At the Hotel Boulderado, 2115 13th Street in Boulder, a pressure-free evening is promised during the Anti Valentine's Day Party, beginning tonight at 8 p.m. in the Boulderado Ballroom. It features dancing, drinks and eats for singles, couples, old grannies and everyone else. Admission is free; visit www.boulderado.com/antivalentinesdayparty.html for info.
Heart health is the theme at i (heart) cruisers, a party hosted by the Denver Cruisers and the American Heart Associations Young at Heart group that doubles as a mid-winter get-together for the grounded Cruisers, whose weekly community bike rides wont start up again until the spring. Along with a silent auction of bike-related items that benefits the AHA and Bike Denver, the event includes a cruiser art show with bicycle photography by Todd Van Fleet, as well as henna tattoos, a photo booth, raffle and more. We're really excited to use the cruiser bicycle as a metaphor for getting healthy and having fun, says Brad Evans of Denver Cruisers; the fun begins at 7 p.m. at Casselman's Bar and Venue, 2620 Walnut Street. Go to www.denvercruisers.com.
Youll get babes and bands, burlesque and funny music, says Inactivist Heather Haas-Prestridge, at tonights Panties on the Ground, a Valentine's Day extravaganza at Benders Tavern, 314 East 13th Avenue, featuring music by Haas-Prestridge's band and Ground Above Zero and burlesque by Ooh La La. Loosely based around the new Inactivists CD, Love Songs (and Other Songs About Love) If youve been kicked in the pants by love, this album is for you, Haas-Prestridge notes the party will also be the scene of Denvers largest Hokey Pokey, danced to the tune of Billy Squier's The Stroke. You cant have Valentines Day without burlesque and boobs and babes, Haas-Prestridge maintains. Admission to the 9 p.m. show is $7; call 303-861-7070.
If youve got an artsier Valentines jones, try Tough Love, a series of site-specific dances and video overseen at the Packing House Center for the Arts, 835 East 50th Avenue, by resident artist Lauren Simpson and friends. The Packing House is known for promoting more experimental performance work, and this show is no exception: Somehow, the works address relationships while also alluding to the venues past as a slaughterhouse. Theres one video, shot in a still, flip-book style, of two hamburgers making love, notes the Houses Patrick Mueller, tongue solidly in cheek. Theres a lot a dark comedy, when you cant decide whether to laugh or groan or look away, but there are lots of touching and beautiful moments, too. See Tough Love, which actually begins outdoors and takes advantage of nearly every nook and cranny of the Packing Houses public space, at 4 or 7 p.m. today and tomorrow; tickets are $10 to $12 in advance or $12 to $14 at the door. Visit www.controlgroupproductions.org.
Just cant stand Valentines Day no way, no how, and thats all there is to it? Celebrate Chinese New Year instead: Ring in the Year of the Tiger with a night of music by Itchy-O, Hideous Men, Night of Joy and Offthesky, including Itchy-Os auxiliary electro-drum corps marching band, beginning tonight at 8:40 p.m. at the Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer Street. Get info at www.larimerlounge.com or call 303-291-1007.
Still looking? Not to worry: Catch up on all the towns Valentines Day dining and haps at westword.com/events/category/valentines-day-656199.
Sat., Feb. 13, 2010