Love & Chocolate

Valentine Events Both Nice And Naughty

If it’s not already chocolate, it’s dippable at the Chocolate Lover’s Festival in Eureka Springs.
If it’s not already chocolate, it’s dippable at the Chocolate Lover’s Festival in Eureka Springs.

Most people like chocolate, sure. But what about jalapeno chips dipped in white chocolate? Or habanero fudge, chocolate cheese or pork tenderloin basted in chocolate?

Anyone willing to give those tastes a try can sample such creations at the ninth annual Chocolate Lover’s Festival, which takes place Saturday at the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center in Eureka Springs. More than 18,000 pieces of chocolate were distributed to guests at last year’s event.

“I guarantee you, we didn’t have any chocolate left. It’s amazing how that works,” says Pam Hinson, manager at Holiday Island Vacation Rentals, the presenting sponsor.

More traditional chocolate samples will be served as well, and patrons can stop by any of the 40 vendors who will be on hand for the event. And for everything not already covered in chocolate, five chocolate dispensing fountains will take care of the task.

This year’s event, a fundraiser for Eureka Springs area schools, will have a 1950s theme. A panel of celebrity judges will distribute best-of-show awards, and guests will also have their say courtesy of people’s choice ballots.

Here are a few other Valentine’s Day events happening in Northwest Arkansas:

SPECIAL MENUS

• Ella’s Restaurant, located inside the Inn at Carnall Hall on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, has a seven-course Valentine’s dinner. Some of the items featured include Chilean sea bass, confit leg of duck, grilled beef tenderloin with honeyhabanero polenta, ancho chili flourless chocolate cake and more. Price for the meal is $75 or $100 paired with wine. Reservations should be made by calling 582-1400.

• An evening of art, wine and live music will be featured at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday at Eleven, the restaurant inside the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. Included in the dinner are four courses, among them a surf-and-turf entree of grilled fillet of beef and Maine lobster claw. Cost is $110 per couple or $140 per couple for a wine paired with each of the four courses.

ROMANTIC (OR ANTI-ROMANTIC) EVENTS

• The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is hosting the Black Hearts Ball on Saturday night at the museum complex in Bentonville. Dress code — naturally — is all black, and participants divide up in the galleries and reunite in the museum’s restaurant, Eleven. The event is especially for members of Artinfusion, the musuem’s affinity group for young professionals. Admission is free for Artinfusion members (which also requires museum membership) and $25 for their guests. Tickets are required.

• Rogers Little Theater will host its annual Valentine’s Spectacular gala event on Thursday with a performance of the musical “9 to 5” accompanied by dinner. Also included in the package, which is $140 per couple, are a framed photograph, a long-stemmed rose and chocolates. For details or tickets, call 631-8988.

• Outdoor-minded couples will find a weekend of adventures at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area on Feb. 16-17 during the park’s Sweethearts Weekend. Registration is required for the event, which will take couples on a guided eagle watch cruise on Beaver Lake and then to lunch at Ventris. To make reservations for the event, which has a capacity of 20 per day, call 789-5000.

• The Bella Vista Big Band will provide the soundtrack for a Valentine’s Day Dance on Feb. 16 at Riordan Hall in Bella Vista. The dance starts at 7:30 p.m., and guests may arrive at 7 p.m. for a free dance lesson. Admission is $10 at the door. For information, call 855-8170.

• From Wednesday through Feb. 17, Inspire Eco Salon & Spa in Fayetteville will offer the Starlight Sweetheart Special, a series of packages that include strawberries, a glass of champagne and chocolate. A 75-minute couple’s massage is $140; an 80-minute aromatherapy hot stone massage for couples is $245; and a couple’s facial and massage package is $165. For details or to book an appointment, call 301-2800.

• Local troupe Blossom’s Burlesque is hosting the show “Bedtime Tales” on Thursday and Feb. 15 at Teatro Scarpino in Fayetteville. The event includes grown-up retellings of classic bedtime stories. The shows are for those 21 and older and will include dance, live music, poetry, fire hooping and comedy. Tickets are $25 for general seating or $30 for VIP arrangements, and showtimes are 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. both days. For tickets, call 966-7363.

• Smoke and Barrel Tavern in Fayetteville will be the site Thursday of a Sadie Hawkins Dance featuring music by country-folk songstress Carter Sampson. Admission is $3 for ladies and free for their guests.

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