Romance is All Around

9 creative Valentine’s dates around Dallas that don't involve dinner

Valentine's-themed events like a live painting at Samuel Lynne Galleries offer great alternatives for romance-seeking couples.

Photo courtesy of JD Miller

Going out to dinner on Valentine's Day is a tried-and-true tradition, but why deal with the masses - on a Saturday night, no less - when you can spend some quality time with your significant other at a fun event?

We've gathered together nine great Valentine's-themed events taking place on around the actual date to show your partner that you know how to think outside of the box. Click each link for ticket prices, reservations, and more information. (And by the way, if you do want to add dinner to the mix, here is a long list of restaurants doing something special for Valentine's.)

Thursday, February 12

Perot Museum of Nature and Science presents Valentine's on Tap
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science will present a vibrant, Valentine’s-themed night out as a special edition of their "Thursdays on Tap" series. Guests can spend the evening exploring the museum after hours, enjoying live music, food and drinks, sweet treats, and full access to the exhibit halls without the daytime crowds.

Friday, February 13

Tribute Masters presents Sinatra and Bublé
The concert Sinatra and Bublé will be a night of romance, nostalgia, and timeless music as the special Valentine's tribute show features the legendary sounds of Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé as performed by Dave Halston and Michael Nugent. The show will feature Sinatra's classic hits like "Fly Me to the Moon" and "My Way" and Bublé's modern favorites like "Haven't Met You Yet" and "Everything." The concert takes place at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.

Saturday, February 14

Richardson Community Chorale presents Love Songs
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the men and women of the Richardson Community Chorale will celebrate romance by sharing some of their favorite songs of love. The afternoon concert will take place at First Presbyterian Church of Richardson.

Samuel Lynne Galleries presents JD Miller's Valentines Day Live Painting
Renowned Reflectionist artist JD Miller will return for the 10th Annual Valentine’s Day Live Painting Event at Samuel Lynne Galleries. Miller will create a live masterpiece beginning at 6:45 pm, reimagining a McShan Florist arrangement into a one-of-a-kind painting, capturing the essence of love through movement, texture, and light.

Grapevine Vintage Railroad presents Sweetheart Wine Train
In celebration of Valentine's Day, Grapevine Vintage Railroad will present the Sweetheart Wine Train, on which guests can celebrate with a leisurely train ride from Grapevine to Fort Worth and back. Two glasses of fine Texas wine will be served in a souvenir wine glass, along with individually portioned savory bites and dessert. All women will receive a single red rose, and additional wine will be available for purchase.

Avant Chamber Ballet presents Rhythm and Romance
Avant Chamber Ballet's Valentine's Day production will feature three inspiring ballets. Valse Fantaisie, choreographed by George Balanchine, is a ballet with a whirl of perpetual motion set to Glinka’s swooning melodies. In Paul Mejia’s hands Astor Piazzolla’s famous tangos come to life in Cafe Victoria, a cheeky, sensual story ballet set in a smokey “barre.” Katie Puder’s Sisterhood closes the evening with a celebration of the bonds of friendship beyond blood and our interwoven community featuring music composed by Dallas native Quinn Mason. There will be performances on February 14 and 15 at Moody Performance Hall.

Timeless Concerts presents Valentines Special and Fundraiser
Timeless Concerts' annual Valentines Special and Fundraiser showcases a variety of music performed by violinists LeeAnne Chenoweth and Keyreel Raskolenko, cellist Alice (Jeong-A) Lee, and pianist Heejung Kang. They will play spicy tango music of Astor Piazzolla of Argentina, plus selections of the great romantics. The hour-long concert at Holt Hickman Center will be followed by a post-concert party with pianist Erik Barnes, who will take requests. Guest can enjoy charcuterie style bites, desserts, wine, and soft drinks.

Uptown Revue presents The Hot Mess Heartbreaker Show
The Hot Mess Heartbreaker Show is a late-night, no-holds-barred popcorn-throwing comedy burlesque variety special crashing into Valentine’s Day, because romance is better after dark and a little unhinged. Guests get automatic entry into a raffle, themed food and drink specials, and popcorn projectile privileges. The performance takes place at Pocket Sandwich Theatre in Carrollton.

Sunday, February 15

Bodies Race Company presents Couple Shuffle
For those who like to work off their Valentine's Day indulgences, the annual Couple Shuffle offers races in 2-mile, 5k, and 10k distances. At the Valentine's themed race, participants will enjoy a course sprinkled with photo ops, and a finish line filled with sweet treats and high-fives. Swag includes a designer shirt & custom medal, chip-timing with live results and awards, and treats. Taking place at Audubon Park in Garland, there will also be a kid's dash, an untimed dash for children ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specifically crafted medal for kids.

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Movie Review

The Magic Faraway Tree is a whimsical family lark that fails to take root

Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Andrew Garfield, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Claire Foy, Phoenix Laroche, and Billie Gadson in The Magic Faraway Tree.

With kids and families always on the hunt for entertainment, it’s typically a safe bet for a movie studio to offer up something new, even if it is a film based on an old property. The Magic Faraway Tree, based on a series of books that started in the 1930s, is a very old property, one that its filmmakers have tried to liven up with a few stars, a lot of whimsy, and a boatload of CGI.

The Thompson family, led by stay-at-home dad Tim (Andrew Garfield) and breadwinner mom Polly (Claire Foy), are forced to move to a rundown country home when Polly gets laid off. The kids - Joe (Phoenix Laroche), Fran (Billie Gadson), and Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy) - are used to the perks of city life like wifi and electricity, and each of them rebels in their own way to their new lot in life.

Fran, enticed by a fairy named Silky (Nicola Coughlan), is the first to venture out of the house, making her way to a magic tree that transports her to a world full of strange characters like Moonface (Nonso Anozie), Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning), and more. Her adventures there not only broaden the world she thought she knew, but may be the key to helping her ailing family.

Directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2, Wonka), the film is a pleasant enough lark, but it fails to fully capture the imagination. The five-member family has a lot going on, from an initially-mute Fran to a domestic situation that raises more questions than it answers. The film tries to incorporate an anti-technology message through Tim’s hatred of a smart refrigerator (voiced by Judi Dench!) and the kids' addictions to devices, but it’s quickly shed in favor of other options.

Once Fran makes it to the Magic Faraway Tree, there’s a nice shift in the storytelling, but it’s unclear what the ultimate goal is. It’s a good idea to have Fran, the youngest of the children, convince her older, more cynical siblings about the virtues of the magic world, but the conflict in the real world doesn’t seem to rise to the level needed for the escape the tree provides.

There also seems to be a missing link in the storytelling for viewers to understand the importance of the fantastical characters. The visuals of seeing Moonface and his crescent moon-shaped hair, a man with a suit full of banging pots, and more are fun for a while, but not enough to carry the whole film. A last-minute revelation feels like it was something that should have been disclosed much earlier to help strengthen the emotions of the story.

A two-time Oscar nominee, Garfield is making his first foray into family movies (if you don’t count playing Spider-Man), and while he does a good job, he doesn’t make the best fit for the semi-goofy role. The same goes for the Emmy-winning Foy, who isn’t given much of anything to do. The movie puts the story on the shoulders of the three child actors, and while each of them acquit themselves well, none of them are so outstanding as to be noteworthy.

With nearly 90-year-old source material, The Magic Faraway Tree needed to be something truly special to stand out in the 21st century movie world. Unfortunately, it features a mostly forgettable story that features some fun visuals, a couple of cute kids, and not much else.

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The Magic Faraway Tree is now playing in theaters.

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