Valentine’s Day events and things to do for singles

Slam down those Valentine’s Day blues with Lucha VaVOOM’s “Pasión De Fuego” show. The masked wrestlers aren’t the only ones showing some skin at this extravaganza of Mexican lucha libre wrestling-meets-striptease showcase. The “buxoticas” add some serious sexo to the violencia on display. Expect cartoonish costumes, an edgy rock ’n’ roll/rock en español aesthetic, crowd-pleasing hijinks from hula hooping to pole dancing and ladies who bare it all save for pasties and the proverbial fig leaf.

Dart around Venice in your undies to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation during this annual Valentine’s Day-themed 15-minute run and pre- and post-dash dance party.

Mortified is a live storytelling extravaganza—a show-and-tell, if you will, of people’s most embarrassing, awkward and often seminal moments. At this Mortified event at Dynasty Typewriter, celebrate and commiserate with readings from cringeworthy old diaries and stories of past V-Days gone wrong.

Who better to love on Valentine’s Day (or any day, really) than yourself? Peruse the Pleasure Chest’s aisles of toys, adult flicks and other titillating treasures and treat yourself to something sexy, then take yourself and your new purchase home to bed. Studies prove that self-lovin’ leads to a longer, healthier life (which means more time for self-lovin’, and on it goes).

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Angel City is making a circus out of L.A.’s dating scene with this post-Valentine’s bash. As an answer to the all of the clowns in the dating pool, the Arts District brewery is gathering jugglers, stilt walkers, magicians and comedy acts for this afternoon of beer and amusements.

Originated in New York City, the Moth is an open-mic storytelling show that has spread across the country, all the way to Los Angeles, where there’s certainly no dearth of performers. For the post-Valentine’s Day edition, the show’s theme is “Love Hurts,” in which storytellers will retell a five-minute tale of a time that love made them go “ouch”—kinky stuff included.

If you’re not in the mood for mushy-gushy movies this Valentine’s Day, opt for these considerably more visceral takes on romance. Street Food Cinema is hosting a trio of horror-adjacent flicks at the Million Dollar Theater: Queen of the Damned (with a Q&A with cast member Marguerite Moreau), Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Jennifer’s Body (which both include vampire-themed cabaret), plus comedy, photo ops, cocktails and audience games paired with each.

Dynasty Typewriter’s namesake comedy show, Dynasty Tonight!, brings stand-up and assorted entertainment to the theater. This Valentine’s edition, though, has a particularly excellent lineup, with sets from Reggie Watts, Matt O’Brien, Julia Hladkowicz, Nori Reed and Joel Kim Booster.

What started as an adverse reaction to the celebutante-heavy and TMZ-soaked club scene has flourished into one of the artsiest, most inclusive parties in the city. Rhonda International (the same crew behind A Club Called Rhonda) throws a few particularly massive parties each year in the form of Rhondavous, including this one, dubbed “A Lovers’ Ball & Romance Rave.”

This interactive performance series constitutes a literary cathouse, where male and female performers provide poetry readings behind closed curtains. The L.A. event typically includes a few regulars from the New York show, along with local burlesque performers.

Add to a wall of broken relationships and sip on themed cocktails at this anti-Valentine’s Day event inside Harvard & Stone. Each $38 ticket includes entry for three hours, complimentary champagne and one themed cocktail. From there, guests can order additional à la carte cocktails.

Hey, sad sack—instead of moping around all day feeling lonely, think of all the folks in L.A. who are less worried about getting a date and more worried about getting a meal. Volunteer some time and we guarantee you’ll end the day with a lot more love in your heart than if you’d stayed home with the cat and your Netflix queue.