Sweet and Spicy Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Beacon 2016!

Y'all. You are in for a delightful weekend in Beacon again! Happy Valentine's Day! We have many gift ideas to warm your heart, because it will be chilly out! Quick, scroll down and see which idea works for your valentine, even if you are your own valentine! PS: Need a card?

Beacon Pantry

Beacon Pantry's owner, Stacey, is the queen of cheeses in Beacon. (She frequently takes trips to Europe to further educate herself.) Thanks to her obsession with flavors, Beacon Pantry is offering a fondue night on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm-9pm. On the menu is fondue, but they will also substitute a cheese and charcuterie plate if desired. Each couple receives bubbly fondue with all the trimmings, a bottle of bubbly and a dessert to share! Reservations are required.
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After Ella's More Good Tasting Room

This Valentine's Day Sunday, Ella's Bellas and Drink More Good (we covered More Good's bitters here) have teamed up to introduce After Ella's: More Good Tasting Room for a very boozy Valentine’s Day brunch, which will run from 11am-3pm, followed by an evening of small plates and cocktails from 4pm-9pm. Guest Chef Brandon Collins will be serving up some fantastic food and More Good will be curating the cocktail menu. Normally they serve a light breakfast on the weekend, as seen in A Little Beacon Blog's Best Brunches Guide, but this special brunch opportunity is a treat. Yum.
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A Room With a Heated Stone Floor

Watch out world...one of the sisters of Cedar Lakes Estates, and of the corresponding Instagram account "sistersofcedarlakes," has moved to Beacon, bringing with her the style of the unbelievably beautiful wedding and event venue from Port Jervis (off of I-84's Exit 2). You could book this room with its "heated stone floors, wood burning fireplace and like 100 furry blankets" and take a mini-vacation from Beacon. Just sayin'.
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Beacon's airbnb scene offers many options, from romantic and country to city and lofty. Here are two you'll want to try:

A Room with Quite a View

Lambs Hill is a private equestrian estate on Mount Beacon, with 180-degree views overlooking the Hudson River and Beacon. This private guest house is part of a larger wedding destination spot. During your stay in a beautifully designed luxury suite, you can visit the estate's Icelandic horses and donkeys, or slip into the outdoor hot tub. One mile to Beacon's Main St. and 2 miles to train and Dia.
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An AirBNB in Beacon Special

You can stay for a night in this mid-19th-century Italianate home. Owned by a sculptor, you have a built-in concierge as he is happy to advise you on the local arts and outdoor scene. Just half a block off of Beacon's Main Street, and minutes to the Metro-North train station.
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Lacy Things!

You can thank Christina Faraj, The Bra Fit Expert for the sexy lead photo of this Valentine's Day Gift Guide, as she is selling that matching lingerie set in her shop, located in a permanent pop-up space in Echo Boutique on Beacon's east end of town near the mountain. Walk on down to her shop and you can buy the lingerie set seen here, or any lingerie item, and get a festive valentine gift bag to give your valentine. Pictured here is a matching set, with a black lace push-up demi bra from BTempted. Christina is a professional bra fitter and can get you in exactly the right shape for your body. She can see you on the spot if you need a quick fitting, but if she's not there, fear not, you can grab any style of bra you want and buy it at the sales counter at Echo. The Bra Fit Expert is a Featured Business in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide, and she always has something new up her sleeve!

Hot Stone Massage and Melt Those Cares Away

With all of the heavy shoveling you aren't doing this year, I know your body is worn out anyway, from getting your taxes ready, last minute Valentine's Day shopping and teacher card writing, and all of the other things during your day that make you tense. I'm not sure how you are going to make it to March without getting a therapeutic massage from Karen Meyer at River Therapeutic Massage, who has designed a special Valentine's Day massage just for you. Incorporating gently warmed and scented oils, the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage Experience is like no other. These polished stones have ancient healing energy to bring balance to the mind, body and spirit. Luxuriate in their warmth as they ease the tension out of your back, neck and shoulders.

Your session continues with an oil-infused Himalayan Salt Scrub for your hands and feet…and finally, complete your experience with a relaxing and rejuvenating Mini Facial Massage, enhanced with essential oils. Choose from rose, frankincense or several others.

While you’re still feeling the post-massage “glow,” enjoy a glass of wine or mineral water and a light snack. No rush to get back to real life!

River Therapeutic Massage is a featured business in A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide, and each month we are tempted with a new offering! So keep checking here to find out which special Karen will offer next.
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Couples Massage

Maybe you did a couples massage on your honeymoon, or maybe you've never booked a massage with your honey at all. This may be your weekend! Terra Firma Massage is offering an educational twist to this, where you can learn some easy massage techniques to enhance your connection with each other and not feel like you don't know how to give a nice back rub. Giannetta Salon Spa always has available their couples room, which includes homemade banana bread for you to snack on. Amazing, I know! For other sources of massages, do see A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide for many more ideas.

Fun in a Photo Booth!

Adorbs, I know. You too can look this cute and fabulous in the photo booth at The Pfotoshop, who painted the backdrop pink for Valentine's Day! Pfotoshop is a boutique specializing in home decor and gifts and is a featured shop in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide. They're on the east end of Main Street near the mountain, one of a few shops in the old Matteawan train station. And if you need to pucker up for that photo like owner Jackie Foley is here, head across the street to The Blushery, where you'll find a fresh shade of pink or red lipstick.

Do treat yourself to these lovely aromas, the Pfotoshop's newest line of bath and body products.

Roller Skating Date!

I know, right? You're dying to go roller skating with your mate! Well now you can, in Hyde Park at Roller Magic. Hyde Park Roller Magic is also included in our Adults Classes Guide, should you be looking for hula hooping classes...

Going to a Dance

Those Howlands...they are always dancing! Every month,, the Howland Cultural Center has a dance event, and this month it is in honor of Valentine's Day on Saturday night at 8pm. Special refreshments will be served, along with chocolates. This night is also Beacon's Second Saturday, so after you see art by walking our Second Saturday Guide, drop into this dance!

Chocolate and Balloons

Sometimes you need to give balloons instead of chocolate or flowers. Maybe your recipient is not eating chocolate at the moment, or is overwhelmed by the scent of flowers. Balloons are the way to go. My secret balloon source is the little shop in the middle of town that is next door to Trendy Tots, the kids consignment shop. If you have never been inside of this little store, I know that you have walked by it several times. The window is nondescript with old flyers on it, but the woman inside is magical and very busy building flower arrangements and blowing up mylar balloons, and even has an air pump for those of you who need a sea of balloons on the floor or taped to walls for decoration. At the time of the publishing of this article, the photo of her storefront is buried in my files, but I will snap the shot and post it here.

A lot of chocolate was consumed for the writing of this Valentine's Day Gift Guide. These chocolate hearts in particular are from Alps Sweets Shop on Beacon's Main Street. The chocolate-covered Oreos below are famously from Gourmetibles.

Kids Activities

You knew Beacon's bakers were going to do something special for Valentine's Day! The Be Mine Pop UP  is your chance to buy baked goods from 5 Hens as well as sing and dance in Spanish with Lisa Marie and listen to bluegrass music from The Miller Brothers. This is a weekend event, running from Friday at 4pm until Sunday. So get up on it.
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Friday afternoon at 4pm, make cards at The Beacon Bagel with The Beacon Craft Workshop to raise money for the Beacon Soup Kitchen. Kids 5 and up can attend without a parent, and kids 4 and under must be with a parent.
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Work off the Chocolate

Maybe you forwent all of the gifts and went straight for dessert, as was recommended here in last year's Valentine's Day post with the seven sources of chocolates at that time. It's best you go to a boot camp or get some endorphin-producing exercise. All Sport's special Buddy Boot Camp is your chance to come with a friend and work out together in what will be a challenging morning, but so worth it in the end. And you can always relax in the hot sauna to sweat it out even more when complete. This is one of several special classes at All Sport that we keep track of here at A Little Beacon Blog.

This Valentine's Day Gift Guide was brought to you buy (typo intended!) A Little Blog's Shopping Guide. There are plenty more gift ideas out there on Main Street, and we have your full Shopping Guide for when you are out and about! Have A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide open on your phone as you look for gifts for Men, Women, Kids, Foodies, and more.