WEEKENDER BLOG

Let’s face it. We’re having sugar withdrawal from the holidays and Valentine’s Day is arriving just in time! With that in mind, we have some ideas that will satisfy your sweet tooth as well as make your significant other quite happy!

Enjoy Valentine’s Day as a fun afternoon out or a romantic evening on the town by pairing a visit to one of our dessert shops with a Daddy Daughter Date Night, Downtown Delights, You Me & Tea or dinner downtown.
 

Sweets Please

It’s just not Valentine’s Day without a sweet treat and we want to mention a variety of shops that offer a sweet selection for your special someone (or just for you)!
 

If it’s the classic Valentine gift of chocolate wrapped up in a heart shaped box you want, look no further than Chocolaterie Stam (122 Main Street, Cedar Falls). Choose from hundreds of chocolates. We think triple chocolate toffees, truffled almonds, owls, kikkers (frogs), cinnamon truffles, butter truffles or sea salt caramels sound good. So do the white chocolate mint lips!   
 

Next, pop over to Here’s What’s Poppin’ (220 Main Street, Cedar Falls) and pick up a bag of gourmet popcorn for your sweetheart (they feature more than 20 flavors daily). At Here’s What’s Poppin’, popcorn has clever names like Satisfaction, Slip Sliding Away, S’more Than a Feeling and Hungry Like a Wolf, which translate into the flavors of Snickers, Butterfinger, S’mores and maple bacon.

(Scratch Cupcakery in downtown Cedar Falls)
 

Across the street and one block to the south of Here’s What’s Poppin’ is another sweet treat, Scratch Cupcakery (315 Main Street, Cedar Falls). On February 8, their lineup of beautifully decorated Valentine cupcakes will become available. If you can’t wait that long for a specially decorated cupcake, check out their online flavor menu and event calendar and you’ll find blueberry coffee cake, stuffed French toast, fruit pizza, salted nut roll, margarita and banana beer walnut on the cupcake menu in February.   
 

Looking for a Valentine’s Day bouquet? Main Street Sweets (210 Main Street) has candy bouquets! Or, how about giving a box of fresh fudge in a variety of flavors? They have that, too. But when you first walk into Main Street Sweets, it’s the bulk candy you notice. Remember a favorite from your childhood? They probably have it. Zotz, orange slices, ribbon candy, jelly beans, Razzles, suckers, caramels and candy buttons are just to name a few!  
 

Planning a late evening out on the town? We have a dessert just for you at Insomnia Cookies on College Hill (2202 College Street). Insomnia Cookies is a unique bakery delivering fresh-baked cookies during the day and into the night. Most days, they’re open 9am until 3am (they open at 11am on Saturdays and Sundays). You can also walk in and take cookies to go. Their menu includes cookies, brownies, cookie cakes, ice cream and cold milk.

And the Treats?

Sharing time with family and friends is always a treat and there are a few Valentine’s Day events taking place in February that will bring you together.
 

Downtown Delights
Time: Feb 9, 2017 (6pm – 9pm)
Place: participating merchants, downtown Cedar Falls

Wow. More than 25 merchants on Main Street in Cedar Falls are participating in Downtown Delights. It doesn’t get much sweeter! Shop downtown and be treated to sample pairings of wine and a variety of chocolates at participating shops. Scroll through downtown’s Facebook page and get a glimpse of the discounts, chocolates and wines that will be served.    
 

Valentine Tea at the Snowden House
Time: Feb 11, 2017 (10am – 12pm)
Place: Snowden House, Waterloo (reservations required)

Guests will learn about the history of Valentine’s Day and create a Danish heart basket (paper craft) while enjoying a low tea. Tickets are $10 for non-members and $8 for members. Register online at www.GroutMuseumDistrict.org. 
 

Valentine Tea #LetMeCountTheWays with Clara Eaves
Time: Feb 11, 2017 (1:30pm-3:30pm)
Place: Cedar Falls Church of Christ (2727 4th Street), Cedar Falls

Single ladies, have you wondered how God shares his love every day? Clara Eaves shares her inspiring story, emphasizing the ways He is present every day. Event is coordinated by the women's ministry of Riverview Ministries in Cedar Falls. Cost per person is $15 and tickets can be purchased at Wiley's Christian Book Store or from the Riverview Office.   
 

Daddy Daughter Date Night at Market Grille in Cedar Falls
Time: Feb 11, 2017 (5pm-7pm)
Place: Market Grille, Cedar Falls (reservations required)

Dads, here is your opportunity to have a special dinner with your daughter/s. Enjoy a three-course meal with choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert and receive a complimentary rose. Dinner is $25 for two people and $5 per additional daughter. Call 319-266-6678 for reservations.  
 

Murder Mystery Dinner
Time: Feb 11, 2017 (5pm and 8pm)
Place: Ballroom of Isle Casino Hotel, Waterloo (reservations required)

Join your friends at the Isle Casino Hotel for a unique murder mystery performance. This is a fun way to celebrate the holiday. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal while helping to solve a murder mystery! Only 150 tickets are available in total for the two performances. Tickets are $40/person and available at Simply Yummy Baking Company or at the Isle Casino Hotel’s website. For more details about their event, visit their Facebook page.  

Cedar Valley Chamber Music: Valentine's Serenade
Time: Feb 11, 2017 (7pm-8:30pm)
Place: Hearst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls

Be "Serenaded" by some of the finest vocal talents in the Cedar Valley at this intimate, musical event at the charming Hearst Center for the Arts. Concert will feature Michelle Monroe, soprano; Katherine Osborne, mezzo-soprano; and James Jenkins, piano. Tickets are $25/person and can be purchased on their website. 

You, Me & Tea
Time: February 14, 2017 (3pm-9pm)
Place: Tea Cellar, downtown Cedar Falls (reservations required)

You, Me & Tea at the Tea Cellar is a special event and hourly reservations will be taken on a first-come first-serve basis between 3pm and 9pm. Reserve either tea for 1 person ($10) or tea for 2 people ($15) and receive tea, a dessert and a TEAser tin of Valentine Tea to take home. Call 319-260-2030 to check availability because the schedule is filling up fast. If you don’t attend the you can still pick up Tea ‘n’ Truffles to go (a tin of tea and 3 truffles for $10).
 

“Show the Love” Beer Dinner
Time: Feb 14, 2017 (5pm)
Place: SingleSpeed Brewing Co, Cedar Falls

Buy your tickets in time to attend this annual event at SingleSpeed Brewing Co. in Cedar Falls. This is a 5 course dinner paired with 6 beers. Cash bar opens at 5pm and the first course begins at 6pm. Tickets are $60/person and can be purchased at the Cedar Falls taproom (128 Main Street).  
 

A Sweet Night Out
Time: Feb 14 and 17, 2017 (7pm)
Place: Lampost Theatre, Cedar Falls

Enjoy an evening of live music from the 60s and 70s with The Turtlenecks. Dessert, coffe and a little dancing make for a romantic evening at the Lampost. Tickets are $10/person (tickets can be ordered on their website). 

Something to Consider

Locked up for Love by KOKZ (105.7)

Although not an event you can attend, we thought we’d let you know about a contest that KOKZ (105.7) is running in conjunction with the Brown Bottle and Escape Cedar Valley in Cedar Falls. You can register for a chance to join KOKZ DJs, Craig Laue, Mike Davis, Shawn Foxx and Pamela J at Escape Cedar Valley on Thursday, February 9th, at 6:30pm. The chosen couples and DJs will be Locked Up For Love and will need to escape the rooms before time runs out!  Escapees of Escape Cedar Valley also receive dinner for two at the Brown Bottle in Cedar Falls. Visit their website to enter (you’ll need to become a KOKZ VIP by signing up for a free membership). *2.7.17 Update: Contest has closed. Check out their Facebook page to see photos of the winners. 

Will you be visiting Cedar Falls? The Cedar Falls Visitor Center would be happy to help you find a place to shop, a place to Eat & Drink and a Place to Stay. We’re located at 6510 Hudson Road and we can be reached at 800-845-1955 or at 319-268-4266.   

Happy Valentine’s Day!