Skip the flowers and candy. Treat your special someone to a fun experience, such as a concert, play, comedy performance or planetarium show. Complete the romantic evening with dinner at a new spot.
A Night of Love: R&B Superstars
Feb 9: Grammy Award winner, Anthony Hamilton, singer-songwriter Keyshia Cole and other music artists put on a soulful Valentine’s concert at The Rock.
Time & Price: 8 pm; $59-119.
Location: Prudential Center, Newark
The Savannah Sipping Society
Feb 9-25: Four Southern women, all needing to escape the monotony of their daily routines, are drawn together by fate and an impromptu happy hour in this comedy about reclaiming one’s zest for life.
Price: $20.
Location: South Camden Theatre
Valentine’s Day All-Star Comedy Show
Feb 10: Laugh the night away with this riotous roster of stand-up talent, featuring Tommy Davidson (In Living Color), Aries Spears (MADtv), Ashima Franklin (Off the Chain), Mark Curry (Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper) and Alex Thomas (The Jamie Foxx Show).
Time & Price: 8 pm; $49-$99.
Location: NJPAC, Newark
A Valentine’s Doo-Wop
Feb 10: Boogie down during this night filled with original members from the Drifters, the Coasters, the Chantels and more. Presented by Cool Bobby B, who hosts a doo-wop oldies radio program on Sirius Radio.
Time & Price: 7 pm; $40-$60
Location: Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank
NY Kings of Comedy
Feb 14: Veteran comedians Capone, Talent Harris, Rob Stapleton, Mark Viera and Drew Fraser will leave audiences laughing in Asbury Park.
Time & Price: 8 pm; $27.50-$47.50.
Location: Paramount Theatre
Motown Tribute: Love, Togetherness & Community
Feb 14: We wanna dance with somebody! Groove to your favorite songs by Whitney Houston, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and more performed by tribute bands, The Total Eclipse Band and TruSol. A buffet will be served.
Time & Price: 5:30-10 pm
Location: Hac PAC, Hackensack
A Valentine’s Evening Under the Stars Sky Show
Feb 14: Spend the evening with your special someone under the stars! Hear the stories of love and romance immortalized in the stars from a local astronomer. Delight in the sights and sounds of a romantic laser show interspersed throughout the hour-long program.
Time & Price: 6:15 pm, reception; 7 pm, show; $15 all seats.
Location: Robert J. Novins Planetarium, Ocean County College Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River
Hot Latin Nights: The Mambo Kings
Feb 16, 17 & 18: The Mambo Kings bring some serious heat as they celebrate sizzling music of Latin America and the United States. From the sultry melancholy of Astor Piazzolla and the burning Afro Cuban rhythms of Tito Puente to the rhythmic playfulness of jazz great Dave Brubeck and the pop strains of The Beatles, the Mambo Kings take you on a Latin jazz tour that will drive you to your feet!
Price: $25
Locations: Feb 16, Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank; Feb 17, NJPAC, Newark; Feb 18, State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus Live!
Feb 17-18: Take your place on the front lines of the battle of the sexes in this hilarious, one-man fusion of theater and stand-up, based on the best-selling book by John Gray.
Price: $59
Location: NJPAC, Newark
Boyz II Men
Feb 17 & 18: Throughout their 25-year career, The R&B group Boyz II Men have sold more than 60 albums. Enjoy Valentine’s Day weekend with the Philly singers who brought fans hits like “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet Day” and “Motownphilly.”
Price: $45-$184.
Locations: Feb 17, Bergen PAC, Englewood; Feb 18, Borgata Event Center, Atlantic City