<HOLIDAY>
Through Feb. 14
Send a Singing Valentine
Don’t be left standing in the retail aisles, searching for the card or the candy that will seal your romantic intent for your true love. Chocolate is fine, but think out of the box this Valentine’s Day. Be spontaneous by sending your significant other, boss, loved one, teacher, etc. an Original Singing Valentine. The folks at Pride of Kentucky are already booking for this annual campaign, which is a major fundraiser for the year. They’re a non-profit organization dedicated to the educational needs of women singers. A choice of one of three songs: “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” “Cuddle Up” or “Crazy ’Bout You Baby” will warm the cockles of hearts and the ears of music lovers. This chorus of professional and passionate singers divvy up into quartets and hit the city streets to perform the messages of love to anyone you purchase the singing valentine for to the tune of $40. To order a song, call 368-SONG (7664) or go to their Web site, www.prideofkentuckychorus.org. —Cindy Lamb
Pride of Kentucky Chorus
368-SONG
<HOLIDAY>
Friday, Feb. 10
Grotesque Burlesque Valentine
If you think about it, Valentine’s Day is basically a second-hand holiday that continues a tradition geared toward the love of family, friends and significant others. All of this lovey-dovey stuff can spell borrrriing — all of these lovebirds need excitement in their lives, and time is running out. Why not get wacky and strange with the Louisville ladies of the Grotesque Burlesque? They’ll host a special Valentine’s theme show titled “Cupid’s Revenge,” an engaging collection of youthful theatrics, dance and classic burlesque, plus a lovelorn serenade with the best in goth/industrial dance music by The Triad (DJs). So forget the traditional pink — add some black leather and wire to your attire before experiencing this troupe’s satirical humor and “punk rock” attitude. —Tytianna Wells
Main Street Lounge
104 W. Main St.
595-6001
$2; 11 p.m.
<MUSIC>
Feb. 10, 12
Orion Weiss with the Orchestra
Twenty-four-year-old pianist Orion Weiss will join guest conductor Mischa Santora and the Louisville Orchestra for two concerts featuring the works of Mozart and Mendelssohn. Weiss won the 2005 Juilliard William Petschek Award, which annually honors gifted young musicians, and he also was featured in both the 2004 Musical America and the March 2004 Symphony Magazine as part of the next generation of great artists in classical music. Santora recently completed a three-year tenure as music director of the International Opera Festival Miskolc in Hungary and is recognized as one of the brightest stars on the international conducting scene. The New York Times has consistently hailed the young Swiss conductor for his “spacious, resonant and accomplished” performances. The Friday concert is at the Brown Theatre; the Sunday afternoon show is in Comstock Hall on the U of L campus, and includes informal comments by Weiss and Santora. —Kevin Gibson
Brown Theatre, Comstock Hall (U of L)
584-7777
www.louisvilleorchestra.org
Tickets: $18-$60 (Feb. 10), $22 (Feb. 12)
8 p.m. (Feb. 10), 3 p.m. (Feb. 12)
<ART>
Feb. 10-28
‘Who Ever Said Women Can’t Paint?’
Well, Picasso, for one. The great misogynistic artist believed women couldn’t be painters, so this exhibition, “Who Ever Said Women Can’t Paint?,” with its long roster of female artists, is here to prove him, and others like him, wrong.
The paintings by 20th century women artists include many from Louisville, such as Mary Spencer Nay, Mary Alice Hadley and Maude Ainslie. The show also features painters from outside our area, including Marjorie Phillips (co-founder, with her husband Duncan Phillips, of the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.), Stella Coler and Katherine Maxey Patton. The opening reception on Friday (Feb. 10) is from 5-8 p.m. —Jo Anne Triplett
Higgins Maxwell Gallery
1200 Payne St.
584-7001
www.higginsmaxwell.com
Free; Mon.-Sat. 1-6 p.m.
<ART>
Saturday, Feb. 11
Craft Mafia Valentine Show
Get out your wallet, because Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and you know you need to buy stuff for your main squeeze. The Louisville Craft Mafia is offering original, handmade items you can’t refuse. The brand-new organization is made up of several women-owned craft businesses. Co-founders Suzanne Steiger, Angela Cundiff and Kristy Greenwell have added three new artists to their “familia,” including printmaker Margaret Coble from the New Orleans Craft Mafia.
If you are a woman with your own craft business (or would like to start one), the Louisville Craft Mafia may be the group for you. They’re accepting applications for membership through Feb. 28. —Jo Anne Triplett
Amazing Grace Wholefoods
1133 Bardstown Road
485-1122
www.louisvillecraftmafia.com
Free; 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
<BENEFIT>
Saturday, Feb. 11
Toe Jam 2006
The Merry Pranksters and the Bluegrass Brewing Company in St. Matthews will play host to Toe Jam 2006, a diabetes awareness jam and fundraiser for Pranksters drummer Dave Young. Young was diagnosed last fall with diabetes, and had a toe amputated due to complications from the disease (thus the clever and, shall we say, ballsy name for the event). Lacking hospitalization insurance, Young was left with a pile of bills he is unable to pay. “He’s a full-time musician and he takes care of his elderly mother,” said bandmate Rico Thomas. “He couldn’t pay for it. But there are a lot of people willing to jump on the bandwagon to help out.” Indeed, the list of artists scheduled to appear is a veritable who’s who of Louisville music: Tim Krekel, danny flanigan, the RockinBackers, Bloom Street, Myron Koch, Black Cat Bone, Big Mike O’Hara, Woody Woodmansee, McHenry, Miller & Young, Stonewheel, Barry King and Teachers Lounge are all on the bill, along with the Pranksters themselves. Donations will be accepted at the door to help out Young, and expect to be educated about diabetes — Thomas said the event may become an annual diabetes fundraiser. —Kevin Gibson
Bluegrass Brewing Company
3929 Shelbyville Road
899-7070
www.butfirstatoast.com
6 p.m.-?; donations
<HOLIDAY>
Saturday, Feb. 11
Silk Belly Dance
When flowers, cards and candy aren’t enough, maybe some belly dancing and cabaret will spice up Valentine’s Day. No, it’s not on the holiday itself, but what are you going to do on a Saturday anyway? Replete with gyrating torsos, Silk Belly Dance has the tools to make your night special. Best of all, guys get to stare at scantily clad women with their girlfriend in tow, spend quality time and all at a discount rate for couples. Can you say “bargain”? A dessert buffet and chocolate decadence wine (sounds good) are also included. Advance tickets are available at ear X-tacy or the Winery. —Matt Mattingly
Riverbend Winery
120 S. 10th St.
314-1048
$20 single, $30 couple; 9 p.m.
<HOLIDAY>
Tuesday, Feb. 14
Valentine’s Dance Party
It started a couple weekends ago, when Uncle Pleasant’s became a weird kind of dance club for the unhealthier half on a Friday night. Not only are the DJs responsible doing it again for Valentine’s Day, they’re trying to make it a regular thing. Given the proper kind of support, that is. So next Tuesday, instead of lamenting loneliness or exchanging Hallmark subsidies, check out this handful of DJs — Digital Wolf, NAVE, Point & Shoot, Kid Adam, Jeff the Chef — and indie rock instrumentalists The Photographic. It’s guaranteed to be more interesting than watching “When Harry Met Sally” reruns and slugging boxed wine. —Stephen George
Uncle Pleasant’s
2126 S. Preston St.
634-4147
$3 ($5 if you’re 18-20); 8 p.m.
18+
<CONTEST>
Bad dates, indeed
A few weeks back in these pages, Actors Theatre and LEO asked some brave individuals to send in their worst dating experiences for a chance at free tickets to ATL’s “Bad Dates” production (showing through Feb. 25) and dinner for two. The results are in, and, needless to say, it was quite a toss-up. Two lucky winners have been selected, thanks to Kim Woodring’s delightfully “dentured” night in and Jessica Francis’ “hairy” memories. Kim was set up by her sister, who swore by this “really great guy.” Little did she know he was a father of three with a few, shall we say, strange habits. Kim’s night consisted of cooking for ungrateful children, getting awkwardly felt up and discovering jeans in the refrigerator. If it doesn’t sound weird enough, it was topped off by him showing off his dentures, and, oh, by a lurking, creepy ex-wife. Thankfully, Kim got out alive! And during Jessica’s night out, she not only had to pay for everything, but her date left behind some mysteriously shredded southern body hair in her bathroom. Thanks to all the others who sent in their bad dating experiences. Just remember: Every bad date results in a good story! Check ’em out at www.leoweekly.com . —Kellie Oates