This year, Valentine’s Day falls on the weekend, and there are a wealth of date-night options for sweethearts as well as singles who want to celebrate right here on Vashon.
With many Island restaurants offering special menus and shops like the Heron’s Nest chock-full of affordable, locally made gifts, there’s no need to leave Vashon on the most romantic weekend of the year. Special concerts and events begin on Friday and continue through Saturday.
Here is a roundup of the “best places to kiss.”
FRIDAY
Wine and jazz at Café Luna
Café Luna will kick off the Valentine’s weekend from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, with a wine tasting hosted by Vashon Winery owner Ron Irvine.
This is the first in a series of wine tastings to be held at the café on the second Friday of each month. Each tasting will feature five reasonably priced wines.
At the inaugural tasting, Ron Irvine will focus on a romantic theme, including a couple of reds, a sparking wine, a white wine and a “love potion” dessert wine.
There is a cover charge of $8 for the wine tasting, but it will be followed by a free jazz concert by The Hobson-Person Trio, kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
The trio consists of Jim Hobson, Richard Person and Lauri Hennessey.
Hobson began learning piano in his early teens. In addition to playing music, he has also had a long career as a recording engineer. He moved to Vashon in 2004.
Person, who was born on Vashon, picked up his father’s trumpet at age five and has been playing music ever since. His credits include studio work with Les Baxter and the Della Reese Big Band.
On Vashon, he has directed the Portage Philharmonic and performed with Island Jazz Quintet.
Hennessey began performing with Hobson and Person two years ago. She has sung with a number of Island groups and played key roles in several Drama Dock musicals.
Americana music at the Bike
Americana roots band The Starlings will perform a free show at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi.
According to concert organizer Pete Welch, the band’s music ranges from “pin-dropping ballads to foot-stomping barn burners.” The band, led by Seattle singers and songwriters Joy Mills and Tom Parker, features guitar, banjo and harmonica instrumentation.
The show is for ages 21 and older only.
SATURDAY
Sultry sounds of Mercedes Nicole at the Blue Heron
The Blue Heron Art Center will be the scene of a romantic jazz concert by the Mercedes Nicole Quintet, beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.
The evening’s repertoire will include traditional favorites by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, along with several songs from Bette Midler and Nancy Wilson.
A native of Los Angeles, Nicole grew up singing in the church choir. Her contralto voice has been compared to Nina Simone and Nancy Wilson. She has performed at The Triple Door, Crown Plaza, Columbia City Theater, Tacoma Art Museum and other venues.
Nicole will bring some of Seattle’s best players for backup, including Beth Wulff on piano, Jeremy Jones on drums, the multi-instrumentalist Thaddeus Spae on guitar and Mike Rollins on bass.
Nicole has studied with jazz mavens Greta Matassa, Becca Doran and Overton Berry and released four albums. She has also written, produced and performed a jazz tribute to Nina Simone, the high priestess of soul, entitled “Strange Fruit.”
Her music can be found at mercedesnicole.com.
Tickets are $13 to $15, and include champagne, appetizers and chocolate. To reserve, call 463-5131.
Songs for grown-ups at Back Bay Inn
Singer/songwriter Tamara Lewis will perform at Back Bay Inn from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. There is no cover charge.
Lewis, who lives in Seattle, said she writes and performs “songs for grownups” that “reflect the challenges of those of us who have been around a difficult block or two.”
A newcomer to the music scene, Lewis learned how to play the guitar in her mid-40s, and started writing and performing songs a couple of years later. She recently released her second CD, “Living Down River.”
Her music can be sampled at www.tlewismusic.com.
Lewis’ show will also provide Islanders with their next-to-last chance to enjoy the charms of the Back Bay Inn, as owners John “Stormy” Storms and Victoria Davies have announced that the inn will close on Feb. 16.
Storms and Davies will have a closing night party, featuring live music and food, on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Stop by to wish the owners well, or call 463-5355 for details.
Baby Gramps brings his legendary sounds to the Bike
Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi will be the scene of a rare Vashon appearance by legendary Seattle musician Baby Gramps at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. There is no cover charge.
Baby Gramps, an eccentric Seattle original, is “an amazing amalgamation of everything that anybody’s ever heard, including Mississippi John Hurt, Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Patton, Blind Blake, Captain Beefheart, the Tuvan Throat Singers and Popeye,” said Glenn Howard of the American Musical Heritage Foundation.
Another critic, Chris Lunn, raved in Victory Music Review that Baby Gramps’ act was “pure delight.”
The show will include unique Valentine’s songs for bugs and other creatures and critters.
Ron Hook, the frontman of Subconscious Population and an Island music legend in his own right, will open the show with an acoustic set. Organizers said they expect a full house.
The Bistro will feature a special dinner menu that evening.
For reservations, call 463-5959. The show is for ages 21 and older.
Murgatroyd’s big rock sounds will spice up Sporty’s
Island band Murgatroyd will play at Sporty’s at 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.
Formed in 2008, the band combines the talents of Brett Bacchus, Ruben Arnot, Morgan Snyder and Doug Spencer.
Organizers said the band has “all the talent, power, raw energy, personality and swagger reminiscent of 1970s arena rock” and they promised a night of inventive, memorable and danceable music.
Call 463-0940 for details and ticket information.
