You can’t put a price on love, but you can put a price tag on some great Valentine’s Day gifts in Philly.
Art in the Age
For the cocktail lover in your life, this unique Damson Gin — from AITA‘s sister distillery Tamworth Distilling in New Hampshire — is available for a limited time at the Old City store. The herbaceous spirit is low in ABV and exudes notes of damson plum, juniper, bitter orange and anise hyssop to make a perfect cocktail, including the Damson Gin Fizz (that recipe lives online). If making cocktails is more of your Valentine’s speed, “The Cocktail Workshop: An Essential Guide to Classic Drinks and How to Make Them Your Own” is also available online and at Art in the Age. The book comes from Steven Grasse and Adam Erace and it offers insider tips that will make anyone a mixologist with just a few chapters. You can purchase the book on Amazon for $24.99 (hardcover) or on the Kindle for $14.99 as well.
116 N. 3rd St., shop.artintheage.com
East Passyunk Avenue
There are a few options to choose from when it comes to this South Philly neighborhood when searching for Valentine’s Day gifts. The Bottle Shop (1616 E. Passyunk Ave.) offers a plethora of craft beer, seltzers, ciders, gift sets and even personalized, engraved bottles of wine. If you’re looking for flowers on the other hand, Creations By Coppola (1724 E. Passyunk Ave.) is the go-to shop for all things floral. The South Philadelphia florist offers fresh arrangements for pre-order online, as well as grab-and-go bouquets available for pick-up at the storefront for last-minute shoppers.
12th Street Catering
If you’re looking for unique Valentine’s Day gifts in Philly, 12th Street Catering has an enticing option — and it all takes place in your own kitchen. The virtual Taste of Italy Cooking Class from the company takes place on Friday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. While participating, attendees will cook and master a 3-course dinner with live step-by-step instructions via Zoom from Executive Chef Adam DeLosso. The new menu includes an antipasti platter, Tuscan petite filet and jumbo shrimp, and tiramisu. Each kit serves two people and costs $150, and 12th Street Catering will offer free onsite pickup, local delivery and priority overnight shipping. Deadline to register for the class is Friday, Feb. 4, at 2 p.m.
Bluebird Distilling
Phoenixville’s award-winning grain-to-glass craft distillery recently released its new seasonal spirit, and it’s meant to warm up this love-filled holiday. Bluebird’s Winter Whiskey features notes of vanilla, baking spices, orange zest and toffee with every sip. The 750ML bottle rings in at 80 proof and is available for purchase at the distillery or online for $44.99, or it’s available to ship anywhere in Pennsylvania.
various locations, bluebirddistilling.com
New Liberty Distillery
If your sweetheart or loved one is a fan of whiskey, New Liberty Distillery holds a popular option for Valentine’s Day gifts in Philly. The brand has recently re-stocked their popular Kinsey Single Hive Honey Whiskey, a sumptuous blend of Kinsey American Whiskey and Sunwick Farms’ honey. The drink — which has been described as soft, viscous and leading to a floral and rounded mouthfeel — rings in at 86.8 proof and is available for purchase on site at the distillery for $39.99, or Pennsylvania residents can have it shipped directly to their door.
1431 Cadwallader St., newlibertydistillery.com
Home Appétit and Cake Life Bake Shop
This Valentine’s Day, Cake Life bakers/owners Lily Fischer and Nima Etemadi will join Home Appétit’s chef/founder, Lee Wallach, to recreate two of the bakery’s signature desserts to be offered on the Home Appétit menu. Home Appétit, the weekly delivery service, and Cake Life, the Fishtown bakery, will be donating a portion of the sales to the Philadelphia-based, RHD Morris Home. RHD is known as the only residential recovery program in the country to offer comprehensive services specifically for the transgender community. According to a news release, the two desserts featured on the menu are the petal-pistachio cookies ($8, honey shortbread hearts, iced and decorated with dried rose petals, crushed pistachios, freeze-dried raspberry dust and violet sugar) and the Cupid’s Cupcake Box ($18, with an assortment of the following four flavors: chocolate-raspberry, pistachio-rose, fiesta and red-velvet.) The collaboration menu will go live on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at homeappetitphilly.com; orders must be placed by 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11, in order to be delivered on Valentine’s Day, which is Monday, Feb. 14.
Di Bruno Brothers
From boxes sporting some of the finest cheese and chocolates, to a truffle mac and cheese gift box — this city-wide staple offers a variety of different Valentine’s Day gifts. They are all available online, and if you’re stuck on what to get that special someone, you’ll likely find it here.
REX at The Royal
You can make memories at home with this new eatery’s robust, newly-launched bottle shop, perfect for a personalized wine tasting gift. REX at The Royal’s rare finds include a Cade Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain, California; Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino from Italy; and Desautels Cuiret Grand Cru Champagne from France (both Blanc de Blanc and Blanc de Noirs available). Diners can purchase bottles from the on-site shop or enjoy them during a sit-down dinner.
1524 South St., rexphl.com
Pie Bird Farm
Pie Bird will have two Valentine’s Day pop-up locations for the heart-shaped holiday. One will be Saturday, Feb. 12, from noon to 2 p.m. at Piazza Di Bruno (914 S. 9th St.) and the other on Sunday, Feb. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. at Frenchtown Bookshop (28 Bridge St., Frenchtown, New Jersey). As a news release states, orders must be placed through the Pie Bird website and can only be received at designated pick-up locations and times. Menu selections range from a variety of gift sets, chocolate crust cheesecake pie, flowers and much more.
