Valentine’s Day is Friday, and this week’s events make it extremely easy to remember the occasion. The steady thump-thump includes two limited-time shopping setups, a pair of theatrical performances and a duo of concerts on the holiday itself.
Even the events are coupled up this week in New Haven.
Monday, February 10
The “XOXO” valentine sale at Creative Arts Workshop has been up for almost two weeks now, offering student-made “cards, boxes, pottery and small prints” meant to flush cheeks this Friday—or even after, if you’re doing things belatedly, as the sale ends February 20. (One of the cards is pictured above.) Concurrent with the event is the art school’s winter student show, featuring works running much of the visual arts gamut. 80 Audubon St, New Haven; (203) 562-4927.
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Tuesday, February 11
From 5:30 to 8 p.m. today through Thursday, Project Storefronts is hosting a “Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Event” inside the still-glorious former bank building at 45 Church Street. Andrea DiLieto, proprietor of Makeup by DiLieto, is set to offer beauty tips as vendors sell organic lipstick, “organic handmade chocolate body candles” and other V-Day accoutrements nearby. “Food, music and merriment,” plus non-alcoholic refreshments “while supplies last,” are promised.
Wednesday, February 12
Winter’s Tale, a fantastical New York-set love story starring Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay, hits movie theaters on Friday. But the Whitney Humanities Center (53 Wall St, New Haven; 203-432-0670) is getting it a little early, hosting a free sneak preview tonight at 7 p.m. Fair warning: if the trailer is any indication, be prepared to endure some schmaltz. Also, if you’re dead-set on getting seats, note that it’s “first come, first seated.”
Thursday, February 13
The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, opening tonight under the direction of Cole Lewis at the Yale Cabaret (217 Park St, New Haven; 203-432-1566), offers something of a break from this lovey-dovey week. A woman named Grace has married a very wealthy man, leaving her without, you might think, a worry in the world. Except the one: a mysterious room in the home the couple shares, which her husband says she isn’t allowed to enter. The Cabaret’s blurb describes it as “a gripping tale of secrets and temptation,” so, on second thought, maybe it’s not that much of a break from Valentine’s Day stuff. An 8 p.m. show this evening is followed by 8 and 11 p.m. performances tomorrow and Saturday. $20, $10 for students.
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Friday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day
Lyric Hall (827 Whalley Ave, New Haven; 203-389-8885), intimate and antique-y, is a romantic setting for a free concert with a tantalizing theme, “Valentines in the Dark.” The performers appear under the banner of HOWL, a new Westville-based group of composers, vocalists, musicians, stage designers and a poet. Tonight’s is the group’s first public performance, but, from what we can gather, this isn’t its members’ first rodeo. 8 p.m.
Over at The Outer Space in Hamden (295 Treadwell St; 203-288-6400), soulful 7-piece Snooty Garland, featuring the shockingly good vocal stylings of Elizabeth Dellinger (a.k.a. Lady Elizabeth), gives a “Black Valentine Serenade” sometime after 8:30 p.m. for five bucks at the door. A free “Valentine’s Day Sip & Swap,” with a beer tasting led by Southern Tier Brewery and a vintage clothing swap led by Vintanthromodern Vintage, gets things started at 5 p.m.
Saturday, February 15
French is the language of love, but Italian is the quintessential Romance language. This weekend, get a little of the former and a lot of the latter with Yale Opera’s presentation of La Bohème at the Shubert Theater (247 College St, New Haven; 203-562-5666). This production of the popular Paris-set opera, sung in Italian and depicting “young artists in love,” comes with English subtitles and fine musicianship delivered by the Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale. The first performance was yesterday at 8 p.m.; today’s is also at 8, with a matinee happening tomorrow at 2. $19-50, $13 with student ID.
Sunday, February 16
From 3 to 6 p.m., Kehler Liddell Gallery (873 Whalley Ave, New Haven; 203-389-9555) hosts an opening reception for its new exhibition, Threads of Serendipity. The show highlights photography by Penrhyn Cook—“with a conscious focus on human figures,” for starters—and sculpture by Susan Clinard—“a fleet of breathtaking kinetic paper boats,” each with a “passenger…cast in layers of fine paper.”
Written by Dan Mims. Photograph courtesy of Creative Arts Workshop. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.
