Valentines Alternatives

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 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 for parents with children age newborn to five will take place at 1:30 p.m. at 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 with in-store dietician, Rachel Simpers.
4. You Need to Know Where to Eat: The , on Route 206, offers a 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 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.