Feb. 8:
The Tell Tale Hearts Storytellers Theater presents “Fools for Love” at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 and include a dessert buffet. 2880 Mountain Road. 261-2787.
The Conservatory at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden features a Valentine’s display through Feb. 17. Admission is $6-$10. 1800 Lakeside Ave. 262-9887.
Feb. 10:
Maymont Park’s Dooley Noted Society hosts its Valentine’s Day celebration, “With Love From Your Significant Otter,” with a silent auction, music by The Golden Strings and more, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10-$20. 2201 Shields Lake Drive. 358-7166, ext. 310.
Feb. 14:
Mystery Dinner Playhouse presents a Valentine’s Day presentation of “Fashion to Die For!” a four-course fashion industry murder mystery, at 7:30 p.m. in the Holiday Inn Crossroads. Through Feb. 17. Tickets are $39.95. 2000 Staples Mill Road. Call 649-2583 or visit www.mysterydinner.com.
Art Works hosts “Valentine’s Day Romanza,” a night of art, food and music by Pam McCarthy, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$15. 320 Hull St. 291-1400.
At Gallery5, the Black Valentine’s Bash brings in the power rock duo El Zombie, the trippy new New Wave of Myotis, A Roman Holiday’s contemplative indie rock, and Wiseacre’s sawdust-and-shotglass country. And they’re all doing covers of love songs! Love gone sour! Which tastes of key lime pie. The show starts at 7 p.m. $5. 200 W. Marshall St. 644-0005.
City Limit offers a couple’s menu, with prices starting at $45 and featuring wine, entrées and dessert for two. 7007 Three Chopt Road in the Village Shopping Center. 282-4232.
Valentine Richmond History Center takes folks on a “Love Bus” starting with champagne and chocolates, a tour featuring Richmond’s historic love stories (John and Elizabeth Wickham, John and Polly Marshall) and a dinner at Richbrau Brewing Company. $100 per person, $190 per couple. Reservations required by Feb. 9. 649-0711 ext. 301.
La Petite France presents a five-course meal with champagne, featuring the cuisine of Chef Abel Lucca, whose work in high-profile restaurants from New Orleans to Puerto Rico is well-regarded. Choices include beef Wellington and lobster thermidor. $80 per person. Reservations at 353-8729.
Avenue 805 stretches the holiday to The Six Days of Valentine’s, with a five-course menu of aphrodisiacs including artichokes, chocolate and oysters. Feb 12-17. $70 per couple, or for an additional $40 per couple, chef-selected wines to accompany each course. Tax and tip extra. Reservations at 353-2505 or avenue805@aol.com.
Manakin Grill offers a $42-per-person, three-course dinner with choices including its famous coconut shrimp and crab cakes, she-crab soup, pecan chicken, grilled ahi tuna and filet mignon. Menu and details at www.manakingrill.com. Phone reservations at 784-0544.
Café Gutenberg recognizes that not everyone celebrates Feb. 14 with the same level of enthusiasm. Hence, couples can dine upstairs amid roses, candlelight and a skyline view; others can enjoy a return of “Valentine- Shmalentine” downstairs with drink specials and diversions. See www.cafegutenberg.com for details.
Fuel Co. in Charlottesville serves a prix-fixe dinner for $65, with oyster and caviar, wild sea bass, grilled rack of lamb with risotto, and dessert by Serge Torres. 434-220-3700.
Feb. 15:
SlamRichmond: Season Too presents a “Valentine’s Slam” at Artspace at 8 p.m. Admission is $5. 0 E. Fourth St. 232-6464. S
