An affair to remember …

Eric and I first laid eyes on each other February 8, 2004. On the one-year anniversary of that first meeting, he sent me on a surprise scavenger hunt through downtown Spokane, with stops at all the places we visited together within our first getting-to-know-you week … Far West Billiards, The Elk, O’Doherty’s, a tree next to the parking meter where we had our first smooch. At each stop there was a friendly bartender waiting with a drink and a thick envelope containing a love letter. (The guy leaning against the tree next to the parking meter was not a bartender. He was a wino. But he did offer to share a swig from his brown bottle before I freed the duct-taped envelope from the trunk he was using to hold himself up, which was an endearing way to keep the mojo flowing.)

At each stop I laughed. I cried. And I knew for certain I was sharing space with the guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with … which was a good thing, because by the time Eric went to all this trouble we’d already been engaged nine months and were less than six months away from getting hitched. It was, to this day, the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me.

I’m spilling all these beans because it explains one little relationship quirk we have: We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. Eric was, understandably, romantically tapped after that first February 8 love-fest. So tapped, in fact, that I selflessly allowed him to take a pass on what would be our first truly committed Valentine’s Day. I mean, honestly, two sentimental celebrations within one week … who has the heart to get through that?

My competitive streak wouldn’t allow our next anniversary to pass without at least taking a stab at topping his enchanting endeavor. I failed. Miserably. At which point we deemed Eric the romantic half of our couple and called it a day. And I’m totally OK with that. Love is about compromise. It’s about one person picking up where the other leaves off. It’s about eating chocolate cake when all you really want is a spoon and a bowl of double-fudge frosting.

Which is why I’m going to split the difference between these two love-centric dates and drag Eric over to Coeur d’Alene on February 11, for The Chocolate Affair – a tasting event and chocolate competition … seriously, it’s the best of everything! I’m going to show him I love him so much I’d dunk my face in a fountain of milk chocolate, even though we both know my heart craves the dark chocolate flavonoid flood. Hmmm … maybe I’m a romantic after all.

From 5-8 p.m., chocolate creations from the pros and regular Joes will be showcased at sites around the downtown core and the winner will be named top Chocolate Chef of Coeur d’Alene.

The event kicks off at the Plaza Shops across the street from the Resort. Tickets are $7.50 for adults, but couples get two tickets for $10, because Valentine’s weekend is the one time each year when snubbing the singletons is socially acceptable. (Trust me, we twosies more than repay that $5 in savings each time we visit our therapist.)

Love may be patient, but only a limited number of tickets are available, so don’t dawdle. Call 208.415.0116 to reserve your tickets before you change your mind.

If your business is known for its cupcakes, truffles, mousse, brownies, fudge or any other glorious form of chocolate, you should join the competition. And, if your family and friends swear your chocolate chip cookies are the bomb, your rum balls are the raddest, your chocolate covered pretzels are the pinnacle, you should give the pros a run for their money! Click here for an Application. And click here for more details on the tasting event.