If you think the only way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a city like Chicago is with candy and candlelight, you’ll be tickled pink to find that Cupid has expanded his Windy City offerings to include your tiniest love bugs as well. Here are our three picks for grooving, crafting and giving back; all while spending family time, too. How lovely!
The 10th Annual โBe My Valentineโ Family Event at the Drake Hotel
Heart mosaic
If you like a little heart-warming with your heart-glittering, look no further than the popular Valentine’s Day benefit for the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation. After you’ve gotten your fill from the delicious brunch buffet, prepare to be wowed by the sheer number of stations; from hair and makeup for kids to cookie-decorating (courtesy of the beloved Sweet Mandy B’s peeps) to entertainment throughout the day, including the Jesse White Tumblers and characters galore. More reasons to love this event? The silent auction (which could bring a different type of โglitterโ into your life), the allergy friendly treat table and, oh yes, Prosecco for adults. (Can you feel the love yet?)
Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton Place, Chicago
https://lynnsage.org/event/be-my-valentine-family-event
Family Valentine Dance at Maggie Daley Park
The place where you defy gravity on those killer jungle gyms when it’s warm and twirl on the skating ribbon when it’s not is also the place where you can shake it on the dance floor with the whole family. Kids ages 1-13 (and their young at heart, responsible-type people) will have a blast in the fieldhouse’s clubroom busting a move, crafting up a storm and keeping score with a multitude of games. (Hey, competition can be a love language, too.) You’ll want to preregister for this one but, at $5 a head, it’ll be one of your cheaper Valentine celebrations in recent memory.
Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph St., Chicago
Heart Mosaic-Making at Unicoi Art Studio
Chocolate is so fleeting. Create a lasting treasure (and memory!) at this wonderful, award-winning art studio in the heart of Lakeview. Whether your medium of choice is Unicoi’s handmade grout mixed with mosaic materials or the more traditional paper card route, they’ve got your fancy project covered. And did we mention there will be treats? Stop in any time between the 4-6 p.m. window (the mosaic takes roughly a half an hour) and be sure to preregister for this one, too; you won’t be the only one who thinks these crafts are perfectly giftable and mantle-worthy.
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017 from 4-6 p.m.
Unicoi Art Studio, 2059 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
