It’s finally the day for love and flowers and…Wait a minute. Valentine’s Day is once a year, but who says spending it single is a downer?

Instead of watching whatever’s on prime time tonight while drinking a beer, head out to a local watering hole with friends or have them over for a night in. You can also head to the local supermarkets to scope out the deals on holiday-themed candy.

Or, if you’re set on staying home, take in a themed—somewhat—tale courtesy of Last.fm and fantasy/horror novelist Neil Gaiman. There’s a free download of his short story Harlequin Valentine—that has the Commedia dell’arte’s Harlequin offering his Valentine wishes to a modern-day woman—on the site.

Here’s what you need to know today:

1. You Need to Know It’s Toddler Time: A 10 a.m. program at the Hillsborough Public Library introduces children ages two and three to the pleasure of reading. The topic is Valentines. You’ll need to see if spots are still open in the class, which you can do by calling 908-369-2200, extension 14.
2. You Need to Know About Music: A free music, story and art class for parents with children age newborn to five will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El today. Though the class is free, you’ll need to sure there are still open spots, which you can do by calling 908-552-9338.
3. You Need to Know About Chocolate: It’s a tradition of the holiday, and you can learn a bit more about why a healthy diet includes some of the sweet stuff during a noon workshop with ShopRite’s in-store dietician, Rachel Simpers.
4. You Need to Know Where to Eat: The Riverside Grill, on Route 206, offers a Valentine’s Day special from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. that includes drinks, sides, a choice of burger, sandwich, salad or platter, coffee and dessert for $16.
5. You Need to Know About Gardens: The Hillsborough Public Library and the Neshanic Garden Club host a program on preparing for this weekend’s New Jersey State Flower and Garden Show that’s geared for students in grades two through 5. The 4 p.m. program requires registration, so you’ll need to call the Children’s Desk at 908-369-2200, extension 14.