Valentine’s Day is here, which means it’s time to make some plans! Whether you’re hunting for the perfect dinner spot with friends or planning a romantic evening, don’t panic: Colgate University and Hamilton both have plenty of delicious options to satisfy your heart — and your stomach. From the O’Connor Campus Center (Coop) to Frank Dining Hall to Maxwell’s Chocolates & Ice Cream, there’s no shortage of sweet treats and festive eats to make your day special.
For starters — Colgate Dining Services is hosting a Valentine’s Day giveaway with Val and Tina Jellycats as prizes. To enter, simply follow @colgatedining on Instagram, like and save their giveaway post and tag three friends. If you want to boost your chances of winning, share the post on your story and tag the account. Participating in these giveaways is an easy way to jump into the Valentine’s spirit and find a little treat in the holiday’s commercial charm.
Frank Dining Hall has also turned Valentine’s Day into Valentine’s Week with a series of themed activities leading up to the big day. On Feb. 10, students had the opportunity to paint a mug and take it home — perfect for sipping hot cocoa and watching rom-coms. On Feb. 11, they hosted a game where students pledged to perform a random act of kindness for a chance to win a prize — a great way to pay it forward. On Feb. 12, Frank-goers had the chance to go on a blind date with a book! On the eve of Valentine’s Day, which is coined “Self-Love Day,” self-care necessities were available for students, who treated themselves with a line-up of activities. If you haven’t had enough Valentine’s cheer, you can enjoy the special treats Frank will be offering on Valentine’s Day itself. Students have the opportunity to make chocolate-covered strawberries and enjoy a Valentine’s-themed coffee bar.
In anticipation of the events, Tiffany Simmons, the marketing manager of Dining Services, shared why she is so excited for these events.
“I’m especially excited for these events as a way to spread kindness across campus. This initiative is part of ‘Delightful Week,’ a nationwide Chartwells program where all participating schools work together to inspire 500,000 acts of kindness,” Simmons said. “My interns and I look forward to this week all semester, dedicating a lot of time and effort to planning each event. Hopefully, students not only enjoy it but also feel inspired to continue spreading kindness throughout the semester.”
Students can also head over to the Coop for a Valentine’s breakfast featuring a heart-shaped pink pancake bar with strawberry compote and whipped cream. For pastry lovers, there will be strawberry-glazed donuts — and, to wash it all down, enjoy a refreshing pink-infused Fresca water.
Bobby Metz, a junior at Colgate, commented on what he was looking forward to the most.
“I’m super excited to try Hug-a-Mug Day. I know that theft from Frank Dining Hall is a pervasive issue, so I hope this will motivate students to create instead of take,” Metz said.
If you’re looking to expand your food tour past the boundaries of campus, Maxwell’s Chocolates & Ice Cream may be the ultimate sweet spot. Owner Jenn Cobb is serving the ultimate Valentine’s classic — homemade chocolate-covered strawberries. A limited number will be available for grab-and-go on Valentine’s Day, but they sell fast each year. Cobb estimates they will sell about 60 dozen orders.
Senior Nikki Izversky, a Maxwell’s enthusiast, shared her excitement.
“Whenever I’m craving something sweet, I always know where to go. I’m extra excited for the chocolate-covered strawberries and will definitely be ordering them this Valentine’s Day,” Izversky said.
If strawberries aren’t your thing, Maxwell’s also offers a wide array of delicious truffles and chocolate treats to share with your loved ones or enjoy on your own. Customers can fill various-sized boxes with whatever chocolates they please. Some specials — like the chocolate ginger buckeyes, chocolate turtles and chocolate-covered Oreo clusters — are made in-house. Maxwell’s will also put out a new ice cream flavor in collaboration with Gilligan’s Island, which will feature chocolate ice cream, chocolate swirls and homemade pink chocolate hearts. To add to the festivities, the shop also plans to sell fresh flowers.
Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day with a significant other, your best friends or just treating yourself, there are plenty of ways to celebrate. From DIY desserts at Frank to heart-shaped pancakes at the Coop or a chocolate heaven at Maxwell’s, you really can’t go wrong. So, indulge, enjoy and make this Valentine’s Day one to remember.
