a mallet. Crack one open for a truffle reward. Take their $75 class and learn how to make your own. “We think Valentine’s Day should really just be about having fun!” said Ben Johnson, the owner.
