Photo by Valerie Mariya on Unsplash
Romance is about continuously discovering new things about your partner – I think Sophia Loren said it more eloquently in an old perfume commercial – so Valentine’s Day, or any date night for that matter, should be about new experiences. Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts may be steeped in history but we know how to keep it fun and exciting too.
We invite you to consider some events going on in the area not only on the holiday itself, but also after February 14 if you're the romantic who loves to save money or avoid the hassle of crowds. (And if by the time you read this the event is sold out, well, hey, it’s the one that got away.)
1. Comedy Connection Live Blind Date Show – East Providence
Wednesday Feb 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Comedy Connection
Is cringe your love language? “It’s A Date” is a comedy dating event where at each show, four brave volunteering singles go on a blind date in front of a live audience with professional comedians providing hilarious commentary throughout. This is a 21+ event.
2. Basta’s “Nights of 1,000 Roses” – Edgewood
Feb 9 through 14
Location: Basta Restaurant
Forget a dozen roses – dazzle your beloved with an enchanting dinner at Basta in Cranston for their special Nights of 1,000 Roses where long-stemmed fresh roses literally hang overhead, with hundreds more placed throughout the restaurant in vases.
To accommodate the demand and facilitate comfortable spacing for guests, the celebration will extend from February 9 through 14.
Don’t delay; reservations will fill quickly. Call the team today at 401.461.2300.
3. Norman Bird Sanctuary Stargazing – Middletown
Wednesday Feb 14 at 6 p.m.
Location: Norman Bird Sanctuary
Hopefully you and your lover are not star-crossed! Take the most romantic night of the year to experience the Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Cupids & Constellations event. Gaze at the night sky with informative commentary from Sara Poirier, the NBS’s new Science Coordinator. Adults ages 21 and older are invited to join Norman Bird Sanctuary for an evening of telescope observing, constellation hunting, and star stories from across the ages. After a short presentation on the winter night sky, guests will head outside to observe Jupiter, the Moon, star clusters, and nebulae through telescopes. Guests are also invited to join NBS staff on an evening walk through NBS star-lit fields and then find warmth by the fire. Dress warmly! Chairs and blankets are provided along with a warming signature cocktail, hot chocolate, and an assortment of valentine’s inspired bites.
Secure your place among the stars (buy tix)!
4. “Falling in love with wine” Dinner and Learn – Portsmouth
Wednesday February 14 at 6 p.m.
Location: Greenvale Vineyards
Grow together as a couple by learning about the art of wine tasting, pairing, and appreciation. They'll guide you through a curated selection of wines with expertise and insights along the way. All levels of interest are welcome at this exquisite pairing of wines and a six-course dinner curated by Rhode Rage catering under Chef Rizwan Ahmed. Your wine expert for the evening is Jonathon Alsop, founder & executive director of the Boston Wine School, author of The Wine Lover’s Devotional and In Vino Veritas, and a commentator for National Public Radio on WGBH | Boston Public Radio and Under The Radar.
Tickets are selling hotter than a mulled Banfi 2020 Centine Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Sangiovese Red! Buy now
5. Parents’ Night Out – North Dartmouth
Friday February 16 at 6 p.m.
Location: Bay State Movement Academy
Dumped is never a good thing on Valentine’s Day… unless it’s an opportunity to dump off your kids ages 5 & up at Bay State Movement Academy’s Parents’ Night Out event. Go off to a fun dinner for two at a romantic restaurant while the academy watches, feeds, entertains, and, hopefully, exhausts your kids so they go right to bed after. With games, obstacles, and festive colors or outfits encouraged, your kids will enjoy a fun new experience while you and your mate rekindle an old flame.
6. Dueling Piano Show Half Priced – Newport
Friday Feb 16 at 8 p.m.
Location: The Top of Pelham, One Pelham East
Double the piano / half the price / can’t go wrong. Across from Bowen’s Wharf, right above One Pelham East, Newport’s vibrant nightspot, enjoy an evening of their dueling pianos show. You’ll be entertained by Sean Rainey, Danielle Boucher, and two grand pianos as they take audience requests from every genre and era imaginable. Audience members get pulled up on stage for toasts and special dedication songs to add a lovely personal touch to a merry night of music.
7. Self Care Breathwork Event – East Greenwich
Saturday Feb 17 at 6 p.m.
Location: Massage Therapy and Wellness
For real fun – go to the dueling piano show, request the stirring ballad from the movie Top Gun “Take My Breath Away,” and then get it back the next night at Massage Therapy and Wellness’ Self Care Breathwork event. Embark on a transformative journey to self-discovery and inner harmony at their exclusive Connecting to the Heart Breathwork Event.
Valentine’s Day can be about self love too, not just romantic love. Unlock your deepest emotions and send yourself a cosmic Valentine at this breathwork session where you’ll awaken your inner strength, release stress, and tap into a wellspring of vitality. Guided by Amy Chauvin, a passionate mindset and manifestation coach and the creator of The Break-Free Journey to Manifest and Break-Free Breathwork, you’ll lie down on your back on a yoga mat in a comfortable position as relaxing music and motivational messages lift your spirit and heart.
8. Valentine’s Sock Hop – Woonsocket
Saturday Feb 17 at 6 p.m.
Location: Historic St. Joseph Church
From restorative to retro --- in the 1950s, long before blogs, AI, and streaming television, they still had romance and one venue for teenagers in love was the sock hop dance. Woonsocket’s St. Joseph Church will be putting one on the Saturday after Valentine’s Day to celebrate the season. Rock your poodle skirt, leather jacket, greased hair, or ponytail, and bust a retro move with your sweetheart. The name sock hop allegedly derives from dancers being required to remove their hard-soled shoes to protect the varnished floor of the gymnasiums at which they were typically hosted. At this event, the young and young at heart will enjoy timeless fun including dancing, games, a hula hoop contest, a prize raffle, as well as burgers, fries, and milkshakes.
The important thing to remember is that showing the ones you love that you care AND getting out there and enjoying RI and Southeastern MA are worthwhile things to do at ANY TIME of the year - not just on Valentine's Day! Make 2024 your year of love with lots of fun along the way.
Happy, healthy, safe Valentine's Day to you all from RPL.
