Eight Great Things To Do This Weekend – 2/4/21

ONE: Get chilly for a good cause. The Special Olympics New Hampshire (SONH) annual Penguin Plunge will look different this year, but that does not mean it will be any less fun. This weekend, plungers are encouraged to participate safely wherever they are. No matter how you plunge, you are directly supporting 3,000 SONH athletes who need your support this year more than ever before. Looking to support without getting cold? Consider making a donation to support the cause The Plunge runs this weekend from Feb. 3 through Feb. 7. Register for the event here.

TWO: The Young Company Winter Festival 2021 returns virtually this year with the same joy, dedication, entertainment and hard work of years past. Winter Festival 2021 is the culmination of six weeks of rehearsals by the students and their professional directors and stage management teams. This year’s festival showcases two virtual productions performed by actors in grades 1-12: The Phantom Tollbooth and the adapted for Zoom production She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms, both available to stream this weekend from Friday, Feb. 5, through Sunday, Feb. 7. Click here to enjoy the productions.

 

THREE: Lexington Symphony invites you to an exciting new symphony experience: a virtual concert series, called On Stage, At Home and hosted live by Music Director Jonathan McPhee. Each program includes a variety of new and encore performances, from solos and small ensembles featuring Lexington Symphony players to full orchestra pieces. This Saturday enjoy their latest concert titled With Youthful Eyes. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Check out their full schedule for details or click here to register for the show.

FOUR: Join Vintage Bazaar New England for the Vintage Bazaar Virtual Marketplace beginning Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 a.m. and concluding on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 9 p.m. The marketplace will feature vintage home decor, handmade items, raffles and much more. Those interested will have access to the market after joining the market’s Facebook group. For details and to enter the virtual group, click here.

FIVE: Check out this immersive exhibition space hosted by the Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillips Academy, Yoko Ono: Mend Piece. For this exhibition, Ono has proposed communal mending as an act of healing. Presented with shattered cups and saucers, participants are asked to bind the fragments together using common household items: twine, glue, scissors, and tape. The resulting creations are displayed on nearby shelves, evidence of the power of collective action. This exhibit will be on display through April 4, and the Addison Gallery is open to the public on Friday and Saturday, 1 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for details.

SIX: Get ready to twist and shout and join The Hearing Room’s virtual Beatles Tribute Night this Saturday night at 7 p.m. Listen to classic songs on the eve of the anniversary of the Beatles coming to America. This free event will feature multiple performers in an open mic format. For more information and access to the zoom link, click here.

SEVEN: Visit The Brush Art Gallery & Studios in Lowell and see the Black Light Visual Articulations exhibit. In conjunction with Black History Month, this exhibit focuses on cultural imagery, struggle, the human figure, and abstract art using charcoal, pastel graphite, photography, and paint. It features work from Thaddeus Miles, Wilda Gerideau Squires, Derrick Jamison, Gwendolyn Lanier, Ekua Holmes and Calvin Thomas. The gallery is open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit here.

EIGHT: Calling all music lovers! The 18th Annual Young Composers Festival will be held virtually this Saturday, and all are welcome. This free event will be a day of online workshops, panel discussions, and concerts by and for students from elementary school to adults; this annual festival inspires students to create music of their own. The theme of this year’s festival is Making Music in the Digital Age. For more details and to register for the event, click here.

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BONUS: HAPPENING TONIGHT Asian Inspirations Pairing Dinner

Asian Inspirations Pairing Dinner at Seaglass Restaurant & Lounge in Salisbury is happening tonight! It will be a festive, socially distanced dining experience consisting of a three course meal and handcrafted cocktails prepared by Seaglass Executive Chef Harley Smith and Culinary Director and Master Chef Dan Dumont. Enjoy delicious tapas of sushi, duck pho, and General Tso’s chicken all in one night! The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and seating is limited, so reserve your spot here.

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Special Valentine’s Day Eats

Over the next few weeks, allow us to present to you exclusive Valentine’s Day offerings from restaurants all around the Merrimack Valley. No plans yet? Check below for great date night dinner ideas, with plenty of options for both those looking to venture out or those planning to eat in.

Artisan Chef Catering

Kick off the Valentine’s Day weekend with the Valentine’s Dinner at the Vineyard hosted by Artisan Chef Catering and located at Willow Spring Vineyards in Haverhill. Featured entrees include herb seared fillet, New England crab cakes and a vegetarian-friendly wild rice quinoa harvest bowl. The meal includes three tine pairings from Willow Spring Vineyards. Those interested should RSVP by Tuesday, Feb. 9. Click here for the full menu and prices.

Buono Bistro

Buono Bistro Restaurant in North Andover will be offering Valentine’s Day specials throughout the holiday weekend. Additionally, they are offering a special dinner for two takeout menu, which features the “Romeo & Juliet,” a filet mignon stuffed with portobello mushrooms, spinach and lobster; and the “Seafood Valentino” which includes pan-seared shrimp, scallops and lobster. Click here to see the full special takeout menu. Make sure to preorder this meal by Thursday, Feb. 11, by calling (978) 258-0658 or visit their website here.

Capri Seaside Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria

Treat your Valentine with fine wine and a taste of Italian at Capri Seaside in Salisbury. Capri’s Valentine dinner specials in addition to the full menu will be available from Thursday, Feb. 11, to Sunday, Feb. 14. For more information, click here.

Grazie Italian Restaurant

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Grazie’s authentic Italian cuisine. There will be something for everyone to fall in love with, for their Valentine’s specials will be offered all weekend long starting Friday, Feb 12. To make reservations, call (978) 455-0054 x 2, or check out their website here.

Horseshoe Grille

Unsure if you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in or out? Horseshoe Grille has you covered with meals to go or sit-in dining. Their Valentine’s Day specials, offered all weekend from Feb. 12 to Feb 14, include filet mignon, baked stuffed shrimp, chicken cordon bleu and surf & turf. For more information, click here.

Purple Carrot Bread Co.

Stay in with your loved ones and enjoy one of Purple Carrot Bread Co. Valentine’s Day meal packages. Dinners for two are available for takeout, customers can choose between lobster ravioli, stuffed chicken breast and braised short ribs. Candles and chocolate covered strawberries will be available to add to any package. The deadline to order these packages is Wednesday, Feb. 10. For more information and menu details, click here.

Seaglass Restaurant & Lounge

Enjoy a romantic dinner by the ocean at Seaglass Restaurant & Lounge in Salisbury. Valentine’s Day chef specials will be offered from Feb. 11 to Feb. 14, and Valentine’s Day brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14. Reservations for private dining experiences will also be offered throughout the weekend. Click here for more information.

Stones Hospitality Group

Spend your date night at either Cobblestones of Lowell, Moonstones in Chelmsford, or Stones #1 Social in Nashua, who are preparing a menu with lots of love this Valentine’s Day. This year’s menu will feature chef’s specials such as lobster risotto, spiced carrot ravioli, pan seared halibut, a grilled rack of lamb, and more. For those opting for takeout, these specials will be designed to taste great at home too. For reservations, call (978) 970-2282 or visit their website here.

34 Park

Grab someone special and order 34 Park’s Valentine’s Day couples package. This year’s appetizers include arancini, mushroom ravioli and eggplant rollatini, while the featured main courses are slow cooked beef short rib, chicken francaise and salmon. Choose between mile high dessert chocolate cake or gluten free carrot cake for dessert. Additional wine pairing, appetizer and main course options will be available for an added cost. All of this is available for either dine-in, takeout or delivery. For reservations or to place an order, visit their website here.