Why a Vinyl Turntable Is the Ultimate Valentine’s Day Gift in 2026: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and everyone is thinking about the perfect way to show their love. While flowers and chocolates are timeless, they can feel temporary. What if your gift could create lasting memories, shared experiences, and a romantic atmosphere that truly resonates? Enter the vinyl turntable—a classic yet modern way to connect through music. In 2026, these devices aren’t just for audiophiles; they’re becoming the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift for anyone who wants to combine romance, style, and emotional connection.
Iowa City, IA | UI alum opens new record store in North Liberty: Zig Zog’s Records is set to open Feb. 7 and boasts a diverse collection of vinyl and CDs. Tucked away in the back of an unmarked commercial unit off Ranshaw Way in North Liberty, Isaac Smith sat among boxes of records and CDs, combing through his collection and pricing each item. With less than a week left, he had a laundry list of tasks to prepare for the grand opening of his record store, Zig Zog’s Records, on Feb 7. …After a decade of selling his records without a permanent location and using the funds to pay for college, it seemed like the next logical step to open his own record store after graduating from the University of Iowa in 2024.
Portland, OR | Music Millennium selling as legendary owner Terry Currier set to retire: Music Millennium’s Terry Currier revealed in an email to customers Tuesday that he’ll retire and look to sell the store. This story comes from the Portland Business Journal, a KGW News partner. Music Millennium’s Terry Currier revealed in an email to customers Tuesday and on Instagram that he’ll retire and look to sell the store, a key part of the East Burnside business district. …The business opened March 15, 1969. Currier, a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, is known as a tireless arts advocate who’s a highly influential figure among music stores nationally. He started the National Coalition of Independent Record Stores in 1995: That group played a critical role in starting Record Store Day in 2007.
UK | Holly Humberstone announces Brighton date at Chalk: Holly Humberstone has announced a run of intimate record store dates. The BRIT Award winner will perform at Chalk in Brighton on March 25, in partnership with Resident Music, as part of a run of intimate record store dates to celebrate the release of her second album, Cruel World. …Humberstone said: “The record explores love as beautiful and inherently painful. “In To Love Somebody I wanted to capture that contradiction: to love somebody is to hurt somebody and to lose somebody, well at least you got to love somebody. “In order to feel extreme happiness, you have to know extreme sadness. That’s the tension of the record.”
Tallahassee, FL | Retrofit Records hosts pop-punk Joyce Manor listening party: Beloved pop-punk band Joyce Manor returned to the punk rock music scene on Jan. 30 with their seventh studio album, “I Used To Go To This Bar.” The band’s widespread critical acclaim and cult status have only grown since their last release in 2022, and the excitement in rock circles has been palpable. Following a rollout that saw the release of four singles (“All My Friends Are So Depressed,” “Well, Whatever It Was,” “I Used To Go To This Bar” and “I Know Where Mark Chen Lives”) and the announcement of an extensive tour of the United States, Joyce Manor’s new record descended upon local record stores around the country to give fans a special first listen the night before the album is officially released.
Roseburg, OR | First Fifth Friday event of 2026 invites Roseburg to sip, shop and support local business: At a time when many of downtown Roseburg’s businesses would be closed, Friday evening brought several businesses together, inviting residents to shop, have a drink and see what they have to offer. The occasion was the first Fifth Friday event of 2026, presented by RediscoverDowntown and Origami Creative Co. The premise is simple: For every month that has five Fridays, the final one is marked as Fifth Friday, where businesses open their doors later than usual and invite locals to kick off their weekend with shopping and dining, without any parking enforcement. This Fifth Friday had a special theme: Sip and Shop.
Parma, OH | Parma Record Stores wants to turn Led (Zeppelin) into Food for Ohioans: A local record store is hoping to turn a double-sized dose of “Led” into food for seniors in need. The Current Year Records and Tapes (5580 Ridge Rd., Parma) is holding a charity raffle featuring a MINT copy of a “special edition, 200 Gram Classic Records, QUIEX SV-P Super Vinyl Profile” edition of Led Zeppelin’s classic double album “Physical Graffiti” with an estimated value of $1,300. Fans of Led Zeppelin, vinyl, and seniors can bid on the album at zeffy.com, with all proceeds from the raffle going to All Faiths Pantry in Parma.
Miami, FL | Spin This: New Times Will Host Miami Vinyl History Event at Sweat Records. Dig into the history of vinyl in Miami at this New Times talk and happy hour at Sweat Records on March 5. Since 2026 is officially the year of logging off and actually going outside again, New Times is fully embracing the IRL comeback. On March 5—yes, 305 Day!—from 6-8 p.m. we will host an event at Sweat Records, celebrating one of Miami’s most enduring obsessions: vinyl. The night will feature a casual conversation between Sweat Records founder Lolo Reskin and New Times music editor Flor Franceschetti, digging into Miami’s deep (and often underrated) vinyl history—from iconic record shops to the albums that were recorded, pressed, and sold right here in South Florida.
Bel Air, MD | Vinyl Record Fun! The Bel Air Record Riot! Sun, February 22nd at The Bel AIr Armory, 10 AM-4 PM. CDs too! Don’t miss the Bel Air Record Riot! It’s a BIG VINYL RECORD POP-UP sale at the Bel Air Armory! Over 15,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! 40 tables of LPs, CDs, 45s, tapes & more. The Bel Air Record Riot is HERE! It’s a MAD VINYL DIGGING PARTY! Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz, and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). DISCOUNT TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE! Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
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