Weekend builds up to Valentine’s Day
In 1992, Vanessa Williams – the singer, actress and former Miss America – landed her biggest hit record, “Save the Best for Last.”
Those words apply this weekend, with Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday. So the runway into that tunnel of love this year is even wider to warm up with more opportunities to take an arrow from Cupid for a special loved one.
The Waffle House chain, based in Norcross, Ga., will cook up its own “Love Story” and light candles for special Valentine’s Day dinners by reservation at almost 150 locations nationwide. Those sites include 41 across the Carolinas, with one spot on the Grand Strand through the weekend: 3693 U.S. 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet, at Bellamy Avenue/S.C. 707.
J.P. Hadyk, the company division manager overseeing the 11 Waffle House sites across the Grand Strand, said reservations are available for the participating outlet, 5-9 p.m. Sunday. He also said Waffle House has had this Valentine’s event for at least the seven years since he joined the company, and it has been promoted “in house,” but word has gotten out “all over the Internet.”
Anyone with appetites for other expressions of love has a whole menu from which to choose, with concerts, dances, comedy nights out, themed outings at two aquariums, and a pair of events centered on the treat made from roasted ground cacao beans, including “Chocolate & Champagne,” a benefit 5-9 p.m. Saturday at The Cooper House in Socastee for SC-CARES (S.C. Coastal Animal Rescue and Educational Sanctuary), near Georgetown.
The Stardusters big band will flex its valves for its first gig of the year, its annual Valentine’s dance, 7-10 p.m. Friday in North Myrtle Beach’s J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, 1030 Possum Trot Road.
Clayton Arnott, a tenor saxophonist, said the group closed 2015 with a New Year’s Eve concert at the Brightwater community for assisted living, and he expressed the band’s verve for the Valentine’s date to kick off its new year.
“Members of the band look forward to this gig,” Arnott said, “because it is both a listening and dancing event, with the emphasis on dancing. A crowded dance floor always provides a bit of inspiration to the musicians. Locals and snowbirds also enjoy this performance because it gives them an opportunity to return to the music of yesteryear.”
Diane DeVaughn Stokes and husband Chuck Stokes will pair up on stage again, this time in “Love Letters,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Main Street Theatre, 335 Main St., Conway, to help Theatre of the Republic raise funds for new curtains.
“Love Letters’ has been done by lots of dynamic duos,” Diane Stokes said, underscoring a “passion” for theater, “but now we’re proud to be among them.”
Diane Stokes – host of the “Inside Out” monthly TV show on HTC channel 4, and “Diane at Six,” simulcast 6-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays on WEZV-FM 105.9 and WGTN-FM 100.7 –
said the plot follows “two friends who have known each other since they were very young, and the ‘Love Letters’ to each other that got them through life, encouraging each other every stop of the way.”
“It’s very funny at times,” she said, “and sad, too, but it’s a friendship that’s simply golden.”
Stokes credited Tim McGhee, Theatre of the Republic’s executive/artistic director, for his request for the pair to perform this, because “he knew we had the magic formula of love and passion for each other to make this believable.”
Contact STEVE PALISIN at 843-444-1764.
If you go
MEALS, SIPS AND SWEETS
‘Lunch of Love’
BENEFITING: Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach (843-249-4948 or www.humanesocietynmb.org)
WHEN: Noon-3 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Mellow Mushroom, 1101 U.S. 17 N., North Myrtle Beach.
HOW MUCH: $10
MEAL CHOICES: Including soft drink – Slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza, with salad; or half-hoagie with turkey or ham, and chips.
INFORMATION: 843-273-0595
Annual ‘Valentine’s Eve’ Dinner
WHEN: 4-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday
WHERE: Simply Southern Smokehouse, 1913 Mr. Joe White Ave. (formerly 10th Avenue North), Myrtle Beach., between Seaboard Street and Robert Grissom Parkway.
HOW MUCH: $12 buffet, with beverage, including tax.
RESERVATIONS: 843-839-1913
INFORMATION: www.simplysouthernsmokehouse.com
‘Valentine Saturday Bonfire’
WHEN: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
WITH: Music 12:15-4:15 p.m. by Creampuffs & Bourbon (Cyndi & John), and vineyard tour 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: La Belle Amie Vineyard, 1120 St. Joseph Road, Little River, just west of North Myrtle Beach Middle School.
HOW MUCH: $3, or free with donation of two canned or dry food items – canned meats, canned fruit in light syrup, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, dried milk in individual packages, and spaghetti sauce and noodles – to help North Strand Helping Hand (northstrandhelpinghand.org/donate-2/)
INFORMATION: 843-399-9463 or www.labelleamie.com
‘Wine & Chocolate Pairing’
WHEN: 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
WHERE: Silver Coast Winery, at winery at 6680 Barbeque Road, Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., and tasting room, 105 S. Howe St., Southport, N.C.
HOW MUCH: $15 per person.
INFORMATION: 910-287-2800 or www.silvercoastwinery.com
BENEFITING: SC-CARES (S.C. Coastal Animal Rescue and Educational Sanctuary), based at 236 Abbeville Drive, off U.S. 701, north of Georgetown.
WHEN: 5-9 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: The Cooper House, 6011 Dick Pond Road, Socastee
HOW MUCH: $30 single or $50 couple.
INFORMATION: 843-546-7893 or www.sc-cares.org
Waffle House Valentine’s Day Dinner
WHAT: Candlelit dinner by reservation, with regular choices off menu
WHEN: 5-9 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: 3693 U.S. 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet, at Sunnyside Avenue/S.C. 707.
INFORMATION: 843-357-2010 and www.wafflehouse.com/valentine
Seventh annual ‘Princess Gala’
FOR: Young children in costume, accompanied by adult.
BENEFITING: American Red Cross Eastern S.C. Chapter, Myrtle Beach.
WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-noon March 5
WHERE: The Market Common in Myrtle Beach.
WHAT: Starting with breakfast with storybook princesses and fairy godmothers at Travinia Italian Kitchen, then parade led by Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament knights and squires through shopping complex to Grand 14 Cinema red carpet for photos, snacks, goody bag, and movie.
HOW MUCH: $30 per person, outside of tips for breakfast servers.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: princessgala.net
DINNER DANCES
‘Valentine Sweetheart Cruise’
WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Barefoot Princess Riverboat on Intracoastal Waterway, from Barefoot Landing Marina, on U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach.
HOW MUCH: $49.50, including dinner, live entertainment, and dancing.
ALSO: “Snowbird special” sightseeing cruise, 12:30-2 p.m. Feb. 23, for $15.
INFORMATION: 843-272-2140, 843-272-6796 or mbriverboat.com
Annual Valentine’s Day big-band dance
BY: The Stardusters
WHEN: 7-10 p.m. Friday
WHERE: North Myrtle Beach’s J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, 1030 Possum Trot Road.
HOW MUCH: $5, at door, including nonalcoholic beverages and chips.
INFORMATION: 843-215-3377
Third annual Valentine’s Dinner & Dance
BENEFITING: Scents for Soldiers, going toward funding to host wounded service personnel for a Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach.
WITH: Music from DJ Turk
WHEN: 6-10 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Myrtle Beach Moose Lodge, 479 Burcale Road, near Forestbrook community, just west of Myrtle Beach
HOW MUCH: Reasonable donations welcome
INFORMATION: 843-458-5873, 240-342-0074 or www.facebook.com/scentsforsoldiers
CONCERTS/SHOWS
‘My Funny Valentine’
WHO: Carolina Master Chorale
WITH: Love songs from Broadway and Motown
WHEN AND WHERE:
▪ 7:30 p.m. Friday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2061 Glenns Bay Road, just west of Surfside Beach.
▪ 4 p.m. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 706 14th Ave. S., North Myrtle Beach.
▪ 4 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Church, 3000 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach.
HOW MUCH: Each $20 adults, $15 veterans and seniors, and $5 students through age 22 – and always free for ages 12 and younger with paying adult.
ALSO:
▪ See Chorale accompany the Long Bay Symphony in “Bravo Broadway,” eighth annual benefit for Rotary Club of Myrtle Beach, with special guests Melissa Errico, Capathia Jenkins and Hugh Panaro, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Myrtle Beach High School, on Robert Grissom Parkway, between 29th and 38th avenues North. Tickets are $40, $45 or $50 – buy these at 843-448-8379 or longbaysymphony.com.
▪ “A Taste of Passion,” including wine, vocal performances, and auctions with WPDE-TV 15’s Ed Piotrowski, 4:30-6:30 p.m. March 5 at Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum in Myrtle Beach. $40 individual or $75 couple – order at 843-444-5774.
INFORMATION: 843-444-5774 or www.carolinamasterchorale.com
‘Date Night’ deal at Legends in Concert
WITH: Kickoff of new year of tribute shows, with this lineup through May 21: Elvis Presley (portrayed by Jay Dupuis), the Blues Brothers (Dan Meisner as Jake, and Russ Peterson as Elwood), George Strait (Larry Turner), Barry White (Jourdan Carroll), and Charleston native Taylor Swift (Elizabeth Scarborough), outside of March 10-22, when Dolly Patron (Karen Hester) will substitute.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday
WHERE: Legends in Concert, 925 Hollywood Drive, Myrtle Beach, at U.S. 17 Bypass and 29th Avenue North, across from Broadway at the Beach.
HOW MUCH: $80 per couple in VIP seats – Ask for code “PBV.”
ALSO: Regular prices per individual, also with this show schedule as of Feb. 15 – 8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Tuesdays – $38.95 or $43.95 for ages 17 and older, and $13.95 or $18.95 ages 3-16; and booth $49.95 and $24.95, respectively per age group; and VIP $46.95 for all.
INFORMATION: 843-238-7827, 800-960-7469 or www.legendsinconcert.com/myrtle-beach
‘Valentines for Valentine’s’
BY: Murrells Inlet Community Theatre
WITH: Jim Rogers sharing free verse and scattered narratives, with other colleagues joining him in peformance.
WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Murrells Inlet Community Center, 4462 Murrells Inlet Road, south of Bellamy Avenue and U.S. Post Office.
INFORMATION: 843-651-4152 or www.mictheatre.com
‘Love is in the Stars’
WITH: Will Snyder, discussing love stories immortalized in constellations.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Ingram Planetarium, 7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach, N.C., which opens at 11:30 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays through May 21, with Sky Theater dome shows starting at noon.
HOW MUCH: $9 ages 13-61, $8 ages 62 and older, $7 ages 3-12, and free ages 2 and younger.
INFORMATION: 910-575-0033 or www.museumplanetarium.org
‘Love Letters’
WITH: Diane DeVaughn Stokes and husband Chuck Stokes
BENEFITING: Effort to raise funds to buy new curtains for Theatre of the Republic.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Main Street Theatre, 335 Main St., Conway
HOW MUCH: $18
ALSO: Theatre of the Republic, continuing its 46th season, next with “Urinetown,” opening Feb. 17, with shows 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m Sundays through Feb. 28, for $23.
INFORMATION: 843-488-0821 or www.theatreoftherepublic.com
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
WHERE: 2904 Fantasy Way, close to U.S. 501 and George Bishop Parkway, just west of Myrtle Beach and the Intracoastal Waterway.
WHAT: Couple’s package, through Monday.
HOW MUCH: $110, with code “VDAYWEB16”
INCLUDES: Two admissions, couple’s photo, cheering flags, a light-up rose and two logo glasses with champagne (or nonalcoholic beverage for ages 21 and younger).
SHOW TIMES THIS WEEKEND: 6 p.m. Friday, 5 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday-Monday.
OTHER SPECIAL OFFERS: Available at www.medievaltimes.com/myrtlebeach.aspx
REGULAR PRICES: $53.95 ages 13 and older, $26.95 ages 3-12, and free children ages 2 and younger on a parent’s lap.
INFORMATION: 843-236-4635 or 800-436-4386
COMEDY
Carolina Improv Company
WHAT AND WHEN: 7:30 p.m., for adults –
▪ “Cupid’s Comedy Capers,” Friday, in short-form improv.
▪ “Get Your Heart On,” Saturday, in long-form show with enage-A-Prov players Gina Trimarco, Petra Sander and Alan Walsh.
WHERE: Uptown Theater, by Bass Pro Shops in Myrtle Beach Mall, at U.S. 17 and S.C. 22, near Briarcliffe Acres.
HOW MUCH: Each $13.75 advance online, or $15 at door
ALSO: All 7:30 p.m. and mostly adult shows, at aforementioned rates. –
▪ “Whose Night Out Is It Anyway?” Feb. 19 and 26, and March 4.
▪ “Whose Beach Is It Anyway,” for families, Saturdays from Feb. 20 through March, for $15 ages 12 and older, and $13 ages 4-11.
INFORMATION: 843-272-4242 or www.carolinaimprov.com
Comedy Cabana
WHERE: 9588 N. Kings Highway, just north of Myrtle Beach
WHAT AND WHO: “Valentine’s“Love & Laughter” show, with Jim Dailakis, and Cooter Douglas opening.
WHEN: 8 and 10:15 p.m. Sunday
HOW MUCH: $20 or $22, with package including chocolates, and for each woman, a long-stemmed rose.
ALSO: See Dailakis this weekend, with David Toby and Cooter Douglas opening, 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 10:15 p.m. Friday-Saturday, for $15 or $17.50.
INFORMATION: 843-449-4242 or comedycabana.com
Carolina Comedy Club
WHERE: Broadway at the Beach’s Celebrity Square, off 29th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach
WHAT AND WHO: Valentine’s show with Cliff Cash
WHEN: 7 and 9:15 p.m. Sunday
HOW MUCH: $25 individual; or $49.99 couple’s package, which includes includes free dessert and rose.
ALSO: Saints and Sinners Comedy Tour, with Matthew Lumpkin and Patrick Jolle, 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, and 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday
INFORMATION: 843-839-2565 or www.carolinacomedyclub.com
AQUARIUM EVENTS
Annual ‘Hugs and Fishes Valentine’s Lock-In’ sleepover
FOR: Ages 5-12
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday
WHERE: N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, on U.S. 421, just south of Kure Beach, N.C.
HOW MUCH: $55 per night, with preregistration required at 910-772-0500.
AQUARIUM OPEN: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, for admission of $10.95 ages 13-61, $9.95 seniors and military, $8.95 ages 3-12, and free ages 2 and younger.
INFORMATION: 910-458-7468 or www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher
Third annual ‘Splash of Love’ Valentine’s dinner
WHEN: 7-9:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
WHERE: Ripley’s Aquarium, at Broadway at the Beach, on 29th Avenue North, between U.S. 17 Bypass and Robert M. Grissom Parkway in Myrtle Beach.
HOW MUCH: Plus tax, $79.99 per couple, including aquarium admission, four-course dinner and one long-stem rose, and for $10 upgrade, dine in the sharks’ Dangerous Reef “Tunnel of Love” – Reservations required at 843-916-0888 or 800-734-8888, ext. 3272.
AQUARIUM OPEN: 9 a.m. daily – Advance tickets at www.ripleysaquarium.com are $22.99 ages 12 and older, $14.99 ages 6-11, and $7.99 ages 2-5, and free ages 1 and younger.
INFORMATION: www.ripleysaquarium.com
This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Weekend builds up to Valentine’s Day."