MadParkNews.com, covering New York City's Madison Square Park & Flatiron

If you are scrambling for Valentine’s Day, here is a list of florists (and chocolate spots) in the Madison Square Park and Flatiron neighborhoods (or you could always just hit the corner delis):

Belle Fleur (134 5th Ave; 212-254-8703): Yelp rating 3 stars
Blooming Affairs (925 Broadway between 21st St & 22nd St; 212-262-0004): Yelp rating 4.5 stars
Designs By Ahn (20 W 22 St; 212-929-0660): Yelp rating 5 stars
Eataly (200 5th Avenue): Tons of Italian chocolates
Gardenia Organic (150 W 28th St; 646-688-5753): Yelp rating 5 stars
Gramercy Park Flower Shop (236 3rd Ave; 212-475-4989): Yelp rating 4 stars
H Bloom (20 W. 22nd St; 877-425-6665): Yelp rating 5 stars
L.A. Burdick (5 East 20th Street; 212-796-0143): Handmade chocolates. Yelp rating 4 stars
Park Avenue Floratique (226 5th Avenue South between 26th St & 27th St; 800-472-7528): Yelp rating 3.5 stars
Starbright (150 West 28th Street between 6th and 7th Ave; 212-229-2623); Yelp rating 4.5 stars

There are more florists in the area, but this should get you started. Good luck! Still need a place to go? Check out our list of Valentine’s Day events in the Flatiron.

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MadParkNews has some fun prizes to give away from some awesome neighborhood spots! It’s all part of MadParkNews March Madness. No purchase necessary – to enter just be sure you are on the mailing list for the free weekly MadParkNews e-newsletter, because that is where we will randomly draw the winners. (1 entry per person, but your friends are welcome to enter.) All winners will be announced Monday, April 2nd, 2012. Here are the prizes…

Hill Country Chicken (1123 Broadway at 25th Street): $25 Gift Card
Hill Country BBQ (30 West 26th Street): $25 Gift Card
Shortys (66 Madison Avenue): $25 Gift Card and a 64oz Growler of beer
Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen (23 East 23rd Street): $50 Gift Card
Duke’s Restaurant (99 E. 19th Street at Park Ave South): $50 Gift Card
Birch Coffee (5 East 27th Street): $25 Gift Card and a jug of their famous Iced Coffee
Cibar (56 Irving Place): Martinis for 2 with apps ($50 value)
Ristorante Asellina (420 Park Avenue South): Bellini Trio during brunch hours
Gstaad (43 West 26th Street): $70 gift certificate bar tab
Incognito Bistro (30 West 18th Street): Dinner for 2 with a bottle of wine
Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices (144 East 24th St): Punch card for 10 small ices (value $30)

Terms & Conditions: No purchase necessary. Winners will be chosen randomly from members of the free weekly MadParkNews e-newsletter list. Upon email notification, winner must respond within 1 week of the email sent date or the prize will be given to another person. Unless otherwise indicated by the business, the prize must be redeemed before July 2nd, 2012. Winners must be 18 and over (21 and over when required by law). Winners can not work for MadParkNews, or for any of the participating businesses involved in the giveaway. No cash value for any of the items given away and they must be used by the winning individual (can not be sold or transferred). US residents only. Winner must make arrangements with a designated contact at the business to receive the gift card or merchandise. One entry per person. If a person makes multiple accounts, all of that person’s account will be ineligible to win.

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Birch Coffee (5 East 27th Street) is hosting their 3rd annual Arrested Development marathon, showing every single episode from one of the best tv comedy series ever. While it won 6 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe, and was named by TIME as one of the 100 best TV series of all time, it seemed to go under the radar of most people. They will play them in order and if you are new to the show, I suggest getting their from the first episode. If you are watching them again, come any time to watch a few episodes.

If you have not see it, it’s definitely worth watching (ideally from the beginning). It stars Jason Bateman, David Cross, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor, Will Arnett, and Ron Howard with voiceover, among many amazing cameos.

It runs 9am to 9pm on both January 1st and January 2nd and they will have nonstop food and drink specials. See more at www.birchcoffee.com/blog/3rd-annual-arrested-development-marathon.

Relive the great moments…Tobias trying out for the Blue Man Group, the Cornballer, ‘light treason’ for using the family business to build palaces for Saddam Hussein.

Can’t make it? You can download the episodes for free on Amazon if you are a prime member (or stream them by episode or get the 3 dvd bundle). Arrested Development: The Complete Series (Seasons 1-3 Bundle)

Reminding us that it is not cold everywhere this time of year, the Brazil Tourism Board has set up a ‘sunball’ just west of Madison Square Park and north of the Flatiron Building. It’s basically the warm version of a snow globe, and you can also step on real Brazilian sand, hang out in some warmth and pose for a ‘sunny’ holiday card. Among other things, Brazil will host both the World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games 2016.

They will be there through Thursday, December 22nd.