Axios Twin Cities

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and there are plenty of ways to treat your special someone (or yourself) for the holiday.

What's happening: V-Day falls on a Tuesday this year — which can be an awkward day for a big night out. Audrey found 10 things to do on and around Feb. 14, whether you're partnered up, happily solo or looking for love.

• Pro tip: If you want a better chance at a hard-to-get restaurant, consider an early dinner on Sunday. Everyone else will be busy watching the Super Bowl.

Here are some of her picks this year:

Dinners/Drinks:

🧑‍🍳 Cooks of Crocus Hill's vegetarian or gluten-free dinners require some work — guests head to the kitchen and prepare the three-course meal themselves, with help from the chef. Feb. 11-12; $125/person

🍸 Cocktails at the CAT Museum is a pre-Valentine's Day cocktail party at Shoreview's new studio glass art museum. Guests can tour the exhibit after-hours while enjoying drinks, hors d'oeuvres and dessert. Feb 10; $40/person.

Tip: Several of the spots on our updated Romantic Restaurants guide have reservations available or accept walk-ins.

Out and About:

😱 Skip the romance and go for terror at Cupid's Revenge, a Valentine's Day-themed haunted house in Inver Grove Heights. (It's a great excuse to hold your partner's hand.) Feb. 10-11; $25/person.

💃 Bring your partner to Minneapolis Cider Company for a night of big band music and swing dancing. No experience, no problem: There's a free dance lesson at 6:15. Feb. 16; $10/entry.

Going solo:

❤️ Show local art some love at Mia's Institute of Hearts. Visitors receive paper hearts upon entry to place beneath their favorite piece of art; explore the galleries to see what others picked. Feb. 9-12; Free.

🐕 Make your pup your wingman at Dating with Dogs, a singles mixer for dog lovers at Forgotten Star Brewing in Fridley. No pup required for entry; proceeds benefit Ruff Start Rescue. Feb. 14; $10 advance.

More dates, including '80s arcade games

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By the time you get this newsletter, Punxsutawney Phil will have made his prediction on how much winter we have left.

• There's good reason to trust the little groundhog.

Over the past 75 years, Phil has correctly predicted whether there will be an early spring 69% of the time, according to an Axios analysis of NOAA data.

• Axios data journalist Erin Davis defined an early spring as one that’s significantly warmer — by one standard deviation — than the average of the previous 30 years.

Nick's thought bubble: Even if Phil sees his shadow, most Minnesotans would be happy with winter ending in mid-March.

🏢 Bright Health is conducting another round of layoffs. This time, it's 68 employees at its Bloomington headquarters. (Star Tribune)

🎓 The University of Minnesota has reversed course and will allow individual students to walk the stage and receive diplomas at their ceremony this spring. (KARE 11)

🏈 The 1998 Minnesota Vikings are the best team to miss the Super Bowl, according to one study. (Fox 9)

The NBA will announce the full rosters for its all-star game today. It would be a shame if Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards isn't on the list.

Why it matters: It really doesn't. The mid-season game is silly and great players get snubbed all the time.

Yes, but: It's a good time to alert the masses that Edwards has taken a big step forward this season and is willing an injury-riddled Wolves team into playoff contention.

By the numbers: Here's what he's been doing:

• Averaging 27 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in 16 January games.
• The Wolves went 11-5 during that span, even though Karl-Anthony Towns has been out with a calf injury.
• Ant has not missed a game this season, which is rare for a star player in the NBA these days.
• In addition to his thunderous dunks, he's made 500 three pointers faster than any player in NBA history.
• Oh, and he's still just 21 years old.

The intrigue: With Edwards taking over as team leader, fans will be watching to see how Towns fits back into the mix when he returns from injury.

The bottom line: Ant is the most exciting player this franchise has had since Kevin Garnett.

• Fan voters may not be aware of this yet, but coaches, who choose the all-star reserves, should get him into the game.