Rebekah and I spent Valentine’s Day night with countless other people, young and old, both couples and friends at the Denton County Courthouse Square. Even though Denton is a city, the small town Texas atmosphere of The Square was perfect for a romantic night, complete with festive white lights strung in the trees around the old Courthouse.
This year, we celebrated the Day of Love with a short Denton day trip. Rebekah and I had just finished a beautiful hike at Ray Roberts Lake State Park. We were getting hungry, and knew we would find some unique places to eat on the Denton Square.
J&J’s Pizza on The Square
Simply referred to as “The Square,” the old center of Denton includes fun for all ages! Food options abound, from pizza to Thai, and coffee to ice cream. The shopping is amusing, and a bit quirky. There is also a massive used music and book store, Recycled Books that I visited on a previous trip to The Square.
Stopping at the first place that overwhelmed our sense of smell, we ate a delicious meal at J&J’s Pizza on the Square, which Rebekah will discuss in more detail in another post. After a great meal, we wanted dessert, but were a bit full from our dinner. We decided to walk The Square, enjoying window shopping and people watching.
Atomic Candy on The Square
When we stumbled upon a store called Atomic Candy, we knew we must venture inside. The shop was filled with a mixture of popular and unusual candies, as well as novelty gifts that gave the place that Denton-weird vibe. If you are looking for your favorite Jelly Belly flavor, squirrel underwear (boy or girl), a horsehead squirrel feeder, or a new board game entitled “Mr. Bacon’s Big Adventure,” this store is for you! Who would have thought a candy store would have so many accessories for our squirrel friends?
Endless Candy Options
We ended the evening with a sweet treat from Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream. Taking our cones outside, we found an unoccupied portion of green grass on the old Courthouse lawn. Lounging on the ground, we ate our desserts, watching others celebrate their love around us: moms and dads watched their kids run around and play in the spacious open area while groups of college-aged friends joked around while sitting on a blanket, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Breaking the silence, we were approached by a stranger handing out homemade Valentine’s Day cards. His version of cards were simple black and white prints on cut-up computer paper, folded in half and stuffed in an envelope with a stamp proclaiming, “You’re Awesome”. He pulled two out of a backpack full of envelopes, and extend them to us. My card pictured a Star Wars Stormtrooper pointing a blaster out of the page directly at me. It read, “Don’t make me miss you.” When I asked him why he was giving out cards, he stated bluntly, “They cost me 3 cents each. Why not?” While a bit strange, this was a great way to top off a wonderful Valentine’s Day trip!
Denton County Courthouse
Free parking is abundant in The Square, or within a block or two if the area is especially busy.
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