Celebrate Love in Wheeling on Valentine’s Day

By: Jeremy Morris

 

Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year and Wheeling boasts a variety of experiences for you and your significant other to make a weekend of it in our little river town.

 

A Breathtaking Weekend

Oglebay Park offers an invitation that might just leave you breathless.  The one-night package includes overnight accommodation at Wilson Lodge with a “Welcome Champagne Toast” at check-in.

 

Inclusive dining features the three-course ‘Leap of Faith’ dinner prepared by Oglebay’s Executive Chef Tom Raymond. Choose your favorite, and least favorite, ingredients from the Leap of Faith questionnaire and Chef Tom will prepare a delicious three-course dinner specifically designed for your unique taste.

 

The package is rounded out with a couples massage class at Oglebay’s nationally recognized West Spa, where a certified massage therapist will teach the best techniques for easing the daily stress of life. Check the full schedule of activities and book your package here.

 

Oglebay’s Mansion Museum is offering a Champagne Tour of the Mansion on both Valentine’s Day and Saturday the 15th.  Explore secret engagements, tragedy, young love and the second chances of the Oglebay family.  Couples receive glasses of bubbly, chocolates, a single rose and a keepsake glass “kiss” from The Studio at the Glass Museum.  Find registration links here.

 

Decadent Treats

If you are looking for something truly decadent, then look no further than Good Mansion Wines. This year’s treats feature their infamous Valentine’s Day hearts, an entremet of raspberry mousse, chocolate genoise and a white chocolate glaze.

 

The Valentine’s Day package features a 9-piece Thierry Atlan Valentine’s Day milk ganache bonbons, roses, and Valentine’s Day macarons.   Or find your fix with the devilishly good 12 piece Thierry Atlan macarons; raspberry, rose lychee, and vanilla each delicately inscribed with a Valentine’s Day note. Place your orders in early.

 

As for wine selection Good Mansion owner Dominick Cerrone, recommends light and sweet sparkling red wines for accompaniment to their dessert offerings as well as in general for the holiday.

 

Top choices for this year include:

 

1) Birbet, an exotic, partially fermented, light and sweet effervescent red wine from Brachetto grape from Piedmont, Italy. Serve at 50F. Fragrant and fresh notes of strawberry and cherry.

2) Brachetto d’Acqui

A sweet sparkling from Piedmont, Italy, with notes of strawberry and cherry. Serve at 32F

3) Lambrusco Amabile, a light and playful frizzante that is mildly sweet with strawberry notes. Serve at 32F

4) Champagne, a tight, crisp and powerful dry sparkling from Champagne, France, an obvious dry alternative to complement the desserts. serve at 32F

 

Cerrone also recommends any triple creme cheese, including Brillat Savarin, Saint Angel, Robiola or Delice de Bourgogne that are so creamy you can smear them onto your favorite pastry from Good Mansion. Put your order in early.

 

Valentine’s Dinner and Movie

“Of All The Gin Joints In All The Towns In All The World, She Walks Into Mine.” No one delivers a line quite like Bogey.

 

Catch Bogart and Bergman in their classic film of love and sacrifice with Dinner and a Movie at Towngate Theatre on Valentine’s Day.  Reserve dinner soon as seating is limited.  Get the full scoop here.

 

The Art of Wine Valentine’s Day Dinner

Enjoy a five-course meal and wine pairings at the 100-year old Historic Edemar Mansion, home of the Stifel Fine Arts Center.  Explore new wines, new friends, and live music in one of the most elegant dining spaces in Wheeling.  Arrive early and enjoy an intimate stroll through the art gallery with the very fine staff of Stifel. Book your reservations

 

Surf and Turf in River City

If you and your partner love hearty steak and lobster then River City Restaurant is the place for you.  Dinner features 2 filet, 2 lobster tails, 2 side dishes, salads and desserts for $59.99. Surf and Turf will be served Friday and Saturday night.

 

Sticking around for Saturday? 

Wheeling’s got you covered.

 

Saturday Valentine’s Dinner with Dueling Pianos

The Wheeling Island Showroom will host a buffet-style dinner and with Dueling Pianos beginning at 7:30 PM on the 15th. Dinner will feature sliced sirloin with mushroom demi-glace, chicken florentine, whipped potatoes, green beans, roasted corn and peppers, house salad and dessert. Make your room and dinner reservation

 

Gimme Cupcake!

Whisk Bakery + Catering has quickly become a Wheeling favorite, tucked away in the Woodsdale neighborhood they offer a variety of sweet treats with a focus on cupcakes.  Stop in while for a sweet fix and a cup of Joe.  Cupcakes offerings change daily.  Chocolate covered strawberries are again on the menu for Valentine’s Day.

 

Hockey and Lobster

The puck drops at 7:05 PM as the Fort Wayne Komets come to do battle with the hometown Wheeling Nailers.  Enjoy steak, lobster and drinks for two at River City Restaurant before the game. Get your Hockey tickets today.

 

Come for the Comedy

And stay for the comedy, the Left of Centre Players will present a night of Improv at Towngate Theatre. Wheeling’s bravest performers “hit the stage without a script, prop, or a safety net.” For mature audiences only, this regular improv performance is sure to leave you in stitches.  Show starts at 8:00 PM. Purchase tickets today.