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Larry Martino

Larry Martino

Larry Martino

Light Up A Romantic Valentine’s Day At ‘Lights Of Love’

Author Larry Martino
Nighttime photo of the Ethel M Chocolates Cactus Garden during their "Lights of Love" display. Various cacti are lit up with purple, blue, red, green, pink, and white lights, lighting up the pathway leading into and through the Cactus Garden.

We are approaching the most romantic date on the calendar: Valentine’s Day. With that in mind, you’re probably looking for something special to do with the one you love. Once again, this year, Ethel M Chocolates invites you to light up your Valentine’s Day celebration. It’s their 10th Annual “Lights of Love” Cactus Garden.

Here’s What You Need To Know About “Lights Of Love”

If you’ve never taken a walk through the Cactus Garden at Ethel M Chocolates, you’re missing out on a true spectacle. Of course, they do a spectacular job lighting up the garden during the holiday season. Likewise, the days leading up to Valentine’s Day are also very special when “Lights Of Love” illuminates the Cactus Garden in Henderson.

Imagine one million lights in various shades of purple, blue, red, white, pink, and green. Every pathway through the 3-acre Cactus Garden lights up in these romantic colors. So, take a leisurely stroll down each path, snap photos, hold hands if you want. After all, Valentine’s Day is for lovers.

You can find the Ethel M Cactus Garden at 2 Cactus Drive in Henderson, 89014. Furthermore, “Lights of Love” is on display from February 2nd through February 18th. Per the Ethel M Chocolates website, you’re invited to enjoy the spectacle from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly.

All Proceeds From Admission Fees Help Local Charities

Best of all, it only costs $2 dollars per person to take a stroll through the “Lights of Love” Cactus Garden this year. Additionally, all proceeds will benefit Help of Southern Nevada and Three Square Food Bank. Incidentally, you can pay with either cash or a credit card.

Previously, you had to make a reservation for “Lights of Love” and the Cactus Garden. However, this year, there are no reservations. In fact, the Ethel M website states that they “will be limiting the number of people within the garden at one time, so you may have to wait in line for a short period of time.” They just want to make sure you fully enjoy your experience there.

Of course, while there, you and your Valentine can savor “hot chocolates and sweet treats” in the Cactus Café. Moreover, you can buy the one you love a delicious box of Ethel M Chocolates for Valentine’s Day.

To learn more about “Lights of Love,” click here. Now, feel free to scroll down for more content which may interest you.

 

Larry Martino has been the afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ since 2007. He is also Music Director and Assistant Program Director. He’s been a professional radio broadcaster since 1980, serving as on-air talent, Program Director, and Music Director during his career. As a content creator for 96.3 KKLZ, Larry specializes in writing articles about music, recording artists, movies, food/restaurants, and hockey.

5 Best 80's Movie Love Songs For A Romantic Valentine's Day

Ah, Valentine’s Day. For many, it is the most romantic day on the calendar. On the other hand, some people dread this day. However, for the purposes of this article, we’re going to focus on romance. Furthermore, we’re not just concentrating on romantic songs. But we are celebrating some of the best 80s movie love songs. After all, 96.3 KKLZ specializes in playing “all the hits from the 80s, 90s, and more!”

Romantic Songs Have Been Popular In Stage Plays And Films For Decades

Without a doubt, the film industry loves romance. Even before they figured out how to add sound to moving pictures, most films dealt with love. Of course, once “talkies” were introduced, movie musicals soon followed. Some of the greatest love songs of all time were created specifically for Hollywood films.

Not to mention, before movies became popular, Broadway plays and stage shows introduced many love songs which eventually became “standards.” In fact, the “Great American Songbook”  includes many great love songs “from the 1920s to the 1950s that were created for Broadway theater, musical theater, and Hollywood musical film” per Wikipedia.org.

80s Movie Love Songs And Soundtracks Sold Millions

So, I’m certainly not discounting all the great romantic tunes from the decades preceding the 80s. As a matter of fact, since the rise of rock ‘n’ roll in the mid-1950’s, love songs have been huge hits. However, movie soundtracks before the 80’s include lots of instrumentals. Sure, the soundtrack may include one or two big hits. However, in the 1980’s, the record industry began including multiple hit songs in order to sell more soundtrack albums.

Since movies and love songs go together like peanut butter and jelly, we’re choosing five great 80s movie love songs for Valentine’s Day. Some songs which deserve honorable mention include “Almost Paradise” by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson from the movie Footloose. In addition, “Glory Of Love” by Peter Cetera from The Karate Kid Part II.

And just to be clear, there are many great 80s love songs that will help set a romantic mood. Additionally, many movies and soundtracks from later years feature them. However, for the purposes of this particular article, we are listing songs created for specific movie soundtracks.

So, scroll down and see if you agree with our choices of the top five 80s movie love songs. Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

  • 5) "Crazy For You" - Madonna

    This became Madonna’s first ballad to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also her first song to reach the top of the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. “Crazy For You” is from the film Vision Quest, starring Matthew Modine and Linda Fiorentino. Madonna also made her first appearance on the silver screen in this movie. She did not have to stretch her acting muscles in this film as she played a singer in a local bar.

  • 4) "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

    Although this #1 smash is not a ballad, I would still consider it a love song. Of course, it’s from the movie Dirty Dancing, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. And no one will ever forget the classic line which sets up this song and dance number for the film’s finale. “No one puts Baby in a corner.” A classic movie line from a classic 80’s movie.

  • 3) "Take My Breath Away" - Berlin

    Here’s the love theme from the action film Top Gun. The film’s producers and musical director first offered the song “Take My Breath Away” to Martha Davis and The Motels. They passed on the song, so Terri Nunn and the new wave group Berlin recorded the song and took it all the way to #1. This song, as well as the Kenny Loggins hit “Danger Zone,” helped propel the movie soundtrack to the top of the charts. It’s also one of the best-selling movie soundtracks of the 1980’s with over 9 million copies sold.

  • 2) "Up Where We Belong" - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes

    Here’s the love theme which plays during the final scenes and closing credits of the film An Officer And A Gentleman. Naval Aviator Zack Mayo, portrayed by Richard Gere, heads to the factory where his love interest Paula, played by Debra Winger, is working her shift. Mayo scoops Paul up in his arms and take her away from her dead-end factory job while this song plays. Supposedly, they live happily ever after. There wasn’t a dry eye in the theater.

  • 1) "Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

    This is the love theme from the Franco Zeffirelli film Endless Love. Lionel Richie wrote and produced the song “Endless Love.” He performed it with his Motown labelmate, Diana Ross, and took it to #1 for nine weeks during the summer of 1981. It is the most successful duet of the rock era, spending a grand total of six months on the Billboard Hot 100. This song will definitely get you in the mood to enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

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