Let Your Literary Self Bah Humbug Valentine's Day

By Betsy Mikel in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 12, 2011 4:00PM

Maybe you’re bitterly single. Maybe your significant other isn’t “into” Valentine’s Day. Well poo poo to him or her. There are lots of other fun things to do. Especially for people who like books, or really, just good and entertaining stories in general.

Local 737: Valentine’s Day Edition: From the guys at Drinking & Writing Brewery (clearly they have the right idea) and Haymarket Pub & Brewery comes a show featuring artists who will be delving into a range of lovely topics from devotion to promiscuity. The name comes from the mug club at Haymarket, the Local 737: Beer Drinkers Union. Plus the event is at 737 W. Randolph and starts at 7:37 p.m. Get the theme? Artists include Paper Machete’s Christopher Piatt, Dr. Chloe Johnston, Rachel Claff, Rawson Vint, Jamie Budzick and Dina Walters. And the month’s featured beer is a double IPA.
Local 737, Feb. 14, Haymarket Pub & Brewery, 737 W. Randolph, $1 at the door

2nd Story: Twisted Tales of Dating in the Windy City, an Anti-Valentine’s Day party: The name pretty much says it all. Brought to you by the Chicago Reader and hosted by WBEZ’s Alison Cuddy (Eight-Forty-Eight), the evening will feature stories of love and dating in the Windy City performed by 2nd Story and a live set by the extrinsic pop duo My Gold Mask (dubbed a "band to watch" by Pitchfork). Three story tellers, Kim Morris, Alex Bonner, and Kareem Khubchandani will be sharing stories about their search for lasting human connection and love. PLUS the first 50 guests will receive a goody bag from Pleasure Chest. And if you catch the eyes of someone attractive, you can pay $1 to have a Windy City Rollers girl deliver a personal valentine.
2nd Story, Feb. 15, Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., $14 via Lincoln Hall website

Stay Home: If your tear-stained face cannot bear to be seen in public or if you prefer to spend Valentine’s Day with the privacy of a bottomless glass of red wine, then we have some ideas for you. You could make some Storigami. These are featherproof’s new version of mini books, but take a tad bit longer to put together and take a little brain power. But if you’re concentrating on Storigami, you can’t think about your broken heart. Or, you could write some really sappy poetry. And to write bad poetry, you must be inspired by really good poetry. Thank goodness The Poetry Foundation has a whole collection of love poems. Also, read tips on writing poetry from some good-at-poetry poets.