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Best Things To Do In New York City This Weekend

It's a three-day weekend! And Valentine's Day! Hooray! What follows are our picks for the best eating, drinking, and merrymaking events this weekend. Stay warm, be safe, and have fun. By Jessica Allen.

Thomas and Friends Playdate
(credit: Okamoto Studio)

The centerpiece, no pun intended, of Central Park's fourth annual Ice Festival is a 3,000-pound rendering of Romeo and Juliet in ice, courtesy of the artists at Okamoto Studio. These talented folks will use chisels and chainsaws to transform the ice into art, and just might provide a cool counterbalance to the warmth of Valentine's Day. Come sundown, you can hang out at the silent disco, featuring live DJs. Saturday, February 14, 3 to 7 pm, free.

BloodManor
(credit: Blood Manor)

Rather than the same old, same old, ho-hum romantic dinner, treat your Valentine to something a little different this year. Take him/her/them to Blood Manor, a 5,000-square foot extravaganza of gore. This isn't your typical haunted house, and it's definitely not recommended for people with heart problems. IT'S THAT SCARY. Friday, February 13, and Saturday, February 14, doors open at 7:30 pm, $30, tickets required.

BrooklynHistoricalSociety
(credit: Brooklyn Historical Society / Facebook)

The pen may be mightier than the sword, as the saying goes, but the sword is pretty might too. See just how mighty at the Brooklyn Historical Society's English Sword Dancing Festival, which features real live people dancing with real live swords. Real live music too! You might even get to see a mock battle. Sounds awesome! (A traditional celebration of winter, sword dancing began in northern England. Just FYI.) Sunday, February 15, 12:30 pm, free.

RevolvingDansk
(credit: Revolving Dansk / Facebook)

What better way to say "suck it" to winter than by pretending it's summer? The Winter Hot Dog Championship gives you the chance to nosh on one of the summeriest of summer foods, the hot dog. In this case, gourmet hot dogs from Revolving Dansk. A ticket gets you three gourmet hot dog creations and the classic rød pølser hot dog, as well as the chance to vote for the winner. Good thing winter layers can hide an extra bit of girth. Sunday, February 15, 1 to 5 pm, $25, tickets required.

Amuse
(credit: Garrett Ziegler)

The first Restaurant Week of the year begins on February 16. Participating restaurants offer a three-course lunch for $25 or dinner for $38. Some restaurants do both, some do one or the other all week, and still others have restricted days. Many restaurants offer a restricted menu, but some don't. Any way you slice it, now is your chance to get a great meal for less at places like Ai Fiori and db Bistro Moderne. Monday, February 16 through Friday, March 6, prices vary, reservations encouraged.

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