Sweethearts/bitterhearts: Valentine’s events for duos, singles and everyone else

Chelsea LaBate

All events are on Thursday, Feb. 14 unless otherwise noted. For a complete listing, visit Clubland and Calendar.

The annual Anti-Valentines Day Pillowfight returns. In case the name doesn’t say it all, there’s a video of the event at http://vimeo.com/20203667. It’s based on one of the same name held in San Francisco, “just another way to have fun and protest the commercialization of human relationships,” says the Facebook invite. No feather pillows and take off your glasses, but otherwise, go nuts. Pritchard Park, 5:30-6:30 p.m. http://avl.mx/pa.

The Hop Ice Cream Café sets the stage at its Merrimon Avenue location for a couples’ show: “An evening of love and happiness (and music),” says the venue. Adding ice cream to that mix can’t hurt, either. Ryan Barrington Cox and Emily Keebler of Lassos share a bill with Dulci Ellenberger and Jason Mencer of Now You See Them. 6-8 p.m. http://thehopicecreamcafe.com.

Eat, drink and be romanced: The White Horse serves up a Valentine’s dinner (6:30 p.m., gourmet meal from Black Mountain Bistro) and concert by vocalist Wendy Jones with accompaniment by pianist Michael Jefry Stevens at 8 p.m. Music is from the songbooks of Johnny Mercer, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and more. $30 for dinner and show / $17 show only. http://www.whitehorseblackmountain.com.

Mechanical Eye Microcinema (MEM) hosts a screening of a dozen short films exploring topics of love and heartbreak. “The film program is a mix of handmade, animated, collage, cut-paper animation, live-action and even a glitched video game,” says a press release for the event, which is a mix of video and 16 mm. 8 p.m. at the BeBe Theatre. $5. http://mechanicaleyecinema.org.

The Moon and You (the on and off stage duo of cellist Melissa Hyman and guitarist Ryan Furstenberg — you might know them from Sweet Claudette and Uncle Mountain, respectively) plays a romantic evening of music at The Lab on Feb. 14. And, because it’s a date night thing, they’re not going it alone. Hyman and Furstenberg will double date with another cello-guitar duo: Prypyat (Leah Gibson and Duncan Webster) from Durham who are also members of Lost in the Trees and Hammer No More the Fingers. Very special guest Mother Explosives (the newly-engaged Eric Janoski) opens. 9:30 p.m., $6. http://lexavebrew.com.

“In Developer, Social Studies has succeeded in evoking a set of feelings and emotions that will linger with listeners long after the last notes have faded away,” says press of the new album by quintet from San Francisco. “There is a connection between the personal and universal.” And romance. At least for one night. Social Studies plays a Valentine’s Day-themed show at the Emerald Lounge, along with Ramona Falls (the new project of former Menomena member Brent Knopf). 9 p.m., $10. http://www.emeraldlounge.com.

Local singer-songwriter-comedian Jeff Thompson performs a Funny Valentine Show at Dobra Tea House on Friday, Feb. 15. He’s the guy who made the “Shit New Age Guys Say” video. He promises to have equally funny Valentine’s Day-related material. “Bring a date! Or don't! Be your own date!” Thompson suggests. 8-10 p.m. http://www.dobrateanc.com.

Ten Cent Orchestra (that’s Chelsea LaBate’s Ten Cent Poetry with orchestral accompaniment arranged by Silas Durocher of The Get Right Band) presents its In the Name of Love show at Asheville Music School’s Performance Loft. “Come indulge in love songs by Ten Cent Poetry, several from the album Picking Through the Pawn Shop, with soul-stirring violins, violas and cellos,” says the Facebook event. Saturday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. $10-$20 donation. http://www.tencentpoetry.com.

Alli Marshall can be reached at amarshall@mountainx.com.