Just because Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year doesn’t mean all you romantics out there have planned the perfect weekend yet. But we’re here to help, whether you’re a lover or a hater of the holiday. It just so happens that this weekend, there’s plenty to do around the city – for those seeking a romantic celebration as well as for the anti-Valentine’s Day crowd.
This year, Feb. 14 also happens to be Chinese New Year, but since the festivities aren’t limited to the big day, the International District is holding its annual Lunar New Year festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Hing Hay Park, 411 Maynard St. The free event features the traditional Lion Dance, as well as a children’s costume parade from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you’d prefer to stay a little closer to home with the kiddies, “The Green Bird” is playing at 1 and 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at the Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave. N.E. The Mexican folktale follows Luisa on her quest to save her boyfriend, Miguel, who has been transformed into a green bird by a magician.
Our partners at PhinneyWood have reminded us that there also will be plenty to do in the Green Lake area, with the Woodland Park Zoo celebrating Valentine’s weekend by giving the animals heart-shaped treats from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and the Love ’em or Leave ’em Valentine’s Day Dash 5K around Green Lake from 9:30 to 11 a.m., also on Saturday. Which actually means that you might want to avoid the lake if you’re not one of the estimated 2,800 participants. And the avoiding starts early because West Green Lake Way North, between East Green Lake Way North and North 63rd Street near the Aqua Theater, will be closed from 8:30 to 11 a.m.
Not to keep stealing from PhinneyWood, but until we get our own art walk, Greenwood-Phinney’s Art Up Art Walk, taking place tonight from 6 to 9, is one of the closest. Doree writes:
The art walk has everything from acrylic paintings by Katarina Countiss at Balderdash Books & Art (8536 Greenwood Ave. N.); to photography by Sacha Maxwell and Fused Glass by Susanna Prince at Sasquatch Studios (6108 Phinney Ave. N.); to food and drink specials at Bleachers Pub (8118 Greenwood Ave. N.), Carmelita’s (7314 Greenwood Ave. N.), and Gaspare Ristorante and Bar (6705 Greenwood Ave. N.)
And if all else fails, don’t forget dinner and a movie. The new romantic comedy “Valentine’s Day” opens tonight at AMC Loews Oak Tree 6, as does “Wolfman” if you’re looking for a little more grit, while the more family-friendly “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” begins its run at Regal Cinemas Thornton Place Stadium.
Just wanna chill at home? Have yourself the sweetest weekend yet by combining Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year. First stop, Reckless Video; second stop, HT Oaktree Market in the old Larry’s Market on Aurora; then set yourself in front of your computer and you can learn how to make Asian dumplings from scratch, with the help of a YouTube video Nancy Leson posted on our partner site The Seattle Times.
Know about any other fun local events this weekend that you’d like to share? Or do you have some better ideas on how to or how not to celebrate Valentine’s Day this weekend?
