Manzanita Connections – February 11, 2025

Love is in the Air: Valentines, Sweets, Books and Theatre

Feb 11, 2025

Love is in the air. If you’re looking for a last-minute little somethin' somethin' for Valentine’s Day, may I suggest you visit Manzanita Sweets for candy, pick up a heart-shaped Stroopwafel at UnFurl (pair it with a gift card from Manzanita Coffee or Manzanita News and Espresso). Find the perfect card at Pelican & Piper, T-Spot or Wisteria Chic. Show your love with a little glass or wood heart-shaped memento found at Finnesterre or Moxie Fair Trade. And if you didn’t know, desserts can be found at Neahkahnie Smokehouse and the Rusty Moose Whiskey Bar. Or, my personal favorite, give the gift of blooms that keep on giving: a CSA membership to River City Flower Farm.

Read on for more February fun.

My beachy heart collection includes several from Finnesterre, Moxie and UnFurl, as well as beach towns of Baja Mexico. 🩵💙🩵

Attention Theatre Lovers: It’s Showtime!

NCRD will be hosting a movie night for romantics young and old at the Performing Arts Center this Friday, February 14, for Valentine’s Day. The first two shows will be family friendly movies, followed by two adult movies. Movies are free, but donations are always welcome. Popcorn and soda available for purchase. Film titles aren’t posted due to licensing but see the hints below. Pretty sure I know the first two … Call NCRD at 855-444-6273 for more info.

If a murderous whodunit is more to your liking … it's time to buy your tickets to Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, performed by the River Bend Players, running Fri/Sat/Sun from February 28 until March 16. The Mousetrap is a classic murder mystery set in a remote English guesthouse where a group of strangers becomes snowed in. When they learn a murderer is among them, tensions rise, and secrets unravel as they work to identify the culprit before another guest falls victim. The Mousetrap is sure to keep you guessing until the very end!

For the Sweet Tooths

Order up a little heart day surprise from Buttercup in Nehalem. Deadline to order is 10 am February 12 for pickup Friday, Feb 14 between 11:30 and 5 pm. Start your evening with Julie’s Potted Montrachet served with a homemade baguette and finish with Rosewater Angel Food Parfait with passion fruit curd and vanilla bean whipped cream. Eat it all or share. No judgement.

Let Jeff, the honey guy deliver a sweet treat. He will deliver raw honey quarts, half gallons or samplers, and even maple syrup, to your door. His next delivery day is Tuesday, Feb. 18. Text Jeff Warren at 208-424-0042 or jwmerc@gmail.com.

sliced grapefruits — Photo by Rayia Soderberg on Unsplash

Citrus season is upon us. Sweet navel oranges (10 lb boxes) and Ruby Red grapefruits (20 lb boxes) will be available this Saturday, February 15 at Josi Farms in Tillamook from 10 am – noon. No pre-order required, walk ins welcome. But if you can’t wait, order online now. The Citrus Fundraiser is a Tillamook High School Charity drive that supports local organizations and Dornbechers Children's hospital.

For the Book Lovers

After Hours Events at Cloud & Leaf Bookstore

Spend Valentine’s Day at a special After Hours Event at Cloud & Leaf Bookstore. This Friday, February 14, Pacific NW author Grant Gosch will read from his book of love letters, Dear Love, and his novel Kingfisher Lane. The following Saturday, February 22, the bookstore’s After Hours Event features Dan Luzadder, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and author of The Manchurian Journalist and Street Talk.

A Library Update

The Tillamook Library System, including our very own Manzanita Library, is getting a new library catalog on March 10. What this means is you’ll be greeted with a new online interface (more Google-like) to browse categories of books, create, manage and share your own lists, keep your reading history, get book recommendations, and more. Visit this link for more info. And, if you don’t have a library card, isn’t it time?

Note that to prepare for the system change, all Tillamook County Libraries will be closed on Thursday, February 13 for staff training and system updates.

Reminders/Last Chance

Last chance to volunteer for the Lower Nehalem Community Trust 2025 Community Garden season at Alder Creek Farm. Registration is open through February 14. As a garden volunteer, you’ll enjoy garden training and education, harvest sharing, plus you’ll help grow plant donations for local food scarcity partners.

Business Closure Reminders: