Electric Unicorn!: Monday February 14th, 2011

Happy Monday one and all and more importantly, happy love day! That's right, today is Valentine's day, that blessed time of year dedicated to all things love, candy hearts, roses and romance. V-day holds a special place in my heart, because it was this day and this weekend in particular that I first fell in love..with New York City that is. It was Valentines day weekend almost eight years ago that I first visited NYC. A freshman in college, my friend boy (I'm hesitant to say boyfriend, it was innocent enough) and I, decided to book a trip to the big pineapple to see the sights. It was love at first bite and I knew then that as soon as I graduated I would make my return. Sure enough, four years later, that's exactly what I did. So whether you love it, hate it or are completely indifferent to it (in which case I would skip this post entirely) I've taken the liberty of including some fun Valentines Day activities (compliments of timeoutny, nymag and a variety of misc blogs) here in NYC that you can enjoy with your bf's your gf's your dog or even on your own..Cupcakes and Cupid speed dating anyone?! Happy love fest.

Love On The Menu: A Guide to The City's Most Romantic Spots:

Fatty ’Cue (View menu)
The barbecue hot spot is offering a menu that will inspire a love of smoked meat, with prime rib, lobster, catfish, and pork loin among the offerings. A seasonal punch and dessert come as part of the package.
• Price: $69 per couple

The Tangled Vine Wine Bar & Kitchen (View menu)
This three-course Mediterranean-influenced dinner comes with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. Even better are the accompanying discounts on oysters and Champagne.
• Price: $48
Eataly (View menu)
Perennially packed with hungry crowds, this is the first time all of the food complex's restaurants will be accepting reservations. La Pasta, La Pizza, Il Pesce, and Le Verdure will all be serving four-course meals showing off their individual specialties.
• Price: $50–$75
New York Central (View menu)
The Grand Hyatt's new restaurant is serving a three-course dinner, including entrees of bronzini and chateaubriand served for two. Recommended for anyone intrigued by the idea of eating a dessert called "Sexy Bread."
• Price: $52, $35 additional for wine pairing
Vandaag (View menu)
This stylish Dutch restaurant is offering four courses that pay tribute to Viking Mead, also known as honey wine. Chestnut soup, ruby-red shrimp, and beef short ribs are among the options, as is an optional cocktail pairing featuring drinks made with the wine.
• Price: $55, $35 additional for cocktail pairing
Jane (View menu)
Shrimp cocktail, filet mignon, and other classic dishes make up a three-course menu at this cozy American bistro. Perfect for those "opposites attract" couples where one person wants a burger and the other wants lobster.
• Price: $55
Kin Shop (View menu)
The well-received contemporary Thai spot is offering three courses of southeast Asian flavors, including plates of warm crab salad and braised short ribs. For dessert, there's Sri Lankan Love Cake, which should raise your amorous spirits.
• Price: $55
Gemma (View menu)
Wooden beams and candlelight set the scene for a cozy and romantic dinner at the Bowery Hotel's restaurant. All dishes are designed to be shared by couples, and a complimentary glass of sparkling rosé will start off the evening.
• Price: $55

Goat Town (View menu)
New Brooklyn Cuisine is on the menu at this East Village newcomer, where the seasonal dishes include spiced Vermont quail and pork belly with parsnips. As an added bonus, the popular spot will make an exception to its no-reservations policy for the holiday.
• Price: $60, $80 including wine pairing
Perilla (View menu)
The original Top Chef restaurant is serving three courses of its bistro cuisine with Asian touches. Don't be afraid to spring for the grilled Creekstone Farms rib eye for two, a dry-aged 32-ounce beauty, which costs an additional $10 per person.
• Price: $65

Red Rooster (View menu)
Marcus Samuelsson's Harlem newcomer is sticking to its focus on refined comfort food, with dishes like corn bread, lobster salad, and braised oxtail. The menu will be served all of Valentine's weekend, allowing for more chances to enjoy the chocolate peanut tart with caramel ice cream.
• Price: $75, $20 additional for Champagne and cocktail tasting
Boqueria (View menu)
This multifaceted tapas menu starts with a cava toast and moves on to delectable dishes like bacon-wrapped dates and chocolate tart. (Also being served at the Chelsea location.)
• Price: $75
i Trulli (View menu)
Gramercy's popular Italian spot is offering four courses of its regional cuisine from Apulia (the heel of Italy's boot). Among the selection, it would be hard to say no to heart-shaped ravioli stuffed with sheep's-milk ricotta.
• Price: $78
August (View menu)
An intimate setting and the wood-burning oven are the highlights of this West Village favorite. A five-course meal including a bone-in rib eye for two with truffled potato puree is just one more thing to look forward to.
• Price: $85, $50 additional for wine pairing
The Pan American (View menu)
The eclectic dishes on this four-course menu embrace flavors from all corners of the Americas, whether it's New York strip steak or seviche. Wine pairing with each course is included, as is a Champagne toast accompanied by chocolate-dipped strawberries.
• Price: $80 including wine pairing
Saul (View menu)
Eating a heart is one way to celebrate Valentine's Day, which you can do at this intimate Boerum Hill eatery by making the calf's organ one of your five courses. Don't pass up the signature Baked Alaska for dessert.
• Price: $95
Gotham Bar and Grill (View weekend menu) (View Valentine's Day menu)
For those who prefer not to celebrate on a Monday night, chef Alfred Portale is offering a five-course tasting menu Friday through Sunday. For holiday purists, the iconic restaurant will feature a four-course menu and live music after 6 p.m.
• Price: $125 for tasting menu, $140 for Valentine's Day dinner

Sex And Taboo: A Valentines Day Massacre
http://newyork.timeout.com/music-nightlife/nightlife/890713/sex-and-taboo-a-valentines-day-massacre?cmpid=TD021411

Love Springs Eternal: A Reading of Poetry and Prose
Take a word from the wise at this personal reading, as senior-citizen students share works from their writing class at St. Francis College. Tales of love and loss will abound as the pupils themselves read their self-written literature—we’re sure there’s plenty of advice to be gleaned. Maroney Forum for Arts, Culture & Education (at St. Francis College), 180 Remsen St between Clinton and Court Sts, Brooklyn Heights (718-522-2300, stfranciscollege.edu). Feb 14 at 12:20pm; free.

Hector Del Curto Tango Orchestra
For an instant injection of passion, take your beau to a free show by this ten-piece band. Arrive at 6pm for an hour’s dance lesson, then put the steps into practice under the World Financial Center’s glass-vaulted ceiling during a two-hour concert. If you really want to impress, improve your moves by attending the afternoon’s dance lesson and performance by professional tango dancers (noon–2pm; free). There’s also a free draw to win a $125 Valentine’s Day gift box from Godiva Chocolates. 220 Vesey St at West St (212-417-7000, artsworldfinancialcenter.com). Feb 14 at 6–9pm; free.

Curious Frog Sonnet-a-Thon
Your mistress’s eyes are nothing like the sun, but you love her anyway. Demonstrate your knowledge of Shakespearean sonnets (or lack thereof—you’ll lose no points for trying) at this benefit for theater company Curious Frog. Taking place at the , this four-hour lovefest will feature a performance of all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, with complimentary wine and refreshments and an open-door policy for guests to come and go as they please. “Consider us an intellectual pit stop in the grand plans of your romantic evening,” says Curious Frog executive director Reneé Rodriguez. 547 W 27th St between Tenth and Eleventh Aves (212-367-8994, curiousfrog.org). Feb 14 at 6pm; suggested donation $10.

Radio Happy Hour
After a short hiatus, this variety show and mock radio broadcast returns, with a Valentine’s Day–themed murder-mystery play, interviews, trivia and music from L.A. punks Abe Vigoda. The recorded program can be downloaded as a podcast after the event, so you can listen back to your special night long after you’ve broken up. (Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St at Thompson St (212-505-3474, lepoissonrouge.com). Feb 14 at 7pm; $15, advance $10.

A Six-Word Memoir Story Slam on Love and Heartbreak
Hear the tales behind pithy bons mots like “Married by Elvis, divorced by Friday,” the result of SMITH magazine’s popular online project and book. Brave audience members are then encouraged to spill their own pint-size, witty sagas. A recent fave includes “My mother warned me about you.” 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St at Canal St (212-601-1000, 92ytribeca.org). Feb 14 at 7pm; $12, advance $10.

The Rejection Show Valentine’s Day Heartbreak Haven
Jon Friedman turns his schadenfreudefest to matters of the heart, and brings a who’s who of local comics to the stage, including Tom Shillue, Max Silvestri, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon blogger-buddy Sara Schaefer and more. You won’t leave on a downer, though: The evening ends with live music from the Defibulators, love-song karaoke and a party. The Bell House, 149 7th St between Second and Third Aves, Gowanus, Brooklyn (718-643-6510, thebellhouseny.com). Feb 14 at 7pm; $12, advance $10.
Dances of Vice: Amor y Tango
This Valentine’s special, held in the Highline Ballroom, features a tango-tinged stage show directed by Sergio Segura and Nelson Avila, starring the Strictly Tango Dance Company, Carlos Costes and Amanda Michels, and Walter and Marilynne Kane. If seeing the sensuous moves onstage doesn’t get your pulse racing, a performance of tango burlesque by Medianoche should. Amateurs get their own tutorial from 7 to 8pm, and Latin beats from JP Jofre New Tango Quartet and DJ Yesim will make sure there’s plenty of time for practice. 431 W 16th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (212-414-5994, highlineballroom.com). Feb 14 at 7pm; $25, advance $20.

My Funny Valentine
A sense of humor is a very attractive quality. If your punch lines bomb, let a coterie of stand-up acts keep your date laughing. Seven comedians, including Mike Vecchione and betrothed Nate Bargatze, will sharpen their claws on love and relationships. “Carolines is an awesome place to spend Valentine’s Day,” says one headliner, Harrison Greenbaum. “Or as I like to call it, Hallmark Makes Money Off Your Sadness Day.” There’s an early and a late show, plus a two-drink minimum to get the blood flowing. Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway between 49th and 50th Sts (212-757-4100, carolines.com). Feb 14 at 7:30, 10pm; $24.50.

A Very Red Headed Step Child Valentine’s Day
This night of comedy is dedicated to those who feel neglected on Valentine’s Day and need extra love and attention, much like the proverbial redheaded stepchild. Jared Logan and Joe DeRosa, two local talents who host the excellent weekly show Righteous Kill, host TV comics Wil Sylvince (Comedy Central) and Russ Meneve (The Tonight Show) dropping one-liners about love. Smug twosomes should get the couples’ package ($65), to feed each other chocolate-covered strawberries and share a bottle of champagne in between laughs. Comix, 353 W 14th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-524-2500, comixny.com). Feb 14 at 8pm; $5 plus two-drink minimum.

A Match Made in Hell
The sultry, off-the-beaten-path cocktail den Hell Gate Social hosts singer-songwriter Laurie Lehner, backed by the four-piece Blurry Love Circus, performing covers and Lehner’s own acoustic ballads. Recline on the vintage sofas with one of HGS’s potent drinks, like the Punch Drunk Love ($6), a riff on the Rum Swizzle with dark rum, bitters, fresh berries and lime juice. Gents, if you’re looking to score, make sure to bring your A-game: You’re competing with rakish co-owner George Rallis, who will be dishing out complimentary homemade chocolate gifts to single ladies. 12-21 Astoria Blvd between 12th and 14th Sts, Astoria, Queens (718-204-8313, hellgatesocial.com). 10pm; free.

The Grammys 2011...

In other un-love related news..The biggest night in music otherwise known as The Grammys happened Sunday night, and surprisingly, it was actually pretty good. Don't mind the cynicism, it just seems like these shows are always so biased towards one artist or another, ahem Gaga, Bieber, Beyonce. But last night that simply was not the case, and what a relief I might add. Has America finally come to terms with the idea that there is more to music than bubblegum pop shockers like Gaga, who has bewitched us all with her catchy lyrics and unrelenting albeit horrid fashion statements? The people have spoken, and we choose music!

Among the biggest grammy shocks was Esperanza Spalding (Esperanza who?) beating out Bieber fever and Drake for Best New Artist of the Year. Esperanza is also the first jazz artist to win the award. You go girl! Arcade Fire won a well-deserved Album of The Year award over Grammy darlings Lady Gaga and Katy Perry for their album The Suburbs. It was country trio Lady Antebellum who made out as the biggest winner of the night, walking away with five awards, including best country album.

I have to say however, that without a doubt, the performance of the night has to go to Cee Lo Greene in his multi-colored boa coupled with a highly-talented Gwyneth Paltrow in her oh-so-sexy Stella McCartney jumpsuit, hot pink feather earrings and neon yellow socks. Loves it. Gwyneth is my new fashion heroine.

All in all, I'd say the night was a success. It's refreshing to see musicians with actual talent win over some of the so-called 'artists' who have been pumping out the same uninspired 'music' year after year. Is it possible that Bieber maniacs and Little Monsters of the world may finally be coming to an end and a new era of pure unadulterated music is taking shape? Could this be the revolution that music and its fans truly needs and that we've all been waiting for? I hope so, and if last nights awards show tells us anything, it's that in the end, music will speak for itself.