It’s The Weekend for Romance in Aurora and Denver!
February 13, 2020
The entire weekend is full of Valentine’s Day events—yours for the choosing! Wine or beer connoisseurs will appreciate gourmet pairings with their libation of choice; comedy fans will find a funny Valentine waiting for them; and music buffs have myriad opportunities to be swept off their feet by a wide variety of musical styles! And the Denver Zoo offers an adventurous sleepover for kids, freeing parents up for a Valentine’s night out on the town!
Thursday, February 13
PREPARE FOR MARDI GRAS
When Mardi Gras rolls around next week, you’ll be prepared with the inside scoop! This virtual visit to New Orleans, the birthplace of America’s version of Carnival, will get you well-acquainted with what is often referred to as the “most unique” city in America.
Active Minds presents an entertaining presentation about New Orleans, the city famous for its cuisine, French Creole influence, architecture, and jazz music. You’ll learn about the city’s colorful history, culture and people of the “Big Easy,” including the unique challenges of living in a coastal city where nearly half the land is below sea level!
Sam Gary Branch Library, 2961 Roslyn St., Denver
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Registration: FREE
WINE TASTING AND TASTY BITES!
Who can resist an elegant and informative wine tasting, accompanied by small plate pairings? If you answered, “not me,” you won’t want to miss the latest installment in the Winter Wine Education series! Take part in a sit-down tasting with 4 or 5 different wines from the Vineyard Wine Shop. Tasty bites will be provided afterwards, along with time for mingling, questions, and extra tastes!
The Cube, 8371 Northfield Blvd., Denver
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$60
Phone: 303-388-0724
Thursday – Sunday, February 13-16
MY FUNNY VALENTINE COMEDY PACKAGES
If your idea of the perfect date includes laughing until you cry, Comedy Works’ special Valentine’s packages are for you! In addition to a hilarious stand-up show, optional add-on packages include a dozen roses and/or a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
Headlining the event is Phil Hanley, a stand-up, actor, and writer who’s a regular at NYC’s renowned Comedy Cellar. You’ve likely seen him on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show, The Pete Holmes Show, or John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show on Comedy Central. On the big screen, he’s appeared in Amy Schumer’s I Feel Pretty and alongside Tim Heidecker in the film Sundowners.
Comedy Works-Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
Thurs., 8:00 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; Sun., 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $16-$129
Phone: 303-595-3637
Friday, February 14
BEER & INDULGENT TREATS
Craft beer lovers will appreciate this special partnership: great brews from Dry Dock Brewing Company paired with specialty items from So Damn Gouda. The indulgent treats include three different pairings of cheeses, chocolates and fruits or nuts. One ticket buys pairings for sharing for two people.
Dry Dock Brewing Company, 15120 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $35/couple
BUNK WITH THE BEASTS
Indulge your kids’ love for the zoo with this super-special kids-only night out: a sleepover at the Denver Zoo! They’ll get up close and personal with creatures from peacocks to primates and even make a valentine for a zoo animal.
Kids ages 5-12 can take part in this safe and supervised Bunk with the Beasts adventure, while parents get to enjoy a night out! The evening includes a pizza dinner, snack, and full breakfast the next morning.
Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 a.m. next day
Tickets: $65 – $75
SYMPHONIC VALENTINE
The Colorado Symphony has been busy putting together a most romantic evening of classical music! In addition to some of the most sweeping instrumental music ever written, the evening will include vocal performances featuring soprano Laquita Mitchell, who brings her rich, expressive vocals to spectacular works like Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi. There will also be excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s most famous romantic ballets performed by the orchestra!
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. and Arapahoe St., Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$89
Phone: 303-623-7876
Friday – Sunday, February 14-16
THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS
As part of Black History month, this spellbinding musical tells the true story of the infamous 1930s Scottsboro Case, where a group of young African-American men are falsely accused of a terrible crime. From the songwriting team that created Chicago and Cabaret comes a modern masterpiece that’s both humorous and haunting.
Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $32
Phone: 303-856-7830
LET SINATRA STEAL YOUR HEART
There’s nothing more romantic than swaying along to tunes sung by the ultimate crooner with your sweetheart by your side. This Sinatra tribute show brings Ol’ Blue Eyes to life as you journey back in time to a Vegas nightclub, where all your favorite classic hits will be performed. Make it a Valentine’s date to remember by adding a pre-show dinner at Nonna’s Chicago Bistro, an authentic Italian restaurant.
Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $33-$38; dinner-and-show package starts at $49.50
Phone: 303-800-6578
Saturday, February 15
TINY TOTS AT THE ORCHESTRA
There’s no better way for children to get interested in orchestra music than by putting them right in the midst of it: children sit on the floor and are surrounded by a 30+ piece orchestra! Designed for children six and under, this 45-minute program lets children interact with music and learn about instruments as well.
McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave., Denver
9:30 a.m.
Tickets: $9.95
Phone: 303-355-7855
80S VS 90S DANCE
Nostalgia-lovers won’t have to choose with this fun dance that takes you back in time not once, but twice! Whether you are an all-out 80s fan or a totally-fresh 90s fanatic, you’ll have a blast at Wings Over the Rockies’ 80s vs. 90s Dance!
It will be a righteous night of dancing, drinks and fun for all ages! From live DJs spinning your favorite 80s and 90s jams to incredible food sample stations courtesy of Denver’s top caterers (food included in admission), this will be a night you won’t want to miss!
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$40
Phone: 303-360-5360
A LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE
One of the rare triple-award-winners (Tony, Emmy, and Grammy), Cynthia Erivo will be performing a powerful concert to celebrate the strengths of womanhood. Erivo will give voice to music made famous by the greatest female singers of all time, including Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. and Arapahoe St., Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $34-$94
Phone: 303-623-7876
Saturday – Sunday, February 15-16
COLORADO NEW PLAY SUMMIT
This is the weekend theatre-lovers wait for all year long—the launch of the featured new plays in the Colorado New Play Summit! You’ll be the first to hear the latest drafts of the four featured plays as readings in a laid-back setting.
You become part of the process of developing tomorrow’s exciting new works! After a week of workshopping their fresh scripts with professional actors and directors, playwrights use Launch Weekend to get the initial feedback that only a live audience can provide.
Various Theatres/DCPA, Speer Blvd. and Arapahoe St., Denver
Sat./Sun., 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; Sat., 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $7-$10 per reading; package of 4 readings, $23-$36.80
Phone: 303-446-4841
Sunday, February 16
FREE CONCERT CELEBRATING SPACE!
The Aurora Symphony wants to get kids excited about music, so they’re throwing a space-tacular event with a FREE concert for all ages! The out-of-this-world performance features musical selections from Star Wars, Sprach Zarathustra, and Star Trek, as well as Apollo 13 and more! Come a little early and stop by the activity tables for fun and educational make-and-take projects for the kids before the show begins!
Created with a first-time concert experience in mind, the Aurora Symphony Orchestra Young People’s Concerts are fully bilingual English/Spanish events designed to give to younger audiences a shorter music presentation, along with stories and fun entertainment, including an instrument petting-zoo, face painting, balloon animals, exciting special guests, and more!
The Hangar at Stanley, 2501 N. Dallas St., Aurora
11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
OLD-AND-NEW ORCHESTRAL CONCERT
When today’s masters pair up with tomorrow’s bright hopefuls, it’s sure to be a concert full of passion and spirit! The Colorado Symphony has a long tradition of sharing its experience and vision with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO), and when they come together to perform in one concert, audience members are the beneficiaries! This year’s event pairs the concert with a visual art display: Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. and Arapahoe St., Denver
2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$27
Phone: 303-623-7876
Valentine’s Day Around Southshore!
Love is in the air near the master-planned community of Southshore with all sorts of Valentine’s Day things to do within minutes from your front door. Combine the tranquility of lakeside living with easy access to your favorite urban and suburban activities. With beautiful model homes from Toll Brothers, Taylor Morrison and Richmond American Homes, it’s easy to picture yourself in your own new home, priced from the upper $400s to the $700s.