12+ things to do with your Valentine this weekend

We’ve gathered a few ideas for how you can share the love (with your Valentine and our city) in honor of Valentine’s Day this weekend.

Sweets for your sweetie

Visit Chomp! Chocolate for a Private Tour & Tasting, which includes a sampling of their bean-to-bar chocolate plus some special seasonal bars and a plate of snacks with warm factory-fresh chocolate for dipping. Space is limited and must be booked in advance. Get your tickets here.

Place your order

Truffle Shuffle Salem has crafted a tasty menu of hand-rolled small-batch chocolate delights to give to your Valentine including amaretto with salt, creme de Violette, raspberry ganache, lemon elderflower, strawberry champagne and pistachio rose. Place your order here.

Pre-order your chocolate raspberry donuts from Big Wig before it’s too late. The downtown Salem vegan donutery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. but in order to ensure you can get what you want, order now at https://www.bigwigdonuts.com/

Get crafty

Give your Valentine a hands-on art experience. Create-a-Memory and CreativiTEE are offering a special. For $40, get a $25 gift card for each location. Special is available at either shop. Learn more here.

Becka Makes Buttons will Pop Up 12 to 4 p.m. Monday, February 14, at Office Depot, 2945 Liberty St SE. Go make a button for your Valentine. Becka will also have Buttons O’ Love boxed up and ready for last-minute gift-giving. Learn more here.

Explore….art

Salem On the Edge, 156 Liberty St NE, is hosting two timely exhibits — See Erotica: An Exhibition to Arouse and Susan Napack’s Heart of the Matter/Matter of the Heart. This is the second year for the gallery’s Erotica show, which shares a variety of work by local artists. From tame to racy, it’s sure to spark a conversation. Info: www.salemontheedge.com

It’s Cinematastic

Enlightened Theatrics presents Cinematastic: The Music of the Movies, a song and dance extravaganza featuring the greatest hits from the silver screen to mainstream, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. This concert features your favorite film songs, featuring hits from Gentlemen Prefer Blonds and Top Hat to Pinocchio, The Bodyguard, Moulin Rouge, and everything in between. Get your tickets here.

Celebrate with a feast

Forgo the box of chocolates for the Feast of St Valentine dinner and barrel tasting with Bryn Mawr Vineyards. In the intimate setting of the barrel room, take in a tasting with winemaker Rachel Rose, where you will sample several wines currently in barrel. She’ll talk about the wine and her method of winemaking. After you’ve learned a few cellar secrets, return to the Tasting Room for a romantic dinner prepared by Chef Colleen French. Cost is $125. Limited seating. Tasting begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 at 5935 Bethel Heights Rd NW. Contact 503-581-4286 or click here for more details.

Wild Pear is offering a special Valentine’s Day Menu on Monday featuring a lovely three-course meal with options for gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian, too. Dine-in or get to-go (with pick-up available on Saturday or Monday). Make a reservation for your party of two or more for between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Monday by contacting https://www.wildpearcatering.com/ 

Make a romantic Valentine’s reservation at Ritter’s Housemade Foods, which is offering a special menu Feb 11, 12 and 14, 4 p.m. to close. Make your reservation by calling 503-339-7928.

Make it an experience

Xicha [chee-chah] Brewing is hosting winter food+beer pairings called Brindar [breen-dahr], which means to toast or to offer. Brindar focuses on and celebrates different cuisines from Latin America as interpreted by Chef Ricky Antunez. February Brindar: Mayan Riviera starting at 6 p.m. Feb. 14 showcases the Caribbean Coastline on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula, where the cuisine is characterized by major use of maize and spices such as achiote used on meats and tropical fruits. Seafood is also a major staple. Dinner features five courses creatively paired with beer brewed in-house. Xicha hopes to provide an experience that educates on Latin American cuisines not commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, as well as on beer profiles and how to pair them.

Cost is $75 per person. Tickets are limited. Get yours today here. Note: Must be 21 or over to attend. COVID vaccination or negative test required. 

Prior to Brindar, Xicha Brewing is featuring Valentine’s Weekend specials Friday through Sunday, so check it out at 576 Patterson St NW, Suite 140

Wine

Trinity Vineyards, 1031 Wahl Ln S, is hosting a Valentine’s Wine Pairing, Saturday and Sunday featuring complimentary food pairings alongside their wine creations. Book a reservation by calling 503-371-6977 to guarantee a spot. 

Try the Valentine’s Sparkling Tasting at Eola Hills Legacy Vineyard, 1600 Oak Grove Rd, happening Friday through Sunday. Enjoy a flight of Eola Hills’ traditional method sparkling wines and share a curated charcuterie box from Grazing Fields. Tasting is $35 per person with a minimum of two people. Discount for club members. Reserve your spot here.

Coria Estates, 8252 Redstone Avenue SE, is hosting Wine & Truffle Pairing for Valentine’s Weekend Feb 12 to 14. $20 per flight. And on Valentine’s Day, there will also be live music by Randy Bynes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Book your reservation here.

Looking for more live music? Blues rocker Ty Curtis will play 9 p.m. Monday at Taproot Lounge and Cafe.

Grab a local gift

Check out the Valentine’s Makers Fair 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Windowsill, 4910 Turner Road SE,and featuring Eco Millennials, Clover Fall Designs, Ashley B Artistic Works, Sanctuary Apothecary, Katie Brooks Art, Rebecca Poorski, Sigrid Pine Apothecary and more.

Author: The Instigator