Photo by Rinck Content Studio on Unsplash
By Liem Solow
As is the unfortunately reality the world seems to be perpetually stuck in, Covid continues to dramatically alter the way that those in society must conduct themselves. What was once a trivial thing, like going into a restaurant for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, is now an extremely risky activity to be partaking in, for the sake of one’s own health. And so, much like every other event, holiday, or celebration, even Valentine’s Day was forced to be socially distanced and digital. While many events were forced to be cancelled as a result, there were still a number of notable ways that the people of Seattle managed to enjoy the day.
Unlike last year, where no less than a dozen concerts, musicals, and other stage performances, all took place with massive crowds, Covid won’t let us do that right now. So performances were forced to be held virtually with tickets to access the livestreams, such as the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “Romeo et Juliet.” The socially distanced reenactment of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers was hopefully enough to alleviate some of the financial issues the studio is running into, seeing as the pandemic has eaten into their tuition and revenue.
Of course, it wouldn’t have been Valentine’s Day without a romantic meal with whom you love. Considering the dangers involved with dining-in, it’s wonderful that so many places were offering pickup/delivery services for their menus. In an effort to raise funds for the Monroe Community Senior Center, a drive-thru Valentine’s Day dinner was offered to all who wished to stop by. Beyond the $10 meal, participants had the opportunity to make additional donations for a chance at their raffle basket, with all proceeds from the event going to making improvements to the center. Audry Adams, a volunteer who frequently lends a hand, spoke about the challenges the Community Center is facing. She said that a combination of a lack of staff, as well as a much tighter budget from Covid, has resulted in certain quality of life improvements being neglected, in favor of covering the necessities. “Hopefully this fundraiser will be enough to get at least a few things done around here,” Adams stated optimistically.
Similarly, Tealeaves and Frans worked together with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, offering a complimentary ticket to the aforementioned ballet with the purchase of a tea and chocolate tasting kit, sized for 2 people to enjoy comfortably. Available from either of their websites, the Valentine’s Day themed package went for a total of $145, admittedly a rather steep price for a box of chocolates. However, when asked, a Tealeaves representative stated that a portion of the proceeds would be going to the ballet studio, which they implied was why the cost appeared a bit excessive.
While the last year has been tough on many folks, and the unavailability of the usual activities was likely a further blow to morale, one can be thankful that at least some events in the community were able to continue. By this time next year, there is hope that Covid will be long gone, and society will once again be able to enjoy a romantic dinner out on Valentine’s Day.
