Valentine’s Day celebrations can be a family affair, and here in the City of Fountains, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate with your whole crew.
Sweet Starts
Start your day with a heart-shaped breakfast. Heart-shaped pancakes are always a crowd-pleaser. But don’t forget the power of a good-quality heart-shaped cookie cutter to elevate any otherwise drab menu item — from scrambled eggs, to charcuterie, to sandwiches and more. Craft stores offer premade holiday decor, but it’s also a cinch to dress up your dining space with red and pink party goods from the dollar store.
If you’re looking for the gift of a premade breakfast item, Krispy Kreme offers an exclusive Valentine’s collection that’s sure to please anyone with a sweet tooth. Also check out Chez Elle, KC’s premier creperie and coffeehouse, where guests can choose savory or sweet crepes (after all, what’s lovelier than a French breakfast for Valentine’s Day?) And don’t forget McClain’s, the full-service bakery, restaurant and market that’s been a KC mainstay since 1945.
Pro Tip: Even if you grab breakfast at McClain’s, grab some cookies and a cinnamon roll to-go for later in the day (you can thank me later!).
Service
When my boys were little, their great-grandma was in a local nursing home. One year, we brought her Valentine’s treats only to realize that her roommates were lacking in company. We rectified the situation the following year by bringing in dozens of cards to hand-deliver to all the residents. My preschoolers loved passing out cards and the recipients loved the attention (win-win for everyone!).
Other ways to show you care this Valentine’s Day:
- Bake cookies for your neighbors.
- FaceTime Grandma and Grandpa to tell them you love them.
- Drop off a surprise care package for your spouse at work.
- Paint kindness rocks and strategically place them alongside a favorite local trail (looking for a new favorite? Check out KansasCityHiker.com to discover trails nearest you!).
- Write your family name on a lock and place it with the other Love Locks on the Old Red Bridge.
Pro Tip: Buying premade Valentine’s Day cards on clearance at the end of the season is an economical way to prepare for next year.
Skills
Shared experiences are instant memory-makers! Here are some ways to get out of a rut and try something new this Valentine’s Day:
Take a cooking class at Tastebuds Kitchens or the Culinary Center of Kansas City, where you can simultaneously bolster your skills in the kitchen and make a fabulous treat. Classes geared toward kids and families offer a range of choices that are sure to please the pickiest of eaters.
Smell is the sense most closely tied to memory. Create some sweet Valentine’s memories by pouring a custom scented candle or making your own room spray or diffuser at Embers Candle Company in Lee’s Summit.Guests can choose from over 66 individual scents to combine for a totally unique fragrance. Classic aromas like baked bread and lavender are available along with rotating collections of seasonal scents.
This Valentine’s season, try your hand at creating something at one of KC’s premier art studios. Board & Brush in Lenexa takes all the guesswork out of crafting by providing all the supplies and instructions to make custom wooden signs and art pieces. You can also make custom pottery while sipping on a caffeinated creation at Paint Glaze & Fire or learn the art of glass fusing at Ceramic Cafe.
Sweet Treats
Everybody needs a sugary pick-me-up from time to time, and Willie Wonka has nothing on the KC chocolatiering scene! Check out these local artisan sweet shops for extra-special Valentine’s treats:
Chips Chocolate Factory is known for its fudge, turtles, brittle and truffles. Watch fudge making demonstrations and enjoy small-batch fresh treats!
André’s has been a KC mainstay for over 70 years. While maintaining time-honored traditions, the third generation of the Bollier family also seeks to innovate chocolate creations.
Christopher Elbow has been whipping up masterful chocolate confections since 2003. A marriage of high-quality ingredients and culinary craftsmanship make these treats nothing short of edible masterpieces.
Laura Little’s Candies has been making their wares the old-fashioned way — in traditional copper kettles with wooden paddles — for over 50 years. They have established themselves as a premier holiday go-to for fudge, brittle, popcorn and candy boxes.
Sweetheart Suppers
Any at-home supper can be dressed up with ambient music and candlelight. Take it up a level by dressing up for the occasion and setting the table formally (including place cards). Even standard fare will feel special with a little bit of forethought! In keeping with the day’s theme, consider a heart-shaped pizza from Minksy’s, Papa Murphy’s or Papa John’s.
Pro Tip: If you want the look of candlelight without the fire hazard, check out Luminara candles. Originally engineered by Disney set designers, these battery-powered candles use an internal magnet to produce a moving flame so realistic, no one can tell it’s not real!