From initial spark to hot flame, brightly burning fire to softly glowing embers, true love and romance is worth celebrating at all of its stages. That’s why The Retreat at Mountain Brook luxury apartment home community in Birmingham, Alabama, asked the *Idea Specialists™* for suggestions on making this Valentine’s Day a memorable one.
Vive Le Romance!
The first thing they said is that Chez Fonfon in the heart of Five Points South is always a good choice for marking a special occasion. With its upscale casual, bustling bistro style and offerings of classic French fare such as steak frites, sautéed trout with brown butter, and escargots—along with wines from the Loire, Rhône, and Languedoc—it’s as if you’ve been virtually transported to Paris, Lyon, or Nice. Oo-la-la!
Fall In Love Under The Stars
Next up: Couples are invited to fall in love under the stars atop Red Mountain while enjoying Birmingham’s most iconic view Friday, February 14, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This promises to be a romantic evening like no other with delicious heavy hors d’ouevres, complimentary champagne served in a keepsake Vulcan glass, live acoustic music, and photo opportunities around beautifully lit Vulcan Park & Museum and the observation statue. (Adults only; tickets must be purchased online by 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 12.)
It’s OK To Monkey Around This Valentine’s Day!
Another way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Magic City is with a Frothy Monkey Frothy Love Dinner. At both the Birmingham and Homewood locations they’re gonna down the lights, change the tunes, and create the perfect ambiance to serve an exclusive three-course menu for two. While everything looks good, the Idea Specialists™ are mainly focused on dessert—a double chocolate flourless cake with tart cherry sauce! You can find out more here, and make your reservation for Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night (February 13-15).
Other Ideas
For other ideas about how to celebrate in the ‘ham, check out AllEvents. And The Knot has a fun list—95 Romantic, Unique and Spicy Valentine’s Day Ideas for Every Couple.
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This
And speaking of chocolate…..
Oh, my, but did the Idea Specialists™ come through for The Retreat at Mountain Brook with suggestions on this front! They hit the jackpot when they found this Food Network post on best buys for Valentine’s Day. Favorites?
First up is the Salts of the World Chocolate Collection; each of these chocolates celebrates a different country and features salt, ingredients, and a wildflower all native to that country. So cool!
Then there’s the Belgian Chocolate Covered Mini Doughnut Bouquet. Flowers are nice, but could anything really beat a beautifully packaged bouquet of chocolate-covered mini doughnuts?
Then, for the vegan Valentines out there, the Idea Specialists™ recommend that you go with the Berry Bouquet Vegan Chocolate Box from Compartés. It is packed with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, goji berries, cranberries and cherries, all dipped in absurdly good vegan dark chocolate.
Kids & Puppies
The Idea Specialists™ also gave The Retreat at Mountain Brook team a cute suggestion on how to celebrate the little lovies in your life—a cute mini-waffle maker! You can make kid-sized waffles in a heart shape perfect for Valentine’s Day morning—or as a dessert treat with ice cream and hot fudge! (Pro Tip: Add a little pink or red food coloring to the batter for that extra flair.)
And because they know that The Retreat at Mountain Brook is a very pet-friendly apartment community, complete with a dog park, the Idea Specialists™ made it a point to share some info on animal safety. Each year the experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) see a rise in cases around February 14, many involving chocolate or lilies. Valentine’s Day can be as much fun for pets as it is for humans—as long as dangerous items are kept out of paws’ reach!
* The Idea Specialists™ *
The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
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