EDGEWATER — Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and the way it's celebrated today is far removed from its, well, bloody origins.
According to NPR, the most plausible historical explanation for the holiday's mysterious existence stems from the Roman festival of Lupercalia, a three-day feast from Feb. 13-15 during which men drank, then beat women with the belief it made them fertile.
It's also believed during this time two Roman men, named either Valentine or Valentinus, were both executed on Feb. 14, but in different years.
Eventually, Chaucer and Shakespeare got ahold of the tale and gave it a great romantic spin.
Now the multi-billion dollar industry is widely celebrated annually around the world with an onslaught of hearts, candy, roses and small, dead-eyed stuffed bears that somehow know your name and sing to you.
Regardless, it can still be a fun excuse to give the one you love a little extra TLC, so we rounded up 12 fun and unique ways to do something fun on Valentine's Day, Sunday.
Send a Sad Clown Some Pre-Valentine's Love: Pivot Arts will present "The Sadness Show: An Alternative Valentine's Day Celebration" hosted by performer Molly Brennan — also known for her musical and clowning talents. Mortified at being anywhere near a clown? No problem. The event starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday and is at Bar 63, 6341 N. Broadway. Don't worry, if you're 21 you can drink. $10 at the door, $5 with student I.D.
Give Your (3D-Printed) Heart to Someone Special: It's hard to literally give your heart to someone while you're still physically alive, so Edgewater Workbench is having a special BYOB 3D printing date night at 7 p.m., Friday. Give your true love a part of you they can keep forever that won't kill you in the process. $60 per couple.
Find Your Common Ground at Uncommon Ground: There's no better way to get to know your potential soul mate than by discovering your commonalities. From Friday to Sunday, Uncommon Ground, 1401 W. Devon Ave., is hosting three fancy prix fixe meals perfect for talking about all the first-date essentials, like who should become America's next president or which is the proper way to hang the toilet paper roll. It's better to know sooner than later. $35 per person.
Do Date Night Broadway-Style: The real Broadway is really far away, and tickets to a downtown show are expensive (and you also forgot — we totally get it). But fear not, from Friday-Sunday, Broadway Cellars at 5900 N. Broadway is serving up a red carpet worthy meal for two at one fixed price. For $80 a couple, get an appetizer to share, entrees, shareable dessert and a bottle of wine. BYOPaparazzi and Givenchy dress.
Share the Love by Cooking With Family: What's sweeter than baking cookies with your own little sweetie? From 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday, head on over to Peterson Garden Project's community cooking school at 5917 N. Broadway for a hands-on family cooking class. You'll take home strawberry- and cherry-filled cookies, and a happy, sugar-filled child. $20 per person.
Grab a Drink With Your Darling: From 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, and then again from 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. on Valentine's Day, Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant at 5846 N. Broadway is offering a special drink menu. Give your one and only the ultimate gift: your undivided attention while sipping an Ethiopian twist on the classic mojito.
Eat Your Heart Out: Cookies and Carnitas is getting its heart on by whipping up heart-shaped shareable pizzas, veal heart tacos and chicken heart tacos from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Valentine's Day. Check them out at 5757 N. Broadway.
Spin Like a Record, Baby: Get down to funky jams with your sweetheart starting at 8 p.m. Saturday at Rogers Park Social, 6920 N. Glenwood Ave. Funk Trunk Records and more will be on hand supplying the tunes.
Pair Wine With Some Toys From Tulip: At 7 p.m. Saturday, R Public House at 1508 W. Jarvis Ave. is hosting a sultry four course supper paired with special wines and goody bags from adult toy retailer Tulip. Make a reservation by calling 872-208-7916.
Give Your Sugar Some Sugar: From now until Valentine's Day, sweet-toothed lovers can venture over to Lickity Split Frozen Custard at its 6056 N. Broadway store for a delicious deal. Buy one regular or large concrete, and get another regular concrete for half price. Inside, there's a giant picture of a young Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland sharing a milkshake surrounded by twinkling red and white lights, so the atmosphere is already rife with sweetness and romance.
Treat Your Pet Doggy Style: On Valentine's Day, four-legged friends need love too! During the month of February, stop by Bark Bark Club at 5943 N. Broadway for $5 pet tooth brushing, and on Valentine's Day, head in with your pet from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for free treats. As a bonus, humans get treats, too.
Watch Others Humiliate Themselves for Your Entertainment: It sounds cruel, but it's not. At 9:30 p.m. Rogers Park's Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave., will host Mortified Chicago as they perform "Valentine Shmalentines" by reading aloud embarrassing excerpts from teenage diaries, love letters, poems and more. Mayne Stage will have love day drinks on special, and a portion of the show's proceeds go toward The Night Ministry, a nonprofit organization that provides resources to people struggling in the neighborhood. $25 per person.
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