Single and lovin' it on V-Day

You think there's pressure being in a relationship on Valentine’s Day? Try being single. You can't eat anywhere, drink anywhere—hell, you can't even stop into a drugstore without being pummeled with red hearts, fake roses and schmoopy couples. So it was in the name of single people everywhere that we rounded up these V-Day events where you won’t be assaulted by pet names and PDA.

TUESDAY 9 AND WEDNESDAY 10

Polish your wide-rimmed glasses and get ready to mingle: Nerds at Heart brings back its geek-friendly dating event Love Fest for Nerds. Find a smartie match over low-key board games and drinks, no dance moves required. Wednesday is for heteros while Tuesday is Tues-gay. Holiday Club, 7–10pm.

THURSDAY 11

Gourmet Dating hosts a lesson to help singles get cooking. A chef will lead the preparation of a six-course tapas dinner, but you do the cooking. Cocktails are provided. Evening costs $75 (or $25 through Goldstar.com) and begins at 6:30pm. It will be held at Lincoln Park’s Charlie Baggs Innovation Center.

FRIDAY 12

They had us at “latex bodypainting.” Lumen hosts a Lady GaGa–themed fashion show with cocktail reception from 9–10pm.

SATURDAY 13

Single or not, all lovers of animals are invited to the 5th Annual Vegetarian Valentine’s Party benefiting Mercy for Animals held at Black Walnut Gallery. For $35, nosh on gourmet vegan bites and sip wine and cocktails.

A date with Miss Illinois Ashley Bond is up for grabs at Heartbreaker’s Ball, a benefit for the Children’s Heart Foundation. Luxbar hosts this event with music, sweets and plenty of cocktails. Best of all, it’s a benefit with no cover. Party starts at 10pm.

Get all you really wanted out of that Valentine’s Day date—the roses and chocolate-covered strawberries—at the Anti-Valentine’s Party, an annual single ladies event at Stretch Run.

$25 for all-you-can-eat buffets, draft beer and “love punch” at the Screw Cupid Pub Crawl. 'Nuff said. A trolley takes you to and from North Side bars McGee's, The Wrightwood Tap, Durkin's, Duffy's, Redmond's and Maeve, 8–11pm.

Get something cooking at Blue Sky Bakery’s singles dinner parties. On Saturday and Sunday night at 7pm, couples are randomly paired to create a tasty course as part of a dinner party. Event includes four-courses and wine pairings for $30. R.S.V.P. to lisa@blueskyinn.org. Proceeds help provide educational, cultural and recreational activities for at-risk youth in Chicago.

HUB51 really wants you to find love. That’s why its hosting a “Last Chance For Love” party. While being single on V-Day isn’t the apocalypse, the half-priced bottles of Champagne and $6 specialty cocktails still sound pretty good.

SUNDAY 14

Find that perfect lad or lassie at the Irish American Heritage Association Hooley ("hooley" means a dance party) with the help of a Lisdoonvarna matchmaker. Lisdoonvarna’s Matchmaking Festival sees singles from across the globe converge on County Clare, Ireland. Now, you don’t have to hop across the pond. It’s held at the Heritage Center’s own pub, the Fifth Province.

Single lady Sarah Levy of Sarah’s Pastries and Candy is making "Singles' Line" cookies celebrating the unattached life. The heart-shaped cookies have sayings such as “Single and Sexy,” “I ♥ Me,” and “Solo & Lovin’ it.” She wants you to share but, personally, I wouldn’t be able to.