There are only seven days before Valentine’s Day. Although some may try to dismiss it as a holiday created to sell greeting cards, those of us experienced enough to have a shred of wisdom realize that it’s an opportunity to say something that we don’t say enough the rest of the year, “I love you”.

Admittedly we all may have many other things on our minds and on our schedules. Finding that perfect way to emphasize the saying of “I love you” can be a creative challenge to over-taxed minds. Fortunately, there is Downtown Northfield.

Linda Schneewind and Eric Hope at digs have jewelry, great cards and “lots of heart-felt knick-knacks” and an energetic and innovative staff to help you come up with a good idea. April Ripka at The Sketchy Artist has a fun and funky card selection, “How to Make Love” and “The Art of Kissing” books with advice from the 1930s, the Love Gun and cupid ammo and lots of materials to get creative and make your own valentines. Ally Beyer at The Rare Pair says that they’re having a jewelry sale from Monday to Thursday and suggests that a be.ology t-shirt would be an affectionate gift.

Jon Lee at River City Books has a little Valentine’s Day section set up with books for kids and adults as classic love stories (Jane Austen is always big this time of year). Kerri Houfer at Echo Used DVDs and Games has a good selection of romantic films, guaranteed to set the right mood. Jerry Bilek at Monkey See, Monkey Read recommends poetry this time of year, in particular he suggested Fourteen Sonnets by Joyce Sutphen (a handmade book by a regional artist) or Penchant by the Northfield Women Poets.

And, there’s the time-proven gift of love…chocolate…and Mary Rossing at Present Perfect has the McElrath Valentine Collection. Of course, Eileen Seeley at the Cocoa Bean always has a wide variety of sweets for your sweetie.

When in doubt, or really pressed for time, why not go out for drinks and/or dinner. Norman Butler at The Contented Cow is doing a wine special and Chapati is doing a Valentine’s Day dinner special. Joe and Jody Grundhoefer at The Rueb-N-Stein are offering a sirloin steak special for lovers who might ask “where’s the beef?” For couples for whom the art of seduction moves to the music of Tom Waits in a Biergarten, Tim Sellars of Tiny’s Dogs All Day recommends his (delicious) new Hot Dog Reuben, washed down with some 1919 Root Beer. Finally, Brad and Lula Valek, that’s B & L Pizza, believe that nothing says “Amore” like a Greek pizza and a bottle of red wine.

So for Valentine’s Day, Downtown is for Lovers: Love Local and Shop Local.