For those somewhere between completely in love and celebrating Singles’ Awareness Day — or SAD — this Valentine’s, Charlottesville has the cure for your lonely heart.
Bake ’N Bike, a program of Charlottesville’s Community Bikes, will deliver homemade scones on the romantic holiday. Community Bikes Advisory Board member Anne Dunckel said the volunteer-run event involves making cards and baking scones, then delivering the goods via bicycle.
“Volunteer cyclists who dress up as fun Valentine characters… [make] the cards and the scones,” Dunckel said. “They’ll go bike across town and go deliver the scones to the people.”
The profits from the Bake ’N Bike event go toward funding the free bike program through Community Bikes to provide transportation to those without it. In addition, biking supports an entire community of cyclists within Charlottesville.
“[Bake ’N Bike is] a really fun event that gives some visual representation to the cyclists,” Dunckel said. “If you’re driving around or walking around, you’re bound to see one of these people riding a bike in a silly costume.”
In addition to biking, singles can celebrate “Galentine’s Day,” a term coined by the popular television sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” Local shops are taking this concept to a new level with the Galentine’s Pop-Up Market Feb. 13.
Arley Cakes Owner Arley Arrington, who is participating in the event, said the market will include items like cards, orchids, art and clothing.
“The idea is to get either little gifts for friends or just get something for yourself,” Arrington said. “One of the goals would be letting go of the idea that Valentine’s Day is only for people who are in a relationship.”
Proceeds from the market will go to The Arbor, a local non-profit organization which works with survivors of human trafficking.
“We’re really excited to celebrate accomplishments amongst women,” Arrington said. “I think if we can use that to benefit women who need a leg up in our community, then that would be even better.”
In addition to Valentine’s Day events in the Charlottesville area, there are also many events happening on Grounds.
Sunday, video and sketch comedy group Hot Kids Comedy will roast the 2010 film “Valentine’s Day.” Second-year College student Alexis Ferebee, vice president of Hot Kids Comedy, said the event is one way to avoid the typical romantic aspect of Valentine’s Day.
“It’s kind of nice to have an outlet where people can [joke about] something Valentine’s Day themed, or not necessarily have to do something that is super romantic,” Ferebee said.
The roast material during the movie will include prepared jokes and improvised comedy. Ferebee said the movie roast combines two forms of entertainment into one event, making fun of the romance normally associated with the holiday.
“It’s so much fun to watch a movie like that and just ruthlessly roast it,” Ferebee said. “It’s something you always do in your mind, but to do it out loud can be fun.”
On a more serious note, University students will perform the show “The Vagina Monologues” on Valentine’s Day. Second-year College student Arrietta van der Voort, director of this Sunday’s production, said the show comprises monologues about female experiences in the world.
“[The show is] a representation of diverse women and a diverse group of women’s stories and all the different experiences that are a part of being a woman, whether universal or individual,” van der Voort said.
Every year on Valentine’s Day, actors perform “The Vagina Monologues” around the world. Eve Ensler, the original writer of the show from 1996, intended for the monologues to be malleable over time.
“[The Valentine’s Day edition of the show is] a special edition… of the script every single year,” van der Voort said. “Some pieces are included that weren’t last year, some pieces were taken out that were in it last year and… all the proceeds [go] to charity.”
By addressing often-avoided topics, “The Vagina Monologues” encourages the audience to confront potentially uncomfortable concepts about the ways women interact with the world, van der Voort said.
“It can make people uncomfortable and can force people to confront things they’re uncomfortable with, [but] it also really brings people together and it really creates a community in a very unique way,” van der Voort said.
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