This time of year always seems a tad overwhelming. Look forward to festivities surrounding Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day and the Super Bowl all at once! Plenty of drinking and dining opportunities await. Click ahead to work up an appetite for the weekend.
Friday (Feb. 1):
Sweethearts Lunch @ Bixby's This special Valentine's Day-themed meal deal features a three-course prix-fixe menu with options such as pappardelle pasta, root vegetable tart, dark chocolate creme brulee and more. $16 per person; $20 with a glass wine. Call 575-5658 for reservations. Mondays through Saturday from Feb. 1 thru Feb. 16. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Soiree pour la Vue, An Evening for Sight @ River Bottom Saloon Enjoy an evening of entertainment and eats for a good cause. Patty Long Catering prepares a Cajun Mardi Gras-themed meal to accompany music from Funky Butt Brass Band, an auction and more. $85 per person with proceeds to benefit Minds Eye Information Service, a 24/7 nonprofit radio station for the blind and print disabled. 6 to 11 p.m.
Saturday (Feb. 2):
Maple Sugar Festival @ Rockwoods Reservation See sap extracted, boiled down and used to create syrup, snow taffy and more. Learn how to do it all at home, too! No reservations are required. Call 636-458-2236 for additional details. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pardi Gras 2013 @ Hwy 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen Fill up at the breakfast buffet and pregame with unlimited Hurricanes and beers before catching a shuttle to the Soulard Grand Parade. $40 per person, or just $8.99 for breakfast only. 10 a.m.
Southern Comfort Taste of Soulard @ participating Soulard restaurants Sample signature dishes at participating neighborhood eateries. $25 buys a tasting ticket book. Paint your insides purple, yellow and green with Cajun-inspired eats such as mini deep-fried oyster po'boys from Clementine's, chicken and sausage jambalaya from Carson's and wild mushroom gougeres from Franco. Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
