Valentine’s Day ideas for couples

Get gussied up before your night out and make your own corsage or boutaineer with the assistance of flower lady Renee Steckermeier. A selection of pre-arranged pieces will also be available for purchase.

This adults-only, nudity-driven scavenger hunt at the Getty (held the weekend of V-Day) is a comical two-hour quest that has guests searching for answers to riddle-like questions in the museum's bare-it-all paintings and sculptures. Whoever answers the most questions correctly will pick up some sweet swag (gift cards, backpacks, street cred). No previous art knowledge is required.

It’s famous for that spaghetti kiss—a legendary scene that Walt Disney almost cut out. But Lady and the Tramp has many other charming moments: the script evolved out of years of personal pet stories shared by the studio's animal-loving writers and executives. A true labor of love. See it at El Capitan around Valentine's Day and you'll be treated to a candlelit dinner before the movie, catered by Miceli’s (sold separately; call 818-845-3110).

Learn how to dance in the style of kizomba—that’s Angolan for “party”—in Union Station’s handsome ticketing hall at this high-energy Valentine’s Day event. The evening starts with a free kizomba lesson, followed by social dancing set to live Afro-Cuban beats from Ricardo Lemvo y Makina Loca.

Listen to intimate solo piano compositions played by the likes of the Hush Sound’s Greta Morgan, Guster’s Ryan Miller, Fruit Bats’ Eric D. Johnson and soulful singer-songwriter Kevin Morby. 

This near-perfect romcom gave an unknown actress called Audrey Hepburn her “hello world” moment in 1953—making her an overnight star at 24. See it inside the ornate Los Angeles Theatre during a Cinespia-presented screening complete with complimentary champagne, a dancefloor in the ballroom and a themed photo booth. Make sure to dress up in your best formal attire.

Lucha VaVOOM’s racy, raucous spectacle of wrestling, burlesque and various amazing sideshow acts may not seem a logical choice for a romantic night out, but chances are it’ll be a lucky one. It’s scientifically proven that women get frisky after thrilling situations, and men, well, what doesn’t turn them on? These special Valentine’s Day shows are a must.

Cozy up to your date under a blanket on the heated patio or make eyes from inside the repurposed craftsman home during Valentine 69, a more informal take on Valentine’s Day plans. Virgil Village’s “lazy French” wine bar and restaurant Melody will have live DJ sets spinning and the full dinner service up and running, not to mention one of the neighborhood’s most eccentric wine menus featuring hard-to-find labels. Be sure to take part in the holiday-inspired 69 deal, which nets you a dozen oysters and a full bottle of a bubbly, white, red or rosé all for $69.

Skip dinner and go straight to dessert at this Valentine’s Day cake decorating session. Duff’s Cakemix in Pasadena offers couples the chance to decorate a six-inch round cake of six cupcakes together. Snacks and sweets provided, along with games and a raffle.  

Quiet but prolific singer-songwriter M. Ward naturally timeless collections of experimental folk songs that dip a toe into rose-colored pop and quaint nostalgia. Live, Ward’s voice retains that warm, rainy day quality while his lightning-fast fingerstyle guitar playing is made to fill theaters. For Valentine’s Day, he’s tackling Billie Holiday’s final album, Lady in Satin. Splurge on a table for two for the ultimate romantic experience.