With Valentine’s Day just three days away, some last-minute lovebirds may still be searching for the perfect event to attend with their partner. Here are some options in town for shows to attend on the big night.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
Although Pigeons Playing Ping Pong does not have a set list planned yet, drummer Alex Petropulos said the high energy, psychedelic funk band is ready to bring a full night of entertainment to the Bluebird Nightclub.
In the past, the band has performed themed nights for different holidays. One year for New Year’s Eve, the band named the show “New Year’s Steve” and played songs created by people with the name Steve, such as Steven Tyler or Stevie Nicks.
Petropulos said the band has never done a Valentine’s theme, but it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see at least a few songs relating to the holiday in its set Friday.
Petropulos said regardless of whether people have other Valentine’s plans they should still try to make it out to its “funk-filled” night.
“We’re gonna make sure it’s a long marathon of a party,” Petropulos said. “Even if you have to go to something else, come to Pigeons after because I am sure that we’ll still be playing.”
The doors for the performance open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $17 online and $20 at the door.
Daesy Chain
The Bloomington-based, six-piece band Daesy Chain will perform at 9 p.m. at the Bishop Bar.
In addition to playing a few songs from an upcoming album, set to release at a yet-to-be-determined date, this performance will include the premiere of its new music video for its single “Say to Me.” Lead singer and songwriter Biz Strother said that she specifically arranged for the event to be on Valentine’s Day because of the romantic nature of the song.
“I wanted to have a show to release it and, honestly, just to celebrate it,” Strother said. “It seemed like the perfect thing to release on Valentine’s Day.”
Strother said that people should attend the show to listen to the band's distinct style of avant-pop and to see what kind of work is possible through local collaboration in Indiana.
“We were able to come together and put all of our resources together and make this amazing piece,” Strothers said. “I think we made a really wonderful piece of art.”
Tickets to this show are $7.
Nicole Byer
Stand-up comedian Nicole Byer will perform Valentine’s weekend, Feb. 14–16, at the Comedy Attic. The Valentine’s Day performance is at 8 p.m. and Feb. 15 and 16. Byer will perform at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Named as a Time Out LA comic to watch in 2015, Byers has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Elle and Ebony. She is known for her appearances in MTV’s “Girl Code” and the Netflix baking show “Nailed It!”
Nicole performed at the Comedy Attic in August 2017. Comedy Attic owner Jared Thompson said that when she last appeared in Bloomington he could tell she would soon become a big name in comedy.
“She didn’t seem to be a replica of anything else,” Thompson said. “It felt like she could really blow up, and I think she has.”
Tickets to Byer's Bloomington shows are sold out.
Cupid’s Romantic Photo Booth
Open the week leading up to and during Feb. 14, Artisan Alley has set up a romantic photo booth for people to visit and take photos in front of.
The photo booth has a wrought iron love seat set in front of a sheer black curtain backdrop with purple, pink and red paper hearts layered on top and white twinkling lights behind.
Leading up to Valentine’s Day, attendees can take photos using a personal camera and on Feb. 14, a professional photographer will be present. People who have their picture taken by the photographer will receive their photo over email a few days after the event. Attendees are still welcome to use their personal device to snap a few photos in addition to the professional shots.
This event is free, but donations to Artisan Alley will be accepted.
Showing of “Casablanca"
The 1942 film “Casablanca” will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
This American romantic drama film set in Casablanca, Morocco, tells the story of a nightclub owner who attempts to protect a previous love interest and her husband who are being chased by Nazis.
The movie has a PG rating, and the run time is one hour and 42 minutes.
The theater chose “Casablanca” as this year’s classic film for Valentine’s Day because of its broad appeal and the high attendance rate at its last showing in 2014 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, associate director Rebecca Stanze said.
“It doesn’t get any more classic than ‘Casablanca’,” Stanze said. “It was time to bring it back because it was so popular.”
Tickets to this event are $7.
