Where To Celebrate With Music, Comedy, Chocolate, Booze, And More
by Stranger Things To Do Staff
Just because you're on a budget or have been putting off making plans doesn't mean you can't go out and celebrate Valentine's Day. Over the next few days, there are 42 options that don't require reservations weeks ahead of time and won't cost more than $15—including Unexpected Productions' Comedy of Love improv show, the Love and Liquor concert featuring Maiah Manser, wine tasting at POCO, a cake walk at Jacob Lawrence Gallery, a screening of Overboard hosted by Robbie Turner, and workshops at Babeland.
FEBRUARY 10
1. Bootie Seattle: Valentine's Party!
Seattle's only all-mashup dance party throws down for a high-energy Valentine's Day bacchanalia complete with twisted love mash-ups to get you feeling all kinds of ways. Prep thyself for all the '00s club bangers and '10s Top40 hits you could possibly handle, with the first 100 people getting free Bootie "Best of 2016" CD compilations.
(Capitol Hill, $5 before 10pm/$10 after 10pm)
2. Dancing on the Valentine 12: Always In Our Hearts
Pay homage to David Bowie, Prince, Sharon Jones, Leonard Cohen, and George Michael at this annual Valentine's Day show benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Come see Smokey Brights, Golden Gardens, Hotels, Wild Powwers, Gibraltar the Band, Trick Candles, and Wiscon play covers for a cathartic musical evening.
(Belltown, $15)
3. Galentine's Day Happy Hour
Ladies, enjoy a special happy hour with "girl power jams," cocktails by Heritage Distilling, and free tchotchkes of some sort, specially chosen by jewelry store Moorea Seal.
(Belltown, free)
4. Spice it Up: Sensation Play for Beginners
Find out how to put the "sex" in ac-sex-ories (:-/)—paddles, massage oil, whips, and what have you—for safe thrills. If you're violently embarrassed at the mention of submission play and you're over 21, there will be cocktails to help you overcome your blushes.
(Capitol Hill, free)
FEBRUARY 10-12
5. Pucker Up Fest
TeKu Tavern will pour the puckeriest of sour beers in honor of Valentine's Day, including brews by Tacoma's Engine House No. 9 and other selections from Cascade Brewing, Draai Laag Brewing Company, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, and more.
(South Lake Union, no cover)
FEBRUARY 11
6. Bee My Valentine: A Pollinator Celebration
Show the bees some love! Learn how to attract and aid Northwest pollinators this spring while you enjoy snacks and make valentine cards.
(Renton, $10 suggested donation)
7. Lavender Country Valentine's Day
The world wasn’t ready for Lavender Country back in 1973 when their very queer country album first came out. At the time, musician Patrick Haggerty played some gigs up and down the coast, sold 1,000 copies of the album, and then went about his life. But in 2014, his groundbreaking music was rediscovered and rereleased, and now you can hear songs like “Cryin’ These Cocksucking Tears” live and in person. Haggerty is a phenomenal entertainer and storyteller, and his decades of adventures as an activist have further enriched his performances with meaning. MATT BAUME
(Greenwood, $10 donation)
8. Love in the Library
Honor Valentine's Day with a screening of the documentary Love Between the Covers (2016) and learn all about the romance novel biz. Stay on to ask local romance authors for their insights, consult with librarians for recommendations of good, steamy reads, and exchange romance books with fellow enthusiasts.
(North Seattle, free)
9. Love Train: A Valentine's Day-Themed Edition of Soul Train
The love train will keep you groovin' through the night at this costume party, a special edition of the recurring disco/soul/house/nu-soul night. They promise "stiff and cheap" drinks and the company of people in platforms and polyester.
(Sodo, free)
10. Pre-Valentine's Day Show with Female Punk Bands!
Get your fill of pre-V-Day headbanging with badass lady punks including the Pixie-esque Heels, the Ramones tribute band the Dee Dees, "pink punk"-blasting Ichi Bichi, and furious covergirls Hostile Makeover. They encourage you to come regardless of your status: "Bring your date, friends, or alone that you will have an awesome time with 4 awesome bands!"
(Greenwood, $7)
11. Swipe Right: Modern Valentine (21+)
Learn about the origins of online dating, hear from artist and Siren founder Susie Lee, and enjoy a burlesque "ode to tech and love" at this pre-Valentine's Day event.
(Sodo, $12)
12. Valentine's Chocolate & Wine Tasting
Central Co-op will offer tastes of local, sustainable chocolate goodies like gluten-free cupcakes from Antoninas Artisan Bakery, gluten-free and vegan brownies from Nuflour, chocolate-covered cocoa beans from Good King, and assorted chocolates from Dilettante. The co-op's wine expert will also be on hand to help you pick the perfect libation for Valentine's Day, with samples of Allimant Laugner Cremant d’Alsace Rose, Cantina Coviolo Lambrusco, Allimant Laugner Pinot Noir, and Finnriver Pear Wine with apple brandy and cacao.
(Capitol Hill, free)
13. Valentine's Day Enrichment
Woodland Park Zoo's holiday-themed events never fail to amuse. The big draw is "enrichment" for the animals—where the keepers try to encourage the critters to participate in our strange human rituals by filling their cages with romantic presents and tasty treats. Watching the confused bears, wolves, and tigers attempt to participate in Valentine's Day is a very good time for all.
(Phinney, $15)
14. Valentine's Day Soirée: Positions of Pleasure
Get out of your bedroom rut and learn to rut better! Cheerful sex store Babeland will host a brief workshop with a raffle for couple's goodies and complimentary champagne.
(Capitol Hill, free)
15. Valentine's Dog Social
Bring your favorite furry valentine to a social with treats, prizes for best-dressed dog, and a raffle, and donate to the Old Dog Haven. Note that, although this event takes place at a doggy daycare, it's open to all well behaved dogs "as long as their leash is attached to an equally well behaved human being." In other words, Central Bark client dogs: "You can bring your valentine dog with you to the party."
(Central District, free)
16. Valentines Schmalentines 3: PROM NIGHT
During Georgetown Art Attack, reprise prom night in the sweetest little trailer park in town. Be sure to dress like high school royalty "from any decade": after a volley of "ridiculous questions" from MC Amber, you could be chosen who-gives-a-crap-about-gender monarch of the prom (and be gifted treasures from each shop in the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall). If you don't want to compete, there's still a lot to do: valentine's card crafts, a photobooth, and of course tunes from DJ Dimples and friend.
(Georgetown, no cover)
17. Wicked Karma: Bollysutra Valentine's Edition
Presented by Wicked Karma, this iteration of Bollysutra is the Valentine's version of their wild Bollywood dance parties, with a professional photographer, imported Indian drinks, and Top40 and desi beats from DJ RDX.
(Pioneer Square, $5)
FEBRUARY 12
18. Food Truck Round-Up #11
Come out to dear, weird Fremont and pick up some delightful tchotchkes at the flea market for your honey before feeding yourself. Food trucks and food booths present will include BeanFish, Lumpia World, Hot Revolution Donuts, NOSH, Veraci Pizza, Soda Jerk Soda, Tandoozy, and others.
(Fremont, free)
19. The Science of Love: Dr. Pepper Schwartz
It's not so much that "fools fall in love": there are reasons why we go weak at the knees, as Dr. Pepper Schwartz will explain. The author of 50 Myths About Human Sexuality shall elucidate "theories of what makes people fall in love, conflicting styles of showing love, and how love and intimacy (sexual and sensual) can be renewed in relationships."
(Mercer Island, $15)
20. Send Love: Send a Political Valentine
Optimism Brewing will supply more than 5000 postcards and postage, contact information, key message ideas, and other craft supplies you might need to send valentines to legislators and politicians. They write, "Get political this Valentine’s Day and send valentines to legislators, politicians, and those who need it right now. Make your voice heard. Express your values. Send love." Kids and dogs are welcome, the Silverspoon food truck will provide sustenance, and, of course, there will be beer. You're also encouraged to bring other craft supplies.
(Capitol Hill, free)
FEBRUARY 13
21. Lover's Rock Valentine's Day Red and White Party
Heat up the night in your reds and whites with classic reggae, Afrobeats, reggaeton, hip hop, and R&B. Women enter free before 11.
(Capitol Hill, $5 before midnight/$10 after)
22. Silent Movie Mondays: Daughter of Dawn
In February, the Paramount will show love stories from early cinema. This one is Daughter of Dawn (1920), Norbert A. Myles's film starring—remarkably for the time—Comanche and Kiowa American Indians. See a piece of neglected Native American cinema history.
(Downtown, $10)
23. Theo Chocolate Trunk Show, Happy Hour, and Fireside Chat
For your free pre-Valentine's entertainment, you could do worse than the Cloud Room's chocolate happy hour with handmade goods, caramel, chocolate barks, special Valentine's bars, and Jay Kuehner's chocky cocktails. Once you're coasting on a sugar high, listen to Cloud Room's creative director Michael Hebb's conversation with Theo's Joe Whinney and Debra Music about chocolate and philanthropy.
(Capitol Hill, free)
FEBRUARY 14
24. Beer and Chocolate Pairing with Silver City
Savor a flight of Silver City beers married with fancy chocolates.
(South Lake Union, no cover)
25. Cake Walk + Competition
Bake a cake (or buy one or construct one from cardboard) and bring it to this cake walk and competition for "the greatest slice of artistic genius." Cake walk at 7, party at 8. There will be prizes for the best cake and costume, a photobooth, dancing, and more.
(University District, no cover)
26. Carrie Jenkins: What Is Love?
"You don't know what love is!" isn't just an overly weepy protestation from a dated melodrama: it's also a general statement on a philosophical problem that has bugged humanity for ages. As they put it: "Is love a social construct (the idea of a perfect fairy tale romance)? Or is it biological (those anxiety-inducing heart palpitations)?" Carrie Jenkins, a polyamorous author, will discuss the different aspects of love and its changes over the years, including trends of accepting relationships that were once taboo.
(First Hill, $5)
27. Comedy of Love
Unexpected Productions' hardy improv troupe will riff on your stories about love, sex, marriage, kissing, and other hilarious things.
(Downtown, $15)
28. Comet Tavern Movie Series Presents: Overboard
Robbie Turner from RuPaul's Drag Race will illuminate the finer points of Overboard, a 1987 comedy in which a carpenter (Kurt Russell) tricks a mean amnesiac heiress (Goldie Hawn) into thinking she's his wife. It'll probably make much more sense if you take advantage of the Miller Lite pitchers on offer. Come early and play bingo from six to eight; the film viewing (with commentary and trivia) starts right after.
(Capitol Hill, free)
29. Lemolo with Natasha Kmeto, Headwaves
Sweetly meditative Lemolo, chosen as one of the Top Bands Rocking Seattle by Seattle Magazine, returns to play dreamy, melancholy songs from their second album, Red Right Return.
(Fremont, $13/$18)
30. LGBTQ Youth Valentine's Day Party
Youth safe space Lambert House will be open to LGBTQ teens and young adults (aged 11-22; 13 and under need a parental consent form) to make condom balloon animals and valentines, with queer bingo and dinner to follow. Show your love for yourself, your significant others, and/or your friends.
(Capitol Hill, $5 suggested donation)
31. Live Laugh Love: A Valentine's Day Comedy Show
Mark Valentine's Day with a peal of laughter—this comedy show promises to be "Seattle's hottest and funniest Valentine's Day event to date," and will feature local comics Eden Nault, Erin Ingle, Wilfred Padua, and El Sanchez.
(Fremont, $10/$15)
32. Love & Liquor with Maiah Manser, Saint Claire, Scarlet Parke, and Dream Journal
Wrench those heartstrings around with a night of booze & croons thanks to Do206's Love & Liquor, presenting live sets from local electro-pop beauty Maiah Manser, flanked by Saint Claire, Scarlet Parke, and Dream Journal, as well as a selfie photobooth, a valentine-making station, and the fanciest of cocktails.
(Capitol Hill, $10)
33. Love Is SO Radical
Join space queen Guayaba, Night Crush resident power DJ Riff Raff, and '90s electro-swirl duo Pleather on the rink for a Valentine's evening of community support, replete with skating, a photo booth, a "Compliment Booth," and a "Self Love Station." This event is solely for developing a certain depth in caring about yourself and the people around you, and all proceeds will go to Safe Night Access Project Seattle (SNAPS), a sex worker-led peer outreach group dedicated to providing harm-reduction occupational support.
(White Center, $10-$15)
34. "The Love Witch" in 35mm
Love leads to witchcraft and MURDER in this perfect date movie. This sleeper 2016 film, directed by Anna Biller, pays opulent homage to 1960s Technicolor thrillers and Gothic interiors.
(University District, $9)
35. Lovers + Strangers
Make new, sexy friends and dance partners to smooth R&B, spun until midnight by DJs Nostalgia B, Pho, and Po'Lo.
(Capitol Hill, free)
36. My Funky Valentine's Day
B3 Hammond organ virtuoso Joe Doria and his band—Andy Coe on guitar, Derneill Washington on drums, Mark Mattrey on bass—will add those soul-rousing beats to your romantic evening. Guest vocalists including Joe Simpson and Monica Barroga (of Eldridge Cleaver and the Court Supremes) will round out the ensemble. Badger Pocket will open.
(Wallingford, $7)
37. Political Postcard Happy Hour: Valentine's Day Edition
Send a political valentine (or anti-valentine) to a politician of your choice. Cure Cocktail and Wine Bar will provide stamps and cards. They say, "Grab a glass of wine, and put pen to paper to tell your electeds that LOVE TRUMPS HATE."
(Capitol Hill, free)
38. Valentine's Day at Lost Lake
Lost Lake will play Titanic on repeat all damn evening and serve you fancy specials. Order a Jack Rose (Applejack, grenadine, and lime juice), a White Star Line Fever (Jameson, champagne, strawberries), or a carafe of Queen of the Sea (gin, rose, St. Germaine), all for nine bucks. For your meal, choose $13-$16 eggs a L’Agentuil (with asparagus, country potatoes, and biscuit), yellow curry chicken and rice, or roast beef and gravy. Finish with a special $7 strawberry ice cream milkshake for with honey, white chocolate, whipped cream, and candy hearts (plus optional strawberry vodka for another $5).
(Capitol Hill)
39. Valentine's Day at POCO
Try some special $14 wine flights or order spirits and/or bubbly at tasteful POCO.
(Capitol Hill, no cover)
40. Valentine's Day with Delilah Pearl and the Mantarays
This Vashon Island band headed by Delilah Pearl will play old-school jazz shot through with warm soul.
(First Hill, no cover)
41. A Very Poly Valentine's with Multiamory
Sit in on a live and interactive recording of the Multiamory podcast (recent episode titles include "Poly Storytelling and Diversity," "Gender Non-Conformity 101," and "Emotional Responsibility aka Owning Your Shit") and spend your Valentine's Day celebrating "non-traditional" relationships.
(Belltown, $15)
42. X Lovers
Get sentimental with the milky pop of Nevada City's youthful duo X Lovers, i.e., technically-still-teenagers London Jackson and Jacob Ames, plus acts by Seattle and PNW blues and rock bands The Hilltalks, Cozy Slippers, Foxy Apollo, and Brittany Collins and the Bad Vibes.
(Eastlake, $8-$10)