Make plans for Valentine’s Day with these ideas for the spending the holiday in Hamilton
Get your history on
Are you and your valentine a couple of history lovers? There is plenty to see thanks to the Butler County Historical Society. You can stop by its museum at 327 N. Second St. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Next, take a walk or drive over to the Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument on Front Street. Its open hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Both are free to see and will help you learn more about the founders and roots of the history of Butler County.
Stroll the cemeteries
For the creepy couples — or those who just like a wintry-weather stroll — the local cemeteries are beautiful parks with nice pathways for walking. Greenwood Cemetery at 1602 Greenwood Ave. is on 97 acres, and it opened in 1848, so there are some very old gravesites to see. For a list of the locally famous memorials, visit findagrave.com/cemetery/41194/Greenwood-Cemetery. Rose Hill Burial Park on Princeton Road also is extremely walkable and is 120 acres in size. It is home to Joe Nuxhall’s memorial. Another cemetery that is home to the remains of many Hamiltonians is Millville Cemetery on Millville Avenue. It is managed by Hanover Township.
Go to the movies!
This is a pretty obvious suggestion, but AMC Classic Hamilton 8 will have the latest releases for you and your honey to watch. The live-action “Sonic the Hedgehog” comedy is one of the films to be released on Feb. 14. Teenagers are in luck as AMC is offering a $5 deal called #cupgrade where you download the deal online at amctheatres.com and it unlocks a secret new flavor at the Coca-Cola Freestyle Dispenser. For all ages there’s a 2020 popcorn deal: Buy the $20.99 refillable bucket the first time you go this year, then it’s $4.99 to refill it during all your other visits throughout the year. Download the AMC Theatre app and check it before you go to see if any other deals exist ahead of your arrival.
Be ‘Cheaper’ this Valentine’s Day
Local theater company Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre will perform “Cheaper by the Dozen” on Valentine’s Day weekend. Shows are set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13-15 an 2 p.m. Feb. 16 at Miami University Hamilton’s Parrish Auditorium. Tickets are $17 and available at ghctplay.com or by calling (513) 737-PLAY.
Take the DORA tour
Hamilton’s Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area is the way to bar-hop in the Central Business District, German Village and Main Street Business District. The boundaries surround 195 acres and patrons may take advantage of the DORA option from noon to midnight every day of the week. Purchase an adult beverage in a DORA cup at a participating restaurant or bar and take off to the next one! That includes Municipal Brew Works, Casual Pint, Tano Bistro, Basil 1791, Neal’s BBQ, North Second Tap & Bottle Shop, A Game Knight, Plaza One Grille, Fretboard Public House, Richard’s Pizza, Roll On In, the Fitton Center for Creative Arts and the Monkey’s Mutual Aid Society (that one is members-only). Tano Bistro even has a walk-up DORA window so you don’t even need to go inside. Hopefully, it’ll be warm enough to take the DORA tour on Valentine’s Day!
Hit the Donut Trail
If ever there is an excuse to eat sweets, Valentine’s Day is it. Check out the Butler County Donut Trail on which you’re bound to come across delectable donuts and cookies themed read, and pink, and all-things love. With Valentine’s Day being on a Friday, you’ll have all weekend to hit the hot donut spots and get selfies with the cases of cute cakes! In Hamilton, the trail includes Kelly’s Bakery on Main Street, Mimi’s Donuts and Bakery on Millville Avenue and Ross Bakery on Eaton Avenue. Also, check out The Almond Sisters bakery on High Street. More on the donut trail: gettothebc.com/donut-trail
Wrestling with the calendar?
If you need something to do a week ahead of Valentine’s Day, Future Great Wrestling, at 190 N. Brookwood Ave. (at ELITE Performance & Wellness) will be hosting its ORIGINS 2 wrestling event at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. Advance tickets are available by calling Future Great Comics and they cost $6 (it’s $8-$10 at the door). This event typically sells out, so get tickets ahead of time.
See The Part-Time Gentlemen
North Second Tap & Bottle will have a band called The Part-Time Gentlemen on stage from 9 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Feb. 15. The band’s sound is described as “old-timey” and includes the banjo, upright bass, harmonica, mandolin and more.
Paint the town red
The Studio on Main Street in Hamilton will have some lovely pieces for painting on Valentine’s Day weekend, and it’s open until 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. Get more information about The Studio online at https://thestudioinhamilton.rocks.
A Game Knight offers ‘Dinner Concert Experience’
The newly reopened restaurant and bar A Game Knight, located on Third Street in the German Village, is hosting musician Noele Williams from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Williams “presents original compositions on the electric violin,” A Game Knight says. A private dinner will be served. Set a reminder and get more information by visiting the event page at facebook.com/events/587827002028832.
Wine about love
Hanovery Winery will have chocolates, wine and music by Katie Pritchard from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. At 6:30 p.m. John Ford performs old-school country and southern gospel music with the sounds of blues of the 1920s and 1930s. The Hanover tasting room is open to the public all year. It’s located at 2165 Morman Road. Event information may be found at facebook.com/events/548655232553327.
More Valentine’s Day weekend entertainment:
• Lounge 24: Hosting Ricky Nye from 8-11 p.m. 24 S. Second St., Hamilton
• Fitton Center for Creative Arts: Opening the “Shifty” art exhibit from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 with a gallery opening at 5:30 p.m. Includes music by the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra. 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton
• Pohlman Lanes: Kyla Mainous performs at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 954 Pyramid Hill Blvd., Hamilton
• Arches Saloon: DJ Compton Karaoke and Dance Jams happen every Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. 233 South “B” St., Hamilton