From free long stem roses to romantic menus, those ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day don’t have to look far.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Valentine’s Day is a week away and people can get ahead of the celebration at Montrose Shopping Park this Saturday when “Charlie Chaplain” hands out long stem roses on Saturday to those strolling along Honolulu Avenue.

It was about four years ago when the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. decided to do something special for the customers who shop the area, said Dale Dawson, MSPA event coordinator.

“We first tried to use a flower truck,” Dawson said.

But that didn’t work like they had hoped, so Dawson and the MSPA board decided to hand out roses but wanted to do it uniquely. That’s when they found Audrey Ruttan, a Charlie Chaplain impersonator. 

Ruttan fit in perfectly with what MSPA wanted for its Valentine’s Day celebration. So now Charlie Chaplain stands at the southeast corner of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard, handing out roses to those strolling along the avenue.

“This is a ‘friend-raising’ event,” Dawson said of the free rose greeting.

He added a lot of people are surprised when they are handed a rose without being asked for anything in return.

Additionally, in support of the merchants and as a way to give back to shoppers, anyone who spends $50 at retail stores in the Montrose Shopping Park can turn in their receipts and will receive $10 in scrip to be spent in the shopping park.

The roses are handed out from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; the MSPA has ordered 500 roses and, according to Dawson, it is first come, first served. They have gone through all of the roses by 3 p.m. in past years.

In addition, there are some restaurants in the area that will have specials for Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. Ocean View Bar and Grill at 3826 Ocean View Blvd. will have a special Valentine’s Day menu from Feb. 14 through the weekend. Its hours are Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to midnight with their kitchen closing at 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. with the kitchen closing at 10 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. There will be live music on Friday and Sunday with karaoke on Saturday night.

Casa Cordoba at 2331 Honolulu Ave. will have a guitarist setting a romantic mood on Feb. 14. Blue Moon on Verdugo Road does not have a special menu for Valentine’s Day but the owners invite all to a “friendly place to have a glass of champagne or cocktails to celebrate the day.”

Outside the shopping park, guests of The Crow’s Nest Sports Grille, 7279 Foothill Blvd. in Tujunga, will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special menu including a choice of a bottle of champagne or bottomless mimosas. The four-course meal for two is available for $79.