Jen White

State Hornet

What are you doing this Valentine&s Day weekend? Going to dinner, seeing a movie or maybe staying at home? Yawn.

There&s no reason to use the cliches when Valentine&s Day weekend is full of events for couples looking for a less common holiday experience, beginning with Friday&s Ballet Flamenco with Sara Baras.

Baras, a dancer since she was 8, performed with her company in a five-month, record-breaking tour in Madrid. The show starts at 8 p.m. Feb. 11 in the PSSB Building of the UC Davis Medical Center and ticket prices range from $14.50 to $39. For tickets and information call (866) 754-5000.

&The Nerd,& the acclaimed show playing at Garbeau&s Dinner Theatre promises a fun experience with tons of laughs and is a much more memorable experience than catching a matinee. The show tells the story of a Napoleon Dynamite-esque nerd who comes to visit a successful friend. Mayhem ensues.

Not convinced by &The Nerd?& How about Comedy Central regular Dave Attel performing at the Punch Line comedy club? His series, &Insomniac with Dave Attel,& followed the comedian around at all hours of the morning and documented his hilarious experiences. Also at the Punch Line are Sean Rouse and Louis Katz. Tickets are $30 and shows are at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., Friday through Sunday, Feb. 11-13.

Saturday&s Anime and Manga Show at the Scottish Rite Center is another original idea for a couples& activity with plenty to see and do. The salute to Japanese/Asian comics, toys, DVDs and animation will run from 10 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 and includes a charity auction at 3:30 p.m. For more information call (916) 607-1849.

Anime, however, isn&t always the easiest interest to sell. So maybe you and your loved one should just get drunk instead. Sato Brewing Company&s Oasis is holding Oktoberfest Saturday, Feb. 12 from noon until 5 p.m. Admission is free, but a $10 commemorative mug gets drinkers five free samples from area breweries. There will also be a beard and mustache contest, German dancers and Freddie&s Bavarian Band. Call (916) 726-6767 for more information.

The night also brings an opportunity to put on the snazziest threads in the closet and head out to Spotlight Dance and Fitness& &An Evening in Paris.& The semiformal, black and white ball is $12 in advance or $15 at the door; admission includes rumba lessons for guests beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 12. For more information call (916) 649-3269.

Not everyone has clothes worthy of a black and white ball in their closet, but everyone does have a pair of cowboy boots. No? How about blue jeans? OK, that&s what I thought. Head out to Cahoots Country Dancing and Lessons at the Clarion Hotel&s Blueroom Lounge. The fun starts at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 and more information can be found by calling (916) 416-9689.

Check out a film with a message and spark some conversation with your other half. &10,000 Black Men Named George,& directed by Robert Townsend, is being shown at the 40 Acres Art Gallery at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13. The film tells the story of A. Phillip Randolph, who came to be known as &the most dangerous man in America& after establishing the first black union for Pullman Porters. Admission is free.

The Ocean Lounge is hosting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender &Laid Back Sundays& for open-minded folks to come, meet and mingle. The event is from 5-10 p.m. on Feb. 13 and more information can be found by calling (916) 648-0223.

With a little talent and a little bravery, couples can attend and perform at the Java Cafe and Brew Pub&s &Open Mic Sunday.& Admission is free, sign-ups are at 7 p.m. and performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13. For more information call (916) 961-2739.

With an action- and romance-packed weekend, the two of you will be worn out by Monday (hopefully); but if you haven&t had enough, the Stockmarket Lounge and Grill is the venue for Live Jazz Recording at 9 p.m. on Feb. 14. The show is $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

For more information call (916) 397-0474.