While Valentine’s Day celebrates love, take time this week to celebrate friendship too. We found two events sandwiching the night of love that might make the perfect night out with your BFF, be it girls’ night, boys’ night or some combination thereof. So, if you know what’s good for you, plan your Valentine’s night first - check out the Downtown Concierge for some great downtown dining ideas. Then, grab your best mate for some laughs at The Belladonnas: Evenings with Authors or John Cusack Live on Stage.
The Belladonnas
Grab your favorite feminist and head to this latest installment of Thurber House’s Evenings with Authors. The Belladonnas include Caitlin Kunkel, Brooke Preston, Fiona Taylor and Carrie Wittmer, four comedy writers and satirists. And with their book New Erotica for Feminists, the crew looks - with a satyrical twist - at what turns feminists on. Equal pay? Yep. And gender balance in Congress? Of course. So, get ready to laugh and explore today’s culture in an out-of-the-box way. The event takes place February 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Columbus Museum of Art. And tickets run from $22 (seniors and students) to $25 (in advance) to $30 (at the door). Or, consider joining the Author’s Table Dinner to share a meal with the authors and talk with them up close and personal.
High Fidelity
Whether you are a child of the 80s or not, hopefully you have been introduced to the hilarity of John Cusack. From his search for The Sure Thing to his turn as Lloyd Dobler hoisting a boom box in Say Anything, Cusack’s romantic comedy roles epitomized a young man’s search for love. In High Fidelity, he portrays record shop owner Rob Gordon who looks for love and the reasons it has eluded him against the backdrop of outstanding music. Fun fact: the movie also features Jack Black in his first big role. Head to the Palace Theatre on February 15 for a screening of the film. Then, Cusack himself takes the stage for a conversation and question and answer session. Tickets range from $53.25 - $73.25 and can purchased at the CAPA box-office, online at capa.com or by phone at 614.469.0939. Or, grab VIP seats that include a photo-op with Cusack after the show.