Valentine's Day Iron Pour at Franconia Sculpture Park
February 16: pack hot chocolate, or just warm your hands over the scorching hot molds at Franconia Sculpture Park's Valentine's Day Iron Pour. Several Minnesota sculptors will be pouring molten metal in what could legitimately be called the hottest event this Valentine's Day. Franconia Sculpture Park is about an hour north of the Twin Cities.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Is hitting the slopes romantic? Absolutely! While ski pants are not especially attractive, you can help your date up when they fall over, and if you are feeling especially corny, make out in the chairlifts. And it's lots of fun too. Despite the lack of natural snow this year, ski and snowboard hills have made plenty of snow and conditions are pretty decent. For the most romantic experience, book a cabin a Lutsen Mountains in Northern Minnesota - the North Shore is always a good romantic getaway.
Modern Vintage Entertainment: Burlesque and Cabaret Shows
Minneapolis performance and burlesque artists have dragged old time entertainment into this century, with plenty of kicking, screaming and twirling of tassels. There's several shows on Valentine's Day weekend.
Le Cirque Rouge, burlesque and vaudeville entertainment, are at St. Paul's Amsterdam Bar and Hall on Saturday February 2 and Saturday March 2. At the Bryand Lake Bowl in Minneapolis, Erotic Valentines - A Shadow Show is a daring puppet show. Two performances on February 14.
The Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis has Ballet of the Dolls Presents: The Blue Stockings Society's Production of: Venus and Adonis, with theater, poetry and romance on February 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Donate Blood Together
Blood donations tend to be down during the winter, while the need for blood remains the same. Visit one of the four metro area locations, all are open on Valentine's Day with your sweetie, and give someone else a gft that's truly from your heart. There are Red Cross blood donation centers in downtown Minneapolis, Arden Hills, Blaine and St. Paul, and frequent blood drives held across the metro area. You can make an appointment online, and find traveling blood drives near you at the Red Cross website.
Sculpt Clay Together
Learn a new skill together at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. This ceramics studio runs a monthly Clay for Couples class, a evening class where the two of you can learn to sculpt clay and throw pots on the wheel. One class costs $60 per couple, which includes instruction and materials. The February class is on February 22, followed by another class on March 2. The artwork you make together will be fired and ready to be collected two weeks after the class.
And specially for Valentine's Day, the NCC has the 9th Annual "Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Our Pots Are Hot, Yours Are Too!" Workshops, on February 14 and 15. An evening of delicious food, desserts and wine, romantic music, plus pot throwing instruction. Your creation will be fired and ready to take home about 10 days after the class. The workshop costs $95 per couple.
Passion for Flashin' at Vertical Endeavors
Vertical Endeavors rock climbing gym in St. Paul holds their annual climbing competition on February 16. Flashing, if you are not familiar with the sport, is climbing a route successfully on the first attempt, without falling off. I'd enter this competition just to get the shirt. If you don't think you have the skills for flashing, volunteers are needed to help out with the competition.
