By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
As Valentine's Day looms, here's a roundup of romantic (and not) activities for the weekend through Feb. 16.
- Civic Amarillo's Broadway Spotlight Series continues with Cirque Eloize: Saloon, a high-flying, Western-themed musical and stage show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St. Tickets are $20 to $55, plus fees. Call 806-378-3096. Watch out for major construction on Buchanan Street in downtown Amarillo — either add travel time, or seek an alternate route.
- It's Only a Play: Amarillo Little Theatre skewers theater people in this comedy by Terrence McNally starring Jo Smith, Jacqueline Llewellyn, Jason Crespin, J.T. Sherrer, Don Washburn and others. The comedy continues at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16, 8 p.m. Feb. 17 and 18, and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle. Ticket prices vary, and here's my preview for more information. Call 806-355-9991.
- House and Garden: West Texas A&M University theater will pull double-duty for this diptych comedy by Alan Ayckbourn: Each location in the title is actually its own play, to be staged simultaneously with cast members going back and forth between WT's Branding Iron Theatre (Garden) and Happy State Bank Studio Theatre (House). You'll need to see both nights to get the full story, but each play is a complete offering in itself. Here's my preview. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 to 11 and 16 to 18, and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Tickets for each production are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and free for WT faculty, students and staff. Call 806-651-2804.
- Community Rocks Festival: An all-star lineup of Amarillo rock and country bands will come together for a benefit concert for Amarillo Housing First, a new nonprofit working with the homeless. The Community Rocks IV Festival kicks off with a pre-party at 7 p.m. Thursday at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant, 727 S. Polk St., then continues with two days of music Friday and Saturday at Tom & Jerry's Sports Bar and Grill, 715 S. Polk St. The lineup includes Colton Clarkson, Loudmouth Lisa, Hed Change and Lifeless 2 Life on Friday, and Clarkson, Lindi Willis, Richard Mittelstet, Jen Williams & The Potty Mouths, The Fwoops, Mustard, Danny Ruiz & Gypsy Renegade and Divided Me on Saturday. Thursday's party is free; a $10 ticket buys admission to both Friday and Saturday.
- Amarillo Escape and Mystery will host Death at the Improv, a 1920s-set murder-mystery dinner, at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Wolflin House, 11925 S. Western St. Cost is $40, including the game and meal. Call 806-414-2382.
- Amarillo Bulls: The Bulls will face the Wichita Falls Wildcats in a two-game stand at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum. Tickets are $13 to $23, or $9 for children. Call 806-242-1122. Those going to the Civic Center should watch out for major construction on Buchanan Street and should either seek an alternate route or leave earlier than normal.
- Original Team Roping: More fierce roping action is in store beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday in the Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave. Admission is free. Call 806-376-7767.
- The Evolution of Science Fiction: For the Amarillo Reads series, West Texas A&M University's Pat Tyrer will discuss Mary Shelley's work as the pioneer of the sci-fi genre at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Amarillo Public Library downtown branch, 413 S.E. Fourth Ave. Admission is free. Call 806-378-3051. As mentioned above, seek an alternate route because of the Buchanan Street construction.
- Amarillo Zoo will throw a kid-friendly Valentine's party with Kiss and Tail from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the zoo, 700 Comanchero Trail. The party will feature crafts, educational activities and encounters with the animals. Admission is $4 for ages 13 to 61, $3 for seniors and $2 for children ages 3 to 12. Call 806-381-7911.
- Amarillo Symphony Ball: It's probably too late to get your own ticket, so consider this a reminder if you already have. This year's ball, themed The Best of Times, will feature a catered dinner, live auction and music by Cuvee. Proceeds benefit the Symphony Guild. The ball begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the Civic Center Heritage Ballroom (see above for a warning about Buchanan Street traffic). Call 806-376-8782.
- Celebration of Excellence Benefit Gala: Randall King will headline the Education Foundation of Canyon Independent School District's gala dinner and fundraiser for educator and student leadership grants, new teacher startup funds and more. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at WT's Legacy Hall. Tickets are $50. Call 806-677-2605.
- Long Wooden Spoon Brewing will host a screening of the superhero comedy Deadpool at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the brewery, 4098 Business Park Drive. There's no cover charge, and drink specials will be offered, as will pizza for $5. Call 806-553-0397.
- Noblemotion Dance: Lone Star Ballet will host a performance by this Houston-based contemporary dance troupe, known for its athletic, cutting-edge performances. The troupe features former LSB, WT and Texas dancer Travis Prokop (seen in the photo above). Here's my interview with Prokop and preview of the show, which begins at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. Tickets are $10 to $40, plus fees. Call 806-372-2463 or 806-378-3096. And, as above, be advised of the Buchanan Street construction when heading downtown.
- Bar Z Winery will host a Sweethearts Wine & Dessert Bar at 8 p.m. Saturday at the winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541. The event will feature music by Mary Lyn Halley and Dean Yates of Insufficient Funds, desserts from The Ruffled Cup, and Bar Z's selection of wines. Cost is $25 each or $40 for couples. Call 806-488-2214.
- Kudos Art Studio will offer an all-inclusive paint-and-sip date night at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Taste Dessert Bar, 1909 S. Georgia St. The event includes painting materials and a 10 x 20 canvas for couples, plus thre dessert and wine pairings. Cost is $75 per copule. Call 806-654-6173.
- Go Red for Women luncheon: Comedian Kat Simmons is featured speaker for this year's luncheon for the Amarillo Heart Association, designed to call attention to women's heart disease and strokes. It's set for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom (watch out for that Buchanan Street construction). Cost is $75.
- A collection of Amarillo poets will team for the annual Anti-Valentine's Day Massacre performance at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at The 806, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. No sweet love sonnets here: The works are all sour on romance. Participating poets include Ray Wells, Stephanie Milam, Dalyn Spurgeon, Marcus Mirabel, Kacie Marvin, Chavonne Centell, Garett Cathey and Thomas Thompson. DJ Phantom Wanderer also will spin tunes. Admission is free. Call 806-322-1806.
- Heroes and Legends banquet: Baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. will speak and answer questions at this dinner and fundraiser for The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Civic Center Grand Plaza (watch out for construction, as noted above). Tickets are $150. Call 806-372-2873.
- Japanese Woodblock Prints and French Impressionism: Alex Gregory, Amarillo Museum of Art curator of art, will discuss how the Japanese prints inspired European Impressionist painters in connection with the museum's ongowing exhibition of Impressionist works in the Achievement in Art: The Collection of Montgomery H.W. Ritchie. The free lecture begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the museum, 2200 S. Van Buren St. Call 806-371-5050.
- Other ongoing exhibitions include Nacidos Charro: Born Charro at American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, 2601 E. Interstate 40 (here's my preview); The Great War and the Panhandle-Plains Region and A Picture from Home: Snapshots of the Great War on the Plains at PPHM (here's my preview); and Little Builders, Brain Teasers 2 and Strange Matter at Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive (here's my preview).
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
