CINCINNATI — Valentine's Day is complicated.
You either love it, loathe it or just try to ignore it depending on your relationship status.
With that in mind, here's a roundup of things to do with the one you love -- or things to do to avoid the holiday.
FOOD & DRINK PAIRINGS
Valentine's Day Prime Rib Buffet: 6-10 p.m. Friday. Mount Carmel Brewing Co., 4362 Mount Carmel Tobasco Road, Mount Carmel. $29.99 per guest. Enjoy an evening of savory eats with your sweetie at Mount Carmel. There will be wine by the bottle and craft cocktail drink features to pair with your meal, plus Mount Carmel's craft beer on tap. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Be Our Valentine! 13 Below Valentine's Day Party: 6-10 p.m. Friday. 13 Below Brewery, 7391 Forbes Road, Sayler Park. $25. Grab your valentine and celebrate with craft beer, food and music. Tickets include two beers and a "once-around buffet" that includes salad, smoked pork loin, chicken, pasta primavera, vegetables, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, spoonbread and cheesecake for dessert. Jon and Dana from the Trailer Park Floozies will provide the music. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Valentine's Day with Rich’s Proper Food & Drink: 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday. Rich's Proper Food & Drink, 701 Madison Ave., Covington. Rich's Proper is hosting a couples dinner featuring an appetizer, two entrees, a special dessert and a bottle of wine of your choice. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
VIP Valentine's Day Dinner Experience and Wine Pairing: 7-10 p.m. Friday. Coppin's at Hotel Covington, 638 Madison Ave., Covington. $175 per person. Show your valentine what real VIP treatment looks like during this special dinner event. The Coppin's executive chef and executive dessert chef have crafted a four-course dinner and wine pairing to serve in the restaurant's private Scheper Dining Room. There also will be live music to help set the mood. For a detailed breakdown of the dinner menu and to purchase tickets visit the event Facebook page.
Sweet Harmony: 8-11 p.m. Friday. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $35 per person. Take the love of your life to Rhinegeist for an exclusive event that pairs Rhinegeist beer with decadent desserts provided by A Spoon Fulla Sugar, McHale's Events and Catering, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Maribelle Cakery and Graeter's Ice Cream. The price of admission includes five beers, dessert tastings, a sample glass and valet parking. For more information and to purchase tickets visit the event Facebook page.
Valentine's Day Dinner: 5-9:30 p.m. Friday. Fifty West Brewpub, 7668 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township. Ages 21 and over. Treat that special someone (or yourself) to a unique dining experience. The brewpub is serving a specialized menu full of shareable, memorable dishes. Reservations are required. fiftywestbrew.com
Macaron Bar x LOCOBA Valentine's Day Pairing: 6-9 p.m. Friday. LOCOBA by Platform Beer Co., 1201 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. $23. Ages 21 and older. Platform Beer Co. is partnering with Macaron Bar for this sweet Valentine's Day pairing. The price to attend this event includes four five-ounce beers paired with four macarons. There are three timeslots for this event; 6-7 p.m., 7-8 p.m. or 8-9 p.m. www.eventbrite.com
DRINKS
Cocktails & Candlelight Valentine's Day: 4-11:30 p.m. Friday. Twenties Cincinnati, 2733 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills. Bring a little of that 1920s vibe to Valentine's Day with cocktails at Twenties. The bar is offering $4 glasses of house bubbles from 4-10 p.m., live music from Nick Tuttle starting at 9 p.m. and a special dessert cocktail menu paired with a complimentary truffle. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Drink Red, White, or Pink: 7 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday. Rosedale OTR, 208 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. Give your love a sweet treat at Rosedale. The bar is offering $3 six-ounce pours of its house cabernet sauvignon, pinot grigio or rosé all night. Those pours will be paired with a delicious cookie buffet provided by Donna's Gourmet Cookies. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Leather & Lace: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday. The Birdcage, 927 Race St., Downtown. Looking to do something a little different this Valentine's Day? Whether you're single or coupled, the Birdcage's Leather & Lace event could be just what you are looking for. The bar welcomes everyone to come dressed in their best leather to this event brought to you by Cincinnati Leather. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Valentine's Day at Urban Axes: 6-10 p.m. Friday. Urban Axes, 2010 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $45. Ages 21 and older. Love and axes are in the air. Add a little edge to your Valentine’s Day with this special events at Urban Axes. For $45 you and the one you love can spend an hour throwing axes while enjoying a glass of sparkling wine. You’ll be sharing a lane with up to four other ax-throwing romantics. urbanaxes.com
Valentine's Day Escape Room Event: 5-10 p.m. Friday. OTR Escape, 1112 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $89. Ages 21 and older. Teamwork makes the dream work. You and your valentine will need to combine your brains to puzzle your way out of this date night experience. The price of entry will get you both locked inside a private escape room furnished with four mini wine bottles and four chocolate-covered strawberries to enjoy as you plot your exit. www.otrescape.com
Loveapalooza - A Non-Traditional Valentine's Party for All: 7-10 p.m. Friday. Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine. $15. Ages 18 and older. Whether you're a blissful romantic or gleefully uncoupled, join the folks at the Know for fun, frivolity, flirtation, friendship and everything else you love about love (without all the other baggage). Your ticket includes entry to a raffle, plus access to a silent auction, light bites, drink specials, "speed-friending" and unscripted entertainment that puts the "Queen" back in Queen City. knowtheatre.vbotickets.com
SINGLES
Heartbreaker's Ball: 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday. Tin Roof, 160 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Whether you're a heartbreaker or you've had your heart broken, party with other fabulous singles at Tin Roof. DJ Kombat will start spinning at 9 p.m., followed by IMY2 at 10 p.m. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Axe Your Ex at Flying Axes: Noon-midnight Friday. Flying Axes, 100 W. Sixth St., Covington. $40. No valentine this year? Don’t let that keep you at home! Instead, get some friends together and head to Flying Axes with a picture of your ex to use as a target. Then let every bull's-eye fill your heart with joy. www.flyingaxes.com
Early Anti-Valentine's Show: 8-10 p.m. Friday. Main Event Speakeasy, 835 Main St., Downtown. Come out to Main Event if you are seeking shelter from Valentine's Day with hosts Jessica Dimon and the Cincinnati Sisters. This event promises an entertaining night of drag, basket raffles and absolutely no love songs. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Stupid Cupid 2020: 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday. The Stretch, 191 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Think Cupid is dumb? Then make your way to the Stretch for the bar's annual Stupid Cupid party. The evening will feature good drinks, Valentine's cards from bartenders and the chance to win a $20 gift card. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Valentine's at Longfellow: 4-11 p.m. Friday. Longfellow, 1233 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine. The reason Longfellow's Valentine's Day event is listed under "singles" is simple. Mike Stankovich compiles the best playlist for the brokenhearted each Valentine's Day in his bar. Drown your sorrows with $6 Pink Squirrels and Cosmopolitans and $7 bowls of housemade pasta. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Spread Love: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday. Oddfellows Liquor Bar, 2014 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. Whether you're in a committed relationship or single and ready to mingle, Oddfellows has Valentine's Day covered. The bar's second floor will feature performances by Kay Lyke and SmokeFace. The lower area will host an Ultraviolet party featuring Firecat 451, Ace Deuce, Kill Will, Think Savy and Vusive. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Speed Dating and Stoplight Party: 7-11:30 p.m. Friday. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. Limited participation. For those flying solo this Valentine's Day, why not sign up to take part in Queen City Radio's speed dating event sponsored by Pure Romance? The "dating" portion will consist of two rounds and 12 couples. There will be a spotlight party starting at 9 p.m. where everyone is welcome to mingle and have fun. To RSVP, go to speeddating2020.com
