AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Since the pandemic, possibilities for Valentine’s Day have been more limited than usual. But this year, a wider array of gifts and activities to make the heart grow fonder is available.
And it’s certainly beginning to look a lot like Valentine’s Day in Olde Severna Park. From the sign on the sidewalk in front to the pillows on the love seat at Peaceful Petals flower shop, the traditional hearts associated with the holiday can be seen.
According to Carol Ann Bullough who manages the shop for owner Megan Taylor, you can order a special Valentine’s Day bouquet for your sweetheart, buy a premade Grab & Go bouquet, make a bouquet yourself from stems in the Flower Bar along the wall, or can have one made by a staff member while you watch like the arrangement in the opening photo created by Ally Williams. We watched her put together the lovely bouquet step by step beginning with a single deep pink Princess rose.
Gradually building out from the center, Ally added additional roses and florist-choice blooms, combining them with long-stemmed fillers like crinums, hypericum berries, caspias, and eucalyptus until the bouquet was lush.
As Williams finished her creation, regular customer Kim Littlefield popped into the shop and began selecting flowers for her own bouquet.
“I buy fresh flowers here weekly, preferring them to those available at supermarkets because they last much longer,” she said.
Both Williams and Littlefield agreed that, for Peaceful Petals, Valentine’s Day will bring a welcome business boost.
Another of our pre-Valentine’s Day visits – to BD Provisions at 844 Ritchie Highway – was inspired by a social media post highlighting the specialty bulk foods store’s gift baskets.
Bedecked with red ribbons, a gift basket on the counter contained packages of red and white Valentine Dark Chocolate Nonpareils, Red Striped Yogurt Sandwich Cookies, Red Australian Licorice, Oatmeal and Dark Chocolate Raisin Cookie Mix and Spicy Hot Chocolate Mix.
BD Provisions’ manager Cornelia Wikar, said the store is selling customers a lot of the Valentine “Conversation Hearts” kids are so fond of followed closely by sales of the red, white and pink Valentine M&M’s. She also noted that there is a whole shelf of gift baskets featuring items chosen to complement teas, wines, cocktails, and pastas along with heart stamped gift bags and Valentine cards from Cute Roots made from paper that contains flower seeds.
“You can plant the card in a flowerpot or your garden and flowers will grow from it,” Wikar said.
At the same time we heard about BD Provisions’ gift baskets, we learned that Park Tavern in Park Plaza was honoring its years-long tradition of creating Valentine’s Day inspired cocktails.
This year, there are five creatively named cocktails including Rose’-based “A Dozen Roses” (shown here), Margarita-based “Dove Love Paloma”, raspberry/rum-based “Swipe Right”, Espresso-based “My Love” and Strawberry Margarita-based “Cupid’s Mule”.
206 Restaurant Group managing partner, Greg Keating said Park Tavern will be having a Valentine’s Day menu starting on February 9th, the Friday prior to Valentine’s Day. The menu is yet to be announced.
An invitation from realtor Theresa Kurtz to a Pajama Party benefit for Chrysalis House held at a la mode intimates on Solomons Island Road in Annapolis inspired us to think of the boutique in connection with Valentine’s Day. Conceived by Kurtz, the 2nd Annual Pajama Party took place in late January and was a great success. The price of admission to the event was a gift of pajamas, socks, camis or other night apparel for women struggling with substance abuse and living at Chrysalis House. A poignant line from the invitation read “These ladies are often overlooked on Valentine’s Day and your gift will brighten someone’s day.”
With complimentary bra fittings by a la mode intimates, refreshments from Kurtz, a Wine Tasting from The Wine Concierge, and a chance to browse through the shop’s beautiful lingerie, the party was a hit.
After the party, realtor Kerry Foley , Kurtz , a la mode staff members, and Leslie Frelow, owner of The Wine Concierge posed for a photo together.
A little bird told us that a la mode intimates had assembled a glorious selection of lingerie perfect for Valentine’s Day gifts.
We stopped by the shop, which is celebrating its 20th year in business, to see for ourselves. Sure enough, the store window was beautifully decorated with strings of hearts and there were chemises, slips, baby dolls, camisoles and more in Valentine’s Day red and sultry black.
We spoke with Rebecca Ulrich-Dodson, one of a la mode intimates’ co-owners along with founder Patti Platt. Dodson clued us in to the fact that it’s not just young gentlemen but gentlemen of all ages who come in to shop for Valentine’s Day gifts.
“What we find is, because we specialize in bras and bra fittings, our clients know what they like and they know what fits and we keep track of it. If they happen to have someone special in their lives, they recommend our shop to that person,” she said. “We can make personalized suggestions for gifts for a client based on what we know – what her sizes are and what her preferences are so we can make sure she gets exactly what she likes and will enjoy wearing.”
Valentine’s Day events are finally happening too. In late January, the City of Annapolis Recreation & Parks Department announced that tickets were available for a Sweetheart Dance in honor of Valentine’s Day for families that will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center, 273 Hilltop Lane in Annapolis. There will be dancing and Valentine treats. Each family will receive a special keepsake photograph. Tickets are $20 per person and attire is semi-formal. Reservations are required. For information visit Annapolis, MD | Official Website or call (410) 263-7958.
Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi is hosting two free events. The first, being held at the Institute at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard on February 13th from 7:15 to 8 pm, is a free Valentine’s Day Pushing With Partners “push hands” tai chi class taught by master teacher Billy Greer. Participants will also be treated to some special chocolates.
The second is a free Valentine’s Day Tai Chi Class being held at the Severna Park Community Center on February 14th from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. The class will also be conducted by instructor Billy Greer and will also feature a gift of delicious chocolates. For more information visit Best Martial Arts Program in Annapolis, Severna Park (jingying.org).
If you have a friend or significant other who is a plant lover, you’ll want to head to the Valentine’s Day Pottery & Plant Sale on Saturday, February 10 from 10 am till 2 pm at Providence Pottery & Arts Studio, 40 Church Road in Arnold. The studio will have a variety of Valentines Gifts, Handmade Pottery and Planters, Houseplants, Succulents, Herbs, Cut Flowers, Hanging Baskets and more. For information, visit Valentines Day Plant & Pottery Sale | Providence of Maryland.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
