VALENTINE’S DAY
Sex and the City Zoo
Feb. 12. Lighthearted, adults-only affair at the Los Angeles Zoo begins with a reception featuring tempting desserts and alluring wines followed by a provocative presentation by Zoo veteran Jason Jacobs with insights about the relationships in the animal kingdom. Stay for the dinner after the presentation, which includes long stem roses for the ladies and a complementary glass of champagne. 5333 Zoo Drive, L.A., 323.644.4708. lazoo.org
The Naked at the Getty Scavenger Hunt
Feb. 11-12. Go on a humorous, mind-tingling search for nudity at the Getty Center. Highlights include a sultry dog whisperer, slapstick with a lemon, an ancient game of Wife Swap, Toulouse-Lautrec’s “moodel,” Mischief’s bear hide, a Cupid who pulls a Mike Tyson move and more. This hunt is rated PG-13. $22/pp.(does not include the museum parking fee). 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A. watsonadventures.com
Stella Rosa Social
Feb. 11. Set in the historic San Antonio winery, you can casually sip boutique wines from around the world, which are paired with gourmet appetizers tailored to showcase the wines’ characteristics. 2-4 p.m. $45/pp. San Antonio Winery, 737 Lamar St., downtown, 888.223.1401. www.sanantoniowinery.com
Godfather Cooking Class
Feb. 12. Learn a thing or two about romance at Ombra Ristorante where Chef Michael Young teaches an in-depth hands-on class featuring classic Italian dishes that could melt any mobster’s heart. There’s no V-Day sappiness in this kitchen, and the meal, which is 100% Corleone approved, features braciole, meatballs and Sunday sauce, baked mostacciloi, and Sicilian cannoli. 10 a.m.-noon. $99/pp; $169/couple. 3737 Cahuenga Blvd., Studio City, 818.985.7337. www.ombrala.com
“Share the Love” in Santa Monica
Feb. 11-14. Downtown Santa Monica and the Third Street Promenade will transform into Cupid’s playground, boasting a free Valentine’s Day photo booth where couples can get their photos snapped and then personalized into two Valentine’s Day cards–with one to keep and one to post on the “Share the Love” wall. Also find VDay specials at local restaurants, hotels, spas including the Georgian Hotel, Border Grill, Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar and more. www.facebook.com/DowntownSantaMonica
Click HERE for our full list of more than 55 Valentine’s Day events
EVENTS
The Avenues District Wide Sale
Feb. 11. Shop for in-store promotions and sales on art, fashion and interior design products for one day only at The Avenues: Art, Fashion & Design District, a premier West Hollywood shopping destination. Participating retailers include: 655 Home, Alpha, Beckley, Kitson Melrose, Anichini and many more. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. N. Robertson Blvd., Melrose Ave., and Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood. www.avenueswh.com
World City at the Music Center
Feb. 11. The world comes to the Music Center with this free performance and art-making workshop series that celebrates artistic traditions from around the globe. Bring the entire family and discover the rich traditions of Central Asia. One of the world’s foremost Afghan music ensembles, Sounds and Rhythms of Afghanistan (S.A.R.A.) incorporates elements of percussion, vocal performance and poetry for a repertoire that reveals the diversity of this beautiful and complex nation. In addition, Ballet Afsaneh will perform authentic dances from Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in elaborately embroidered and beaded dresses. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.4396. musiccenter.org/worldcity
Cirque du Soleil’s Ovo
Through Mar. 25. A blue-and-yellow “grand chapiteau” adjacent to Santa Monica Pier hosts Ovo. Meaning “egg” in Portuguese, Ovo delves into the insect ecosystem with 55 performers and a riot of colorful, evocative costumes. The main act, a trapeze stunt, features six “flyers,” and the finale features “20 artists running, jumping and leaping up against a 24-foot vertical wall.” Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica. cirquedusoleil.com/ovo
Talk Radio V
Feb. 12. Host Bill Moran moderates the fifth annual Talk Radio panel, with Los Angeles’ #1-rated radio personalities: Bill Carroll, Bill Handel with Michael Harrison and Patt Morrison. Hear their takes on the 2012 election, Israel, the economy, healthcare and jobs. 2 p.m. $25. American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air, 310.440.1246. ajula.edu
EAT | DRINK
Pacific Standard Time: Art as an Appetizer
Through Mar. 31. Dubbed the only event where you can literally eat Pacific Standard Time, Art as an Appetizer is a collaboration with chef John Sedlar, artist Ron Cooper, and mixologist Julian Cox who worked together to create a one-of-a-kind menu inspired by Pacific Standard Time works of art (the food is served on a plate showing the image of the art that inspired it). Ask for it at Playa and Rivera by showing Pacific Standard Time museum proof of admission or mentioning the “Pacific Standard Time Secret Menu”. Playa Restaurant, 7360 Beverly Blvd., L.A., playarivera.com; Rivera Restaurant, 1050 South Flower St., downtown, riverarestaurant.com
Common Grains Dashi Workshop | Soba Pop-Up
Feb. 12. Learn how to use dashi, and taste soba and rice balls made of dashi at this intimate workshop. Common Grains is a Japanese cultural program helmed by soba maker Sonoko Sakai. Sakai and Mamiko Nishiyama of Yagicho, a 275 year-old store in Tokyo specializing in quality dashi making products, demonstrate how to use dashi ingredients and various preparations. This also coincides with Sakai’s and Mutsuko Soma’s soba pop-up restaurant at Soba-Ya where you can dine on handcrafted soba prepared with a choice of traditional or modern ingredients and garnishes and specialty onigiri, Feb. 9-21. Workshops are two hours 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; 3 p.m.-5 p.m. $65/pp. Soba-Ya, 1757 W. Carson Street, Suite R & S, Torrance. RSVP: commongrains@wagstaffworldwide.com
MUSIC
Dr. Dog
Feb. 10. This band belts a funky blend of ‘60s pop with lo-fi recording techniques. Their most recent album, Be the Void, dropped Feb. 7, a much anticipated followup to the band’s successful 2010 release Shame, Shame. Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, downtown, 877.677.4386. www.laorpheum.com
Red Carpet Memories: A Celebration of Academy Award-Nominated Songs
Feb. 10-19. Featuring an all-star lineup of vocal talent from Broadway, Television and the Los Angeles music scene, this highly-theatrical musical revue will pay homage to some of the most beloved songs in movie history. Relive your favorite movie memories with the songs of Fred & Ginger, Judy Garland, the kids from Fame, Kermit the Frog, and more. The Coterie, Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa, 1755 N. Highland Ave, Hollywood, 323.856.1200. www.thecoteriela.com
OPERA
Simon Boccanegra
Feb. 11, 15, 19, 21, 26. Giuseppe Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra has long fascinated Plácido Domingo, who has often performed its tenor role of Gabriele Adorno. He now performs the role for his “home” company in the work’s L.A. Opera premiere. James Conlon conducts; Elijah Moshinsky directs. Soprano Ana María Martínez, last here for La Bohème in 2004, returns as Boccanegra’s long-lost daughter, Amelia, and bass Vitalij Kowaljow, in his second appearance this season, returns as Fiesco. Italian tenor Stefano Secco makes his company debut as Gabriele, and Italian baritone Paolo Gavanelli returns as Paolo Albiani. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.7211. LAOpera.com
THEATER
Art
Through Feb. 19. What is more valuable – good art or good friends? Serge, Marc and Yvan are about to find out. When Serge drops a small fortune on a controversial painting, sparks (and words) fly as each experience the dire consequences of adhering to one’s taste in art. Written by Yasmina Reza (God of Carnage), this acclaimed international hit is also directed by nine-time Emmy Award-winner David Lee. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, 626.356.7529. www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
A Raisin in the Sun
Through Feb. 19. Phylicia Rashad makes her L.A. directorial debut with this 50-year-old classic about an African American family’s dream of a better life amid racial tension and betrayal. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 213.628.2772. www.centertheatregroup.org
Our Town
Through Feb. 20. Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winner Helen Hunt stars in this groundbreaking new version of Thornton Wilder’s iconic American play. Our Town tells the story of young lovers George and Emily, whose life in a small New England town becomes a microcosm of every day life. The wisdom of the play, rendered through a deceptively simple story, makes Our Town an enduring treasure of the American theater. This electrifying new production is directed by Broadway director and MacArthur Fellow David Cromer in his LA debut. Most of the seating for this production will be on stage with the actors. Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica 310.434.3200. thebroadstage.com
Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins
Through Feb. 19. Two-time Tony and Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner sizzles as Molly Ivins, the brassy Texan reporter whose liberal journalism skyrocketed her to the national stage. This acclaimed show captures the redheaded reporter’s indomitable character by weaving personal anecdotes with her colorful take on national politics. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A., 310.208.5454. geffenplayhouse.com
Clybourne Park
Through Feb. 26. In this play inspired by A Raisin in the Sun, jokes fly and hidden agendas unfold as two vastly different generations of characters tip-toe the delicate dance of social politics, pitting race against real estate at the crux of two seminal events —50 years apart —in the same north Chicago house. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. www.centertheatregroup.org