Here’s How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Westchester

Westchester residents can set the perfect mood for Valentine’s Day with a romantic afternoon at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah on February 12. Guests will experience a program of classical music performed by the Ivalas Quartet in the Center’s Music Room. The room’s Renaissance furniture, Gothic tapestries and stained glass elements make it a venue well-suited for an intimate afternoon concert.

Those who live near Cross River can mark their calendars for Love Struck on February 10, a collaboration between This & That Vintage and Yellow Studio. This “evening of celebrating love through music” at Yellow Monkey Collective includes a cocktail hour with acoustic ensemble Reservoir Road followed by an intimate live music experience.

For couples who fancy film, a date night at the Jacob Burns Film Center is just the ticket.
On February 14, the Center will screen the Hollywood classic Roman Holiday – featuring Audrey Hepburn as the globe-trotting Princess Anne finding herself in Rome with the unexpected company of a news reporter played by Gregory Peck. The Rome-centric film will be paired with the literal taste of Italy with complimentary gelato from local ice creamery Penny Lick.

Romantic gifts don’t go unnoticed when they are sent with love and the vocal stylings of the Westchester Chordsmen. A Chordsmen quartet delivers “I love yous” to any lucky recipients. Two love songs in four-part harmony will be delivered with a red rose on Valentine’s Day. The group offers three options: an in-person singing valentine or two digital videograms. And, they also sing in Spanish!

Meanwhile, a musicgram can support Songcatchers, a New Rochelle nonprofit that provides affordable access to music education. For a $14 donation, Songcatchers will send a customized note along with a video of its youth choir singing one of four popular love songs: Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis, Count On Me by Bruno Mars, All Of Me by John Legend, or L-O-V-E as sung by Michael Bublé.

To be surrounded by both art and music, Mount Kisco’s Life Energy Art Gallery will present “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” on February 11. This event will feature Peter Muir and Susan Diamond, who will perform a celebration of classic American love songs, from Fats Waller to George Gershwin.

Parents who plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their little ones can plan a playful visit to the Westchester Children’s Museum in Rye on February 18, where children can enjoy love-filled activities such as creating love note leaves, Polaroid family portraits and heart-shaped paper chains. There’s also a love-themed story time.

Additionally, creative teens aged 12-16 can consider a hands-on Valentine workshop on February 14. During the workshop, which is part of ArtsWestchester’s Teen Tuesdays event, artist Erin Carney will lead participants in creating original artworks for themselves or for a loved one in ArtsWestchester’s White Plains gallery.

About ArtsWestchester

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.