“If music be the food of love, play on,” Shakespeare wrote. February is the month of love and romance with swooning ballads and contemporary pop songs to help us build a dream. Every self-respecting music fan — and that’s most of us — are plugged into high fidelity soundtracks. Thus snow, music and love become putty in our hands.
“Give me excess of it,” Shakespeare says in Act I of Twelfth Night. Illyria’s Duke Orsino opens the play with that emotion affected by airs of a melancholic lover.
Here are our heart to heart choices for shopping, dining and entertainment for sharing, caring and growing together so you’ll feel the bliss and get a hug and kiss:
3 Strike all the right chords as the Sean McGowan Trio plays the love songs of Lerner & Loewe at Dazzle Jazz, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. Finger style guitarist McGowan’s music will melt your heart. Information: 303-839-5100.
3 Capture love’s recipe at the Seasoned Chef Cooking School’s couples class to fire up romance at home Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-377-3222.
3 Giggle, love and laugh together at Bovine Metropolis Theater’s Armando playing Feb. 10-11 and 14 at 7, 8 or 9 p.m. Information: 303-758-4722.
3 Share a musical sure to have your love asking for more by making it to Motown The Musical at the Buell Feb. 15-19. Information: 303-893-4100.
3 Fuel the flames of passion by treating your sweetheart to the Inn at Cherry Creek’s Valentine package including champagne, dinner, accommodations for two plus breakfast at sweet, sweet savings. Information: 303-377-8577.
3 What better gift than a home to share with your Valentine? Make your dreams come true with loan rates on a $400,000 home as low as $14,000 down from Stone Creek Mortgage. Information: 303-573-1200.
3 Re-energize your love life with meals, parties, events plus two plays at the New Play Summit in the DCPA Feb. 24-26. Information: 303-893-6030.
3 Swoon to the music, art, design and flavors of the Beaux Arts Ball at the Colorado Convention Center Feb. 25, 6 p.m. Information: 303-728-6546.
3 You and your buddy or beau will be bubbling over with love listening to the more than 25 songs in Red Hot & Cole. The Cherry Creek Theatre’s regional premiere of the two-act revue runs through Feb. 19. Performances are Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Sunday shows also on Feb. 12 and 19, 7 p.m. The Theater’s new home is at the MACC on the JCC campus, 930 S. Dahlia. Information: 303-800-6578.
This is the shortest month of the year. The Welsh call February “y mis bach” which means “little month.” Those of us living in the Valley are still trapped in winter, but we can at least feel uplifted that spring will soon be here. Throughout the 28 days Buddy Holly’s melodic words assure us: “Our true love ways will bring us joy to share.”
The third week in February is International Flirting Week. If you believe Paul McCartney’s silly love songs, take to heart it’s also An Affair to Remember Month.
Elvis Presley’s tune “Can’t Help Falling In Love” is fair warning. So if it isn’t snowing and you’re spinning around you’re on love’s musical joyride. You’ll feel love’s chill whether it’s Mozart, Madonna, tango or techno. Actually, neither true love nor music make the world go around but it sure makes life’s high notes seem sweeter.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.