Women for Women Pre-Valentines Gift Exchange and Matchmaking Wed., Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. $20. Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, 4819 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa. 727-433-8782.
Total Eclipse of the Heart at MOSI Take in a truly unique experience under the stars of the planetarium dome; includes a light dinner underneath a changing sky that will take you to romantic cities, like Paris, Buenos Aires and Fiji. Love songs play as a swoon and dine. Limited seating available; preregistration required. Thurs., Feb. 14, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. 813-967-6000. mosi.org.
Valentine’s Happy Hour Enjoy some offbeat romance with fluxus performances, poetry readings and personal anecdotes 5-6 p.m. Eve ’n’ Odd Gallery, St. Petersburg. 727-433-4981. eve-n-odd.blogspot.com.
Orbit 19 Valentine’s Night Fall in love with Pasco’s chic, otherworldly night spot if you haven’t already. Valentine’s is less about heart-shaped candy and more about eye candy with a pinup contest hosted by Vita DeVoid, burlesque performances by Thee Vaudevillians and live music by Izzy and the Catastrophics (rock ’n’ roll, swing and surf). The first 100 to arrive will receive a complimentary Cointreau Liqueur cupcake. Note: If you’re interested in entering the contest, you must be 21 and older and are advised to contact DeVoid via Facebook before 9 p.m. Event on Facebook. Free admission. Thurs., Feb. 14, 9 p.m. Orbit 19, 1542 U.S. 19, Holiday. 727-505-5818. orbit19lounge.com.
V-Day Free Skool Talent Show Tampa Free Skool & the Food Not Bombs Free Skool for a night of fun acts and strange feats, featuring puppetry by
the Autonomous Playhouse, Want to show off your stuff? Sign up in the comments on the Facebook event page. Sacred Grounds Coffee House, Tampa. facebook.com/groups/tampafreeskool.
New World’s Second Lonely Heart V-Day Comedian/bartender Steve Miller and bartender Dean Rosenberger bring back the event that was a smash last year — especially for disgruntled singles. This year even more regulars take part in a night of love bashing with poetry, observations and music. Free; starts at 8 p.m. 1313 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City. newworldbrewery.net.
Lowry Park Zoo Wild at Heart Summon your beasty appetite for a an event exclusively for grown-ups 21 and older. It includes a progressive dinner with stories about the pairing, partnering and mating habits of the zoo’s residents. Guests peek on in mating rituals and learn how we’re all not so different, and maybe pick up some pointers for when they get home. $65. lowryparkzoo.com.
Return to Romance Chillounge Event feat. Jon Secada 7 p.m. ,Feb. 14, at Powel Crosley Estate, 8374 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $140, $160, includes catered food, a full liquor bar and concert. 888-695-0888; chilloungenight.com.
Boyd Hill Nature Date Cozy up to the great outdoors on a deck nestled in the heart of a live oak forest with soft lighting and the sounds of nature. Sample gourmet chocolates and take in local poets reading poems about manner of affection. $10. 7-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, St. Petersburg. stpeteparksrec.org/boyd-hill.
Relationship Therapy: An Interactive Comedy Cabaret Mme. Jiji presents a new theatrical adventure. Two shows: Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 and Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. The L Train, St. Petersburg. 813-658-8301. caburlesqueshow.com
Gary Valentine How funny! A TV comedian celeb named for the holiday he’s headlining. Valentine played Cousin Danny on The King of Queens and recently appeared on Ray Romano’s Men of a Certain Age. Feb. 14-17, Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa. sidesplitterscomedy.com.
All month long ...
Post Coital Peek in on a diverse group of artists’ perceptions of romantic love: Marta Soul, Rebekah Bogard, Becky Flanders, Georgine Ingold, Christina West, Muir Vidler, Scot Sothern. Named for the “blissful finale to a passionate exchange,” the works reveal that the moments after the loving do not always turn out the way we expect them to and what influences outcomes. Through March 23. Mindy Solomon Gallery, 124 Second Ave NE, St. Petersburg. 727-502-0852.
Valentines: Tokens of Affection A collection of antique valentines from the late 19th and early 20th centuries is on display at the University of Tampa’s Henry B. Plant Museum. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10 per adult, $7 for seniors (65 and older), $7 for students and $5 for children 4—12. Tue.-Sun. through Feb. 28. The Henry B. Plant Museum, University of Tampa. 813-254-1891. plantmuseum.com.
