Celebrate love this weekend

Love makes the rock go ’round.

And this weekend provides many opportunities to celebrate love of mates, love of children, love of pets, love of friends, love of the arts, love of nature and even unabashed love of self!

Many local restaurants have specials for Valentine’s Day, you can find them at the Chamber e-blast on the newly-updated Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce website.

Friday, February 13
The Orcas Artworks, in the historic Strawberry Plant out at Olga, reopens for the 2009 season. During the months of February and March, the Artworks features new oil paintings by Bill Trogden, who lives in the Doe Bay Shorewood Community on Orcas Island. The Artworks is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
For more information call 376-4588 or 376-4908.

At the Seaview Theater, Defiance, a World War II drama about four brothers who fled to the forest and saved 1,200 Jews from extermination, plays. Rated R, Friday through Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Also on Friday,  Feb. 13, the closing act of Kids Fest comes to the Orcas Center stage at 6:30 p.m. Michael Cooper will appear in “Masked Marvels and Wondertales,” a one-man extravaganza. Cooper will present his breathtaking handcrafted masks and original stories of courage and wonder. Cost: $8 children, $12 adults. 376-2281 or Orcas Center website.

The Deer Harbor community will host a Valentine’s potluck, beginning at 6:30 p.m.  For more information call 376-5404.

And the Dragonflies are at it again, dancing at the Odd Fellows Hall from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $5 before 9:30 p.m. and $10 after. For more information call 376-5640.

Valentine’s Day, February 14
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. a bake sale benefiting the Montessori Preschool will be held outside Island Market. For more information call 376-2434.

“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” at the Writers Roundtable from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Library, led by Judith Miller.

Although (or perhaps because) it is among the most profound of human experiences, love presents a particular challenge to writers. It is both universal and intensely particular. As writers, how can we convey love in all of its glorious, bewildering, agonizing variety without falling prey to sentimentality or cynicism? How can we say something new about it, something true?

With these questions as a starting point, we will gather around our (metaphorically) round table to talk, write, and read together as the spirit moves us. All our welcome.

The Olga Community will host a February potluck dinner at the Olga Energetic Club. Social time is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; dinner will be served at 6:30, followed by Bill Buchan speaking on “Weather Influences Affecting the Pacific Northwest.”

Saturday night, Feb. 14, the Orcas Center brings Shelly Berg to sing with Orcas Islander and jazz great Lorraine Feather, whose most recent CD “Language” was praised on “All About Jazz” as follows:

“Feather’s lyric pen demonstrates an uncanny eye for the eccentricities and Looney Tune-acies of post-modern Life.”

Pianist Shelly Berg is praised along with Feather:

“Feather’s ability to deliver a balladic lyric with emotion shines so beautifully on pianist Shelly Berg’s sentimental “I Love New York At Christmas.” This beautiful, romantic effort is something we’re likely to hear for years to come. Feather’s vocal chops are right there, too. Check out the last octave. Sweetness. And, Berg’s sensitive touch will move you throughout.”

Proceeds from the concert, which begins at 7:30 on the Orcas Center mainstage, is dedicated to the Animal Protection Society, and ticketholders are encouraged to bring dry dog and cat food to donate to APS.
Tickets: $24, $16 (Orcas Center members), $10 (students). 376-2281 or www.OrcasCenter.org

Over at the Odd Fellows Hall, a contradance and community potluck will be in full swing. This is a family-friendly event. The potluck begins at 5:30 p.m.

The band “Rosin In The Aire” includes local, semi-local, formerly-local and off-island musicians. Profits will be donated to DVSAS. There will be a caller to guide people through the dance steps. Beginners welcome!