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transformed into a rustic French bistro, with an appropriately Gallic menu to be served on performance days. There’s also a special three- course Valentine’s menu to be served on the 14th, available for a bargainous £20. ■ The Arches Café Bar & Restaurant, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow, 0141 565 1035, thearches.co.uk; FellSwoop Jazz Quartet presents Extracts from Belleville, Fri 10 Feb; FellSwoop’s Belleville Rendez- vous, Sat 11 Feb.
7
THEATRE HAVE A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
Take part in a Victorian-era séance, conducted by the flicker of gaslight – or at least, experience what such a thing might have been like. The Infamous Brothers Davenport is the latest production from visual theatre company Vox Motus, based on the lives of real life American spiritualists William and Ira Davenport. Sure, a séance might seem more suited to Hallowe’en than Valentine’s Day, but you’ll thank us when your date is clinging onto your arm. See review in Theatre. ■ Lyceum, Edinburgh, until Sat 11 Feb (not Mon & Sun); Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 14-Sun 18 Feb.
8 FOOD & DRINK
SAMPLE THE UNDERGROUND DINING SCENE
It’s the mark of a cultured sort to be well-informed about the lesser-known corners of the culinary scene, and Stockbridge basement restaurant Purslane is more discreet than most. With room for only 20 diners, Paul Gunning’s recently opened establishment relies less on PR-based exposure than simple word of mouth generated by having great dishes on offer. The Valentine’s set menu is testament to this: both the starters (such as a roast tomato consommé with goats cheese tortellini) and desserts (dark chocolate marquise with vanilla ice-cream) sound mouth-wateringly good. ■ 33a St Stephen Street, Edinburgh, 0131 300 0840, purslanerestaurant.co.uk
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AROUND TOWN / DANCE LEARN THE STEPS TO THE DANCE OF DESIRE
No, not the Macarena. Tango Libre is a weekly dance class that takes place in authentic Spanish-run restaurant La Bodega Tapas Bar. Attendees to the Thursday evening ‘Tango Salon’ can polish up on their dance steps, while a free salsa club the following afternoon exists as an opportunity to show off your newly found fancy footwork. Needless to say, there’s some delicious Spanish cuisine on offer as well – perfect for a slightly spicier Valentine’s fiesta. ■ La Bodega Tapas Bar, Glasgow, Thu 16 Feb.
1 0 MUSIC
INDULGE IN SOME CLASSICAL ROMANCE
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has book-ended St Valentine’s Day with a double dose of romance this year. The weekend before, they perform a Romantic Valentines set, including the ‘Elvira Madigan’ movement from Mozart’s ‘Piano Concerto No. 21’. Then a few days afterwards, it’s the turn of Prokofiev’s ballet score for Romeo and Juliet, as part of their Naked Classics series. ■ RSNO: Romantic Valentines, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 10 Feb; Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 11 Feb. RSNO: Naked Classics - Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Thu 16 Feb, and Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 17 Feb.
2 Feb–1 Mar 2012 THE LIST 37