On Valentine’s Day, more than 100 couples are expected to gather on the dazzling fourth floor of the Temple for Performing Arts for an evening of romantic music and rich food.

Called “Love Notes,” the evening will begin with strolling violinists and serenades by Broadway entertainers Joan and David Hess. For appetizers, there will be a raw bar stocked with fresh oysters and other seafood, and fruits drizzled in creme fraiche. For dinner, they will be served fillet of beef tenderloins, bronzed salmon, steamed asparagus and potatoes Dauphinois. Guests are encouraged to dress in “romantic attire.”

Throughout the evening, there will be both live and silent auctions. Guests will be able to bid on a variety of packages, which range from gift baskets of wine to evenings at local hotels and jewelry.

“It’s going to be a fun, classy evening,” said Jim Sandager, president of the Des Moines Symphony board of directors and a partner at Severson, Strege, Sandager & Co. “We’ve got everything lined up.”

Following dinner, guests will move on to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, where they will join an expected 1,900 others there to listen to a performance called “Love Stories” by the Des Moines Symphony. The orchestra will play “some of Broadway’s most romantic music,” including songs from “Kiss Me Kate,” “West Side Story” and “Crazy for You.”

All told, the price tag for the evening, which doubles as a fund-raising event for the Symphony, will come in at a minimum of $252 per couple, and could reach higher, depending on the types of seats reserved at the Civic Center or if any purchases are made at the auctions. Sandager said the Symphony hopes to raise $25,000 from the event.

Call it Valentine’s Day on the glam. Businesses and social organizations are hoping that this year’s holiday will be their most profitable in years as the economy picks up strength and because Feb. 14 this year happens to fall on a Saturday.

Americans are expected to spend more than $12.7 billion this year on Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation. The group predicts that the average consumer will shell out $100 for flowers, candy, food, greeting cards and other items. That’s up from the $80 per capita Americans spent last year.

The biggest spenders are also among the youngest. In a survey conducted in mid-January, the NRF said the average 18- to 24-year-old plans to spend $155, while those who are between 25 and 34 years of age said they will spend $78.

The Symphony’s evening will be competing for attention among Des Moines’ well-heeled with the 2004 Greater Des Moines Heart Ball. The black-tie event, which will be taking place at the Holiday Inn University Park in West Des Moines, is expected to attract 600.

The Heart Ball is sponsored by the American Heart Association and is intended to raise funds and promote awareness of cardiovascular disease. Among other things, guests will be able to participate in a raffle for a six-month lease of a 2004 Jaguar. Tickets for the raffle are $20.

At the Varsity CafÈ and Coffee House, patrons will have their choice of three entrees: twin Maine lobster tails, beef tenderloin topped with Maytag blue cheese or a New Zealand rack of lamb rubbed with cilantro. The restaurant “is almost booked up now,” said Tara Dobson, a server and barista.

Not surprisingly, the holiday is one of the most profitable for florists. Kevin Funaro, the owner of Flowers by Anthony, hopes to sell 2,000 long-stemmed roses at $75 per dozen. That would be an improvement over last year, when a threat of bad weather dampened sales.

“We’ve had orders all week,” Funaro said. “Wives love to get flowers at work. And all the people know that Valentine’s Day is a very pressured holiday.”

In one indication that consumers are feeling more generous with their pocketbooks, Ingersoll Wine and Spirits manager Aaron Russo said customers are buying wine by the case in greater numbers than a year ago and that sales of champagne, particularly the more expensive varieties, are up.

The Hotel Fort Des Moines is offering its five-room Presidential Suite for $599. The package, called “Love is Suite,” includes a dinner for two of lobster tail and lamb at 43, the upscale restaurant on the hotel’s ground level. It also includes a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne, chocolates from Chocolaterie Stam, breakfast in bed, flowers by Saley Nong and rose petals scattered on the bed and in the bathroom.

The 1,200-square-foot suite has played host most recently to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Other celebrities who have stayed in the suite include Mae West, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, Nikita Khrushchev, Sinclair Lewis, Sonny and Cher and Charles Lindbergh.

For $129, the hotel is also offering its smaller suites for the evening. The price includes a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolate.

The Renaissance Savery Hotel is offering regular rooms and suites with champagne on arrival for guests from $109 to $229. “We’re getting a lot of people wanting to take advantage of it,” said Barbara Eslick, the hotel’s director of sales and market.

The Rotary Club of Des Moines, the largest Rotary club in Central Iowa, is hosting its annual February “Spring Fling” dinner and dance at the prestigious Wakonda Club. As of Thursday of last week, 108 members – about a quarter of the club’s roster – had paid $50 apiece for tickets.

At Wakonda, Rotarians will dine on medallions of beef tenderloins and 4-ounce fillets of salmon grilled in lemon dill. For dessert, they will be served so-called molten chocolate cake with Creme Anglais, said Rotary Executive Director Kathy Mountain. For entertainment, Latin jazz and pop musician Tony Valdez will play.

“It will be a wonderful occasion,” Mountain said.

Among other activities happening around the community this weekend:

Small groups consisting of members of the Drake University Choir will serenade sweethearts with love songs and flowers at work, home or at restaurants Feb. 13 and 14. The package, called “True Romance” costs $35 and includes a half-dozen red roses. The choir will be able to handle up to 100 singing valentines.

The North Grand Mall in Ames will display the work of artists and crafters from across the state in its first Valentine’s Day craft show. The mall said it expects as many as 30 vendors to showcase their work.

In the spirit of the season, the Business Record called a dozen local flower shops to find out what they are charging for a dozen roses this Valentine’s Day. Each price includes presentation in a vase with baby’s breath.

Where to get them – Price

Boesen the Florist – $75

Charisma Florists – $67.50

Doherty’s Flowers – $85

Flowerama – $39.99

Flowers by Anthony – $75

Gortz Haus Gallery – $76

Heartland Floral Co. – $85

Irene’s Flowers & Exotic Plants – $72

Neighborhood Flowers.com – $79.98

Nielsen Flower Shop – $75

Nolin’s Floral – $60

Petal Perfect – $80