Does that mean you shouldn’t celebrate it Saturday, Oct. 17?
Nope.
Midwesterners — mainly folks in Illinois, Michigan and right here in "high in the middle and round on the ends" Ohio — started celebrating the holiday in 1922.
Barely anyone else knows about it or its sweet history.
According to an American Greetings blog about the holiday’s history, Sweetest Day founder Herbert Birch Kingston, a candy company employee and Cleveland philanthropist, started the holiday on the premise “that no matter how hectic life gets, it’s important to stop and spread cheer to not only the ill and disadvantaged, but also to friends, family and loved ones who bring joy to daily life.”
Made up holiday or not, that’s a pretty cool premise.
Here are a few ways to make your honey feel special on Sweetest Day.
Sweet talk em’
Not any old box of candy will do.
• Give your boo a box of Dayton in the form of Esther Price candy.
It is one of our "7 foods that scream DAYTON" for a reason.
Where to buy: Seven Esther Price stores in the Miami Valley and Cincinnati areas. Click here to find a location. Select candy also can be found at Kroger locations.
• If that doesn't do it for you, give Dayton Nut Specialties a try.
The company sells Dayton Nut Products, Friesinger’s Chocolates, Candy Farm products and Riverdale Fine Foods
Where to Buy: 919 N. Main St. in Dayton and 45 N. Pioneer Blvd. in Springboro. Click here.
• There is good reason Sweet-Umms Chocolatier's scrumptious Sweet Potato Dream Cake is a two time winner of the Miami Valley Restaurant Association Taste of the Miami Valley. The company's sweets are the bomb.
Wine em’
There are plenty of places to buy a bottle of vino.
Below are a few places to enjoy a bottle with your shorty.
The Wine Gallery, 5 W. Monument Ave. in downtown Dayton.
Deaf Monty's Wine, 22 Brown St. in Dayton's Oregon District
Third and Perk Coffeehouse and Wine Bar, 46 W. Fifth St. in downtown Dayton
Check out our list of wine tastings: Where to go wine tasting in Dayton
Dine em’
Hawthorn Grill — Fairmont Plaza Shopping Center, 1222 E Stroop Road, Kettering; Call (937) 298-2222
→On the Menu: fresh fare from Hawthorn Grill ←
Coco's Bistro — 250 Warren St., Dayton; Call 937-228-2626
Nibbles — 105 S. Second St. in downtown Miamisburg; Call 937-802-0891
Jay's Restaurant — 225 E. Sixth St., Dayton's Oregon Historic District; Call 937-222-2892
Roost Modern Italian — 24 E. 5th St in Dayton's Oregon District; Call 937-222-3100
The Caroline — 5 S. Market St. in downtown Troy; Call (937) 552-7676
Winds Cafe — 215 Xenia Ave. in downtown Yellow Springs; Call (937) 767-1144
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar — 4432 Walnut St. at The Greene in Beavercreek; Call 937-320-9548
Meadowlark — 5531 Far Hills Ave., Kettering; Call 937-434-4750
Want even more suggestions? Read Dayton Daily News restaurant writer Mark Fisher's rundown of romantic eateries in Dayton.
About the Author