Love is in the Air: Feb. 14

1.   Bad Hair Day. Dearly beloved, we’re concerned. Although we’re not completely enamored with Hallmark holidays, they can also be viewed as opportunities to try to look cute. But here’s the problem: the wind gusts forecast for Valentine’s Day on Monday look strong enough to blow even the most carefully coiffed tresses into styles resembling those favored by Medusa or Cousin It. Our advice: slap it in a ponytail and hope a big candy wrapper doesn’t fly up from the gutter and get stuck to your face, because there’s nothing cute about that.

2.   People all over the world. Hop on the love train today because there’s plenty to do and it’s not slowing down for those who still need more time and just can’t commit. Our first stop is the that is going all chi chi for Valentine’s Day. Just for the occasion, the food chain is offering table service, a special Surf ‘n Turf sandwich and the opportunity to complement the meal with your own bottle of wine. Reservations are necessary and if you play it right, you could make eating at the fast food chain as chic as when your girlfriend tells you she got her fabulous bag at Tar-jay. It’s all about attitude.

3.   Share the love. Don’t let the romance stop there. There are plenty of other opportunities to share a quiet meal with your honeybun. is offering Sweetheart Specials created by Chef Glenn Saldarini to go along with regular menu offerings on Monday night. And between 5 and 8:45 p.m. with reservations strongly recommended.

4.   What's not good dipped in chocolate? Looking for a little sweet for your sweetie? Nothing says love like an (unless it’s two Oreos dipped in chocolate). Patch mom Michelle Sassa shares her recipe for this sinful treat with some alternate ideas for items in your pantry that can be coated in candy creating an endless variety of confections. We love the simplicity of the treat that can be presented proudly to others with little more effort than it takes to pour a box of Entemann’s chocolate chip cookies onto a plate.

5.   Is Seabrook the new eHarmony? Our final offering on the love front this Valentine’s Day comes from who shares her awe at having found herself in a loving and committed relationship at this more senior stage of her life. In her essay, "Think You're Too Old for Love?," the 75-year-old widow says she enjoys the companionship and intimacy of this new relationship while also prefering the separate residences they both still maintain. Thomas began interviewing couples in similar situations—who found themselves single following divorce or having been widowed or never-married—and found some common denominators. She writes about all of her findings in her new book, Love & Successful Aging When You’re 70+ and Single. We love learning that the end of one chapter is merely the beginning of the next. That's amore.

Each weekday morning, Patch delivers what you simply need to know and can’t miss. Whether it’s a school board meeting later that evening, the lowdown on the weather or a must-read on Patch, we’ll lay it out for you every morning. Getting out the door’s challenging enough, we can’t help you find your keys (check your purse) but we can tell you what you need to know to rock the day.