Healdsburg Happenings February 2012

Valentine’s Day

This day is always interesting. Sometimes it’s a slippery slope not to feel blue when everyone else is covered with red hearts. The whole Valentine’s Day love thing can be even trickier without a mate. But instead of stressing out about it, why not focus on creating loving acts for others? We guarantee it will make a huge difference in your life and the lives of others. And it just might be one of the most wonderful Valentine’s Day you’ve ever celebrated.

Here are some unique ways to share the love:

1.       Our furry friends need love, too! Healdsburg Animal Shelter is always on the look out for volunteers to cuddle cats and walk dogs. Call Jamie Winters at (707) 431-3386 to find out more.

2.       Healdsburg Senior Center is hosting a Valentine’s Day lunch for seniors. Call (707) 431- 3324 to find out if they need help. Or if you know of a senior who might like to attend the party, offer to drive them.

3.       Pass out small Valentine’s Day surprises to residents at Healdsburg Senior Living Community (707) 433 4877 who don’t have any family or to anyone you know who doesn’t have family.

4.       Give the gift of time. For example, you can give a coupon good for cleaning your parents’ garage or babysitting a friend’s children.

5.       Cook a wonderful meal for yourself and some friends. Make it festive and put red food coloring in the mashed potatoes or bake heart-shaped cookies.

The love of books

Not many businesses on the Downtown Plaza can boast that they serve mostly locals but Levin & Company can. The only independent bookstore in Healdsburg, owners Aaron Rosewater and his mother have been delighting customers (over two thirds are locals) for 20 years with a dynamic selection of books and music CDs. To get our readers in the mood for love we asked Aaron for some recommendations. Here’s what he came up with: A Natural History of Love by Diane Ackerman; Wabi Sabi Love: The Ancient Art of Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships by Arielle Ford; Love’s Ripening – Rumi on the Heart’s Journey translated by K. Helminski & Ahmad Rezwani; and Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Chamber News

Epicurean Winter

What is there to do in winter besides watch mustard grow? Plenty. Winter is an especially wonderful time in Healdsburg and somebody is always cooking up an adventure. For fun and different things to do (think mushroom foraging and spending quality time with a voodoo doll of your ex), check out the Chamber’s handy pocket guide: Healdsburg Epicurean Winter. It includes 100+ events, cozy lodging, and world-class restaurants. To print out the guide visit: www.healdsburg.com.

 Lucy Lewand, my friend and one of Healdsburg’s favorite people, owns the Camellia Inn.  I call her the Queen of Packages.  She can bundle up the coolest stuff to make her guests come back again and again. Recently I came across two packages that cracked me up and gave me a new way of looking at LOVE, and it may bring a smile to you, too.

The Un-Valentine’s Day Package - Celebrating Girlfriends

Not all of us have a special someone on Valentine’s Day. Why not celebrate with your other significants: your girlfriends. Includes two bottles of wine, popcorn and hot chocolate, foot fizzers and bath melts, chocolates and movies; and board games.

 The Ultimate Getting Over the Break-Up Package

Spend some time in Wine Country to get away from your ex, and then move on. Includes two nights lodging, breakfast, wine and cheese tasting, a self-improvement break-up recovery book, a pint of Healdsburg’s Downtown Bakery & Creamery Ice Cream and a voodoo doll with pins to write his/her name on. Plus a daily exercise class or massage, and a self-guided wine tasting tour. Guaranteed to put you on the road to break-up recovery!

So take matters into your own hands and feel the love (or get over it) Call Lucy at (707) 433-8182 and tell her Mo sent you.