Feel the love with Valentine's events, treats
Feb. 8—Take heart, procrastinators: There's still time to make plans for Valentine's Day. Whether you're celebrating with girlfriends, a significant other or just embracing some self-care, there's something in town for you to enjoy.
Self-Love Club Fest: In what can easily be named the most creative love-centered event this holiday season, a group of local businesses and creative mastermind Vicheka Ek came up with a good event for a good cause.
This 21-and-over gathering being held at BottleShock Wine & Brew will offer an assortment of activities and local vendors including The Index pop-up book shop.
Attendees will enjoy a wine tasting curated by BottleShock along with a snack box from Radio Sandwich, which includes a mini everything bagel with house-cured Peads and Barnett pork belly, mini Doritos biscuit and salted egg sandwich.
There will be a screening of "Legally Blonde" starting at 7:15 p.m.
Activity stations, which are optional and include a separate fee, include candle making with The Chandler Maker. For $30, attendees can make a candle choosing one of three scents: the Elle Woods-themed Bend and Snap, Miley Cyrus-inspired I Can Buy Myself Flowers or the crush-worthy Borrowed Sweater.
The Playful Space will host a creative art station, and Happy Whole You will offer microcurrent facials as well as mini yoga/meditation sessions during the event.
Bring your own Bruiser or other four-legged friend (on a leash). Pup-cuterie boards will be available for purchase.
Festivities run from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at BottleShock, 1002 19th St.
There are three tiers of admission: $10, which includes entry and the movie screening; $20, which adds the wine tasting; and $30, for the tasting plus Radio Sandwich snack box.
Visit form.jotform.com/230237577650155 to purchase tickets.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Valley Achievement Center (VAC) of Bakersfield. Started in 1998 to provide children with autism and other developmental disabilities an educational setting where they would thrive, VAC now offers a wide variety of all-ages educational, behavior modification and socialization programs for those affected by autism and other developmental disabilities.
San Rucci Winery: Enjoy a belated Valentine's experience with your 21-and-over beloved at San Rucci's blending class. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 18, the urban winery will offer an in-person version of its blending kits that San Rucci hosted over the pandemic, allowing attendees to learn the ins and outs of wine blending. Empowered by their tutorial, participants will be able to make their own three unique red wine blends using four varietals. Then they pick their favorite blend and get to take a bottle of that home.
The cost is $130 ($117 for wine club members), which includes the red varietal wines (enough for two to share) as well as the blending utensils/tools to use, light snacks and the custom bottle to take home.
Visit sanrucci.com/product/blending-class to sign up.
San Rucci is located at 6201 Schirra Court, Suite 7.
Galentine's Day Paint The Space: On Monday, The Empty Space invites you and your pals to a paint night event at its new location, which is set to begin hosting shows this summer.
Artist Jay-Ar Ignacio will guide attendees through the creation of a masterpiece of their very own. No experience is necessary, and all tools you need — canvas, apron, paint, and brushes — will be provided.
Live entertainment will be provided by Kelso. Charcuterie boxes, wine, beer and sweet treats will be available for purchase.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the class starts at 7 p.m. Monday at The Empty Space, 5417 Woodmere Drive.
The cost is $40. Visit esonline.org/specialevents to purchase tickets.
All funds raised will go towards the theater's Act Two Capital Campaign.
Even if tickets sell out, spectators are welcome to eat, drink, and watch the masterpieces unfold to help raise more funds for the theater.
Valentine's Day Lunch: The Guild House has partnered with Stars Theatre Restaurant to offer a holiday lunch with some pizzazz. During lunch service at the volunteer-run restaurant, performers from Stars will sing oldies love songs. There will also be a preview from the upcoming production of "The Secret Garden" courtesy of Cassidy Fraley, who plays Lily in the show.
The menu consists of French onion soup, chicken cordon bleu with Mornay sauce, served with lemon dill rice and fresh green beans, and a chocolate dessert. Guests can substitute the chicken taco salad as the entree.
Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Guild House, 1905 18th St.
The cost is $22 (plus tax and gratuity). Call 661-325-5478 for reservations.
Panchito's Restaurant (2104 O St.): On Tuesday, the Oaxacan restaurant will offer dinner for two ($49.99) with a choice of steak or chicken, along with shrimp, two drinks and a dessert to share.
Valentine's Day in The Sinking Ship: The downstairs tiki bar (1927 K St.) will offer special drinks for two and drinks for one along with new mugs and a photo booth on Tuesday from 5:30 to 11 p.m.
Mango Haus (700 Truxtun Ave.): The new downtown restaurant, which has only been open for breakfast and lunch, will offer its first dinner service on Tuesday with an "upscale Latin-inspired menu featuring Mango in different presentations," from mango-serrano aguachile to Oaxacan mole. There will also be plant-based and gluten-free options.
Dinner service starts at 5 p.m. Text 661-717-2138 to make reservations.
Beer Me Valentine: Kern River Brewing Co. will be offering specials in both the original pub and backyard restaurant on Saturday and Tuesday.
The pub will serve a fried coconut shrimp appetizer as well as entrees of salmon over mushroom risotto with grilled asparagus and a Mediterranean salmon salad. The backyard will offer a caprese flatbread and shrimp Alfredo entree with garlic toast. Both venues will have a housemade creme brulee for dessert.
Hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for the pub and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the backyard, and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the pub and noon to 7 p.m. for the backyard.
Kern River Brewing Co. is located at 13415 Sierra Way in Kernville.
BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse (10750 Stockdale Highway): Now through Tuesday, purchase a $50 eGift card and receive a $10 bonus gift card. The bonus cards can be redeemed from Feb. 15 through March 31.
Guests who dine at BJ's from Friday through Tuesday will receive a coupon for a free Pizookie, which can be redeemed between Feb. 15 and March 31. The offer is good with a minimum purchase of $14.95, for either dine-in or takeout.
Black Angus Steakhouse (3601 Rosedale Highway): From Feb. 11 to 14, Black Angus will offer its Valentine's Day Feast for Two ($59 per person), which includes two 6-ounce filet mignon and two lobster tails with side dishes, one appetizer to share, molasses bread, two prosecco splits and choice of dessert (chocolate chip cowboy cookie, New York-style cheesecake, big mountain chocolate fudge cake, spiced carrot cake or chocolate flourless torte).
For an over-the-top romantic dine-in experience, Black Angus will also offer customers the option to add a dozen roses to their reservation.
Along with restaurant dining, customers can order the feast for takeaway or curbside pickup by ordering at blackangus.com. Call 661-324-0814 for more information.
Cracker Barrel (3310 California Ave.): From Friday through Tuesday, enjoy a free order of biscuit beignets or a slice of double chocolate fudge Coca-Cola cake with the purchase of two select homestyle entrees.
Entree options include build your own homestyle breakfast, classics sampler (with two or three favorites), meatloaf, roast beef, Sunday homestyle chicken, chicken-fried chicken, country-fried steak, smoky Southern grilled chicken, grilled sirloin steak or the tips, tenders n' shrimp platter.
Pieology: The fast-casual pizza chain brought back its red velvet cookie, made with white chocolate chips, Hershey's milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate chunks, and milk chocolate chunks.
Stefani Dias can be reached at 661-395-7488. Follow her on Twitter at @realstefanidias.
