Get a Jump on the Loving and Enjoy Valentine's Weekend

With Valentines’ Day on a Monday this year, couples will be celebrating all weekend.

From decadent dinners to slippery sliders, here is how some Shorewood residents will be spending the holiday for lovers.

An annual tradition for , Director of , and her husband, Paul, is spending Valentines’ Day in a castle — a White Castle, that is.

“You have to make reservations for Valentine’s Day,” she said, “and they decorate the restaurant.”

Couples may have their photo taken in front of an arch of White Castle boxes. Paul added to the romance by taking Jennifer to on Friday night and then on to the Rialto for the Lyle Lovett concert.

Speaking of Louie’s Chophouse, the Shorewood restaurant has a full lineup of entertainment in their lounge this weekend. On Friday night, the band Rick and Kevin will play from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. All-girl band, Girl Next Door, will perform on Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight, and on Monday, Acoustic Thing (the duo Todd and Connie Beebe), will entertain diners beginning at 7 p.m.

Louie’s will offer a special Valentine’s Day menu on Monday night and has added chocolate-dipped strawberries to their dessert choices.

Mike and Brenda Byrnes will dine at Joliet’s Renaissance Center on Friday night for the Culinary Arts Department’s special Valentine’s Day dinner. As part of the Friday Night Out Dinner Series, Executive Chef Bill Siska and his team are preparing an epicurean delight: a five-course meal paired with wine at each course. This is a second annual event for the Byrnes, and it promises to be a real treat for the gourmands.

Cheryl and Rudy Raspolich have two holidays to enjoy this weekend: Valentine’s Day and their anniversary - actually, two anniversaries.

Cheryl’s sister, Karen, married Rudy’s brother, Rodney, and the two couples share the same wedding anniversary, just five years apart. They’ll celebrate their anniversaries Saturday night at the Department in downtown Joliet.

For Tiffany Staab, Valentines’ Day has always been a family holiday. She will spend the weekend with husband Matt and their sons Luke and Andrew.

“In my family, we never really celebrated Valentine’s Day as a 'romantic' day," she said. "It’s my mom’s birthday, so we have always celebrated it as a day to celebrate the love within our family.

“Over the weekend, we will get together with my family and celebrate my mom’s birthday," she said. "All of the kids will exchange cards and treats. On Valentine’s Day, I will make the family pink, heart-shaped pancakes and a sweetheart-themed dinner. We also make cards for each other to say how much we love and appreciate one another.”

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other or with your children and extended family, this holiday is all about the love. You don’t need flowers, candy, or an expensive dinner to show your loved ones that you care.

Make a card, write a poem, give a hug or a kiss … just tell them that you love them. And you have all weekend to do it. Happy Valentine’s Day!