Cacao beans used for making chocolate

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a trip to Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory’s Sweet Saturdays, for an exploration of nature’s sweet treats.  On February 13, from 11Am-4PM, the conservatory will  basically present a plant-based candy show, with samplings of bananas, cinnamon bark, vanilla beans  and chocolate trees.  At Tropical Treat Stations, visitors will learn how these plants are used in candy and sample flavors.  The process of making vanilla and honey will also be displayed at the Sugar from the Sun exhibit.

Enjoy making leaf-rubbing Valentine’s Day cards, scratch ans sniff necklaces with sandpaper and cinnamon and chocolate sachets, at the Hands-On Activity Station. Listen to music from the different tropical regions of the sweet plants, including Argentina and Brazil, performed by Mar Caribe in the  Tropical Cafe.  The suggested donation for “Sweet Saturdays” is $3 and children under 12 are free.  After your sweet adventure, head over to Edna’s Restaurant, a classic Chi-town soul food eatery famous for fluffy biscuits. Try the smothered chicken, collard greens and  peach cobbler, then gear up for a visit to the  nearby United Center where you can catch a Blackhawks game or view the famous statue of Michael Jordan leaping through the air.

Photo courtesy of Garfield Park Conservatory