Gallop To or From Valentine's Day Activities

1.  Valentine's Day Dinner and a Show

OK, so that day is finally here. Here's one suggestion for a fun night -- Music and dinner at Oak City Bar and Grill.  Jennifer Lee performs a Valentine's Day show tonight from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. tonight at Oak City Bar and Grill, which is located at 1029 El Camino Real. A  special Valentine's Day menu is also available. For more information, call Mark Adams at (650) 321-6882 or e-mail marqsinmenlo@gmail.com.

2. Valentine's Day and Beyond at Little House

Two Valentine's Day focused events are coming up at Little House, 800 Middle Ave.  Today there's a movie, appropriately titled "Valentine's Day."  The film is described as a multi-character romantic comedy that came out this time of year in 2009. It focuses on a number of people whose lives intersection over the course of Valentine's Day. The movie shows at 1 p.m. in the Little House auditorium. The cost is $2 for members; $3 for non-members. The movie is the prelude to the Valentine's Dance at Little House set for Thursday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. We'll have more details about the dance in a Daily High Five later this week.

3.  Valentine's Day Kids Party

If you want to give your kids a treat today, take them to the Valentine Party for children ages 4 and older at the Atherton Library. There will be child-appropriate  love stories, Valentine making, games and treats. The party is today frm 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and the event is free. The library is located at 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, Menlo Park, Calif.  For more information, call Maeve Visser Knoth at (650) 328-2422 or e-mail visser-knoth@smcl.org.

4.  What to do about the (Parental) winte- time blues! Part 1

Oh no! School is out next week for winter break?  What's a working parent to do when the kids don't have school?  We have two suggestions for you courtesy of your city Parks and Recreation Department.

There's an ice-skating camp scheduled next week, Monday through Friday, for children aged 6 to 12 at Nazareth Ice Oasis, 3140 Bay Road in Redwood City. Skate rental is provided for lessons. Your child will learn forward skating, backward skating, and stopping. Classes are designed to be fun and build confidence. Mittens or gloves, socks, and warm clothing are recommended. The fee for residents for the week is $66; non-residents $88.For additional information contact Susan at (650) 364-8090 x 116. 

5. What to do about the parental winter-time blues Part 2

Another alternative is the Winter Horseback Riding Camp, going on Monday through Friday at Spring Down Equestrian Center at 725 Portola Ave. in Portola Valley. This camp is open to children aged six and older.  Riders are grouped according to experience, but no experience is needed to attend. Knowledgeable instructors and staff will teach about horses working in small, interactive groups and provide hands on experience.  Send a lunch and snack. Aftercare is available. 

For more information from Springdown, call( 650) 851-1114. Download the liability form/application at www.springdown.com. The fee for residents is $429; non-residents, $578. For more information from the Parks and Recreation Department, email Noreen Bickel at nsbickel@menlopark.org or call (650) 330-2209.