1) Paris on Ponce hosts Showbiz What Sizzles with burlesque by the Dames Aflame.
2) The N.E.C. and Abby Go Go play 529.
3) Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs at the Rialto Center.
4) Local musicians unite for Dream Brothers, a Tim and Jeff Buckley tribute at the Earl.
5) Labelle performs at the Civic Center.
For even more Valentine’s Day events, check out our event and restaurant roundups.
(Photo by Sarah Rose)
If you’re hoping to avoid the restaurant scene this Valentine’s Day — or you procrastinated to the point that reservations are damn near impossible (They’re not! Check out OmnivoreATL.com.) — we have some V-Day alternatives that will still impress your sweetie. If you’re too slothful for restaurants or even a physical card, Someecards.com has a few winners for that pseudospecial person in your life.
(Photo by Anaxila/Flickr.com)
BE MY VALENTINE A night of music, romance and comedy at the Towne Lake Arts Center. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 15, 3 p.m. Through Feb. 14. $25. Towne Lake Arts Center, 6576 Commerce Parkway, Woodstock. 678-494-4251. www.tlaclive.org.
THE BLAKE VALENTINE SHOW Drag show followed by dancing. 10:30 p.m. Paris, 308-H W. Ponce de Leon Place, Decatur. 404-687-1965. www.myspace.com/parisdecatur.
CASABLANCA Organ pre-show before the movie at 7:30 p.m. Fri., Feb. 13, 8 p.m. $6-$7. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta. 770-293-0080. www.earlsmithstrand.org.
CELEBRATING THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY The Fernbank Science Center will unveil new mural-sized images taken from NASA’s great observatories: the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope and Chandra X-way Observatory. Local astronomer Jim Summers will unveil the images. Sat., Feb. 14, 10 a.m. Fernbank Science Center, 156 Heaton Park Drive. 678-874-7102. fsc.fernbank.edu.
CONTEMPORARY DANCE-VINTAGE MUSIC The Vega String Quartet and choreographer George Staib bring together live music and dance. Thurs., Feb. 12, 8 p.m.; Fri., Feb. 13, 8 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 14, 8 p.m. Free-$20. Emory Performing Arts Studio, 1804 N. Decatur Road. 404-727-5050. arts.emory.edu.
CUPID AT THE CASTLE Get hitched at the Castle on Peachtree. Proceeds go to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Sat., Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $100. Rhodes Hall, 1516 Peachtree St. 404-885-7800. www.rhodeshall.org.
Skurby (with Will): On a freight train. It’s the most amazing thing you can ever experience. You go over bridges, the scenery, the stars and everything. It’s the most awesome thing ever. Freedom. Bring canned food. It gets cold on the train so bring a sleeping bag. I did it from Philly down to Columbus. You just hop on and off the freight train and travel around wherever it takes us. I don’t want anything from a person other than companionship. I was nervous the first time, but once it starts going, it’s amazing.
Penny (with Cristal): I’m probably taking her to the Aquarium. There’s all that wetness, all that moisture. It’s hot. It’s very suggestive. We’ll have some sushi, some unagi. It’s supposed to be an aphrodisiac. Then we’ll go bowling. Then go somewhere on Cheshire Bridge and maybe find a bouquet of flowers made out of condoms. That way she knows what’s on my mind. Then the Glenn Hotel, downtown. They have rooms where you can see the showers from the bedroom. That’s pretty hot. And then invite a girl over to the hotel and get the sushi delivered — and eat off of her.
Patrick (with Grace): A perfect rainy day, waking up with the person who’s your better half. You’re pretty much stuck inside with them all day, and you just hang out together. Dinner and hang out together all day. That’s perfect. You’re forced to be alone with each other, away from society, which is going to make you appreciate yourselves that much better. We appreciate each other all year round. We just don’t take one day out of the year. We treat every day like it’s Valentine’s.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Courtroom 1C at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center isn’t typically decorated with balloons and scattered rose petals. It’s also not typically the site of 60 weddings by 2 p.m. like it was on Valentine’s Day, when Chief Magistrate George Hutchinson opened the court for free, no-appointment weddings. The seven couples we witnessed entering single and leaving married seemed overwhelmed by the day’s significance. Hutchinson and the judges helping him with the Spanish-language ceremonies, however, were beaming. Being a part of such a happy occasion is a pleasure, Hutchinson explained. “Sometimes judges don’t see life at its most pleasant.â€
Thursday, Feb. 14, is Valentine’s Day.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
Wendy: Atlanta is a good city for straight, single men. Atlanta can be romantic. It’s just hard to find the right person with straight, single men being a high commodity. Unless you have that magical, wonderful boyfriend or girlfriend, Valentine’s Day makes a lot of people unhappy. I don’t like people to be unhappy. I don’t feel I have to prescribe to what my nation makes a romantic day. My idea of romance is being taken out for pool and beer.
.
Almeta: Valentine’s Day sucks. I’m having an anti-Valentine’s Day hump and grope party for my birthday, which is the day before Valentine’s. I don’t have a date for Valentine’s. My apartment is really tiny so I’m going to invite a lot of people. Forget that couple shit; let’s just get in a room and hump and grope. Valentine’s Day should not exist. It’s made to make single people feel bad. I’m expecting to sit home, drink a bottle of wine and maybe cry.
.
Bubba: No. I always get turned down on Valentine’s. It’s just a good reason to get drunk. Atlanta is not a romantic city. I mean, where are you going to go? Are you going to go to the zoo? Are you going to go to the aquarium or the CNN Center? Six Flags ain’t open. I guess I hang out in the wrong places, looking for the wrong thing. I never have a date for Valentine’s. It’s been so long, I’ve forgot. Hawaii would probably work better.
