Maplewood, NJ—Valentine Capital of the World?

Last year, Maplewood Village made Valentine's Day in Maplewood a little more special with its first Valentine's Day Chocolate Walk. The Walk is coming back again this year on Saturday, February 13, and the town is getting yet another Valentine's event with the newly minted Springfield Avenue Valentine's Celebration.

While the Maplewood Village Chocolate Walk is a one-day event that takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at various businesses in Maplewood Village on Saturday, the Springfield Avenue Valentine's Celebration takes place over a week and features both events and discounts at 40 Springfield Avenue businesses. 

[Maplewood Village businesses are also offering a number of specials on the actual Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14. Skip to the end of this article for details about those promotions.]

There are three days left of the Springfield Avenue Valentine's Celebration—Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Events include everything from storytelling and lunch with Cinderella at Stories in Motion to cookie baking at DinnerSmith and wine tasting at The Liquor Cabinet, plus a number of Valentine's Day dinner specials—but of course. The complete list of remaining Springfield Avenue Valentine's Celebration events:

Friday, February 12

• Stories in Motion—Storytelling Lunch with Cinderella, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Make Valentine cards, decorate cookies, munch on mini heart-shaped sandwiches and have your picture taken with Cinderella! $25/child (includes lunch and beverages)—Ages 2-5
• Stories in Motion—Valentine's Dance Party 6:30-8:30 p.m. Groove and dance the night away! $20/child (includes pizza, drinks and dessert)—Grades K-5
• The Liquor Cabinet—Wine tasting 5:00-10:00 pm FREE 
• DinnerSmith—Tasting 7:00-9:00 pm FREE 
• Kari's Café— "Celebration of Love" Event, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Enjoy dessert and an evening of live jazz standards.
• HLS Juice Bar & Grill—7:00-10:00 p.m. Buy one meal and receive a second at a 50% discount.
• Express Yourself Studio—Cocktails & Canvas Workshop 7:30-9:30 p.m. $25/person (includes refreshments, you bring the cocktails).

Saturday, February 13

• Fringe Salon—Make-up Application FREE by appointment with participating make-up artist and Blow-dry Styling $20/person by appointment with participating stylists.
• Express Yourself Studio—Drop-In Arts & Crafts Workshop 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. $15/person (includes materials)—Ages 2-12.
• Stories in Motion—Storytelling Lunch with Cinderella, 11:00 -12:30 p.m., $25/child (includes lunch and beverages)—Ages 2-5.
• DinnerSmith—Cookie Bake 1:00-3:00 pm FREE - Bake Valentine's cookies and share them with your friends.
• Inspirational Dance—Dance Party and Instruction, 4:00-6:00 p.m. FREE—hip hop and breakdancing party—Ages 8-19.
• Shakti Yoga & Living Arts— 4:15-6:15 p.m. Experience the joy of yoga with a friend or someone you love. $50/couple. Reservation required.
• The Liquor Cabinet —Wine tasting 5:00-10:00 p.m. FREE.
• Park Wood Diner —6:00-11:00 p.m. 10% discount on your dinner check.
• Kari's Café— Jewelry Party 7:00-9:00 p.m. Purchase Lia Sophia jewelry with your friends.
• HLS Juice Bar & Grill—7:00-10:00 p.m. Buy one meal and receive a second at a 50% discount.
• 1978 Maplewood Arts Center—Open mic night 8:00-10:00 pm Display your abilities and enjoy the talents of others. $5/person (includes free refreshments and chance to win a private watercolor painting class). Raffle winner will be notified at event.

Sunday, February 14

• HLS Juice Bar & Grill—Noon-4:00 p.m. Buy one meal and receive a second at a 50% discount.
• Maplewood Hobby—M10 Draft Tournament Noon-4:00 p.m. Participate in a collectible card game tournament! $5 /person ($10 value).
• Churrasco Portuguese BBQ & Steakhouse—Valentine's Day Special, Noon- 8:00 p.m. Enjoy an authentic Portuguese meal! FREE gift with your order.
• East Side Fitness—1:00-2:00 p.m. Enjoy an aerobic fitness program set to hypnotic Latin rhythms. FREE. Open to non-members only. Reservation required.
• The Liquor Cabinet—Tasting 5:00-10:00 pm FREE. 15% discount on 2 bottles of wine. Offer valid with dinner at Churrasco Portuguese BBQ & Steakhouse.
• Park Wood Diner —6:00-11:00 pm 10% discount on your dinner check.
• Di Pietro Foods—Enter a raffle between 2/9-2/13 to win a dinner basket for two. Prize includes appetizer, pasta, dessert and bottle of wine. Raffle winner will be notified by DiPietro's on 2/16.
• Knitknack—Purchase between 2/8-2/13 qualifies you to win 1 of 3 items valued at over $100 (raffle on 2/14) Raffle winner will be notified by Knitknack on 2/14.

The Springfield Avenue Valentine's Celebration event has been organized by Wide Net Marketing, a recently formed company comprised of Maplewood residents Pandora Setian, Danielle Perrotta and Sean Romanoff. There is also an extensive list of discounts attached to the event that you can find on the attached PDF. 

In Maplewood Village, the Chocolate Walk hopes to attract the same crowds and generate as much excitement as last year's inaugural event. Visitors need only follow the red balloons from shop to shop between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 13 and enjoy these treats:

• Chocolate Fountain with sugar cookies for dipping
• Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Homemade Chocolate Truffles and truffle making demonstration by Conscious Plate at 3r Living
• Chocolate Lips Lollipops
• Sugar Cookies from the Able Baker
• Chocolate Covered Pretzels
• Hershey's Hugs and Kisses
• Hot Chocolate
• Red Twizzlers (a perennial movie theater favorite)

Have-A-Heart "Go Red" Buttons will also be available for $5 each to benefit the American Heart Association wherever you see red balloons. 

Participating Chocolate Walk businesses include 3R Living, Village Belle, Perch Home, Tenth Muse, Bee & Thistle, Lotus Petals, Beacon Jewelers, Truly Yours, Shed, Crane's Deli, Words, Maplewood Stationers, Scriveners, Jerry Rose, Kokoro, Maplewood Pet Shop, Geralyn's Art Studio, Mona Lisa Gallery, Maplewood Theater, Hopscotch, Village Wine Shop, Maplewood Deli, No. 165, Little One & Co., Revolution Home and Village Trattoria.

But wait! There's more:

On Sunday, February 14, many Maplewood Village stores will be open to accommodate last minute Valentine's Day shopping, including:

• The Tenth Muse Gallery—trunk show featuring jewelry by Pam Older
• Village Wine Shop—Italian Wine Tasting with chocolate treats
• Sona—special lunch and dinner buffets
• Arturo's Osteria & Pizzeria—Valentine's Day tasting menu
• Cent'Anni—$40 prix fixe dinner on Sunday and pHFactor playing live on Saturday (funky blues; R&B)
• Luke's Kitchen—Valentine's Day dinner service from 6 to 10 p.m.
• New World Catering—open for pick up orders only
• Perch Home—offering 20% off anything pink or red this Valentine's Day
• Jerry Rose
• Lotus Petals
• No. 165
• Shed is have a special on their popular red and orange poufs 
• Indigo Kitchen & Bar will be offering a 4 course meal for 2 for $50

Maplewood Village Alliance director Julie Doran notes that some stores and restaurants will have special hours for the holiday so it is best to check in advance.