By Gene Kosowan
Think a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates and dinner for two is enough to warm the cockles of your significant other’s heart? Well, if you’re a hardy Edmontonian, why not check out the sights to ensure those romantic sparks keep the sub-zero temperatures at bay? Here are 10 ideas on how to really go to town on Cupid’s favourite day. [Image credit: istockphoto.com/gilaxia]
Head down to Hawrelak Park with your honey to check out the Silver Skate Festival, which after 27 years is still doing double salchows on the park’s signature frozen pond. More than a hundred thousand folks annually brave the frigid weather to take part in the 10-day winter festival, which entices patrons to take in skating activities, gaze at the snow sculptures, break bread with some Nordic Cree tradition and cuddle up in a horse-drawn sleigh.
Maybe it’s a coincidence that Valentine’s Day lands on the same date as the Edmonton premiere of Cyndi Lauper’s Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots at the Jube. It’s a campy romp with a romance that starts to simmer in one of the most unlikely of places – a family-run shoe factory. When a performer named Lola drops into the premises in search of some decent stilettos, she takes the business and Charlie, the owner’s son, to the catwalks of Europe and places previously unimagined.
For couples yearning for a more earthy musical experience, you can’t get much more down-home than hitting The Needle Vinyl Tavern for local act Picture the Ocean, fronted by Jesse Dee and Jacquie B. While the group declares itself to be neo-folk, they wouldn’t have sounded out of place at Woodstock back in 1969 – and that’s a good thing. Very reminiscent of some of the quieter descants of The Grateful Dead and Neil Young, they’re slowing garnering a following across the continent.
If you’ve got some cha-cha-cha on your mind for the special day – but don’t exactly have the footwork down – the Etown Salsa Latin Dance Studio is willing to come to the rescue. The space is offering a special Valentine’s Day workshop that includes 90 minutes of instruction and an extra 15 minutes to try out your routine with your loved one. It’s designed to be non-competitive, fun, and who knows? Maybe even romantic.
Valentine’s Day can be more than romantic – sometimes it can even be animalistic. For those who want to take that literally, the Valley Zoo is offering a series of animal-themed painting activities, even offering a glass of wine and appetizers as an incentive. This adults-only event is designed to unleash your inner artist and maybe even run into some unique creatures within the zoo’s confines.
Watching modern dance can make for an sensuous experience, but who knows where it’ll take you when those graceful movements are taken to extremes. Find out when two of the country’s most daring dancers take to the Second Playing Space stage at the Timms Centre for the Arts. Robin Poitras and Rober Racine are notorious for putting their best feet forward in the most unorthodox ways imaginable. For her efforts, Poitras even earned a Governor General award.
Even the least seasoned romantics know you can't keep a flame going all the time without a bit of humour from time to time. With that in mind, comedian Ruben Paul at The Comic Strip should offer plenty of lighter fluid. The California standup should be up to the task, given his frequent appearances on the now-defunct Craig Ferguson Show and programs on Comedy Central, as well as his stints with the likes of Russell Peters, Cedric the Entertainer and Jamie Foxx.
At the venerable Yardbird Suite, Edmonton’s undisputed headquarters for jazz, one of the city’s best-known local saxophonists will hold court. Berner is no slouch at anything jazz, capable of playing as wildly as Ornette Coleman or John Klemmer – but on this occasion, expect him to keep it mellow and romantic. More than a local talent, Berner has international credentials as well, having played with The Temptations, Lew Tabackin, Slide Hampton and P.J. Perry.
Waiting for Kevin Bacon to show up in this theatrical sendup of this movie classic at the John L. Haar Theatre might be the only disappointment you’ll experience this Valentine's Day. Otherwise, you and your date are in for a treat courtesy of MacEwan’s artsy finest as they take on this tale of a high school boy adjusting to a town under the thumb of the frumpiest preacher in the region. Plus, you'll get to witness how Edmonton’s next generation of singers and actors bring this production to life.
If you’ve been hoarding that leisure suit or bell bottoms all these years, get them out of the mothballs for this nifty outdoor activity at the plaza rink by City Hall. It’ll also help to dig out those roller skates so you can get down and boogie to all those… uh… classics by the Bee Gees, Andrea True Connection and K.C. & the Sunshine Band. If the eight-wheeling bit isn’t your thing, take advantage of fireside roast bannock and hot chocolate courtesy of the local Kids in the Hall eatery.
Worth braving the elements, the events listed this Valentine’s Day in Edmonton offers ample evidence that there’s definitely something for everyone – and serves as an opportunity for you and your better half to explore the city’s entertainment landscape and share something special on the most romantic night of the year.
