Eight Great Things To Do This Valentine’s Day Weekend – 2/11/21

ONE: Share in the beauty of music again during the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra’s Valentine’s Day concert, featuring string section that will transport you to a different world and offer you a break from the stress of pandemics and discord. The event takes place this Sunday, Feb. 14., at 3 p.m. You will need to get a unique, digital ticket to be able to enjoy the concert on any streaming device, so click here to grab your free ticket.

TWO: TONIGHT! Poetry lovers and all others are invited to Shelter: The Art of Caring , a poetry and prose virtual reading hosted by local poet Emily Ferrara. This free event will feature local writers & poets: Stephan Anstey, Diamond Asaneh, Suzanne Beebe, Douglas Bishop, MJ Bujold, Charles Gargiulo, Nancy Lee Jasper, S.C. Thibodeau, and PJ Wamala. Their writings on the subject of “Shelter” were selected for inclusion in the community exhibit at the Arts League of Lowell, which this month (Feb 3-28) is featuring an art show and sale with all proceeds to benefit the Lowell Transitional Living Center. The event will also feature special guest Alexis Ivy, homeless advocate and author of “Taking the Homeless Census.” This event is tonight, Feb. 11, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Click here for more details and to register.

THREE: The newest twist on Concord’s classic tour from the Concord Visitor Center is a 90-minute chocolate filled experience that will introduce guests to the Downtown Concord area. The tour will touch on the Town’s rich revolutionary and literary history while visiting sites such as The Milldam, Monument Square, The Old Hill Burial Ground and more. Tours start at 1:00 p.m. and depart Concord Visitor Center. Reservations required by 3pm Friday before tour by calling 978-318-3067, or by clicking here.

 

FOUR: Shop vintage goods, handmade ware and specialty foods at the Great New England Artisan & Vintage Pop-Up Market opening this weekend at the Merrimack Premium Outlets. This limited time market will feature jewelry, pottery, wood decor, framed art, pillows, farmhouse decor, candles, shawls, chocolate, truffles, valentine treats, metal art, apparel, trays and much more. The market will be open this Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Click here for details.

FIVE: Start your Valentine’s morning off right with Mistral Music in Andover for their annual Valentine concert this Sunday at 10 a.m. This year, Mistral is welcoming international Grammy winning guitarist Jason Vieaux who will be accompanied by flutist Julie Scolnik. They will play music by Piazzolla, Da Falla, Machado, Granados and Villa Lobos and the Spanish-influenced Ibert and Ravel. Vieaux will also play solos by Albeniz, Tarrega and Barrios. Click here for more information on this virtual concert.

SIX: Enjoy classical music virtually as Cellist Gwen Krosnick will perform on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Church in Newburyport. This will be the second of four concerts in the 2021 Jean C. Wilson Music Series. Due to the pandemic this year, for the very first time, the series will be virtual. Krosnick’s 2021 program will feature a menagerie of vividly personal approaches to writing for solo cello, including unaccompanied works of Bach, transcribed and originally written for the violin. Click here for tickets.

SEVEN: This weekend, award-winning actors M. Lynda Robinson and Richard McElvain of Boston Reads will partner with the Firehouse Center for the Arts and The Actors Studio of Newburyport to present Lover’s Only – A Collection of Five Love Scenes. This will be a virtual production in classic readers theater format – with script in hand. The set changes and costumes are minimal with the audience using their imagination to interpret the words of the play. The audience will enjoy five of the Greatest Love Scenes from both classic and contemporary theater. The scenes included come from Romeo & Juliet, Private Lives, The Lion in Winter, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Jacks & Queens. Those interested can purchase tickets and watch anytime between Feb. 11, and Feb. 14. Click here for tickets.

EIGHT: For a unique taste of New England history, visit The Salem Witch Trials 1692 exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum. For more than 300 years since these events, the complex drama of the witch trials and its themes of injustice and the frailties of human nature has fascinated us. In this exhibit, explore rare, original witch trial documents from PEM’s Phillips Library collection and learn the true story of this tragedy as told through the voices and with the possessions of those directly involved. For more details, click here.

***

Special Valentine’s Day Eats

Valentine’s Day is this Sunday! Check out these exclusive Valentine’s Day offerings from restaurants all around the Merrimack Valley. Looking for last minute date night ideas? We’ve found 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.

Mission Oak Grill

Looking for a warm ambiance with fusions of American and Brazilian-style fare this weekend? Visit Mission Oak Grille in Newburyport who will be serving Valentine’s Day specials from Thursday to Sunday in addition to their regular menu. Special entrees include grilled bone-in ribeye, moqueca (a Brazilian seafood stew) and grilled fillet oscar. Dessert choices include hot chocolate cheesecake and passion fruit panna cotta. Click here to make a reservation, or visit here for delivery.

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.