From haunted Valentine's experiences to couples' yoga, Northwest Philadelphia is offering unique ways to celebrate love this February. With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, Northwest neighborhoods are preparing to celebrate the holiday with contests, specials and events.
Chestnut Hill
The Chestnut Hill Business District is bringing back the "Love, Chestnut Hill" event on Saturday, Feb. 8 as a celebration of love, community and small business.
Participating businesses will provide a raffle ticket to every customer who spends $25 or more. Customers can fill out their name, phone number or email address. On Wednesday, Feb. 12 three winners will be drawn. These winners will each take home a themed basket full of up to $500 worth of Chestnut Hill goodies and apparel provided by local businesses. The themes include a Celebration of Chestnut Hill basket, a Date Night/Valentine's Special basket, and a Healthy New Year basket. These prizes will be posted on the Chestnut Hill Business District Instagram (@chestnuthill_pa) before the event.
Last year was the first time "Love, Chestnut Hill" was organized. The event's success caught Courtney O'Neill, executive director of the Chestnut Hill Business District, unaware.
"Last year we had over 1000 tickets and three winners," O'Neill said. "I didn't expect it to be the way that it was…we ran out of raffle tickets."
This year, with more tickets at the ready, the business district is prepared for the crowds of shoppers on Germantown Avenue. Participating businesses will be marked with a sign on their windows, including Night Kitchen Bakery & Cafe, Baker Street Bread, Multiverse, NoName Gallery, Bredenbeck's Bakery, Home Works, Serendipity, Kilian Hardware, Zipf's Candies, and plenty more.
For O'Neill, "Love, Chestnut Hill" is all about supporting the shops that make the area so beloved. The event is similar to November's popular Small Business Saturday and December's busy Stag and Doe Nights. However, without the holidays, this stretch of mid-winter can be difficult for small businesses.
"The whole purpose is to support our small businesses, especially in February when the wintertime can be slow," O'Neill said.
O'Neill suspects shoppers will not only be showing their love for Chestnut Hill, but the Birds as well.
"I think there's going to be a lot of love for the Eagles blended into the weekend," O'Neill said. "There will probably be a lot of green window displays and decorations."
Mt. Airy
There are no neighborhood-wide celebrations for Valentine’s Day in Mt. Airy, but multiple small businesses are having their own special events.
If you don’t have a romantic partner, no problem! Valentine’s Day is about love in all forms. Vera Doyle, a unique Black-owned gift shop at 7118 Germantown Ave., is focusing on the self-love aspect of the holiday with a Mystic Tea Circle from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Customers will sip herbal teas, have a group oracle and tarot reading, do some guided journaling, and create personalized affirmations.
Blacqskirt, a Black-owned women’s apparel and accessories boutique at 7161 Germantown Ave., is hosting a “Never Too Late for Love” event on Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be special guest vendors at the shop and mimosas will be served.
Germantown
For couples looking to strengthen their emotional connection and get stronger physically, Space and Grace Yoga and Wellness is hosting a couple’s yoga session on Feb. 14 at its studio at 6120 Greene St. Unit B. The class will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and couples can register ahead of time at spaceandgrace.studio.
Manayunk
If you’re looking to celebrate the day of love in Manayunk, check out the @manayunkdotcom Instagram page from Feb. 3 to Feb. 9. Each day there will be Valentine’s Day themed giveaways and prizes from Manayunk businesses.
And if you’re someone who finds love to be a little scary, consider a trip to Lincoln Mill Haunted House at 4100 Main St. on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 from 7 to 9:15 p.m. Follow a trail of hearts with just a flickering candle in hand to uncover the tragic tale of Viktor and his Valentine in a spooky Valentine’s Day horror experience.
