Is love really in the air? It must be, because Valentine’s Day 2016 is only a few days away!
Whether you’re attached to a sweetheart or single and ready to mingle, Los Angeles has a whole bunch of Valentine’s-themed activities that’ll have you either falling in love all over again or opening your heart to someone new.
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From special V-Day menus at some of L.A.’s best restaurants to a ScotsFestival (yes, for real) at the Queen Mary, the City of Angels offers a variety of ways to celebrate love in all of its forms.
Check out our handy list below!
1. Valentine’s Menu At Blue Ribbon Sushi Los Angeles
Delight your date — your just yourself — with the best this Grove restaurant has to offer in this four-course menu for the holiday. The $80+ menu option includes assorted sashimi, sushi omakase, braised short rib and butter poached king crab legs, and assorted dipped strawberries. There’s also a $40+ option, which features fried chicken in place of the short rib and crab.
2. Tinder Ball At Beelman’s Pub
Single, but tired of online dating? Take the online dating into a real-life sexy good time at the second annual Tinder Ball at this Downtown L.A. pub. Swipe right for this party’s kissing booth, a live date auction, and cocktails with names like “D.T.F.” and “Hearts on Fire.” The good times run on Valentine’s Day from 8:00pm until 2:00am.
3. Champagne & Oysters At Knuckle & Claw
For the casual Cupid, this Silver Lake lobster roll mecca will be kicking back and keeping it low key with $1 oysters and half bottles of champagne from 5:00pm – 10:00pm on Valentine’s Day. Grab a seat on the Martha’s Vineyard inspired patio and don’t forget to order a whoopie pie for dessert the almond cream filling is finger licking good. No reservations required for stopping by!
4. The Lady & The Tramp At El Capitan
Why not celebrate Valentine’s Day watching one of the greatest animated love stories of all time? From February 12-15, the classic tale of puppy love will run at various times at Hollywood’s El Capitan. Guests can celebrate with a special candlelit dinner before the movie, catered by Miceli’s (LA’s oldest Italian restaurant) inside the El Capitan Theatre, seating is limited, and reservations for dinner are required, so book soon! Dinner will include your choice of spaghetti with marinara sauce or spaghetti with meatballs with a garden salad, Miceli’s famous dinner rolls and mini cannoli for dessert. Be sure to check for discount tickets to the movie via Goldstar so you can splurge on the dinner! If tickets are sold out check out the link below for regular priced tickets.
5. Beer & Cupcakes At Tony’s Darts Away
For the beer-lovin’ lovers, the Burbank pub is offering free red velvet cupcakes with every pint of the “My Bloody Valentine” beer from Alesmith Brewing Company. Tony’s describes the beer as having “notes of caramel and bittersweet chocolate and finishes with full-bodied sweetness,” which will go great with a yummy cupcake.
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6. The Notebook at Studio Movie Grill
Relive the love story of Noah and Allie in this beloved modern romance film, based on the book by Nicholas Sparks. The 2004 movie screens on Valentines Day at 7:30pm at the Simi Valley movie theater, which does serve dinner.
7. Dinner At Necco Japanese Tapas
Looking for something a bit “royal” for the holiday? Fun fact: Chef Kenji Koyama is personal chef to singer Lorde and his West Los Angeles spot will feature a five-course prix fixe menu featuring roasted duck, Zuke salmon sashimi, lotus croquette, and more. From February 12 – 15, the dinner cost $100 for two and requires a reservation with at least one day’s notice.
More Information
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBQ8TToxgeq/?taken-by=necco_japanese
8. Dinner At The Larchmont
Get romantic at the Larchmont Village restaurant, which will be offering 5:00pm, 7:00pm, and 9:00pm seatings on Valentines Day for its three-course prix fixe menu. For $85 per person, the menu offers choices of foie gras torchon, harissa seared scallops, house ricotta tortellini, and more. See the link below for the full menu.
9. Scavenger Hunt At Malibu Country Mart
If you’re feeling competitive, Malibu Country Mart is holding its third annual Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt. On Valentine’s Day at 11:00am, couples can be on the hunt for hidden jewelry boxes, vying for the chance to win the grand prize: $2,150 Vintage Malibu 18k yellow gold diamond pendant from the Kwiat Diamond. Other prizes include Malibu Country Mart giftcards. Sign up is from 10:30am to 11:00am. For more information and the full rules on how to participate visit this Facebook post from the country mart.
10. Valentine’s Day Menus At Cliff’s Edge
Whether you’re celebrating your love on Saturday or Sunday, the Silver Lake restaurant is prepared with not just one Valentine’s menu, but two. On Saturday, the Valentine’s Eve prix-fixe menu contains three courses and an amuse (curried cauliflower soup mmm!) for $65 per person. On the big day itself, the Valentine’s Day menu is five courses and the amuse for $85. Dishes include a trio of oysters, Wagyu Steak Tartare, and more. See link below for the full menus.
11. Birds Cafe/Bar’s Annual “Anti-Valentine’s Day” Party
Not feeling the love? Birds in Hollywood has you covered with its annual “Anti-Valentine’s Day” party, which already has sarcastic, un-romantic heart decorations hanging from the ceiling. In the past, the bash has featured voodoo dolls and pinatas to let you take aggression out on your ex. Reservations required.
12. ScotsFestival and International Highland Games at Queen Mary
Looking for a different kind of Valentine’s Day? This Long Beach celebration of Scottish history features activities, athletics, dancing, entertainment and cuisine dedicated to the historic Queen Mary’s Scottish history. Tickets are $19 online for adults and $10 for kids 4-11 years old. Keep in mind our friends at Goldstar also have tickets for as low as $10 for admission on Sunday (while supplies last),
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13. Echo Park’s Pop-Up Bookstore On The Lake
Attention book lovers! In conjunction with the L.A. Art Book Fair, a “floating library” installation will, well, float along on the lake from Feb. 11-14 from 11:00am to 4:00pm. How do you get there? You can rent a pedal boat and take it from there.
14. “That’s Amore!” Menu At Love & Salt
The Manhattan Beach Italian restaurant has a special three-course V-Day menu, which includes dishes like antipasto salad, eggplant Parmesan, baked ziti, and tiramisu. The dinner is available from February 12 – 14 and costs $45 per person. There’s also an option to add a bottle of the Love & Salt Dolcetto-Refosco blend for $45.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BA-xv_5t9ty/?taken-by=loveandsaltla
15. Harold and Maude at the Egyptian
Watch this 1971 cult classic film about an unconventional romance — a 20-year-old guy named Bud Cort and an 80-year-old eccentric Ruth Gordon — in Hollywood. The offbeat dark comedy screens at 7:30pm on Valentine’s Day.
16. Valentine’s Day Metro Art Tour
Explore the art of the Los Angeles metro and indulge in some Shakespeare for a free tour from 2-4:30pm on Valentine’s Day. You’ll travel from Union Station to the Hollywood/Western station observing art and enjoying scenes by the Independent Shakespeare Company, who will be on the tour, too. The tour is first-come, first-served.
17. Valentine’s Day “Free Play” At Neon Retro Arcade
Get your gaming on and chill at Pasadena’s Neon Retro Arcade, which is offering $10 for “Free Play” games (no tokens or quarters) on Valentines Day from 11:00am until midnight. Bringing a date? Don’t worry, they’ve got multiplayer games, too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBjDmsRr4T0/?taken-by=neonretroarcade
18. Big Sunday’s Fourth Annual Valentine-Making, Bingo-Playing Community Breakfast
Show some love by doing some good. Big Sunday will host a morning of making Valentine cards, playing a rousing game of bingo, and a breakfast. The Do-Good bus will distribute those Valentines all around Los Angeles. The fun runs from 10:00am until 1:00pm on Feb. 14.
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19. Very Vegan Valentine’s Menu at Gracias Madre
Who says true love can’t be vegan? The delicious West Hollywood spot will have a special $50 per person four-course menu for the occasion — including dishes like ensalada higo asada and stuffed portobello en croix — as well as the Drake-inspired “Hotline Sling” cocktail for the night.
More Information
20. Do Good Bus Volunteer V-Day Community Ride
Do good and experience a fun mystery on this bus ride that begins in Culver City. The destination is a secret, but the Do Good Bus does promise altruistic adventurism with Valentine’s Day candy, crafts, and lunch. The ride embarks at 9:30am on Feb. 14. Tickets are $45 for adults and lunch is included; kids 12 and under are free.
21. Valentine’s Day Curling Lesson
Looking for an active and unusual Valentine’s Day date night? Take your sweetie to the L.A. Kings Valley Ice Center to learn the art and strategy of curling. The special one-night package includes curling rock chocolates and a rose. Get more information and discount tickets ($30 for a two-person package) via our friends at Goldstar.
What are you doing for Valentine’s Day 2016 in Los Angeles? Let us know your ideas in the comments below!
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