Since Valentine’s Day falls on the Sunday of Presidents’ Day weekend this year, there is no better excuse to blow town for a romantic, exciting two- or three-day getaway from whatever it is you do all week. And fortunately for you, there is a multitude of options in and around Philadelphia.
In Atlantic City, The Borgata Hotel, Spa and Casino, 1 Borgata Way, is offering three weekend packages catering to couples and singles, with room packages (ranging from $399-$999 per night) and a series of specials featuring a holiday-themed spa menu and prix-fixe dining menus at its restaurants.
Valentine’s Day revelers can also take in some live music at the Borgata on that special day. If your tastes lean toward PBR and Jim Beam, you can catch Kid Rock at 8 p.m. at the Event Center. The champagne-and-roses crowd can take in out singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright at 8 p.m. at the Music Box. Night owls can either check out Staind singer Aaron Lewis for some post-grunge wallowing at 11 p.m. at the Music Box or get down with Rev. Run and DJ Ruckus for the Kid Rock after-party at Mixx.
If you feel like getting into town early, you can catch Jay Leno performing at the Event Center at 8 p.m. Feb. 13. Gee, whatever will he talk about?
For more information, visit www.theborgata.com.
Elsewhere in A.C., another resort is rolling out the love carpet. Wait, that sounds really bad …
HeartAC features a weekend of Valentine’s Day events in and around Harrah’s, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., all weekend. Buddy Guy and BB King will crank out the blues at 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at Caesar’s, 2100 Pacific Ave. Somehow, someone also saw fit to book Air Supply, who will perform at 9 p.m. Feb. 14 at Bally’s, 1900 Pacific Ave. Back at the resort, there’s Rock ’n’ Roll Wine Tastings at 8 p.m. Feb. 13 and an exclusive chocolate tasting Feb. 13 and 14 with Jacques Torres. For something a little — hopefully a lot — more naughty, the Girls of X-Burlesque host “Champagne & Lingerie” at 10 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Foundation Room.
Also, nothing screams romance like a nostalgic romp through the mid-1990s with an R&B-group. This V-day weekend, the bumping and grinding is courtesy of Dru Hill at 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at the House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk.
For more information, call (609) 236-2583.
If you and your significant other really want to make things official, the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority will host its third-annual group wedding, vow renewal and civil-union ceremony at 4 p.m. Feb. 14 in Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk. The event will include a champagne toast, wedding cake and photo opportunities. Jean Muchanic, executive director of the Absecon Lighthouse and wedding officiate, will perform the nondenominational ceremony. Couples must pre-register for the event through the authority’s Web site at www.atlanticcitynj.com/group_tours/atlantic_city_group_wedding.aspx by Feb. 11. For additional details, e-mail [email protected] or call (609) 449-7126.
Winter-sports enthusiasts might want to check out The Big Chill, a gay party and ski weekend, Feb. 12-14 at The Woodlands Inn and Resort, 1073 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre. The package includes round-trip bus transportation from Philadelphia, free ski rentals, discounted lift tickets, free breakfast and dinner buffets and entertainment by DJs Escape, Corey Craig, Zathan Radix and Jackie Beat. There’s also a casino, shopping, horseback riding and the largest jacuzzi in the Poconos, for those of you who don’t want to risk life and limb doing daredevil feats of sportsmanship on the slopes.
For more information, visit www.twistedlife.com.
Drag fans can also head for the mountains on Valentine’s Day as Rainbow Mountain Resort, 210 Mt. Nebo Road, East Stroudsburg, hosts a screening of the new documentary about the New York drag scene, “Charmed Life,” at 9:30 p.m. Feb. 12 and a performance by Sweetie, one of the film’s featured artists, at 9 p.m. Feb. 13.
For more information, visit www.rainbowmountain.com.
For something completely different, The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia hosts special candlelight walking tours, with tales of love, loss and betrayal about famous scoundrels and socialites from Philadelphia’s past, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12-14. Hopefully your significant other is the type to clutch your arm when frightened.
The spooky tours will depart from 10th and Spruce streets, outside Varga Bar, and will end at Second and Walnut, outside City Tavern. Along the way, you’ll be regaled with ghost stories about love and its discontents, including the heartbreaking legend of the female apparition at Pennsylvania Hospital, the saga of betrayal that tethers a spirit to the Powel House and reports of the ghost of our city’s most infamous Casanova.
Is it too much to hope for visits from the ghost of gay bars past?
Information and tickets for the Valentine’s Ghost Tour of Philadelphia are available at www.ghosttour.com or by calling (215) 413-1997.
Larry Nichols can be reached at [email protected].