Happy Valentine's Day!
While I prefer to find non-commercialized ways to celebrate the day, like making homemade cards or baking heart-shaped cakes or cookies, there are lots of other ways to enjoy the evening, should you choose. And of course, nobody ever says no to chocolate, do they?
Tonight it's Bo.tegga Valentine's Experience: Love Is...
This is the second annual Valentine's event at Bo.tegga and it includes a cocktail lounge atmosphere, appies, dessert and entertainment. Best of all, proceeds will benefit the Karis Support Society, a great way to "share the love."
Tickets are $50 per person and include one drink ticket, with a cash bar available as well. There will be dancing and a DJ. Overnight stay packages are available.
It's a semi-formal dress and tickets are online at the bo.ttega.com website. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the program starting at 7 p.m.
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Also on tonight, it's Chic Gamine at the Mary Irwin Theatre. In case you missed the feature on them last week in eVent!, Chic Gamine is described as winsome, wicked and witty in a nouveau pop kind of way. You can check them out online at chicgamine.com and if you like what you hear, tickets are $30 at the RCA box office or online at selectyourtickets.com. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
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There's going to be a masquerade Valentine's dance at the Okanagan Mission Community Hall on Saturday night, starting at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and proceeds are going to the Wish Come True Society.
Wish Come True has a vision to build a respite centre - a type of hospice centre for children here in Kelowna and proceeds will go towards this.
Tickets are just $25 and you can come dance the night away to music by The Young'uns.
You can also take part in a 50/50 draw or win a piece of jewelry donated by Haworth Jewelers. Get your tickets online at wishcometruesociety.com.
If you can't make it but would like to help, then you can make a donation.
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For those looking for more news on what's happening with Ballet Kelowna, the plans were to hold town hall meeting last night at the Kelowna Art Gallery. Hopefully there will be good news about the dance company's future released soon.
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Here's one for families: the Okanagan Symphony is teaming up with Bumbershoot Children's Theatre to present Peter and the Wolf at the Kelowna Community Theatre on Saturday at 2 p.m. Although they'd hoped there would be two performances, the later one was cancelled.
This all-ages show has a run time of about 75 minutes. Tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for youth at Actors Studio's box office or call 250-862-2867.
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If you're looking for a fun night out and like jazz, then you'll want to check out the monthly Jazz Cafe at the Black Box Theatre on Sunday featuring special guest singer/pianist Elizabeth Shepherd. She'll be performing with Ross MacIntyre on bass, Colin Kingsmore on drums. Shepherd has sold out gigs in legendary clubs from Tokyo to Detroit, played festivals like Montreal and North Sea Jazz Festivals and is the only jazz vocalist to have ever been long listed for the Polaris Prize.
A two-time Juno nominee, this should be an excellent show. Tickets are $25 and you can reserve them by calling 250-763-6141 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Music starts at 8 p.m.
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I had a chance to catch Noises Off, the play currently running at Kelowna Actors Studio and thought it was really well done.
It's the story of what goes on behind the scenes in the theatre while a cast is mangling the play they're supposed to perform. KAS recently spent a whack of money so they could have the revolving platform set needed for this production. And yeah, it's kind of cool when it turns during intermission.
The play starts off with the actors in the middle of their final dress rehearsal. For Act II, the stage spins around and you get to see what's going on backstage during a performance of the play.
Because you've already seen it from the front, you know what's supposed to be going on but as tempers flare and passions heat up, it gets insanely chaotic with pants dropping, people falling downstairs and so much more.
The physicality of this production is unbelievable and I'm sure the actors must be exhausted by the end of each performance, but it truly is funny and if you're in need of a good laugh, you should check it out.
Noises Off continues its run at KAS on Wednesdays through Sundays from now until Feb 23. Tickets are at the KAS box office, kelownaactorsstudio.com or call 250-862-2867.
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If you're a Neil Diamond fan, Creekside Theatre has Bobby Bruce performing Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
Bruce, a.k.a. Nearly Neil, has been doing his tribute to Diamond for 10 years now as well as touring around the world in the Legends in Concert and Legends of Rock shows. You can find out more about him on his website nearlyneil.com. Tickets are $28 or get a group of four together for $96. Call 250-766-9309 to reserve.
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One of my top picks for the week ahead is the Newfie band called The Once, who are coming to play one night only at Minstrel Cafe on Tuesday, Feb. 19. This multi-award winning trio has been headlining shows across Canada, Britain, Ireland, Denmark and Australia with their traditional Newfoundland songs and originals.
Advance tickets are $15 available at the Minstrel. Call 250-764-2301 for more info or visit minstrelcafe.com
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Attention musicians: time to get your submissions in for this year's BreakOut West. Entry deadline is April 1 and the event will be held in Calgary this October. Find the guidelines at breakoutwest.ca.
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The Lake Country Art Gallery's annual Members Show opens Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. It's free and everyone's welcome. The show remains up until Mar. 15.
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Heads up for next week: Local band Fields of Green, are about to release a follow up to their award winning debut album, Blanktown. Winner of the 2012 Fox Seeds contest, they've completed an EP to take with them as they head on the road opening for Arkells.
The CD release takes place at the Kelowna Community Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 through keynotetickets.com or in person from Milkcrate Records on Ellis Street.

- Glenna Turnbull is a freelance writer who has covered the Okanagan arts and entertainment scene for many years. Her column appears each Thursday in eVent. Email her
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