Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, have you thought about how you’re going to celebrate?  There are so many great things to do, see, eat and buy for your loved one locally.  From all your friends in Nevada City & Grass Valley, we’ve got a few ideas, plus a bunch of great giveaways.  And if you’re interested in celebrating the love at the Outside Inn, don’t forget we’ve got a week day special happening now through February 13th for new reservations.

For the sweet tooth, you can buy DeGroot truffles from Nevada City Truffle Shop, chocolate covered strawberries (milk, dark or white chocolate) from Nevada City Chocolate Shoppe or one of their locally made artisans chocolate.  Maybe you want an ice cream sundae for two from Treats, a bar of Cello Chocolate, a cupcake from Emily’s Catering Pop Up Bakery (they’ll have 20 varieties of cupcakes on February 13th and 14th), decadent dessert from Cake Bakery, organic chocolate from Choquiero Chocolate or something sweet from Lazy Dog Chocolateria.  Three Forks Bakery and Brewery promises to have some special chocolate goodies for sale.

HEX in downtown Grass Valley has a lot of options for your plant lover.  Give the gift of a living plant, something that will last long after Valentine’s Day.  HEX offers pre-made air plant terrariums or build your own with their air plant bar and potted plants for easy grabs.   Or if you’re looking for flowers HEX is having a floral wrap pop up sale just for the holiday.  Stop in the store on Neal Street for a modern contemporary take on Valentine’s Day flowers February 12th-14th.  Foothill Flowers, in downtown Grass Valley, hand-picks flowers at the San Francisco Flower Mart for bouquets with gorgeous roses, tulips, orchids, lilies and much more.  And don’t forget Foothill Flowers always sells wine by Dave the Wine Merchant.  For additional Valentine’s Day local options check out Grass Valley Florist.  Another great suggestion is to sign up for the Little Boy Flowers CSA for either the early spring or summer series of locally grown flowers.

There are some great local shopping options in Nevada City from My Favorite Things, Kitkitdizzi, The Sunroom, J.J. Jackson’s, Mama Madrone’s, TYSA, Gray Goose, or Abstrakt.  Downtown Grass Valley offers gift options in Mint, Cult of Gemini, Element and Loft, His. A Gentleman’s Sundry, The Book Seller and Yuba Blue.  Gather & Mill has jewelry, floral smudges, bath products, stained glass hearts, marble heart dishes, blush & gold painted heart ceramics & pink air plants, crystal gift boxes & cards. 

Nevada City has a classy and tasteful little adult pleasure shop in Seven Hills Business District called HoneyLee’s Novelties. Nestled privately within the health boutique Levity Resource, HoneyLee’s offers curios to enhance connection with yourself or your partner. They will have a special event on Valentine’s Day from 5-9 celebrating the release of Hummingbird’s aka Jennifer Rain Crosby’s “Pillow Book for Love Makers”, a perfect and playful gift for the occasion.

If you’re thinking about food, there are options from savory treats, to eating out to foodie gifts.  Grab a bag of the Valentine’s Day blend from Carolines Coffee or try the Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar or variety pack from The Olive Groove.  Whether you’re in love with pizza (thanks Pete’s Pizza for the special order of a heart shaped pizza pie) or looking for a fine dining option, you’re certainly not going to go hungry in Nevada City or Grass Valley.  There are lots of great options in downtown Nevada City or Grass Valley to grab a bite to eat.  If you’re not interested in eating out, why not order a pre-made dinner to go, Backporch Market is offering a 4 course Valentine’s Dinner for Two, pre-order the meal by the 8th.

Or maybe you want to hear some live music?   The Miners Foundry welcomes Dinner and Disco featuring The Velvet Foxes (Lorraine Gervais, Alvetta Newby-Jones, and Cassidy Joy) performing live disco standards from the 70s.  Are you a hopeless romantic who has realized that romance is, indeed, hopeless? Then don’t miss Bitter Songs for Bitter People, a Valentine’s Day cabaret at the Nevada Theatre that will give acidic singles and jaded couples something to laugh about! From Sondheim to George Strait, here’s a chance to celebrate your inner-bitter with songs of lost love, nasty breakups, and the agony of facing your ex on Facebook.  Crazy Horse Saloon & Grill welcomes Boca Del Rio for an evening of Brazilian seduction.  Every time Boca do Rio take the stage, they transform the Crazy Horse into an exotic sonic jungle of infinite possibility. This Valentine’s Day, prepare to be whisked away on an enchanting cultural experience while hypnotized by seductive Afro-Brazilian rhythms.

The downtown Grass Valley wineries welcome you to stop by and taste wine.  Stroll to the tasting rooms and and sample local wines from Avanguardia Wines, Lucchesi Vineyards, Sierra Starr Vineyards.  Or stop by the wine bar Cork 49 and sample wines from around the world, either with a flight or wine by the glass.  In downtown Nevada City you can taste local wines at Clavey Vineyards & Winery, Szabo Vineyards or Nevada City Winery.  Another great way to try wines from around the world is Carrington’s Fine Wines, check the board outside the shop to see what’s on the tasting menu for the week.

Although I do love the gift that keeps on giving; whether it’s a local wine club membership, a CSA to a farm or gift certificate .  Or maybe you want to give someone an experiential gift; a spot in either the upcoming a guided fishing lesson, an art class, yoga classes, a ticket to a local concert, Chef’s Dinner at Tess’ Kitchen.

Or perhaps you want to get creative and make your sweetheart something special.  The Artist Workshop has Valentine’s Day creative classes.  Check out their calendar for more information about cookie decorating, Paint & Sip at Lucchesi comes with glass of wine, plus new adult and kid clay classes.  Lola and Jack has some fun crafty events too if you want make a homemade gift.

Or maybe you want to join me on the Folk Trails Hiking Club (join us on Thursday, February 13th at 3pm at the Outside Inn to learn about local history).  Maybe this Valentine’s Day you want to book a trip for a future adventure (like a room at the Outside Inn or a campsite at the Inn Town Campground).  If this post doesn’t have enough ideas, check out the Pinterest board with more local suggestions.

And now the giveaways, why not share the love and have 10 different prizes?  Post a comment for your to chance to six cupcakes from Emily’s Catering, $20 gift certificate to HEX, $25 gift certificate to The Olive Groove, $10 gift certificate Nevada City Chocolate Shoppe, $10 gift certificate to Three Forks Bakery and Brewery, $25 gift to Levity Resource Shop, $20 gift certificate to Carolines Coffee, 2 tickets to the Boca Del Rio concert at Crazy Horse Saloon, Decorative pillow and Valentine’s Day card from My Favorite Things and a gift certificate to a class at The Artist Workshop. The 10 winners will be announced Monday, February 10th.  Edited to say winners are:  Kathy Hart: Emily’s Catering, Marea: HEX, Maisie: The Olive Groove, Kat: Nevada City Chocolate Shoppe, Misty Davis: Three Forks Bakery & Brewery, Shiree: Levity Resource Shop, Connie: Carolines Coffee, Dena Nick: Crazy Horse tickets, Deanna Reardon: My Favorite Things goodies, Debbie: The Artist Workshop class.

© 2020 InnSide Nevada City, © photos by Erin Thiem and Lenkaland Photography