A weekend Valentine's Day? Ho-hum is out
Valentine's Day has certain expectations - flowers, chocolates, swanky dinner and maybe a trinket or two. YAWN! These holiday traditions are not without their merit, but they have become monotonous and predictable, kind of like your dog licking your face at 5:12 a.m. every morning to be walked.
This year V Day falls on a Saturday, which means big expectations. So amp up your traditional with one of the following suggestions:
Dance
Willowbrook Ballroom is planning an enchanted evening of dining and dancing at its annual V Day event. The evening includes dinner, dancing and romantic live music from the Teddy Lee Orchestra.
Two romantic packages are offered. The dinner and dancing package includes dining in the Willowbrook or the Bordeaux rooms. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a cash bar. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
A dancing-only package also is offered. Doors will open to the dance-only guests at 8 p.m. and the ballroom will stay open for dancing until midnight.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., the Teddy Lee Orchestra will take the stage and play sultry ballroom music that will have everyone dancing the night away. The 6,000-square-foot dance floor is a dancer's dream.
Reservations are required for the dinner/dance option.
Where: Willowbrook Ballroom, 8900 Archer Ave., Willow Springs
When: Saturday, Feb. 14
Cost: /$45/$50
Reservations: (708) 839-1000 or willowbrookballroom.com
Drink
Vintner's Cellar Winery is offering a hands-on way to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Couples can become wine makers and create their own special blend. Vintner's owner will lead you through a tasting of house wines to determine your preferences and begin a process that ends eight weeks later when you return to bottle, cork and seal 25 bottles of wine with personalized labels.
Vintner's will also offer a selection of specially designed wine labels for V Day that can be further customized with a personal message or photo. The labels range from $5 to $30 and will be affixed to any bottle of wine purchased in the shop.
Where: Vintner's Cellar Winery, 529 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville
When: Saturday, Feb. 14
Cost: $199 to $339
R.S.V.P.: (847) 918-9463
Single
Kicking it single style for V Day? Then hit up "Stupid Cupid" to meet and mingle with Chicago singles!
Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club are pairing up with TheLocalTourist.com to present a singles' mingling event that will include passed appetizers and martinis. Kit Kat's mixologist will demonstrate how to make the "Stupid Cupid" martini as well as the "The Local Tourist" martini.
Anti-V Day movies ("The Break Up," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "War of the Roses," and more) will play on Kit Kat's five jumbo screens. There will be live performances by the Kit Kat Divas throughout the night and $5 VOX cocktails will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
On the menu is lobster spring rolls with sweet chili sauce, coconut crab cakes with mango ketchup, chicken satays with Thai peanut sauce, the "Stupid Cupid" martini: cherry Jell-O, mandarin vodka, simple syrup and Sprite, and "The Local Tourist" Martini: VOX Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, Cherri Berri liqueur and Champagne.
wWhere: Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted St., Chicago
When: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12.
Cost: $35
R.S.V.P.: (773) 525-1111 or e-mail rsvp@thelocaltourist.com
Vittles
• Vie: The Western Springs New American will be serving a six-course menu, and every guest will be sent home with a special, edible surprise.
Where: Vie Restaurant, 4471 Lawn Ave, Western Springs
When: Saturday, Feb. 14
Cost: $85/person, $35 extra for wine pairings
Reservations: (708) 246-2082
• Cafe Lucci: Love is on the menu at Cafe Lucci featuring a special V Day menu and a Cupid-inspired Love Drawing for a bottle of N/V Moët and Chandon White Star Champagne. To enter, make your reservations by Thursday, Feb. 12.
Where: Cafe Lucci, 609 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview
When: Saturday, Feb. 14
Reservations: (847) 429-2268 or opentable.com