Unique & Romantic Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

How do I love thee, let me count the ways. And there are so many unique and romantic ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day near Circa. Fly high on a private helicopter tour, or treat your SO to a glamorous night at the opera. Looking for something more offbeat? The Acey-Deucey Club is hosting an immersive Tiki cocktail party. Or take in a spooky Valentine-themed movie at the Million Dollar Theater. Who says Valentine’s Day is just for lovers? Angel City Brewery is hosting Circus of Broken Hearts for singles, third wheels, and everything in between. And Galentine’s Day on February 13 honors the other important relationships we cherish – our girlfriends. With something for everyone in your life, February is truly the month of love! 


LA Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

LA Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mozart’s greatest comedy sparkles with disguises, wit, trickery and humanity, all under the masterful baton of Music Director James Conlon. The magic goes even further with an enchanting new production directed by acclaimed filmmaker James Gray, with costumes designed by celebrated fashion designer Christian Lacroix. (Yes, that’s a shameless name drop.) Arrive early before the performance on February 23 and enjoy live music from KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole and Happy Hour exclusive Drink + Food specials on the plaza.  


American Contemporary Ballet Astaire Dance Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

American Contemporary Ballet: Astaire Dances Two California Plaza 350 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90071

Love is just a few steps away. Astaire Dances by American Contemporary Ballet has become a favorite tradition for Los Angeles. This year’s show features classics such as Dancing In The Dark, All  Of You, and I’m Old Fashioned. The original dances are brought to life with live renditions of the songs that inspired them. Astaire Dances is paired with a new ballet by ACB Director Lincoln Jones, The Charlestons, featuring the music of Ellington, Morton, Armstrong, and Dodds. Hear scorching jazz played by some of LA’s hottest musicians, and danced by its most compelling dancers. The evening also includes the comedy of Brian Kiley.

Candlelight Concerts Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Candlelight Concerts Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club 1210 4th St. Santa Monica, CA, 90401

Candlelight Concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations in Los Angeles. For Valentine’s Day, the program includes romantic favorites like the theme from Romeo and Juliet, Flower Duet by Delibes, Moon River by Henry Mancini, and many more. The historic Woman’s Club of Santa Monica is a beautiful venue built in 1912. The club features a grand ballroom, a garden, and a number of smaller event spaces. 

Angel City Brewery Broken Hearts Circus Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Broken Hearts Circus Angel City Brewery & Public House 216 S Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Who says Valentine’s Day is just for lovers? That’s why every February Angel City Brewery throws its Circus of Broken Hearts – a celebration of the single, the third wheels, and everything in between.  Come run away with a circus of aerialists, stilt-walkers, contortionists, jugglers, sword swallowers, tarot card readers, and more as the Public House transforms into a big top tent for the day. Revel in the spectacles while enjoying fine suds, specialty slushies, and flight + candy pairings, with vegan candy options for those with specific dietary needs. Bring your crew, all are welcome, especially pups.


Flutter Experience Galentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Galentine’s Day at Flutter 217 S La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Art has never been this fun! Flutter is a one-of-a-kind adventure like no other. Soar away from the mundane and swoop into a world of art, play, and pure imagination. Flutter is all about having the ultimate playful, imaginative and unforgettable experience. Flutter guides are eager to take you on a 90-minute adventure filled with excitement and wonder. Get ready for a blast of projection mapping, relaxing sound healing, an action-packed alien escape room, time travel, and a revealing AI aura reading. Grab your gal pals and let your heart take flight.

Orbic Air Helicopter Tours Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Orbic Air Helicopter Tours 10750 Sherman Way, Burbank, CA 91505

Orbic Air is offering Valentine’s Day Helicopter Specials from February 10 to February 19. All Valentine’s Day packages will be booked as private flights, and will include complimentary champagne, a rose for the special someone, an assortment of chocolates and berries, and a souvenir photo to remember the experience. For the past 29 years, Orbic Air has been providing guests with the most unforgettable helicopter experiences in LA, with views of the Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica mountains, and Southern California’s miles of coastline.

Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Astra Lumina South Coast Botanic Garden 26300 Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90274

Take an enchanted night walk amongst the stars. Astra Lumina LA welcomes you to an extraordinary place, a garden right here on earth that shares a special connection with the sky above. Come nightfall, the garden sets the stage for a phenomenal event: a visit from the stars. Stargazers are invited to set off across the garden’s celestial pathway to encounter the wonder of the stars and embrace their own human light. As the night unfolds, these luminous orbs regenerate, rise, and reunite in the night sky, to shine brighter than ever before.

Ballymaloe Dessert Trolley at Caldo Verde Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Ballymaloe Desserts at Caldo Verde Proper Hotel DTLA 1100 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015

This Valentine’s Day, join award-winning Pastry Chef JR Ryall for a decadent dining experience of seasonally-inspired sweets from his debut book Ballymaloe Desserts. Indulge in JR Ryall’s renowned dessert trolley that will feature 18 unique treats as he discusses his delicious culinary journey in the pastry kitchen. JR Ryall’s iconic dessert recipes will be paired with a prix fixe menu of Portuguese flavors and old California sensibilities curated by James Beard Award winners Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne.


The Acey-Deucey Club: A Submarine-Themed Tiki Bar Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

The Acey-Deucey Club: A Submarine-Themed Tiki Bar 613 Imperial St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

All aboard! Get ready for an unforgettable experience at The Acey-Deucey Club, a nostalgic pop-up tiki bar set inside a kitschy submarine-themed lounge. The crew of the USS Clusterwink invites you to sip on premium tiki cocktails and revel in the dazzling live performance of Captain Vic and the Clusterwink jazz band. It’s going to be a jaunty social cruise ripe with curiosity, surprises, and merriment. You will be transported to a long-lost vintage era onboard the submarine – and if you’re lucky, you may even get a personal tour of the deepest corners of the Clusterwink.


Bloody Valentine at Million Dollar Theater Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Bloody Valentines at Million Dollar Theater 307 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Street Food Cinema and TIL Events presents Bloody Valentines at Million Dollar Theater. Spooky movies include Queen of the Damned, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Jennifer’s Body. Bring your special someone and enjoy a bloody underground photo opp, audience games and more. You can order wine, beer and specialty cocktails at their Lovers Lounge. Valentines Slides are available for purchase. You can also grab a bite from Grand Central Market’s 40+ vendors; food is welcome in the theater.

asterid by Ray Garcia Valentine’s Day near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

asterid by Ray Garcia 141 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

One of Michelin Guide’s New Discoveries, asterid is offering a special four-course prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu for $125 per person, with optional cocktail pairing at $50 per person or wine pairing at $55 per person. There is also a 6-course option at $160 per person. Located in Walt Disney Concert Hall, asterid uses a unique and joyful expanse of local, hyper-seasonal ingredients that bring celebration to life at its tables through a familial dining experience. Authentically from and for Los Angeles, Chef Garcia’s Modern American menu and bar program is unexpected, offering contemporary sensibility, inspiring curiosity, and paying respect to the independent spirit of L.A. For more Michelin restaurants near Circa, check out our recent blog post.

Photo Credits:

Photo #1: Orbic Air

Photo #2: LA Opera

Photo #3: American Contemporary Ballet

Photo #4: Secret Los Angeles

Photo #5: Angel City Brewery

Photo #6: Flutter

Photo #7: Orbic Air

Photo #8: Astra Lumina

Photo #9: Ballymaloe Desserts

Photo #10: The Acey-Deucey Club

Photo #11: Street Food Cinema

Photo #12: asterid by Ray Garcia 

Culture Fix: LA’s Best Exhibitions & Immersive Experiences

LA is a visual feast this season, with must-see exhibitions, multi-media shows, and immersive experiences. So if you’re craving a culture fix, you’ll find plenty of inspiration near Circa. Celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb are two spectacular exhibitions: Immersive King Tut at Lighthouse ArtSpace, and King Tut: The Immersive Experience from National Geographic opening November 4 in DTLA. Other upcoming shows include Brewery Artwork, William Kentrdige: In Praise of Shadows at The Broad, and Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts at The Huntington. Mark your calendars and get your tickets now, as these exhibitions can quickly sell out. Please check websites for health & safety protocols.

Alexander McQueen exhibition at LACMA near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse LACMA 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

One of the most significant contributors to fashion between 1990 and 2010, Lee Alexander McQueen (London, 1969–2010) was both a conceptual and technical virtuoso. The first McQueen exhibition on the West Coast, Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse contextualizes the designer’s imaginative work within a canon of artmakers who drew upon analogous themes and visual references. Exploring imagination, artistic process, and innovation in fashion and art, the exhibition examines the interdisciplinary impulse that defined the designer’s career. On display are select McQueen garments from the Collection of Regina J. Drucker alongside artworks largely from LACMA’s permanent collection.

Flutter Experience exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Flutter Experience 217 S La Brea Los Angeles, CA 90036

Located just five minutes from LACMA, Flutter is an immersive sensory journey with projection mapping, painting, virtual reality, dancing, sound baths, and much more. Rated as America’s number one art experience, Flutter has brought incredible artists together to transform 14 rooms into spaces that will inspire you to play, create, imagine, and explore. Flutter partnered with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, who advise on mental health and youth engagement issues. Discover the interactive experience that will uplift your soul and allow you to interact with art like never before. 

Color Fields LA exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Color Fields LA  Blush Studios LA 147 N Mission Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90033

Come experience Color Fields in a new type of exhibition and event space in Los Angeles. This 10,000 square foot exhibition of analogue color theory exploration through light, shape, form, movement, technology, and self will test what you think you may understand about color and combinations. Step into and take a walk through Color Fields’ five detailed exhibit landscapes with some added color and shadow follies, each providing a different analogy of how we see, experience, and translate colors. 

The Autry Museum exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

The Autry Museum 4700 Western Heritage Way Los Angeles, CA 90027

If you’re a fan of the American West, The Autry Museum in Griffin Park should be at the top of your must do list. The museum features world-class galleries showcasing the art, history and cultures of the American West plus film memorabilia, historic firearms and more. Their current exhibition, Dress Codes, is about what we wear, how we wear it, and why. Visitors can explore how the clothing in our closets have long and often surprising histories, unpacking cultural histories of western style. The exhibition is organized around six enduring icons of western style: blue jeans, plaid shirt, fringed jackets, aloha shirt, China Poblana dress, and the cowboy boot. 

Immersive King Tut exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Immersive King Tut Lighthouse ArtSpace 6400 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

100 years ago, the boy king’s tomb was discovered. Celebrate the anniversary by venturing into the Valley of the Kings at Immersive King Tut. The groundbreaking immersive King Tut experience takes you on a mythical journey through the Egyptian afterlife. As pharaoh, Tutankhamun was the sun of his nation. In this immersive experience, you will follow him on his journal through the underworld. Will he triumph and bring his people eternal light and prosperity? Immerse yourself in ancient Egypt and unravel the myths and legends of King Tut like never before.

Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience Magic Box LA 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Opens Nov 4 A hundred years after the legendary discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt comes National Geographic’s Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience, exclusively at Magic Box LA. Produced in partnership with the National Geographic Society, Beyond King Tut takes visitors on an immersive cinematic journey to Egypt to witness ancient wonders of the world, like the Temple at Karnak and the Great Sphinx, all in stunning high-resolution detail. Audiences then gaze upon a brilliant Egyptian sunrise over the Pyramids of Giza, before traveling back in time 3,300 years to the 18th dynasty and the age of the Golden Pharaohs when King Tut ruled. There, they meet Ancient Egyptian gods like Ra and Anubis, while descending into King Tut’s burial chamber and joining him on his quest for immortality. 

 Brewery Artwalk exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Brewery Artwalk 2100 N Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90031

Nov 5 – 6 The Brewery Artwalk is a twice annual open studio weekend at the worlds largest art complex. With over 100 participating resident artists, you will have the opportunity to see new works, discover new favorites, speak with the artists, and purchase artwork directly from the artists’ studios. The creation of the Brewery Arts Complex began in 1982 at the site of the Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery. With the passing of the Los Angeles Artist-In-Residence code, artists could rent live/work space in industrially zoned buildings. Come and support LA’s finest artists, take home some great works, and dine at the on-site restaurant. Admission and parking are free.

William Kentridge Houseboy theatrical performance at REDCAT near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

William Kentridge: In Praise of Shadows The Broad  221 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opens Nov 12  William Kentridge’s first monograph presentation at The Broad and his first major exhibition in Los Angeles in two decades will feature more than 130 works in an engaging and interactive design by Belgian designer Sabine Theunissen. Surveying 35 years of the celebrated South African artist’s practice, this landmark exhibition includes all 18 works from the Broad collection with substantial loans from across the United States and South Africa. Don’t miss the world theatrical premiere of the performance Houseboy, a production of the Centre for the Less Good Idea in Johannesburg, directed by William Kentridge, at REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater), in downtown Los Angeles from November 17–20. Tickets HERE

 Skirball Cultural Center exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049

Opens Nov 17 American Quilt Stories features works by more than forty artists, including Harriet Powers, Bisa Butler, and Sanford Biggers. Come celebrate the artistry and vision of a diverse and largely under-recognized group of creators in an exhibition that brings to light stories that enrich, deepen, and complicate our understanding of the American experience. Fabric of a Nation illuminates the unique capacity quilts have to tell stories and convey a sense of humanity. Whether produced as works of art or utilitarian objects, their tactile, intricate mode of creation and traditional use in the home impart deeply personal narratives of their makers and offer an intimate picture of American life. While you’re there, take some time to explore The Skirball’s beautiful campus in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts at The Huntington exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts The Huntington 1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino, CA 91108

Opens Dec 10 The international traveling exhibition Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts explores the early inspirations behind Disney Studios’ creations, examining Walt Disney’s fascination with European art and the use of French motifs in Disney films and theme parks. Walt Disney had a deep affection for France, having served there as an ambulance driver following World War I. It was then that he first became fascinated with Europe and European art. Inspiring Walt Disney highlights his art and architecture encounters during return trips following the war. Approximately 50 works of 18th-century European decorative art and design, many of which are drawn from The Huntington’s significant collection, are featured alongside hand-drawn production artworks and works on paper from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, Walt Disney Archives, Walt Disney Imagineering Collection, and The Walt Disney Family Museum.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Flutter Experience

Photo #2: LACMA

Photo #3: Flutter Experience

Photo #4: Blush Studios LA

Photo #5: The Autry Museum

Photo #6: Immersive King Tut

Photo #7: Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience 

Photo #8: Brewery Artwalk

Photo #9: The Broad

Photo #10: Skirball Cultural Center

Photo #11: The Huntington