Valentine's Day, West Deptford Style

Paris may be the “City of Love,” but odds are slim that you’ll be whisked off to France on Monday. No, you’re probably facing another Valentine’s Day the same way we all are—right here in good old WD.  So why not make the best of our hometown? You can be wined and dined, wooed and wowed, without going more than a mile or two away from home. Here are some great ideas on how to think romantically, act locally—and on any budget:

For big spenders looking to impress this Valentine’s Day, the obvious choice is an evening of wine and candlelight at the RiverWinds Restaurant (856-579-7900). The dining room drips class and elegance, and the waterfront view of the twinkling city lights of Philadelphia would make anybody swoon. On Monday, the staff at RiverWinds is offering a special Valentine’s menu which features a “Sweetheart Special”—filet mignon and lobster tail for two for $68. Your meal can be complemented by one of the restaurant’s fine wines or scotches, and the staff promises a “special dessert” will be offered as well. An after-dinner stroll to the waterfront would be an amorous ending to the evening. Just bring a blanket big enough to share, as temperatures drop quickly once the sun goes down. (Cue a chorus of “Our Love Will Keep Us Warm,” stat!)

In A Pickle (856-853-0044) in the Crown Point Plaza has a sweet deal for those long on love but short on cash. On Monday, dinner for two will be just $25, and includes a shared appetizer, soup and the diners’ choice of any platter (regularly $13-15 a platter). Dinner is available from 5 to 9 p.m., according to manager Janette Sailor. If you want to give a small token of affection to your favorite Valentine, In A Pickle also offers “Loaves of Love”–small wrapped loaves of homemade blueberry, pumpkin and lemon poppy seed bread at the same price.

Woodbury isn’t exactly West Deptford, and Feb. 13 isn’t exactly Valentine’s Day, but if you’re not ready to commit to a full-blown romantic evening, a matinee may be the next best thing. Score tickets to Stage Left’s production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Sketch Club at 2 p.m. on Sunday. General admission seating is $20 a person (856-848-8089). If you end the evening with a cup of coffee and some conversation, you still get away with a Valentine’s Day outing for under $50.

If the way to your sweetie’s heart is through the stomach, put in an order for a specialty cheese steak from King of Steaks (856-845-1652) on King’s Highway. The menu there ranges from garden salads to chili cheese dogs to full pasta dinners—and with coupons on their website to make the meal even more budget-friendly. (Valentine’s Day tip: steer away from the garlic bread cheese steaks—at least if you want the evening to take a romantic turn!) Stop at the nearby Sherwood Hallmark (856-845-4953) for a flowery sentiment to add to your bagged lunch.

Of course, there are some of us who are still paying off our Christmas bills and can’t really put a price tag on love this Valentine’s Day. But that doesn’t mean the day should go unnoticed. Stop by the West Deptford Library and check out their selection of movies. For the price of a library card (free!) you can bring home a classic like Love Story, The English Patient or Casablanca. Then pop some popcorn and snuggle up under a blanket, and watch the romance unfold. What better way to celebrate your love—without opening your wallet?