C R Y D E R P O I N T 14 FEBRUARY OOuutt & A Abboouutt By Jill Davis Many people–mostly cynics, I would imagine–consider Valentine’s Day to be one of those commercial, made-up holidays. And perhaps it has become an opportunity for fl orists to triple the price of roses one day each year, but the origins of Valentine’s Day actually go back to ancient times, when people paid honor to the Roman God of Fertility. This was known as the Feast of Lupercalia, and was celebrated even then on February 14th. The holiday got its current name from St. Valentine, who was imprisoned for performing Christian marriages. While in prison, he befriended the jailer’s daughter and continued to preach Christianity from his jail cell. When the emperor Claudius found out, St. Valentine was executed. In his last letter to the jailer’s daughter before his execution, he signed it «From your Valentine.» Aww. Here is a noteworthy statistic: In the United States, it is estimated that 64% of men do not make plans in advance for a romantic Valentine’s Day with their sweethearts.This might explain why February 15 has become known as Singles Awareness Day. Let that be a warning to you, gentlemen! Once – The National Tour Saturday, February 11, 8 pm Tilles Center 720 Northern Blvd., Greenvale 516.299.3194 Tillescenter.org This is probably one of those Broadway shows that you may not even remember, but Once won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including Best Musical. It also won a Grammy in 2013 for Best Musical Theater Album, so this is not an insignifi cant show. Once tells the romantic tale of a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. Tickets are $34 to $84. Valentine’s Day Dining Out Tuesday, February 14 Several nearby restaurants are taking reservations for Valentine’s Day, including Liola and Villagio in Whitestone and Donovan’s in Bayside. Bourbon Street on Bell Blvd. will feature a live jazz band from 6pm-9pm, and Marbella on Northern Blvd. will offer a choice of an a la carte menu in in their main dining room with a harpist or a prix fi xe buffet in their ballroom with a DJ and dancing ($70 per person). Lewis Black: The Rant, White & Blue Tour Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18, 8pm NYCB Theatre at Westbury 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury 516-334-0800 Thetheatreatwestbury.com For those of you with a touch of high blood pressure, Lewis Black will either send you running to the doctor for a recheck or calm your nerves as you live vicariously through his ranting and raving (hence the name of his new tour). 14 CRYDER POINT COURIER | FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.QUEENSCOURIER.COM He is probably best known to viewers of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” for his long-running “Back in Black” segments. Lewis’bio says that he was “colicky as a baby, and so he was destined to be angry and easily irritated,” which pretty much explains everything. Tickets start at $45. Tel: 516.334.080the La Traviata Sunday, February 26, 3pm Queensborough Performing Arts Center 222-05 56th Avenue, Bayside 718- 631-6311 http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/qpac Did you know that the Queensborough Performing Arts Center has been voted best theater arts center in Queens in Best of the Boro? Now this terrific space hosts one of the world’s mostpopular operas, which will be performed in Italian with English Supertitles. La Traviata, composed by Giuseppe Verdi, tells the true story of a scandalous love affair (gasp!) between a famed Parisian courtesan (Violetta) and a na?ve nobleman (Alfredo). Spoiler alert: Violetta is forced to abandon Alfredo to save his family’s honor.What a bummer. Tickets range from $35 to $42. Annie Sunday, February 26, 3 pm Tilles Center 720 Northern Blvd., Greenvale 516-299-3100 tillescenter.org Not into heavy-duty opera? Here’s a chance to introduce the kids in your life to live theater. This classic musical comes to Tilles Center for one performance only, and it’s a matinee which is great since Monday’s a school day. Bet your bottom dollar everyone will have a great time. Tickets range $33 to $83. Irish Cultural Day Sunday, March 5, 1pm-5pm St. Mel’s Church 26th Ave & 154th Street, Whitestone 718-756-3837 Erin Go Bragh! The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians are celebrating their 75th anniversary with a day fi lled with all things Irish, including music, gifts, jewelry and handcrafts. The $8 donation includes coffee, tea, cake and, of course, Irish soda bread.
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