Ideas for Valentine’s Day in LA
By: Talia Walters ‘20
I had the recent, somewhat horrific discovery that Valentine’s day is currently less than 3 days away, and I have planned almost nothing for this weekend. In that panic, I realized I needed to figure something out and fast. So if you also happen to be in that boat (I super don’t blame you, this year is already flying by), then take the research I’ve already done so you can get all of your planning out of the way super fast. Here are a few cool things happening around LA this weekend. At the time of posting, all events still had tickets available, but act quick as I’m sure they’re bound to sell out soon.
For Movie Lovers… A Movie Screening Around Town
If you like the idea of old-school dinner and a movie, but you don’t want to seem lame and old-fashioned, try attending one of the various movie screenings stationed around LA. There are different movies for every type of person, and they’re at a bunch of different locations so you can stay close to campus or travel a little ways away. For those looking for a rom-com, Adam Sandler’s The Wedding Singerat the Cinespia at the LA Theater is a great choice. If you’re looking for a classic, they’re showing Casablanca at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica. And if you’re looking for a musical romp around town, Million Dollar Theater in LA is showing La La Land.
Most of the showings include a bar (for those over 21, of course), food, music, and dancing. It’s like taking your date out for dinner and a movie, but it’s all at the same place and you get to add a nightclub in there too!
For Music Lovers … Lovers Rock at Grand Park (FREE)
If you’re trying to celebrate Valentine’s day on a budget and you love live music, I would recommend heading to Grand Park this Friday evening for a night of romantic music and great scenery. Lovers Rock is a music genre rooted in reggae and Caribbean nightclubs in London, and it serves as a space of love, identity, and resistance, situated in the intersection of gender and expression. The entire park is transformed with beautiful mood lights and music curated to the soundings. You can have a picnic dinner, stroll through the moonlit olive groves, and take in the views of the historic city buildings surrounding the park. DJ Linafornia will be choosing the music all night. It’s a great way to spend a romantic evening without spending all of your savings.
For (A Late) Galentine’s Day… Valentine’s Day Goat Yoga
Look, sometimes you just don’t have someone to spend Valentine’s day with, and honestly that takes the pressure off the whole weekend. However, if you and your friends are bored, it might be nice to look into group activities to celebrate Galentine’s Day. Downward Grog is hosting a Goat Yoga Party in DTLA at Indie Brewing Co on the Saturday after Valentine’s Day. The goats will be hopping on your back while you do yoga, you’ll have time to take pictures with them afterwards, and they even said two of their goats, Doc and Gizmo, will be dressed up as Cupid. How perfect is that? So get out in the morning, get yourself some zen, and meet some goats!
For the Homies … Palentine’s Day Poetry Event
Perhaps hanging around some goats isn’t your thing, or you and the bros would never be caught dead in a pair of yoga pants. If that’s your case but you and your friends still want to go out and have a good time, then I might suggest going to the super close California African American Museum for their Be Our Palentine event. They’re hosting Poet Danez Smith, who is preforming some of their poems from their new collection, Homie, about the saving grace of friendship. Danez will be joined in performance and conversation with fellow poet Fatimah Asghar. Go for the poetry, but stay for a DJ set at the Palentine’s after party. It’s a great way to spend this Valentine’s celebrating your homies.
For Party Lovers … Howl at the Moon Valentine’s Day Party
Valentine’s day is on a Friday night this year, and if you’re the type of couple that can’t miss a single second of partying on the weekend, then traditional date ideas might not be up your alley. Nightclub Howl at the Moon is hosting a Valentine’s Day Party this weekend. They have live music, giveaways, and “so much more” – They even have date night packages for the romantics among you. Plus, their drink specials look like a great bang for your buck (which, again, I cannot stress this enough, 21+). It’s a super cute nightclub that looks like they know what they’re doing, so if partying is your thing, check out the party happening in Hollywood!
For Performance Lovers … Broken Hearts Circus
Have you ever been to a circus? Okay, but have you ever been to a circus in a brewery? Bring out those childhood memories of amazing performances in a super cool location with the Broken Hearts Circus at the Angel City Brewery and Public House. I know it sounds like it’s for people who hate Valentine’s day, but it’s for couples, singles, and groups of friends looking for a great time. It’s an all-day event, from 12pm-7pm, so you’ll have just enough time to make those dinner reservations, and it’ll feature live music, a juggling performance, and a burlesque show. It’s important to note that it is a 21+ event only since it does take place in a brewery, but if you’re of age, then it might be a great time!
For the Romantics … the Pacific Wheel in Santa Monica
Every teen rom-com has that scene where the protagonist gets their special someone at the top of the Ferris Wheel to share a romantic view of the city below, just the two of them. Why not recreate this scene in the city of movies with the Pacific Wheel off the Santa Monica Pier! There will be romantic live music all down the pier all day, you can watch the sun set over the ocean, and once the stars are in the sky, the Pacific Wheel will light up with beautiful heart designs and love messages. And at the end of the night, you and your own special someone can share a gondola to ride to the top of the wheel 130 feet above the ocean to take in the beautiful sights and sounds of the city below. Gosh, how romantic!
For Plant Lovers… Valentine Bawdy Botany Night Hike
We’ve all fallen for someone who is just a little too nerdy for their own good; it’s a wonderfully adorable personality trait, but sometimes it’s hard to plan events that keep their interests. Well, luckily for you, the LA Arboretum has you covered for Valentine’s day this year with their Bawdy Botany Night Hike. It’s an adults-only hike through their plant spaces, teaching you about the somewhat racy aspects of botany. They declare you’ll learn about the botanical origins of lust and love, and the night is supposed to get a little spicy, a little sensual, and very, very nerdy. If you’re looking to spice up your date night just a little in a unique way, then this might be just the thing for your smarty-pants lover to hop on board.
For Comedy Lovers … How to Break Up by Text
I love to laugh, and it’s super important to me that my significant other can make me double over in giggle. If you or your own significant other are the same way, then you should look into going to a comedy show together! How to Break-up by Text, an ongoing show that features a group of comedians sharing their and the audience’s worst break-up text messages, is hosting a Valentine’s Day special. The show is hosted by Allison Goldberg, and Olivia Harewood, Craig Low, and Alex Kruger will be the panel of comedians roasting painful text messages on stage. There’s even audience participation; if you’ve ever been broken up with over text, then you can submit your own screenshots and share a good laugh with a group of strangers who have all felt your pain. It’s a great way to spend your Valentine’s day with a smile on your face.
In the end, it doesn’t matter how you spend your Valentine’s day but who you spend it with. It doesn’t matter how much money you spend, how many things you plan, or how many gifts you give as long as you feel love and feel loved. So gather up your loved ones and help make each other feel a little bit more special by spending time together, expressing your care for one another, and deepening those human bonds that make life special. Or do goat yoga. You know, it does the same thing.
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