Why not break free from tradition on Valentine’s Day?
Variety being the spice of life, here we offer a mix of Valentine’s week events involving poker faces and belly laughs, snowshoes and skates, Tchaikovsky and Elvis.
Aphrodisiac aficionados
A box of chocolates is expected. Why not go for a chocolate experience?
Samples of fine chocolates plus live music and a silent auction will be offered at the second annual Chocolate Tasting Fundraiser to benefit Love Inc. Tinley Park, a church-based community outreach program, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, at Trinity Christian College, 6601 College Drive in Palos Heights, in the ARCC Building.
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Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Business or elegant attire is required.
Call 708-444-2013 or visit tickethookups.com/chocolatetasting.
Oysters, another aphrodisiac, are on the menu of a prix fixe meal of shared plates from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, at Tribes Beer Company, 11220 W. Lincoln Hwy in Mokena, and Tribes Alehouse, 9501 W. 171 St. in Tinley Park.
Priced at $50 per couple, dinner includes baked oysters Rockefeller and Clams Casino for appetizers; Salad Mache with Lardon Egg and mustard vinaigrette; tornedos of beef with smashed red potatoes, haricot vert and a port wine reduction; vanilla creme brulee with raspberry garnish for dessert and a glass of Tribes Beer Company’s Daylight Kolsch per person. Call 815-464-0248 or 708-966-2051 or visit tribesalehouse.com.
Comedy fans
Laughter does a heart good so make a Valentines date out of it.
Comedian John Caponera will perform at 8:15 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, at the Center for Visual and Performing Art, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Ind. Tickets are $36 and include a dinner buffet at 7 p.m. Call 219-836-1930 or visit cvpa.org.
A dinner show with comedian and celebrity impersonator Vito Zatto will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, at CD and Me, 23220 S. LaGrange Road, Frankfort. Tickets are $49. Call 815-469-7315 or visit cdandme.com.
Competitive by nature
Is one-upping each other your thing?
A multiple-table poker tournament, including a $150 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Bounty Tournament, hosted by Chicago Charitable Games will be held from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, at Toyota Park, 7000 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview. The event is open to those age 18 and older. Call 888-715-4837 or visit chicagocharitablegames.com.
Shoot a game of pool at the family-friendly Diamonds Billiards Bar and Grill, 944 E. 9th St., Lockport.
Billiards are free Sundays with a minimum purchase of two beverages or food items. Daily drink specials and discounts for military, police and fire personnel also are offered. Call 815-838-6605 or visit diamondsbilliardsil.com.
Concertgoers
If you prefer a little less conversation and a little more action, check out Elvis tribute artist Everett Dean and the Cat Sass Band performing with Buddy Holly tribute artist Slick Willie at 6 p.m. Sunday, at Georgios Banquets, 8800 W. 159th St., Orland Park.
Tickets are $20, with a cash bar available. Call 708-403-1757 or visit georgios.com.
The Willowbrook Ballroom, 8900 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs, will host a Valentine’s Day dinner dance at 2 p.m. Sunday, with the Teddy Lee Orchestra performing until dinner at 4:30 p.m. Swing dance lessons follow at 6 p.m., with dancing to the Flat Cats until 10:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for dancing only and $40 to $45 with dinner. Call 708-839-1000 or visit willowbrookballroom.com.
If the blues gets your heart pumping, check out Bobby Rush, Joe Louis Walker and Wayne Baker Brooks in the All-Star Blues Bash at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, at Moraine Valley Community College’s Dorothy Menker Theater in the Fine and Performing Arts Center, 9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills.
Tickets are $40, $35 for seniors and students. Call 708-974-5500 or visit morainevalley.edu/fpac.
The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra “Big Bang Boom! A Valentine’s Treat,” featuring Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Symphony No. 6 and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, in the auditorium of Bethel Church, 10202 Broadway, Crown Point, Ind.
A lecture will begin at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $69. Call 219-836-0525 or visit nwisymphony.org.
For a more casual country affair, check out Nick Lynch from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Rockin’ Horse Saloon & Grill, 5200 W. 159th St., Oak Forest (708-687-4100 or rockinhorsesaloon.wix.com) or the bands Stilettos n Spurs and Whiskey Road on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Chicago Star Bar (formerly Bobby McGee’s) at 10139 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago Ridge (708-655-2713 or bobbymcgeesonline.com).
Families
The Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. 71st Ave., Palos Heights, will host its first Valentine’s Day show for kids at 2 p.m. Sunday, with performer Mary Macaroni.
Call 708-448-4376 or visit palosheightslibrary.org.
On Feb. 19, girls and their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, etc. are invited to the Sweetheart Dance at the Homewood-Flossmoor Sports Complex, 18211 S. Aberdeen Ave., Homewood.
The dance will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for girls ages 4 to 8 and from 8:30 to 10 p.m. for ages 9 to 13.
Call 708-957-0300 or visit hfparks.com.
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Skate indoors with your Valentines with music provided by a DJ at the Oak Lawn Park District’s Ice Arena, 9320 S. Kenton Ave., Oak Lawn, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7, skate rental $3. Call 708-857-5173 or visit olparks.com.
Historians
Learn about 1800s’-style rituals and romance-related trivia when the Forest Preserve District of Will County presents “Romantic Rendezvous” from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, at the Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E. Romeo Road, Romeoville.
Advance registration is required for the free program open to ages 16 and older. Call 815-886-1467 or visit ReconnectWithNature.org.
Outdoorsy Folks
The Village of Orland Park’s annual Valentine’s Day Skate will be held Sunday, at the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, 15600 West Ave., Orland Park.
Admission is free. A bonfire will be provided from 3 to 6 p.m. The rink’s warming house and skate rentals are open from noon to 7 p.m. Sundays, weather permitting. Call 708-403-7275 or the weather hotline at 708-403-6290 or visit orland-park.il.us.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County will offer “Snowshoe under the Stars: Sweetheart Style,” snowshoeing followed by a campfire with wine, fruit and chocolate, from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, at the Plum Creek Nature Center, 27064 S. Dutton Road, Beecher.
Advance registration is required for the program, which costs $12 and is open to those 21 and older. Call 708-946-2216 or visit ReconnectWithNature.org.
If hiking sans snowshoes melts your heart instead, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County will offer “Sweetheart Night Hike,” a short trail hike followed by roasted marshmallows and indoor refreshments, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, 9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Springs.
Advance registration is required for the 21-and-older program priced at $10 per couple. Call 708-839-6897 or visit fpdcc.com.
All ages are invited to try snowshoeing for free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, at Camp Bullfrog Lake, 9600 Wolf Road, Willow Springs. No registration is required.
Call 708-386-4042 or visit fpdcc.com.
Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.