Feb. 14 has been stressful ever since you had to write all those Valentine’s Day cards to hand out in elementary school.
By the next day, pretty much everyone is sick of love and hearts, and is most likely sporting a bit of a headache.
With that in mind, Woodruff’s Bar in Ypsilanti will be hosting The Love Hangover event on Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m., a perfect solution to help you relax and get over the stress of Valentine’s Day.
As the slogan, “Shake off your Love Hangover with good music, good soup and two local nonprofits” promises, this will be a night for laughs and relaxation.
For only $8 at the door, you will be able to listen to assorted love songs (some more optimistic and some that are very, very bitter) sung by unusual combinations of singers.
According to The Love Hangover’s Facebook page, “Past performances have included Weezer’s ‘Pinkerton’ album played in twenty minutes, tap-dancers performing Magnetic Fields and ‘Single Ladies’ played to the tune of ‘Blister in the Sun.’”
If strange love songs aren’t enough to draw you in, there’s always the $10 first-come first-serve soup supper at Breezy’s restaurant in downtown Ypsilanti that is immediately before the Love Hangover performances start.
The extra bribing of soup really isn’t necessary however, since The Love Hangover is a national event that has been going on for over a decade.
According to The Love Hangover’s website, “12 years, five cities, 28 shows, 250 performers,” makes this truly an event worth coming to.
The Love Hangover wasn’t always the phenomenon it is today. It all started in Raleigh, North Carolina back in 2000, according to Amanda Uhle, the Executive Director of the local non-profit organization 826Michigan.
Uhle said, “We have done this event around the country… this is our fourth year doing it here.”
Uhle said it was Onna Soloman who brought this fun evening over to the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area, and it’s been a big hit.
“I think the space holds about 200 people and we come close to filling it.”
There’s also the added bonus that all funds raised go to charity. Both 826Michigan and the Huron River Arts Initiative (known as HuRAI!) will be benefiting from this event.
“It’s not our big fundraiser of the year,” Uhle admitted. “But it does bring in about $1,000.”
826Michigan is a tutoring service for exceptional young writers, ages 6-18, that helps students improve and publish their writings, completely free of charge.
Similarly, HuRAI! is about helping local artists to make their dreams a reality. According to the organization’s website, “Think of us as a creative tool shed, computer lab, library, flea market, volunteer center.”
In fact, one of the projects that HuRAI! is supporting is The Love Hangover, by asking local artists to come and perform, simply by filling out a sheet from HuRAI!’s website http://www.huronriverarts.org/index.html.
While there is always the chance for someone a little better known to perform at the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti’s The Love Hangover event, the majority of the artists will be locals. Uhle said, “We get a lot of volunteers.”
A lot of people love Valentine’s Day, but end up getting so stressed out.
It ends up being tiring instead of the romantic and relaxing holiday it should be.
Those who aren’t quite so crazy about the holiday equally need an excuse to go and cheer up with friends.
To be able to relax while enjoying some fun and funny music (and perhaps a drink), donate to charity and
spend time with loved ones is really what Valentine’s Day is all about, even if The Love Hangover isn’t until Feb. 15.
