If you've left things to the last minute, good luck trying to eat at a restaurant that's high enough up the culinary food chain to require a reservation.  A quick check of the reservation aggregator OpenTable (opentable.com) shows that it's slim pickings in Sacramento unless you want to go for the early bird special at about 4pm. But all is not lost as there's a special, sneak preview of the new film "This Means War" tonight at 7pm at the Century Stadium.  And if you pick up tickets in advance, you can even make it look like you planned ahead. It's a funny film with an inherently funny premise: Two high level CIA operatives (Chris Pine, Tom Hardy) realize they're dating the same woman (R

More than 300 people attended Thursday night's Art Mix at the Crocker Art Museum blending the celebration of Black History Month with Valentine's Day.   Heart and Soul-idarity, was the theme of the evening bringing together the passion of singers, dancers, poets, painters, and art afficionados to an eclectic era in learning. There was something to please everyone. The evening began with a Tour of the museum called Love Stories.  At the same time, some event attendees crafted hands on momentos of the event with African-art-inspired accessories by Betty Davis and Yvonne Warren.  Sol Collective's Jazz'n Love Lounge featured spoken word, poetry, and music performance in the art of words tra

The art of poetry can capture moments in time and immortalize an event forever. Petra Vineyard’s Wine Gallery in Folsom hosted “Verse on the Vine” Wednesday night, with various poetry readings that captured moments in the poet’s life. Writers shared personal thoughts and feelings that dealt with love, courage, honor, pride, relationships, shoes and bras. “Verse on the Vine” will be a monthly event featuring highly acclaimed poets from Northern California, and the open mic will give other poets a chance to share. This month’s featured the poetic talent of Shawn Aveningo, plus several people took the opportunity to share their poetry during the open mic. Appetizers were provided by Petra V

As Valentine’s Day approaches, Sacramentans may be in search of something sweet to impress that special someone, and The Sacramento Press found just the place to go when a store-bought box of chocolates simply won’t do. Sacramento native Melissa Johnson took her love of all things sweet and launched an online dessert magazine that features what she said are the Web’s most delicious sweet treats. Best Friends for Frosting offers an eclectic collection of recipes and trends that are gathered from the hippest, freshest dessert blogs in a forum that offers bakers one-stop shopping. Johnson said she started baking when she was a little girl and dreamed of opening a bakery. She started a blog

Looking for a special way to turn your Valentine’s Day into a memorable holiday? There are myriad options out there, but here are a few highlights for the upcoming weekend: For the foodie (Fri & Sat 6pm): Let GrubCrawlUSA's Pre-Valentine's Sexy Singles Mingle & Consensual Couples Crawl take you on a taste-tastic tour of Sacramento's finest dining spots. Whether you’re single or paired up, there’s a spot for you—Friday is aimed toward singles & Saturday to couples (so, presumably, if you find someone on Friday you can make a return tour on Saturday!). For the single lady (Fri 9pm): Stroll Now 100.5’s Mile of Men at The Park Ultra Lounge and take your pick from the area's most eligible bac

At this Wednesday’s Hearts for the Arts Benefit Event (6pm-9pm at Alex Bult Gallery) artists, community leaders, and Sacramento’s finest convene to celebrate and raise funds for Any Given Child Sacramento. This initiative, spearheaded by For Arts’ Sake, strives to ensure that art experiences are accessible to every child in grades K-8. As a part of this fun, alternative event you can treat your Valentine to a night like no other, all while supporting a great cause and enjoying an evening of art, music, cocktails, and refreshments. Esteemed auctioneer David Sobon will auction off “heart-works” donated donated by over 24 local artists, including Raphael Delgado, Shane Grammer, and Micah Cr

When it comes to the most romantic day of the year, traditional gifts of roses and heart shaped boxes of candy still dominate the market, but for those ladies and gentlemen looking for a more unique way to show their affection, consider the gift of food and fun by giving your special someone tickets to the Sacramento Chef Challenge. Tickets are only $25 each and include: • Chef Challenge competition • Gourmet food sampling • Wine and Beer tasting • Cake War presented by Cakegrrl.com • Live Music • Raffle and Silent Auction Prizes “When you’ve celebrated 30 Valentine’s Days together it can be difficult to find a really special gift,” says Rancho Cordova resident Linda Allen, “I was truly

It is February. The month of love. The month of loneliness. Pretty much everyone falls into one of those categories, but I want to remind you that single does not mean alone. Make a point to connect with a friend this Valentine's Day. After all, love is not just intimate, but a feeling we have for people who matter to us. Reach out and schedule coffee, dinner, or a fun night in. Forget gifts. They don't matter in the face of time spent together. Don't get depressed about being alone, but remember to be thankful for what you have, for who you have. Write a love letter to yourself. Remind yourself who you are and what makes you thrive. Make a list of things you have done and things you h

The 32st Annual Sweetheart Run is taking place Sunday, February 12 beginning at 10 a.m. All motorcycle enthusiasts and Veterans supporters are welcome to meet at C & E Auburn V-Twin Inc., located at 12015 Shale Ridge Road in Auburn. The free event is designed to kick off the riding season with a twist. Each participant and members of the community are encouraged to bring a homemade Valentine’s Day Card or sign one on site. “Each year, we promote riding and camaraderie by hosting the Sweetheart Run,” said Emma Lujan of C & E Auburn V-Twin. “It is kind of a rite of passage of winter. Our purpose in doing this event is to get riders and the community out on their motorcycles to have the time

No Valentine this year?  No worries! Sacramento area singles looking for a fun new way to meet interesting people won’t want to miss the one-night-only “Singles Night at the Sacramento History Museum” in Old Sacramento on Thursday evening, February 9.  The special festivities include tasty appetizers and wine sampling at the Sacramento History Museum starting at 5 p.m., an evening Old Sacramento Underground tour at 5:30 p.m. led by the crowd-favorite Miss Odessa, followed by a fun and friendly museum scavenger hunt.  Then, for those who have worked up an appetite, the popular Rio City Café is offering a 15 percent discount on dinner for everyone with a valid “Singles Night at the Sacrame

Social media enthusiasts from around the city gathered Tuesday night at The Urban Hive for the Sacramento Social Media Club Relationships and Social Media presentation. With Valentine's Day just behind us and the ever-increasing role of social networking in our day-to-day lives, relationships via the online frontier was a timely topic for discussion. Four speakers headlined the evening, and the audience was filled with some of Sacramento's most active facebookers and tweeps. Up first at the podium was independent marketing consultant Paul Ardoin, who discussed facebook privacy settings and how to manage them. "facebook is a for-profit entity; every decision facebook makes on your privacy

Gay couples and their straight friends came to the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder's office on Valentine's Day seeking marriage certificates to protest the ban on gay marriage. As loved ones held hands and formed a line inside the office, they were individually asked by Chief Deputy Donna Allred if they were married and if their union consisted of a man and a woman. But when asked, Equality Action Now founder replied, “Female. Female. I'm married.” Reynolds and her wife got married shortly before the passage of Proposition 8, during the brief window in which same-sex marriage licenses were issued between June 16, 2008 and Nov. 5, 2008, when they ended. The petition to marry coincided w

Monday was just like the start of any other work week for CBS Radio Sacramento’s Chris Garcia – until cameras followed four magenta vest-clad women into his office. “We are your singing valentine,” one of the members of the Gemtones Quartet told the confused Garcia. Then they launched into “There I Said it Again,” serenading Garcia, who looked on with a smile. The scene was repeated throughout the day Monday, with six quartets from the Sacramento Valley Chorus making approximately 50 calls on people in the greater Sacramento area, stretching all the way to Placerville, Yuba City and Lodi. The visit was a welcome diversion for Garcia’s co-worker, Joseph Lepe, promotions coordinator

Welcome to another edition of “SacQuotes,” where we ask people on the streets of Sacramento topical questions and post their responses. This week, we went out to Second Saturday and asked folks to share their most memorable Valentine’s Day. Here’s what they said: Hairstylist Jessica Williams shared what could have been a terrible Valentine’s Day that turned out all right. “I was 15, and I had never really had a Valentine before. This one Valentine’s Day my brother got all these valentines from these girls, and I got home and I was really sad because nobody got me one. Then my cat comes walking out and he has this big heart tied around his neck that said: ‘I’m your Valentine Jessica!’ It

Love and lust were in the air Thursday night when Crocker Art Museum hosted its Art Mix series with the theme of “Love & Lust” in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The evening both warmed hearts and taunted mischief with a melange of performances and activities for a diverse audience, many of them couples. As DJ Mike Colossal spun sensual sounds, visitors posed affectionately in a photo booth by Beatnik Studios, drank pink pomegranate martinis and wrote Mad Lib love letters to each other. On the third floor, Crocker featured selected amorous works in “Couples in the Collection.” The show includes Otis Oldfield’s portrait of his wife Helen in “White Dress,” John Bankston’s “Into the Rainbow,

A Sacramento nonprofit group is willing to sing your loved one’s praises on Valentine’s Day. Quartets from the Sacramento Valley Chorus will be touring the greater Sacramento area, dropping in on the unsuspecting to deliver singing valentines. “People love it,” said Bonnie Flint of the Sacramento Valley Chorus. “You have everything from total elation to absolute embarrassment. You have people laugh, you have people cry. It’s usually a very positive response.” Nine quartets will be singing four-part barbershop harmony a capella as they traipse about town. Flint said favorite spots include offices, schools and hospitals. Each singing valentine will include two songs. Song options are “Le

For many people Valentine’s Day is a holiday filled with love, romance and affection. It’s a time for meaningful cards, flowers and sentimental gifts. But this year, one Sacramento Valentine received a gift like no other. He received the gift of life – a new heart. “Not too many people get second chances in life,” Donald Valentine said. “I’m going to make the best of mine.” Donald Valentine underwent successful heart transplant surgery at Sutter Memorial Hospital two weeks ago after being placed on the organ transplant waiting list last July. The devoted husband and father had been suffering from chronic heart disease for the past seven years. “I used to train horses at Cal Expo and I u

Valentine’s Day has traditionally been celebrated with a simple dinner for two. Couples exchange cards professing their appreciation for one another, gift the usual candy and jewelery and call it a day. As Valentine’s Day draws closer, many people are looking to celebrate that special day in a more memorable way. Sacramento has a number of exciting events and specials to choose from on Valentine’s Day and the weekend prior. While many make reservations at their favorite restaurants, why not book a Valentine’s Day Lovers’ Cruise, provided by Hornblower Cruises, for a change? “Sacramento’s Cupid’s Valentine’s Weekend Brunch Cruise,” on Sunday, is a two-hour cruise departing from the L-S

Couples scurry before Valentine’s Day to find their significant others the perfect gift: flowers, chocolate, perhaps an engagement ring? For many people Valentine’s Day may seem like a Hallmark holiday but for others – the single variety – it’s just another day in February. The Sacramento Press set out to find how singles spend their Valentine’s Day. “As you get older, it doesn’t matter as much when you’re in college and you’re busy,” said Erica Childs, a Davis native and first-year student at Chico State. Childs added that she will be busy with sorority rush week at Chico State on the week of Valentine’s Day. In addition, Yesania Villaroñ, a first-year nursing student at Sacramento S

Whether you’re short on cash or you’d rather spend your money on something else, Valentine's Day can seem like another unnecessary financial burden. With the typical gift of chocolates, roses and romantic dinners generally geared toward couples, it may feel hard to keep up on a budget. This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Monday, leaving a whole weekend’s worth of events leading up to the holiday. The Sacramento Press had the cash-strapped in mind, when we put together a list of things to do around Sacramento, Valentine’s-themed or otherwise, for $20 or less a person. Friday, Saturday, and Monday Selland's Specials Selland's Market-Cafe 5340 H St Served daily (Monday - Saturday) after