Last-Minute Love Stories

Eight romantic ideas promise to make Valentine hearts beat faster

Perhaps the big displays of balloons, cookies and other heart-shaped items in the supermarket didn’t give it away. Perhaps your smartphone calender doesn’t automatically remind you it’s a holiday. Or maybe you’ve got some good excuse. (It won’t work, by the way.)

It’s Valentine’s Day, and you don’t have plans.

We’re kind and forgiving here at What’s Up!, so we’d like to save you. What follows are a few ideas for a lastminute celebration. Some are romantic, some are silly, some are effortless and some sound delicious. But perhaps most important is that all of them will get you off the hook. Well, one of these ideas and a bouquet of flowers will.

WALK THE WALK

THE PLAN - Since its creation in 1905, more than 120,000 graduates of the University of Arkansas have had their names included on Senior Walk - but only a few of them matter to your sweetie.

Take your grad to lunch at Ella’s Restaurant in Carnall Hall (ellasrestaurant.com), then visit his name or those of his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins - or yours.

THE LOCATION - University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.

THE COVER - All you have to do is print out the map found at www.arkansasalumni.org or store it on your cellphone. Ella’s is open for breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday;

lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday; and brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

ART AND NATURE

THE PLAN - A sightseeing museum trip.

THE LOCATION - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.

THE COVER - Admission to Crystal Bridges is free, which means you don’t need tickets.

Finding a dinner reservation at Eleven, the museum’s restaurant, or any of the downtown restaurants nearby, might prove difficult, but the museum does stay open until 9 p.m. today. If that doesn’t work, and it’s warm enough, try for an outdoor picnic. More than one proposal has taken place on the museum’s south lawn near Robert Indiana’s “Love” sculpture.

CHAMPAGNE

AND CHOCOLATE

THE PLAN - Champagne and Chocolate Happy Hour with live music by Dennis Collins, Michael Cockram, Susan Shore and Peter Lippincott plus a chance to purchase locally created art. The open house happens from 4 to 8 p.m. today, and admission is free.

THE LOCATION - Heartwood Gallery, 428 S.

Government Ave. in Fayetteville, home to some 25 artisansworking in everything from jewelry and basketry to pottery and photography.

THE COVER - You can just drop in, enjoy the music, snack and sip, then buy a gift.

Effortless. And so romantic.

LOVE ON FIRE

THE PLAN - Show your creativity by taking your sweetheart to a couples’ pinch pot class at Terra Studios. The $25 class includes making two heart-shaped pinch pots and enjoying drinks and dessert.

Each couple will also receive one personalized, engraved Bluebird of Happiness.

THE LOCATION - Terra Studios, 12103 Hazel Valley Road in Fayetteville.

THE COVER - You can pick from three classes - 4 p.m. today and 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday - the one you want or the one that still has availability. Call to register at 643-3185. If the classes have filled up, visit Terra Studios to take a free tour any day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is also a Valentine’s Day specialto personalize a glass figurine with two bluebirds perched on a heart for free today.

RIDE THE SKY

THE PLAN - If you can’t give your sweetheart the moon and the stars, perhaps you can give her the gift of the air. Arkansas Helicopters is offering flights over Northwest Arkansas landmarks today and Saturday. There are two options - a 10-minute flight over the Fayetteville square and downtown area and a 20-minute version that adds the University of Arkansas, Baum Stadium and Arvest Ballpark to the flight pattern. The shorter version is $100; the longer is $200.

As many as three passengers can ride, but the total weight of passengers cannot exceed 550 pounds. Call 365-3640 for reservations. As of press time, a few spots remained open for today and Saturday.

THE LOCATION - The helicopter departs from the Springdale Municipal Airport and flies over area attractions.

THE COVER - She might learn that you planned it on short notice. She also might not care. She’ll be in a helicopter.

PAINT A MEMORY

THE PLAN - Create works of art together at Painting with a Twist. Today’s evening classes are filled, but there arespots open at several classes Saturday and Sunday at both the Fayetteville and Bentonville locations. Some of the pieces offered at open classes (as of Tuesday) range from “Midnight at the Eiffel Tower” to “Kiss and Tell” to “Tree of Light on Red.” There is also a morning Valentine’s Day class in Bentonville to create a piece called “Renata’s Green Door.”

THE LOCATION - Painting with a Twist, 1404 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville or 1401 SE Walton Blvd. in Bentonville.

THE COVER - With various classes throughout the weekend at both locations, there will likely be a few spots still available in at least one of them. You can look at the online calendar to see the piece that corresponds with each class. To register, visit paintingwithatwist.

com/fayetteville/ or paintingwithatwist.com/ bentonville/. Classes are $35-$45 per person.

TAKE A ROAD TRIP

THE PLAN - Enjoy the short, scenic drive up to beautiful Eureka Springs to check out the 10th Annual Chocolate Lover’s Festival, open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center, 207 W. Van Buren St. Then spend the afternoon window shopping in the historic district.

Having too much fun to leave at the end of the day? Cozy rooms are available last minute at the Crescent Hotel and Palace Hotel and Bath House.

THE LOCATION - Eureka Springs

THE COVER - An easy, leisurely Saturday is the perfect way to spring little surprises on your Valentine. Simply suggest a day in Eureka Springs and surprise him by taking him to the festival and to one of the great eateries downtown.

Besides, he’ll be too high onsugar to care.

TIME TRAVEL

THE PLAN - Three times on Saturday, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale will offer special tours of the museum’s Searcy House, guided by April Griffith, assistant librarian. Griffith will read selections from Annabel Applegate’s letters to Lockwood Searcy in 1918, when Annabel wasat home in Rogers and Lockwood was in the Army, stationed in Little Rock. They were in their 20s at the time. Lockwood and Annabel were married in the summer of 1919.

THE LOCATION - Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, 118 W.

Johnson Ave. in Springdale

THE COVER - Don’t worry about planning at the last minute. This opportunity was created especially for readers of What’s Up! and didn’t exist until this

Whats Up, Pages 16 on 02/14/2014

Upcoming Events