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Shopping for your love

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Mary Kay Daniel, owner of Mary Kay’s Gifts and Home Decor, holds up one of the Valentine’s Day gift baskets she’s put together to sell for Sister Saturday.

Main Street Fort Dodge is inviting area shoppers to visit the merchants in downtown Fort Dodge to shop for Valentine’s Day this weekend.“Sister Saturday” is a Main Street Fort Dodge shopping event with many participating downtown businesses. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, shoppers can visit any participating business and receive an entry form to have the opportunity to win one of three prize drawings. An anonymous donor is providing a small ruby heart pendant and two gift baskets have been compiled with prizes provided by participating businesses. “Merchants take this day as seriously as they do Small Business Saturday, which is typically the one right after Thanksgiving, and they probably do as well if not better in total sales,” said Sharon Stroh, Main Street Fort Dodge executive director. Shoppers can start the day at Ardys Mae Coffee and Dessert for a drink. Customers can receive a free mini scone with the purchase of a drink while supplies last.

Other participating businesses include Mary Kay’s Gifts & Home Decor, Rush Hour Clothing Co., Green Dragon Bookshop, K.D.’s Over The Moon, ShinyTop Brewing, Tillies Quilts, C&M Apparel, Nins Custom Creations, the Hair Loft, Express Yourself & More, Olde Bostons Restaurant and Pub, Sneakers Eatery and Pub and Homespun Collection. Kerrie Kuiper with Park Lane Jewelry and Shelly Jacobi with Tastefully Simple will have vendor tables set up at River Hops Brewing.

Several stores also contributed to the basket giveaways, including Fort Dodge Fiber,Yummy Crumb Bakery, Becker Florist, Luminess Spa and Candle Co., Candies & More. Fareway grocery store even donated two dozen eggs and a gift certificate so the winner can make a special Valentine’s Day breakfast, Stroh said. There are countless Valentine’s Day gift ideas that can be purchased from Main Street merchants, said Mary Kay Daniel, owner of Mary Kay’s Gifts & Home Decor.

“You can always get gift certificates if you’re not sure what to get,” she said. Other great gift ideas Daniel gave were:

-A book from Green Dragon Book Shop -Clothing and apparel from Rush Hour Clothing Co., C&M Apparel and other downtown shops -Chocolates from Candies & More -Candles from Luminess Spa and Candle Co. -Dinner for two at Sneakers, Olde Bostons, ShinyTop Brewing or another local restaurant.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
An anonymous donor is providing a ruby heart pendant to be used as a drawing prize for this weekend’s Sister Saturday, organized by Main Street Fort Dodge.

In her shop, Daniel has put together several gift baskets with chocolate, candies and other items. She also offers an array of home decor items. While most of the gift ideas are geared toward women, there are still options in downtown Fort Dodge for men, Daniel said.

Growlers are available for purchase at either of the two breweries, she said. And cologne and perfume are sold at several downtown retailers.

So whether it’s picking out the perfect present or picking up a gift card, Main Street Fort Dodge merchants are the perfect places to shop for Valentine’s Day, Daniel said.

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