Valentine's Day

Coming Soon: The Salon at Osteria La Buca

A salon was a respected -- sacred almost -- intellectual space, taking on different meanings at various points of history as a literary gathering or an art exhibition. On Thursday, March 28, Osteria La Buca will attempt to reintroduce this European tradition to Angelenos with the launch of its month ... More >>

Porn Stars To Persuade Calif. Lawmaker Condoms Are Bad For Adult Video

The adult business is going to sic a gaggle of porn stars on a state legislator who wants to make condoms the law for XXX production across California. We thought the standard protocol for swaying lawmakers was to sic highly paid lobbyists on them, flood them with campaign contributions, and ply th ... More >>

What's In Season at the Farmers Market: Sunchokes and Romance

It's really too bad that the Jerusalem artichoke, or Sunchoke, comes into peak season right around Valentine's Day. Young lovers, eager to impress and please, peel and prep these drab little roots, detailing to their intended what they found in a quick recipe search on Saveur.com. And truly, it's ... More >>

5 Great L.A. Restaurants For Single Awareness Day

Whereas couples or polyamorists have Valentine's, some singles have been propping up their very own holiday. Some sources point to it as the alt-version of Valentine's Day held on the 14th of February, but according to SingleAwareness.com the official Single Awareness Day is today, February 15. You' ... More >>

Porn's Condom Mandate Could Go Statewide Under Isadore Hall Legislation

Even as the porn industry is resisting local laws requiring condom use during adult film production, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is taking its safe-sex fight statewide. L.A. state Assemblywoman Isadore Hall is expected to introduce legislation that would make condoms the law for adult video not ... More >>

Five Artsy Things to Do in L.A. This Week, Including Bikers Around a Bonfire

See also: *10 Best L.A. Art Galleries For Partying *Our Calendar Section, Listing More Great Things to Do in L.A. This week, a new gallery debuts on Melrose, a film by and about a lover of life screens in West Adams and a light show plays out in a corner in Culver City. 5. Mind games When artist J ... More >>

Top 5 Over-the-Top Sweet Treats for Valentine's Day A $100 Layer Cake!

You've heard of "Pay it don't say it"? This year, how about applying that principle to Valentine's Day goodies? If you really love your significant other, surely you can afford to spend several hundred dollars on chocolates or a fancy cake? Look at it this way: It's way cheaper than an engagement ri ... More >>

That's a Lotta Boinking for 12 Bucks

La Casita Mexicana in Bell Expanding

La Casita Mexicana, the celebrated Mexican restaurant in Bell owned by chefs Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu, is expanding to take over the space next door, which used to be a barber shop. The expansion will connect the restaurant with the store the chefs also own two doors down, La Tiendit ... More >>

Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody Opens Just in Time for Valentine's Day

If you've read Fifty Shades of Grey and think it's about as thought-provoking as the parody cookbook Fifty Shades of Chicken, then you're sure to laugh -- intentionally -- at Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody, which opens at the Grove of Anaheim, followed by Club Nokia, just before Valentine's Day, on ... More >>

I Just Called to Say, "Go Fuck Yourself"

Valentine's Day Countdown: Ococoa's Chocolate Nut Butter Cups

Surely there is a Duff Goldman of chocolate out there somewhere. But all of the real-time chocolatiers (sorry, Willy Wonka doesn't count in our book) we've spent tasting time with, including Diana Malouf, owner of Ococoa, have more temperate personalities -- a compliment. Measured, focused and with ... More >>

Top 5 Triple IPAs of 2012: Pliny The Younger Be Damned

It seems that every year, brewers across the country align on some psychic wavelength that motivates those with adventurous spirits to expand on a new, emerging beer style. Last year, anniversary beers and specialty one-offs became double black IPAs -- roasty, hoppy, boozy guys that warm the soul wh ... More >>

Announcing the Winners of the First Voice Media Group Music Writing Awards

Each week in our print editions and every day on our blogs, the 13 Voice Media Group papers feature some of the best music writing in the country. That's why we're excited to announce the winners of our first VMG music writing awards. The honor goes to the authors of one blog post and one print pi ... More >>

Air Sex Returns To Los Angeles

See also: *Air Sex Championships @ Bootleg Theater. Los Angeles is the capital of real sex, what with our globally potent porn industry and all -- not to mention Hugh Hefner, Larry Flynt and the lingerie biz. But what about faking it? You'd think we might be good at it, seeing that we're also the ... More >>

Sex on Camera

Ashley Huizenga is an academic-minded singer and performance artist. She wants to get you off

L.A. Street Fashion: Melrose Trading Post

The Melrose Trading Post is one of L.A.'s best vintage and collectibles flea markets. It takes place every Sunday at Fairfax High School and is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. It's also an ongoing fundraising event for student clubs and organizations at Fairfax High, so you can feel good a ... More >>

Valentine's Day Balloon Pops, Shuts off Power to 15,000 SoCal Edison Customers

Not the suspect.​A mylar Valentine's Day balloon reportedly popped over (update: or floated into) utility company Southern California Edison's substation in Fontana last night, taking a nosedive straight into the heart of the circuitry. Oops. If we were more superstitious, we'd say the massi ... More >>

Valentine's Day Is Actually May 3, Says UCLA Researcher

If you ever wondered why we celebrate love and romance in the middle of winter, with fresh spring-like flowers, no less, a UCLA professor has the answer: We're wrong. The director of UCLA's Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Henry Ansgar Kelly, says we got the date mixed up (wouldn't be ... More >>

Get Your Valentine's Marriage on for Only $25 (License Extra)

Want to get married on Valentine's Day? And you're a cheap bastard? Boy, have we got a deal for you: L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan announced over the weekend that people can line up for marriage licenses ($85 to $90) and civil ceremonies ($25) on Tuesday and get them both c ... More >>

Bacon-Wrapped Dates: Still Looking for the Perfect Date a Recipe

Still looking for the perfect date for Valentine's Day? Why not settle on a bacon-wrapped date? They're tender, sweet, salty and rich. Here's a date that is guaranteed to make just about anybody happy. For the carnivore, nothing can beat this appetizer in satisfying cravings of sweet, salty, fatty ... More >>

Free Condoms in Venice Just in Time For Valentine's Day

AHF​L.A.'s AIDS Healthcare Foundation is trying to transform the porn industry by having the government require condoms for adult actors. Now it wants inside your bedroom for Valentine's Day. Ah, so romantic. Well, it is "International Condom Day" and, as such, the foundation is, er, rolling ... More >>

Valentine's Day Chocolates Food Fight: Godiva vs. See's

S. BonarMr. Bear keeps Godiva's 15-piece assortment in a red satin box (left) away from See's traditional red heart with assorted chocolates.​This week's pre-Valentine's Day Food Fight pits a cute little mom-and-son candy shop against a sophisticated European chocolatier. This well-matched bou ... More >>

Updated: Via Instagram: Steven Arroyo to Close Cobras & Matadors

Updated: Steven Arroyo just confirmed to us via cellphone that, yes, he's closing his restaurant, and that Cobra & Matador's last service will in fact be Valentine's Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14. As for his plans for the space (long lease) and a new project, he said he'd like to keep that to himself for t ... More >>

Short Attention Span Dinner Theater: Your Week in Food, 2/6-2/10

In which we highlight the past week in food, either at home or abroad. "It is the manliest cooking video ever made, a video with enough pure T to reduce Guy Fieri into a whimpering puddle of gel." Where to Find Breakfast Tacos in L.A.? "They had to clean all the grease off of the walls, then pai ... More >>

Music Picks: Roberta Flack, Summer Twins, John Cage Centenary Festival

Also, Spindrift, Lenny Kravitz, Dorian Wood, Howlin Rain and others

Judy Tenuta; Put a Ring On It!

Witchy Woman

The Next Best Thing to Actually Getting Laid on Valentine's Day

As If There Isn't Already Enough Sex in This Issue

Women Would Rather Facebook Than Have Sex With Husbands, Says Valentine's Week Survey

patriziaasoliani​Aw, how romantic. A new survey by the women's lifestyle site iVillage indicates that two-thirds of married women would almost rather do anything than have sex with their men. (Way to serve your ladies, guys). In fact, according to an iVillage statement, a vast majority of ... More >>

Free Mole Tasting at Rocio's Mole de los Dioses: Or, More Reasons to Head to Burbank

If you have not yet driven up to outer Burbank to check out Rocio's Mole de los Dioses ("moles, tons of them, from the smoky-hot manchamantales to a huitlacoche mole served with veal..."), you might want to hit the freeway this Friday, as Rocio Camacho's new mole palace is having a free mole tasting ... More >>

5 Valentine's Day Surprises That'll Get You Laid - For the Ladies

There's less than a week til that holiday we love to hate and much of what makes Valentine's Day difficult to bear is the pressure put on guys to be "the man" and get their chicks some kind of boat or pony to show they love them fo' realz. But spending big bucks on a present that may or may not mak ... More >>

Martha Stewart Says Women Should Pay the Dinner Bill on Valentine's Day

You don't expect your boyfriend to start sentences with "Well, Martha Stewart says..." but this Valentine's Day, he just might. On tomorrow's episode of The Martha Stewart Show, which features Seth Meyers, the SNL star learns that women are expected to uphold one major responsibility on the big nig ... More >>

What's in Fashion at the Farmers Market: Produce-Print Underwear

January and February are ripe with local farmers market finds like fresh truffles, sweet limes and cherimoya. And now, an exciting (revealing?) new discovery: Underwear printed with your favorite grower's produce and logo. Well, before you get all Valentine's Day gift excited, we should note that t ... More >>

Handsome Coffee Roasters Officially Opening Next Month

Handsome Coffee Roasters hoped to open their Downtown coffee bar right before the holidays, but what was supposed to be an early holiday present to coffee fiends is now a Valentine's Day gift to their fellow coffee lovers instead. According to Handsome Coffee's press release, their coffee bar will ... More >>

Jonathan Gold Recommends La Paella

Want Angulas, Spanish Baby Eels? Get the Fake Version

Anne Fishbeinthe invisible restaurant critic​ Dear Mr. Gold: Is there anywhere in L.A. where I can find angulas -- Spanish baby eels? --Anthony Pan, via Facebook

Gay Marriage Advocates Organize Nationwide Counter Actions on Valentine's Day

​Gay folks still can't get hitched in California and many other states, but that's not stopping same-sex couples from requesting marriage licenses at city and county clerk's offices today -- Valentine's Day -- in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other cities. Marriage Equality U.S.A. and Get ... More >>

Hearts Aflame: An Evening of Love Letters, From 11th-Century Missives to 21st-Century E-mails

Justin Bieber's L.A. 'Never Say Never' Premiere to Be Attended by Kardashian Girls, Winners of NoHo Dance Contest (VIDEO)

2space.netAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA​OK, we admit it: We've got the fever. So do the Kardashian sisters, apparently, because they can't seem to stop Tweeting about their Valentine's Day plans to go see "Never Say Never," Justin Bieber's new biopic. Even the least-hot married one is trippin'. Borderin ... More >>

'Real' Tila Tequila All-Girl Sex Tape to Be Released Next Month

Vivid EntertainmentTila Tequila proves that there's no wall between reality and porn.​L.A. porn-maker Vivid announced Monday that it has "acquired" a Tila Tequila all-girl sex tape and will release it on Valentine's Day. The big question here, of course, is do you care? It's been more than a ... More >>

Bristol Palin to Preach Abstinence in L.A. Next Month

ABCIt's not called 'Sinning With The Stars' for a reason.​You know who should be talking to America's children about abstinence? Bristol Palin, that's who. Because she knows, er, the ways in which it doesn't work. So, eh, she can give the young'ns the old don't do as I do, do as I say speech. ... More >>

SLASH AWAY, SLASH AWAY, SLASH AWAY ALL

Live in L.A. This Weekend: Angels & Airwaves, Miike Snow, Enrique Bunbury, Flight of the Conchords, Nas & Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley

Via Fuel.tvAngels & Airwaves​Say what you will about Angels & Airwaves' radio rock (outer-space emo is the phrase that comes to mind), but Tom DeLonge has a plan. Working around the cash register jingle of inevitable Blink-182 reunions, he's made three increasingly ambitious albums with his n ... More >>

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO PLEASANT GEHMAN?

SAINT TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

California Supreme Court Set to Consider Gay Marriage

Meet the L.A. four who started all the trouble

The Karlin Report

Going Up in L.A.

Ruben Martinez hangs out with the city's Graffiti writers