Show them the money for Valentine’s Day

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Denis Wilkin of Naperville, along with his daughter Molly (16), buy Valentine's Day chocolates for their significant others at Naper Nuts and Sweets in Naperville. | Terence Guider-Shaw~For Sun-Times Media

Chocolatey good

One of the old stand-by gifts for Valentine’s Day is chocolate. Let’s face it, chocolate works.

All Chocolate Kitchen, 33 S. Third St., Geneva. (630) 232-2395. AllChocolateKitchen.com.

Anderson’s Candy Shop, 10301 N. Main St.. Richmond. (888) 214-7614. andersonscandyshop.com.

The Cocoa Cabana, 651 South 8th St., West Dundee. (847) 851-8775. thecocoacabana.com.

Dan’s Homemade Candies, 1003 Plainfield Road, Joliet. (815) 722-0712. DansHomemadeCandies.com.

Graham’s Chocolates, 302 S. 3rd St., Geneva. (630) 232-6655. Grahamschocolate.com.

GJi’s Sweet Shoppe, 81 N. Chicago St., Joliet. (815) 727-1500. Gjissweetshoppe.com.

Hollingworth Candies, Inc., 922 S. State St., Lockport. (815) 838 2275. Hollingworthcandies.com.

Le Chocolat du Bouchard, 129 South Washington St., Naperville. (630) 355-5720. Lechocolatdubouchard.com.

Naper Nuts and Sweets, 10 W Jefferson Ave. #5, Naperville. 60540. (630) 355-5330. napernutsandsweets.com.

Love in the dark

Former Sun-Times Media movie critic Josh Larsen, of LarsenonFilm.com, recommends these movies if you can’t go out for Valentine’s Day.

Say Anything

Notorious

Punch-Drunk Love

In the Mood for Love

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Casablanca

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Before Sunrise/Before Sunset

Article Extras

Updated: February 28, 2012 11:38AM

Valentine’s Day is a day to acknowledge the person you share your life with.

It’s a night for love and romance, and if you’re in the mood for a fun night out, there are plenty of options. Here are a few ideas.

Theater

♦ Steel Beam Theatre is hosting a Valentine’s evening to remember with champagne, chocolate, hors d’oeuvres and a presentation of A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” at 8 p.m. Feb 10 and 5 and 8 p.m. Feb. 11. The plays is the story of a couple who met in second grade through their letters to each other. Tickets are $35 and include champagne, Graham’s Fine Chocolates and hors d’oeuvres. At 111 W. Main Street, St. Charles. Call (630) 587-8521 or visit SteelBeamTheatre.com.

♦ Acorn Community Theatre presents “Some Enchanted Evening,” 7 p.m. Feb. 10-14, at the Warren Tavern, 3s540 Second Ave., Warrenville. Five performers sing the classic songs of Rogers and Hammerstein. Included is a dessert table. Tickets are $20 per person and $30 per couple. Wmcproductions.org.

♦ The Raue Center for the Arts offers up “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” at 8 p.m. Feb. 10 with repeat performances at 4 and 8 p.m. Feb. 11. Through a series of vignettes, the play looks at dating, marriage and family life. Tickets are $33-$39. At 26 No. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Call (815) 356-9212 or visit Wsrep.org.

♦ Come to the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage for an afternoon of romantic music from Broadway, opera and film. The New Philharmonic, with music director and conductor Kirk Muspratt, present the popular “Valentine’s Pops” concert at 3 p.m. Feb. 12. The show includes guest artists Angela Mannino and John Sumners. Tickets are $40-$50. At 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Call (630) 942-4000 or visit AtTheMAC.org.

♦ A free Valentine’s concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Evangelical Covenant Church. The Valentine concert is presented by soprano Solange Sior and pianist Murna Hansemann. They will perform love songs from “Show Boat,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Carousel,” Love is a Many Splendored Thing,” “The King and I” and more. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Ministries of Evangelical Covenant Church of Elgin. At 1565 Larkin Ave. in Elgin. Call (847) 888-2302 or visit Solangesior.com.

Restaurants

♦ In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 244 S. Main St., Naperville, will offer diners a romantic three-course meal. Menu items include shrimp and lobster bisque, filet mignon, lamb chops, crab-stuffed shrimps, horseradish mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, lobster macaroni and cheese, chocolate mousse and berries, chocolate covered strawberries, and bananas foster bread pudding. The cost is $89 for two; available Feb. 11-14. Call (630) 305-0230 or visit Sullivansteakhouse.com.

♦ Nick’s Pizza and Pub, at 990 S. Randall Road, Elgin. The Valentine’s Day special is a large one-topping pizza, a bottle of Foxbrook wine and a colossal cookie to share for $29.99. Call (847) 531-5550 or visit Nickspizzapub.com.

♦ In Joliet, lovers can take a Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Food Tour at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 16. For $22 a person, you can visit McBrody’s Bar and Grill, Chicago Street Pub, GJI’s Sweet Shoppe, Thayer’s 158 North and The Department. When guests check in, they will be assigned a starting point. A shuttle service will be provided in case of inclement weather. E-mail Cam Barnett Cam.barnett@jolietdowntown.com.

♦ La Sorella di Francesca has “Five Days of Valentine” Feb. 10-14. Francesca’s will feature a heart-shaped Pizza con Prosciutto e Rucola, arugula, lemon, olive oil, roasted plum tomatoes, mozzarella and Prosciutto di Parma for $11.99. They will also offer the festive Ravioli Tartufati, heart-shaped pasta with a garlic-Parmesan cream sauce, fresh tomatoes and a drizzle of white truffle oil for $16.99. At 18 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. Call (630) 961-2706 or visit Miafrancesca.com.

♦ New Lenox’s American Legion Post No. 1977 hosts “Retro Valentine’s Dine and Dance Party” on Feb. 11. A $45 entry fee per person gets you a meal by Scrementi’s Italian Restaurant of Steger plus entertainment by the Neverly Brothers. At Tom T. Hartung Hall, 14414 Ford Drive, New Lenox. Doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. and music at 8 p.m. Call (815) 600-9050 or visit Post1977.com.

♦ Tango Grill is offering a five-course dinner packages with champagne toast starting at $24.95 per person from Feb. 10-14. At 5 W. Jackson Ave. Naperville. Call (630) 848-1818 or visit Tangogrill.com.

♦ Jimmy’s Grill offers a Valentine’s Day dinner packages for $40 per person on Feb. 14. The menu features items such as crab bisque, quail stuffed with spinach, pan-seared halibut, braised short ribs, and banana and chocolate bread pudding with bananas foster. Reservations required. At 245 S. Washington St. in Naperville. Call (630) 548-2500 or visit Jimmysgrillnaperville.com.

♦ Fox and Hound English Pub in Aurora wants you to feel the love at their Valentine’s Day dinner, 7-10 p.m. Feb. 14. Tickets are $70 per couple. The price gets you a four-course meal paired with their favorite microbrews. Call (630) 236-9183.

♦ At Cantigny Park, celebrate Valentine’s Day with a dinner in the Red Oak Room. Seatings are every half-hour from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 14. At 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Call (630) 668-5161 or visit Cantigny.org.

Other

♦ Animal lovers can have a romantic Valentine’s dinner at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11. The evening starts with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Seven Seas underwater viewing gallery. Next is a five-course meal in Bocaditos restaurant. Dancing until midnight. $225 per couple. Call (708) 688-8355 or visit Csz.org.

♦ At Shedd Aquarium, do Valentine’s on the cheap — take advantage of one of the Shedd’s Community Discount Days on Feb. 14, where general admission is free. It includes the Waters of the World, Amazon Rising and the Caribbean Reef. Packages including Wild Reef, Polar Play Zone and Oceanarium are available at a discounted rate. At 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago. Call (312) 939-2438.

♦ In Morton Arboretum, learn about the growing, harvesting and production process of chocolate and its relationship to trees through exhibits, expos and workshops. Chocolate-themed gifts and sweets are available for purchase at the Arboretum store. At 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. Call (630) 968-0074 or visit Mortonarb.org.