Believe it or not, especially those who might believe it coincided with the emergence of Hallmark, its greeting cards and kitschy gifts, St. Valentine’s Day has been linked with romance for more than 600 years. Chaucer’s poem “The Parliament of Fowls” may have been the exact moment — though that was centuries before Henry VIII declared the day a holiday for lovers.
Whichever, it has become a major industry in the modern world. Be it candy, chocolate-covered strawberries, engagement rings or just a simple card and a night out to eat, Americans will spend nearly $30 billion on or around Feb. 14 this year, according to Yahoo Finance. The average participant will drop $200, which means a lot of folks will eat at Applebee’s next Saturday since these days two Franklins doesn’t get you far at top-end restaurants.
Anyone can go out to eat, though. And Wooster is home to a variety of eating spots that could be described as Valentiny, including the City Square Steakhouse and Olde Jaol Steakhouse and Tavern, to name two.
The best Valentine’s Day gestures are the most creative ones, the ones nobody saw coming. The area is chock full of them too. For those looking to step at least a little out of their comfort zone, here are some things available to do this Valentine’s Day…