A statue of Ben Franklin, from the exhibition “Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World” at the National Archives through May 6. (Lavanya Ramanathan) We know you’ve got Tuesday, Feb. 14, circled on your calendar, but there’s a lot to do before Valentine’s Day, including many ways to celebrate this weekend. See our ideas for the best events this weekend, including dual exhibits featuring two Founding Fathers, plays put together in a day and the International Wine and Food Festival.

In two new exhibits, just blocks apart from each other, we get a look at Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson beyond history books and folklore. “Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World,” opening Friday at the National Archives, looks at Franklin’s less-than-glamorous day job as a printer and his initial indecisiveness on separating from Britain. “Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty” scrutinizes the third president’s ambivalent view of slavery.

We in the news business are familiar with tight deadlines, but playwrights usually get to write under a more relaxed timeframe. Not so this weekend: Six local theater companies give themselves 24 hours to write, rehearse, direct and perform an entirely new 10-minute play. See their results at the Imagination Stage.

If you’re a foodie and oenophile, head to the Washington D.C. International Wine & Food Festival for tastings from local restaurants and international wineries. The Grand Tastings on Saturday and Sunday feature more than 500 wines alone.

See a dozen more ideas on our full list of the best events this weekend.