Ghost

This cozy pub, loved by locals, is a true community favourite! The food is hearty, comforting, and always made fresh 👨🏽‍🍳 It’s a welcoming spot where people come together, share laughs, and enjoy great company 😃 Newcomers quickly feel at home and often leave with new friends! ⭐️⭐️ When you arrive, just check in with me or the staff and we’ll get you set up with seating and service 🍺🍽🥃 ⭐️⭐️ See you at The Irish Rose🎤

**Important:** **RSVP’ing on Meetup does not reserve your spot.** **To join this experience, you must sign up at [app.cinders.dating](https://app.cinders.dating/eventDetails?eventRef=gFc9uzrAdjG27m0xhW9J&utmSource=Meetup) and complete your profile. Only confirmed guests will receive the exact location and details.** **Update:** **This experience is sold out for women! Only a few spots remaining for men. Request your invite on [app.cinders.dating](https://app.cinders.dating/eventDetails?eventRef=gFc9uzrAdjG27m0xhW9J&utmSource=Meetup).** **Single this Valentine’s weekend?** Join Cinders and meet your matches over a cozy dinner. End the night with drinks at a nearby hidden bar with other Cinders singles! This experience is designed for singles in their **20s to 30s**. **What to Expect** 🍽 Dinner in an intimate group of 6-8 singles (balanced mix of men and women) in your age range curated through the Cinders app. 🍸 After dinner, your group heads to a nearby hidden bar where you'll meet up with a group of other Cinders singles for some drinks and a lively Friday-night scene. ✨ An intimate dinner that turns into a fun social night with a curated group of singles. The perfect way to start your Valentine’s weekend! **Experience Details** 📍 Downtown (exact location will be revealed to confirmed guest before the event) 📅 February 13 at 6:45pm 🎟️ $15 registration fee **[Sign up here](https://app.cinders.dating/eventDetails?eventRef=gFc9uzrAdjG27m0xhW9J&utmSource=Meetup)** **[Cinders](https://cinders.dating/?utmSource=meetup) is a social app that brings singles together through curated IRL social experiences.** Our app learns your preferences and who and what you're into, then matches you into IRL experiences with people you might like. We're all about fun, social connection, and friendships, and who knows.. maybe it turns into something more! **To join this event, you must sign up at [cinders.dating](https://app.cinders.dating/eventDetails?eventRef=gFc9uzrAdjG27m0xhW9J&utmSource=Meetup) and complete your profile. Only confirmed guests will receive the location and details.**

*Unwind, get creative, and connect with cool people.* Looking for a calm space to do some art, have meaningful (or silly) convos, and meet new friends in the city? This is your spot. I’ll be bringing **colouring pages and markers** for anyone who just wants to show up and relax. You're also totally welcome to bring whatever creative activity helps *you* unwind — think **sketchpads, mini canvases and paint, journals, clay sculpting, wire bending, model building kits, and collage supplies**. We’ll hang out, make art, and enjoy chill conversations in a cozy, no-pressure environment. No experience or talent required — just bring yourself and whatever helps you feel creative and calm. **✦ What to Bring (optional):** * Any relaxing art or activity you enjoy **✦ I’ll provide:** * Colouring pages, markers, and good vibes **Where to Meet (MADO Cafe at the Food Hall inside The Well):** * The easiest way to get to the venue is to make your way to La Plume restaurant or The Dorset restaurant and turn towards the statue then take the stairs to the lower level. * Shoppers will be on the right and across from Shoppers will be an entrance to The Well's food court. * Make a left and you should see the long tables and MADO cafe. * **We'll meet at the long tables in front of MADO Cafe** Come solo or bring a friend — this is all about slowing down, making connections, and enjoying a creative evening together ✨

\*˚౨**⛸️**Come join us for a night of live music & skating celebrating Winter Olympics 🏒 ৎ˚ All levels are welcome! 🚇Closest **TTC** Station: **College** **⛸️** **\*Free skate rentals available!\*** 📢 Post a comment if you have trouble finding the group. ❗If you can no longer attend, please kindly change your RSVP to Not Going. Thank you. See you there! 🫶 🩷 [Eliza](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGzpJDtHng/o13GDCBsOLDaTaqb5OpaEQ/view?utm_content=DAGzpJDtHng&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h8097854963)

join us for a fun evening of dining and dancing with our group ! Cost is 30$ at the door . to attend you must have an identifiable profile photo and be a paid member of our fabulous group. We have an annual membership of 10 $ that can be paid by interac e-transfer to : mississaugasocialgroupup@gmail.com

\*˚౨**⛸️**Come join us for a night 🎶 Live DJS, Performances, Cozy Patio Vibes & Swag bags for the first 200 guests celebrating 👧 ♀ **Female** friendships! ♀ 👧 ৎ˚ All levels are welcome! 🚇Closest **TTC** Station: **Union** **⛸️** **\*Free skate rentals available!\*** **[REGISTER for your free ticket HERE!**](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/galentines-day-skate-party-at-the-bentway-tickets-1981595279825?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=8fe93e19dda318ff0d5ce9a6e7345aaacd723aebcbdd676745a973f110e272e4dee17d8f615aae0010c1ff84642c2693853be2db8251746b850630a45d27c61f195de24dd8550f82c74f1db9af) **+******Only RSVP if you are FEMALE******+ ** 📢 Post a comment if you have trouble finding the group. ❗If you can no longer attend, please kindly change your RSVP to Not Going. Thank you. See you there! 🫶 🩷 [Eliza](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGzpJDtHng/o13GDCBsOLDaTaqb5OpaEQ/view?utm_content=DAGzpJDtHng&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h8097854963)

\*\*This event is currently full, but please reach out if you are interested, as sometimes we can fit you in or there is a last minute cancellation\*\* ❄️ **We’re heading just 2 hours north of Toronto Family Day Weekend for a cozy countryside winter getaway near Georgian Bay, near Midland, in the town of Victoria** \*\*\*\*Harbour!\*\*\*\*❄️🌊 Join our friendly, adventurous **WOOT** group for a long winter weekend filled with outdoor fun, snowy landscapes, and cozy evenings at a beautiful countryside cottage. This trip blends **winter adventure, nature, and connection** — beginner to advanced levels welcome! 🌟 *** ## 💲 Cost & Spots 💲 **$210 per person** \*\*🐦 **Early Bird: $200 if you RSVP by Tuesday, Jan 20\*\*** 🔢 **Spots:** 10–14 people 🐾 **Pets:** ✅ Pet-friendly cottage *** ## 💵 Additional Costs (Not included in the $200–$210 accommodation price) * 🚗 Gas contribution (calculated at end of trip) * 🍽️ Food for the weekend and optional meals in town * 🎿 Ski passes, rentals, and lessons * 🅿️ Any extra activities or parking fees **Important:** ✔️ Must be able to leave Toronto **no later than 5pm on Friday** ## 📍 Location We’re heading to a countryside farm property near **Georgian Bay**, close to: Victoria Harbour, Downtown Midland, Penetanguishene 🏔️ **Nearby ski resorts:** * Mount St. Louis Moonstone — *14 min drive* * Horseshoe Valley Ski Resort — *25 min drive* ## ❄️ Planned Activities We’ll split into groups based on interests and experience level (beginner to advanced). **Lessons available**! Activities may include:🎿 Downhill skiing🏂 Snowboarding🚴 Fat biking 🎿 Cross-country skiing❄️ Snowshoeing⛸️ Outdoor ice skating Plenty of time to relax at the cottage between activities. ## 🏡 Accommodation We’ll be staying at a **beautiful countryside home on a hobby farm**. Highlights include: 🌲 Open-concept, grand living room🪵 Soft pine wood ceilings & flooring🪟 Extra-large windows with sweeping farm views 🚿 **2 bathrooms** 📶 Wifi🧺 Washer & dryer Modern amenities throughout A perfect space for group meals, games, relaxing evenings, and cozy winter vibes. *** ## 🛏️ Sleeping Arrangements 💤 Every participant will have their **own bed** 👥 Expect to share a room with up to **2 people of the same gender** Private rooms are: ❤️ Reserved for couples ⏳ Or available on a **first-come, first-served** basis *** ## 🚗 Carpool Information We’ll depart Friday after work by **5pm latest** from multiple carpool locations around Toronto. * Passengers may need to travel up to 1 hour to meet their driver * Drivers will choose central pickup points * Drivers are fully reimbursed for gas at the end of the trip **Rebecca will coordinate:** 🚗 Carpool groups📍 Pickup locations⏰ Departure times ❄️ Activities *** ## 📝 RSVP Information (Important!) All participants remain on the **waitlist** until: 💰 Payment is received 📱 Your phone number is provided to the organizer To move to the **GOING** list, you must answer both RSVP questions: 1️⃣ What is your cell number? *(Private — organizer only)* 2️⃣ Transportation preference: A. Passenger 🚘 B. Driver (my own car) for X passengers 🚗 C. Prefer passenger, but can drive X if needed D. Driver but meeting at location (preference given to drivers who take passengers) ⚠️ Prompt replies required — unresponsive RSVPs may be moved down the list. *** ## 🔥 WOOT Score 🌲 Outdoors: 5🏔️ Adventure: 5🎉 Fun: 5✨ **Overall WOOT Score:5++** *(Only the best, most awesome WOOT trips get posted!)* Hope you can join us! **Rebecca (rphinn)**

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Explorer Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **This tour is hosted by the most evil creature that ever walked the earth, Jack the Ripper. This is his event so tread lightly if you know what is good for you. Friday the 13th! One day only, one event! Need I say more!** Haunted Toronto. Indeed. Scary stories of old York. Bloody York. Murder and mayhem. And at this time of year, Friday the 13th, when the chill cools the blood, stories of the truly brutal come out. And this walk is like no other. Tales of hauntings from the U of T, Hospital Row, and the Financial District make this a spooky event for all. Come and enjoy the walk, if you survive that is! This walking tour is for all fitness levels and skills. Please dress for the weather. This walking tour begins at the Queen's Park SUBWAY Station at the southwest corner of University Avenue and College Street in front of the **Tim Horton's Cafe.** This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person. \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Get ready for a night of sassy entertainment with two of Toronto's finest performers! Welcome to The Shrene and Noodle Show! Serena “Shrene” Barr and Vanessa “Noodle” Gatti are bringing their vaudevillian- flavoured act to the brand new, intimate, Catacombs Cabaret in the heart of Toronto. The show promises a sexy, upbeat performance that will have you laughing and toe-tapping for an hour of music, comedy, and dance. So join us and beat the winter blues with this two dame revue!

This sprawling pub has everything needed to kick off your weekend! Cozy booths, Sports screens to keep you in the athletic loop, pool table, dart boards & arcade games to thrill & stimulate! BUT, THE KARAOKE THO!!🤩 This stage attracts exciting performers & kind folks from the area who grace the mics with humour AND talent as well as provide an appreciative audience!👏👏🏼👏🏾👏🏿

❄️🌿 **St. Clair West to Yorkdale: A Winter Ravine-to-City Walk** 🌿❄️ **An easy, scenic winter walk you don’t want to miss** This is one of those walks that reminds you why Toronto is such a fascinating city — where nature, neighbourhoods, and everyday life all blend together. Join us for a **beautiful 90-minute winter walk** that takes us from leafy ravines to one of Toronto’s most iconic malls, all at a relaxed and social pace. ✨ We’ll start at **St. Clair West Subway Station** and head into the peaceful **Cedarvale Ravine Trail**, one of the city’s hidden winter gems. Snow-dusted paths, quiet trees, and fresh air make this the perfect way to enjoy winter without feeling overwhelmed by it. ❄️🌲 From there, we’ll continue along a trail that runs beside **Allen Road**, offering a surprisingly calm walk through the city’s infrastructure and green spaces. We’ll pass through **Wenderly Park**, a small but lovely park that connects communities, before making our way through the **Allen Centre**, a charming local mall that feels like a little pause in time. 🏙️☕ One of the highlights of this walk is moving through the **Lawrence Heights community**, an area with a rich and important history in Toronto. As we walk, you’ll get a sense of how the city has evolved — from postwar housing development to one of Toronto’s most talked-about neighbourhood revitalizations. It’s a walk that quietly tells a story, without ever feeling like a lecture. 💛 We’ll end our journey at **Yorkdale Mall**, where warmth, food, and good company await. Depending on time and group size, we’ll either sit down together at **The Cheesecake Factory** or keep things casual with lunch in the food court — either way, it’s a perfect, cozy finish after a winter walk. 🍽️❄️ This walk is **easy, social, and totally manageable in winter**, making it a great way to get outside, move your body, and actually connect with people — without rushing or pushing yourself too hard. 📱 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) *** ### ❄️ Meetup Details ❄️ ⚠️ **Please Note:** This is a true winter walk. Don’t sign up if you’re not comfortable walking in cold or snowy conditions. ✔️ The walk happens in *almost* all weather ❌ The event will be cancelled only if it’s **-20°C or colder** 📍 **Meetup Location:** Outside **St. Clair West Subway Station in front of the** Loblaws — look for Mathew in his iconic **Moose Hat** 🫎 ⏰ **Meetup Time:** **11:00 AM** — I will only wait **5 minutes** (this is a firm 5 minutes because… winter ❄️😉) 💲 **Meetup Fee:** $5 cash in person **or** e-transfer to **mathewmaclean@hotmail.com** 🏁 **End Spot:** Yorkdale Mall *** ### 🧣 What to Bring 🧣 • Water • Good winter boots • Gloves & hat • Something warm to drink ☕ • A small snack • A friend, family member or guest *** 🚶‍♂️ **Can I Leave Early?** Absolutely — leave anytime you like. The walk could take up to two hours. *** 💛 **REMEMBER:** You can just show up — or decide on the day if you’re not 100% sure. ⚠️ **NOTE:** Sometimes things happen and plans may change — please keep an eye out for updates. *** 👤 **Organizer:** Mathew Questions? Post on the event wall or email **torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com**

* **Explore how help can comee as a nudge, a dream, or a quiet voice within you.** * **discover how you can connect with the ever-present guidance of ECK, the Holy Spirit.** (ONTARIO PROVINCIAL ECK Light & Sound Service - Hybrid event) [Eckankar Ontario Spiritual Events](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html) [Eckankar Free Books](https://www.eckankar.org/freebook/wisdom/) “Often people are afraid to follow their inner guidance. It sounds like such a foolish thing to do, especially if they have to face other people and explain why they are doing what they are doing. Yet showers of love rain down upon us simply because we are Soul, a divine spark of God. Its Voice, which showers the love, is the pure Light and Sound.” —Harold Klemp, *ECK Wisdom on Inner Guidance*, p. 5-6 You are warmly invited to the Provincial ECK Light and Sound Service which you can attend **online** or **in person**. Date and time: **Sunday, February 15, 2026** **10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m** Please note: All the ECK Light and Sound Services in 2025 will be hybrid (In-person and on Zoom) with the in-person portion held at: **York University Glendon Campus, Centre of Excellence, York Hall A, Room YH A002, 2275 Bayview Ave, North York, ON M4N 3M6.** Please stay for light refreshments afterward. To attend online by Zoom and see the upcoming events: [https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario/zoom/) It will take you directly to the Ontario ECKANKAR page where you will find the Zoom link and call-in numbers. The Zoom link allows for up to 300 attendees and will be active at 10:15 a.m. **ECK Light and Sound Services** are a wonderful way for anyone to experience: * **the Sound and Light of God** * **the [HU](https://www.eckankar.org/experience/hu-the-sound-of-soul/) (a love song to God)** * **the inner guide known as the Mahanta** Come and hear about others' adventures of walking the spiritual path, on the road home to God, as well as original creative arts. You will have the opportunity to experience a simple spiritual exercise that can open your heart to live to your fullest potential. You are welcome to invite seekers, family and friends to attend. *If the region or country you live in forbids you from attending this spiritual event, please follow the laws of your home country.* These are free events; however, your donations are most gratefully received! You can leave your donation in the donation bowl on the table OR send your e-transfer donations, using online banking to: [provincialdonations8093@gmail.com](mailto:eckontdonations@gmail.com). Please stay for light refreshments afterwards. To learn more about spirituality, here are a few resources: · [Spiritual Adventure](https://www.eckankar.org/eck-soul-adventure-magazine) Magazine · *[ECK Soul Adventure](https://www.eckankar.org/ebooklets) eBooklets* · [HU ](https://www.eckankar.org/experience/hu-the-sound-of-soul/#huapp)App · [Eckankar Soul Adventure Podcast](https://www.eckankar.org/podcasts/) · [Discover Eckankar and Advanced Spiritual Living](https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001wdetsToXHUuR0qMb4Q6Jbn9NsVsjeGGv9-pv3zeN5OJIPvDhF1JBeIKusW1USqWw1Zp1ZaTnQ2RhVdFiFR40cVWLJP69hwDJ6gkdu5rdjrHK5ObZ_tis6cbANWZbNVk8wg0JtH1bJjx9dHaeOUj0-Q==&c=waEPfx7zdz0PenP4PzCIxF7D6_bctEUp7HtZ4PABLxdcfU32QqrKhA==&ch=9rbFp1H_WsWh30zsiD-UiviJOyeYlHNExu3S_FmLkW30Rt5s5OD87Q==) Video *Graphics courtesy of* [Eckankar](https://www.eckankar.org/)*, The Path of Spiritual Freedom* Sponsored by Eckankar Canada in Ontario

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Explorer Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** Danforth Road was named for Asa Danforth, who built segments of Queen Street and Kingston Road. Work commenced in 1799 on Danforth's Road a hundred-mile route from Scarborough to the Trent River, and completed in 1801, but soon was replaced by the 1817 Kingston Road stagecoach route. Most early maps of Toronto referred to Danforth as a Concession Line Road. Originally Danforth Avenue connected Toronto to Danforth Road. It was built by the Don and Danforth Road Company in 1851 to Broadview Avenue, and Kingston Road. Danforth is home to Toronto's Greek community, known as Greektown or as it was once known - Little Athens. The walking tour begins outside Broadview Subway Station Parkette 769 Broadview Ave across from the subway station on the east side of Broadview Avenue. We end at the Pape Subway Station! Hope to see your there! This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

\*\*NOTE: This meetup currently lacks a regular host. (The current hosts are volunteers for online organizational purposes; they show up in person occasionally.) If you arrive and there is no host, don’t worry. Whoever is the longest-running member (or whoever wants to) can set the timer for the writing session. In this way, the meetup is self-sustaining, and not dependent on any one person. Thanks for your understanding.\*\* Join us for an hour of quiet writing, followed by an hour of (optional) socializing. \*\*SILENT WRITING BEGINS AT 1:15 PM. IF YOU'RE LATE, WELCOME! WE WILL IGNORE YOU (BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY WRITING) UNTIL 2:15 PM.\*\* This meetup is open to everyone, whether you’re writing a novel, blog, class paper, or journal entry—or something completely different. Anyone interested is welcome to attend :) LOCATION: 5 Elements Cafe, basement level RSVP: Please be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. We recommend coming down to the basement to grab a spot before you buy anything, just in case. SCHEDULE: 1:00 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chill/leave. Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Return to the neighborhood that never lets its dead go. Join **The Rockville Horror Book Club** for a dark, atmospheric discussion of **The Haunting of Velkwood** by **Gwendolyn Kiste**, a chilling suburban ghost story where the past is sealed off—but never silent. Twenty years ago, an entire block of homes vanished behind a mysterious veil, trapping its residents as ghosts and leaving behind only three survivors. Since then, the Velkwood Vicinity has become an object of obsession: whispered about in occult circles, sensationalized in documentaries, and picked apart by theorists desperate for answers. None have succeeded. The truth remains locked inside the neighborhood… waiting. When one of the survivors is drawn back to Velkwood, long-buried memories begin to stir. What really happened that night? What was lost, what was abandoned, and what still lingers inside the veil? As the story unfolds, grief, guilt, and fractured friendships rise to the surface, blurring the line between the living and the dead. Our discussion will dig into the novel’s eerie atmosphere, unsettling mystery, and emotional undercurrent—exploring themes of survival, trauma, and the quiet horror of returning to the place that shaped you. Expect thoughtful conversation, uneasy questions, and plenty of space to linger in the shadows of Velkwood. **Event Details** * **Where:** Rockville Memorial Library — Medium Meeting Room 2nd Floor * **When:** February 24, 2026 * **Time:** 6:30–7:30 PM * **What to Bring:** Your copy of *The Haunting of Velkwood* by Gwendolyn Kiste If you enjoy slow-burn dread, haunted suburbs, and stories that creep under your skin rather than jump out at you, this is the night to come back… if you dare. 👻📚

**NOTE: This is NOT a screening, please watch the movie before the discussion.** *"Hey Ted, where the hell's the corkscrew?!"* *Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* arrives at a point where the series knows exactly what it is. Picking up immediately after Part 3, the film traps a new group of unlucky victims near Camp Crystal Lake as Jason Voorhees continues his unstoppable march through the annals of horror history. Lean, mean, and packed with some of the series’ most memorable kills, *The Final Chapter* distills the formula to its sharpest elements — suspense, savagery, and a mounting sense of inevitability — before slamming the door shut with brutal efficiency. Often regarded as the strongest entry in the original series, the film balances classic slasher suspense with some of the most effective practical effects of the era. It’s a no-frills, high-impact installment that solidified Jason as a horror icon. ***

Hey all! My name is Sarah, I'm a romance girlie in my twenties, and welcome to the Mostly Romance Book Club! I am a big mood reader so assigned books at book clubs don't really do it for me. I wanted to create a space where anyone can come with whatever book they want, meet new friends, and chat about what they've been reading. When: First and third Thursday of every month, starting in February. 7-8:30 pm. Schedule: First 30 minutes: Introductions and chat about all things books Next 45 minutes: Silently read your personal physical book, ebook, or audiobook (yes audiobooks count :)) Last 15 minutes: Chat some more and wrap up the meeting Check the home page for zoom links. Up to 100 attendees so still join the zoom even if you can't sign up for the event.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Love and Monsters,”** on the inescapable bond between romance and horror, with Joshua Barton, scholar of horror and lecturer in English at Virginia Commonwealth University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters) .] Romance and horror might seem like opposite genres, but they share a deep emotional core, and the combination of them has captivated audiences across time and culture. Put even your worst Valentine’s Day in perspective by hearing this strange relationship discussed by Joshua Barton, who has earned a big following among Profs and Pints fans with his past talks on cryptids, American horror, and Christmas ghosts. He’ll explore the undeniable and unsettling intersection of romance and horror and examine how and why love and fear intensify each other and combined to create tension, drive narratives, and explore human vulnerability. We’ll look at works that have blended passion and terror, including Gothic literature like the vampire novella *Carmilla* and modern films like *Spring* and *Crimson Peak*. We’ll study the fine line between obsession and adoration running through Stephen King’s “I Know What You Need,” Adrian Lyne’s *Fatal Attraction*, and the timeless *The Phantom of the Opera.* We’ll discuss the seeds of monstrous love that were planted with *Beauty and the Beast* and *Creature from the Black Lagoon* and bloom ferociously in works like *Twilight* and *The Shape of Water*. Through it all, we’ll find the threads of otherness and the taboo that intertwine horror, love, and reflections on identity. Join us for a journey through storytelling that combines the grotesque and the scintillating as we uncover why romance and horror are a match made in the dark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From the original 1954 advertising poster for *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (Artist: Reynold Brown / Public Domain).

# Happy Birthday, You’re Dead Written and Directed by Terry Smith Produced by Jerri Wiseman ***You are invited to a surprise birthday party for Candy Crush, a D-list actor. She’s the hottest ticket in town. But her birthday party isn’t the only surprise she will get tonight! Someone’s about to be murdered. Only you can prevent this from happening before it’s game over. To miss this would be a crime.*** February 14 at Casanel Winery in Leesburg (with dinner) Casanel Winery, 17956 Canby Road, Leesburg, VA 20175 6:30pm Doors open and dinner buffet starts. 7:15pm Show starts. There will be a 15-20-minute intermission. Tickets: $77 plus ticketing fee and sales tax / $72 for Wine Club members plus ticketing fee and sales tax (see Casanel Winery for promo code) includes the show, catered dinner and dessert by Pure Perfection Catering. Menu: Baby Greens Salad with Truffle Croutons, Dried Tart Cherries, and Confit Tomatoes with Pesto Vinaigrette Dressing. Baked Salmon with Saffron Sauce. Herb Seared Chicken with Mushroom Sauce. Roasted Mixed Vegetables. Scalloped Potatoes. Rolls with Butter. Chocolate Cheesecake. Unsweetened Iced Tea. Coffee. Special meals can be accommodated with 48 hours’ notice. Wine will be available for separate purchase. ### [Buy tickets for Casanel Winery. ](https://www.stagecoachtc.com/happy-birthday-youre-dead/) You must buy a ticket to attend. An RSVP here will not save you a seat.