The Capitol Steps. There’s a lot that’s depressing about following politics. But these days, there’s also a lot that’s entertaining. The University of Arizona Hillel Foundation wants to focus on the entertaining part of things by bringing this group (founded by a group of Senate staffers back in ’81) back to Tucson. As one performer puts it, “If we insult a person you like, be assured that the next person we insult will surely be someone you do not.” They’ll be poking bipartisan fun at headlines and some of politics’ biggest personalities. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. $50 to $65.

Men Are From Mars–Women Are From Venus LIVE! Ah, you remember when this book came out, and made you think, if nothing else, “Well, there’s one explanation for why my husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend seems so absolutely insane to me sometimes.” In this one-man show, Ryan Drummond presents a series of vignettes about everything from dating to marriage to the bedroom. It’s definitely for adults only, but visitors from any and every planet are welcome. Come laugh your way through date night with your favorite interplanetary visitor. 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Temple of Music & Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. $60.

Tucson Rodeo. It’s rodeo season again! The first Fiesta de los Vaqueros was back in 1925, with three days full of events. Since then, it’s grown to a nine-day bonanza that’s one of the top 25 professional rodeos on the continent. Every day is jam-packed with fun stuff to do. On opening day this Saturday, gates open at 11 a.m. for a day including the Justin Junior Rodeo, the ProRodeo Competition and the Coors Barn Dance. On Sunday, Feb. 16, wear pink to support breast cancer initiatives and check out the Chicks ’n’ Chaps Women’s Rodeo Clinic starting at 8 a.m. Monday and Tuesday feature barrel racing, steer wrestling and more starting at 8 a.m. See tucsonrodeo.com for the full schedule! Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. Sixth Ave. Event ticket prices start at $16.

Cruise, BBQ & Blues Festival & Car Show. Even if you’re not very into cars, you’ve gotta admit that they’re pretty marvelous feats of engineering. They’re such an integral part of our everyday lives that it can be hard to remember to step back and appreciate just how much design and craftsmanship goes into each one. And that goes double for classic cars! This Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance is here to celebrate all of this. Live music, yummy barbecue and more than 30 different classes of awards will keep your day, your heart and your belly full. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road. $5, with $1 discount for veterans and military. Free for kids 10 and under. Cash only.

Arizona Civil War Days. Every trip to Old Tucson is like going back in time, but this weekend, go back to a very specific time to see what life was like in the Arizona Territory during the Civil War. Visit soldiers’ camps and watch re-enactments of battles like the Battle of Golden Gate Peak. New this year is a chance to meet the real-life descendants of the Hatfield and McCoy families. There will be presentations about the family’s history, book signings and plenty of entertainment. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, Feb. 16. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. $21.95 GA, $10.95 kids 4 to 11 and free for kids under 4. Discounts available for seniors, military and Pima County residents.

Family SciFest. Remember when we all had to make volcanoes with vinegar and baking soda (or maybe you were in the Mentos and diet coke camp) for science class? There’s nothing quite like hands-on experiments for getting kids excited about STEM, and that’s exactly what this event at the Children’s Museum Tucson is designed to do. Part of the Arizona SciTech Festival, it’s got activities in robotics, astronomy, biology, engineering, environmental sciences, math and physics. Guest organizations range from the Arizona Canine Cognition Center to OSIRIS-REx reps to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Hooray science! 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 S. Sixth Ave. Free.

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum Lecture Series. This lecture series is a great way to learn more about all of the events in Tucson’s history that brought us to where we are today. This week, you’ll hear from Gene Caywood about 140th anniversary of the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad to the Old Pueblo. The Southern Pacific built its first locomotive in Sacramento in 1873 and started expanding from there. On March 20, 1880, the first SP train reached Tucson. 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, 414 N. Toole Ave.

Pure Prairie League with Michael Martin Murphey. If the rodeo has gotten you in the mood for an extra helping of the Wild West this week, don’t miss this event at the Fox. Country rock legends Pure Prairie League are named after a 19th century Temperance Union, and you’ve no doubt heard their huge hit “Amie.” Michael Martin Murphey is a Cowboy Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Awardee, known for pioneering the Austin music scene and forging “The Outlaw” movement in music along with Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker. Don’t even bother changing out of your cowboy boots this week. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. $29 to $79.

Adiba Nelson Book Reading & Signing. Black Renaissance and Hotel McCoy always put on good events, and this is no exception. Adiba Nelson, who has delivered TED Talks, been published in places like the Washington Post and was featured in the Emmy Award-winning documentary The Full Nelson, just self-published her debut children’s picture book, Meet ClaraBelle Blue. The first book in a series, it’s based loosely on Nelson’s own daughter, and is about how even though she has special needs, ClaraBelle is beautiful and so much like other kids. Come on down—free juice boxes for the kids! 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road. Free.

Analog Hour at Exo Roast. When was the last time you went out without your phone? I’ll go first and say, as much as I am ashamed to admit it, that I don’t even remember. So thank goodness for events like this, a chance to leave your technology at home and commit to two hours of good ol’ fashioned relaxation. Grab a book from the book bike and dive in, listen to some music, have a quiet chat with a friend, play a game, drink a coffee, journal. The possibilities are endless! 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Exo Roast Co, 403 N. Sixth Ave. Free.

KES. In a desolate Northern England town, a 15-year-old miner’s son forms a close bond with a wild falcon for a spiritual escape from his dead-end life. As part of their Staff Selects, the Loft Cinema is screening this 1969 film that was named one of the 10 best British films of the century by the British Film Institute. Part of both the “British New Wave” and “Kitchen Sink Realism” film movements, KES remains a groundbreaking coming-of-age film featuring real locations and nonprofessional actors. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $8.

Saturday, Feb. 15

Taking a humorous approach to feminine stereotypes in their lyrics, indie rockers Chastity Belt confront gender norms and femininity as a construct. At Rialto Theatre...

On "Beat Up Broke Down Town," off Hangovers and Heartaches, this Tucson country singer mourns a loss, with an ice-cold beer in hand. Drew Cooper—alongside Caiden Brewer and County Line—are at Rialto Theatre...

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You." Post V-Day romance with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. At Tucson Convention Center...

Obstinately crafting acoustic music for the sophisticated urban hillbilly, The Determined Luddites drag their hairy knuckles into the Saint Charles Tavern...

With bloodshot eyes, singer-songwriter Joe Peña entertains on the patio at Hotel Congress around [gasp] noon...

Southern Reins will raise the dust, at the 2020 Tucson Rodeo Coors Barn Dance, as part of La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. At Tucson Rodeo Grounds...

The world renowned Kings of Pleasure take their swingin' blues to the stage for Cruise, BBQ & Blues Festival & Car Show. In the Oro Valley Marketplace...

DJ NoirTech spins '80s bangers, Pretty in Pink '80s Prom Party. At Surly Wench Pub...

Sunday, Feb. 16

This Nashvillian singer-songwriter has had his work recorded by country legends Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. Not half bad, right? Ward Davis is at Rialto Theatre. Country troubadour Josh Morningstar opens...

Country/soft rockers Pure Prairie League perform their chart topping hits: "Amie," "Let Me Love You Tonight" and more. Along with Texas cowboy Michael Martin Murphey. A night of reminiscences awaits when at Fox Theatre...

Out of Flagstaff, psychedelic space rock cowboys Sci-Fi Country do unspeakable things on the Club Congress stage. Jim McGuinn & The Cosmic Cowboys and Hannah Yeun partake in the debauchery...

With its origins deeply rooted in the Gypsy culture of Spain, this traditional art form presents the interactions between song, dance and guitar, executed atop a percussive wooden platform. Tablao Flamenco perform at El Crisol...

Playing original jazz, bossa novas and experimental French esoterica, Dark Maps—Jeff Grubic, Sean Rogers and Dmitri Manos—play The Coronet...

Their track "Gospel" is the theme song during the closing credits in the animated film Monsters University (Disney/Pixar). MarchFourth bring a spectacle of high-energy compositions, a kaleidoscope of performers and irrepressible charisma to the MSA Annex. All ages...

St. Valentine's Day! This British producer/prog rocker reflects on the early days: "We had so much negative criticism. Like being pretentious for constantly making concept albums." Altering their formula, in 1982, Eye In The Sky (Arista) peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard charts. Alan Parsons Live Project is at Fox Theatre...

Highlighting black contemporary artists Black Museum reflects a cultural renaissance. History Of Us unfolds at 191 Toole...

Singer Emelie Marchand leads her red-hot musical flames—Thøger Lund, Ben Nisbet and Dimitri Manos—through a repertoire that spans from "The Devil's Music" of 1920s to the wicked soul jams of the 1960s. Lola & The Torchbearers' Valentine's Cabaret casts sparks at Club Congress...

Strains of swampy, jazz inflected blues rock waft through the air. Southbound Pilot are at Monterey Court...

Tackling Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 and No. 6, Tucson Symphony Orchestra are All About That B. Conductor José Luis Gomez leads the charge. At Tucson Convention Center...

Before falling into "a burning ring o' fire," Johnny Cash and June Carter, Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, George Jones and Tammy Wynette sang exultant love songs. Roots musicians Mamma Coal and Buddy Woodward offer a night of Country Duets. At El Crisol...

"Si, si!" Led by country crooner David Bryan, Loveland perform a special Valentine's Show. At Tap + Bottle Downtown...

Peace, love, unity and respect. Communiverse Vol. V: A micro-music festival, art, dance and community event. Featuring Jamaste, Atom Energy, Mental, Mr. C, Soulular and more. At Solar Culture...

Sand-Reckoner invites you to spend Valentine's Day with singer/guitarist Sabra Faulk...

Performing classical, jazz and original compositions, Flautist Erica May, accompanied by guitarist Josh Rhoads, perform at Wilhelm Family Vineyards at Ventana...

Take a ride on the supercollider of love, heading straight towards the Surly Wench Pub, where La Cerca, The Rifle and Louise Le Hir are on a collision course...

Día de San Valentin at Penca. Chef David Solorzano cooked up a four-course prix fixe menu blending multiple flavors from Mexico City. Dishes include a Sunchoke soup made with Jerusalem artichokes and a light dusting of hibiscus; Madeira-braised forest mushrooms over a light cheese sauce; grilled petit center cut fillet with mole rojo, baby vegetable and house-made chorizo crumble; and for desert, a mole rosa with strawberries, raspberries and a light yogurt espuma. The center cut fillet can also be substituted with quail or Tagliatelle de Mesquite. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 50 E. Broadway. $65. Reservations can be made online at pencarestaurante.com or by calling 520-203-7681.

The Coronet. In addition to their regular dinner menu, The Coronet is also offering a few special Valentine’s dishes. Options include the seared scallop and poached shrimp with grilled chile and blood orange; grilled sea bass with strawberry skin, black garlic forbidden rice and veggies; and the beef tenderloin with sherry mushrooms, herbed pomme puree, glazed carrots and blood orange port sauce. Each of these dishes can also be paired with a wine, such as the Domaine de la Grangette or Sand-Reckoner’s “Coronet Fancy Blend” of Syrah, Petit Syrah and Zinfandel. And to really get thing’s romantic, Tucson’s favorite Parisian Gabriel Naim Amor will be playing his specialty blend of impressionistic jazz and blues. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 198 W. Cushing St. Make your reservation at (520) 222-9889 or CoronetTucson.com

Sauce Pizza and Wine. For a tasty, low-cost Valentine’s outing, Sauce is offering a 2-for-$25 deal on Valentine’s Day. This deal allows you to choose one of Sauce’s hand-tossed salads and a 12-inch pizza, plus two glasses of wine. Restrictions apply. Guests can also substitute these pairings with any entrée ($10 or less) or beverage ($7 or less). All day, Friday, Feb. 14. Multiple locations throughout Tucson. $25.

Kingfisher. Chef Jeff Azersky is sticking with Kingfisher’s seafood excellence for their specialty a la carte Valentine’s menu. This dinner features a full oyster bar, plus New England clam chowder, cedar planked arctic char, grilled sea bass, grilled Hawaiian ahi tuna and marinated grilled octopus. Beyond seafood, they’re also serving up seasonal mesclun greens, spinach polenta, grilled ribeye of buffalo, New York steak and bouillabaisse. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 2564 E. Grant Road. No happy hour offered on the holiday. Reservations are a must. Call (520) 323-7739 or visit kingfishertucson.com.

DOWNTOWN Kitchen. There are several options for a Valentine’s dinner at DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails. This specialty three-course meal allows you to choose from babaganoush, zucchini curls, butternut squash; a glazed pork belly; a flight of oyster shooters; and lobster bisque for your first dish. Second dish options include New York steak, pan-seared sea bass, herb-crusted pork rack and vegetable puff pastry. For dessert, choose between triple chocolate torte, and almond and lemon curd cake. Dinner seatings start at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 135 S. Sixth Ave. $60. Reservations can be made at downtownkitchen.com or by calling 520-623-7700.

Valentine’s beer pairing. For Valentine’s Day, Craft, A Modern Drinkery is pairing Russel Stover chocolates with three beers from Clown Shoes Beer for a tasty and romantic evening. The beers are the Bluegrass Billionaire, a British Barleywine reaching a hefty 12.5 percent ABV; the Advent Party Crasher, an American Imperial stout brewed with orange peel; and the Tarheel Unidragon, an American Imperial stout with caramel and brown sugar. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 4603 E. Speedway Blvd.

Dillinger and Monsoon Chocolate. Dillinger Brewing Company is teaming up with Monsoon Chocolate for Valentine’s Day to make two local beers paired with two local chocolates. They’re pairing their “Lady In Red” chocolate cherry stout and their “OSIRIS-REx Recon” hazy IPA. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. $24.

Black Renaissance: Black Museum. In honor of Black History Month, a group of black creatives in Tucson have put together a series of events around the theme “The History of Us,” designed to remind us that black history is the history of all of us. And not to mention the present! The work of black individuals throughout history has been key in shaping popular culture. This week, the spotlight is on contemporary spoken word artists, who will be performing their work at 191 Toole. All ages are welcome, and all ages should be there! 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 191 Toole, 191 E. Toole Ave. Free.

Valentine’s Day at Flandrau. Looking for a unique place to take your date this Feb. 14? Flandrau has got you covered. Send your romance into orbit with their special planetarium shows. “Lovers in the Sky,” at 6 and 8 p.m., tells the tale of star-crossed lovers immortalized in the constellations, from Cassiopeia and Cepheus, Andromeda and Perseus, and Zeus and Callisto. If you’re looking for something a little less on-the-nose, they also have two screenings of their “Laser Beatles” show at 7 and 9 p.m., where you can enjoy some of the world’s best-known songs about love. Friday, Feb. 14. Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, 1601 E. University Blvd. $16 adults, $12 kids 4 to 17. If you want to see both shows, the second is just $3!

Wondering About the Wild Things. In this event hosted by Pima County Parks & Rec and Historic Canoa Ranch, naturalist Jeff Babson will give a talk called “Owls: Masters of the Night Skies.” It’s followed by a Q&A where you’re free to ask questions about any nature topic you’re curious about—whether it’s “Can you identify this photo of a tree I took at work last week?” or “Where do snakes sleep?” 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 S. 1-19 Frontage Road, Green Valley. $5, & register online in advance at apm.activecommunities.com.

Catalina Organ Festival. This festival started in 2014, and has since brought in performers from all over the world to play the Rank Shirley and Ralph Morgan Memorial Organ. The theme of this concert is “Celebrating Notre Dame.” It felt like the whole world’s attention turned to Paris last year when this Catholic cathedral, home to one of the world’s largest organs, caught fire. Kimberly Marshall, Goldman Professor of Organ at Arizona State University, pays tribute to the beautiful building with this Valentine’s Day concert. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway Blvd. $20 in advance/online and $25 at the door.

Feeling the Love. Love and art are both wonderful things that make life worth living. Celebrate them both this Valentine’s Day by heading over to the Wilde Meyer Gallery for a little party. They’ll have food, fun and works by artist such as Cathy Carey, Peggy McGivern, Jim Budish, Yvonne Mendez, Adam Thomas Rees and Ken Kasten. If this doesn’t already sound like a remarkably pleasant way to spend a Friday evening, did we mention there’s going to be a live harp performance by Vanessa Myers? See ya there. 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 2890 E. Skyline Drive. Free.

Valentine’s Day at the Planetarium. It’s a night of romance among the stars! The UA Flandrau Science Center is hosting a special “Lovers In The Sky” planetarium show, telling the timeless tales found in the constellations. Love stories include the tales of Queen Cassiopeia and Cepheus, Andromeda and the hero Perseus and more. This “celestial love story” will be followed by a laser light show with Beatles’ music. “Lovers In The Sky” shows at 6 and 8 p.m., “Laser Beatles” shows at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 1601 E. University Blvd. $16 for the first show, $3 for any additional.

The Song of Names. Starring Tim Roth and Clive Owen, this film tells of a man haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his best friend, a virtuoso violinist who vanished shortly before a 1951 concert. Thirty-five years later, the man finds out his friend may still be alive, and embarks on a massive search to find him. Of course, a film about a violinist wouldn’t be complete without a spectacular score, this one by Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore. The Loft Cinema begins screening this film on Friday, Feb. 14. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Grammy Award winner and founder of Righteous Babe Records, Ani DiFranco is no longer just the "Little Folksinger." She now adds author to her list of accomplishments with the release of her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream in 2019. DiFranco plays Fox Theatre. Genreless singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop is first up...

Since their formation in 1983—possessing elegant style, impressive technique and emotional breadth—this quartet has become one of the world's foremost chamber ensembles. Arizona Friends of Chamber Music presents The Shanghai Quartet. At Leo Rich Theater...

Hailing from a sector of deep space, Arizona EDM legend ILLEKTROLAB joins resident DJs Lunarfluxx and Atom Energy to celebrate Deeper's 1st Anniversary. At Bar Passé...

Imagine the brainchild of Dr. Seuss, Frank Zappa and Stanley Kubrick? Performing on an instrument, made out of steel pipes and a single bass string, That 1 Guy brings "earthshaking future funk" to Club Congress...

Speed-dating + kissing booths + star-crossed lovers everywhere? Yes, it's the Valentine's Day Eve installment of Opti Club. That's not all, POSIS8n mans the decks inside the club while Heartbreaker (Phoenix) joins Xam Renn and Nitro on the plaza. At Hotel Congress...

From the Black Forest of Germany, The Booze Bombs drop a Rock-a-Billy bombshell. At House of Bards...

The Billy Shaw Jr. Band supplies the foot-stomping soundtrack for GALentine's Ladies Night Out. Party with your besties at The Maverick...

Emitting the frequency of love, Love Hertz sees Seth Myles, Rex Garcia, I am Stranger and others team up for a full-spectrum night of EDM. At Irene's Holy Donuts...

Guillotines, Screech Of Death, Gutter Town and Single Finger Theory tell the status quo where to shove it. At Spark Project Collective...

Singer-songwriters Nancy & Neil McCallion perform original Americana acoustically at La Cocina...

"I think I better dance now." Connie Brannock's Tiny House of Funk unleashes a smackdown as part of the Oro Valley Concert Series. In the Oro Valley Marketplace...

The University of Arizona's Passports Office will hold a special passport day event on Feb. 22 to help Tucson residents apply for newly required, federally valid IDs.

Starting Oct. 1, U.S. citizens traveling domestically will be required to present a "real ID" in order to board a flight. State driver's licenses without a gold star, which will designate an ID is "REAL ID-compliant" will no longer be accepted.

Passports do fulfill the federal requirements and may be used to fly. There is also a passport card available that can be used to travel by ground or water into Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda, and can be used as a valid form of ID for domestic flights. These are the most cost-effective option.

The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the University of Arizona's Global Center, located at 615 N. Park Ave.

Attendees should bring the following with them to the event:

- The original copy of, or a certified copy of their proof of citizenship.
- A government-issued photo ID.
- A recent 2x2 inch passport photo. Those who don't have one can use the photo services on site for $10.
- Two separate payments. Applicants need a check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State for the passport application and optional expedite fees. A second check or money order payable to UA Passports, or a debit/credit payment, is also required for the execution ($35) and photo fees if needed. Cash will not be accepted.

Passport books for adults cost $110 and $80 for people 15 and younger. The passport cards cost $30 for adults and $15 for children 15 and younger.

Free parking for this event will be available on the west side of Tyndall Avenue and in the Tyndall Avenue parking garage.

Passport forms and photo services are available on site. For complete information about required documentation and fees, visit global.arizona.edu/passports or email [email protected].

Let the Sunshine In. The University of Arizona’s Department of French and Italian Studies is hosting a special screening of the 2017 romantic drama directed by Claire Denis (Beau Travail, 35 Shots of Rum). This French film tells of a battle of the sexes, centering on a 50-something Parisian artist played by Juliette Binoche. It won the SACD (Authors Society) Award at the Cannes Film Festival. This screening is part of the Tournées Film Festival, and will be introduced by Ania Wroblewski. 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. At the Integrated Learning Center on the UA Campus, 1500 E. University Blvd., Bldg. 70, Room 130. Free and open to the public.

The Light Princess. This show, a musical adaptation of a George MacDonald fairytale, is full of magic and delight and everything you could ask for in a fairytale. When a king and queen desperate to have a child turn to a witch for help, their daughter is born without gravity (classic witch move). If they don’t get this girl grounded before her 16th birthday, the kingdom falls into the hands of the witch. Princes, wise men and a cast of other characters take the stage in this adaptation by award-winning duo Lila Rose Kaplan (book) and Mike Pettry (music & lyrics). 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 23. Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre at the Historic Y, 738 N. Fifth Ave. $30 GA, $28 seniors 55+, $15 student & teacher.

International World Market. This gem show is new to the Mercado District this year, and will be hosted alongside the African Art Village, which is making its annual return. They’ve got wholesale and resale prices with the ambiance of the Mercado District, which is always a win. Head on down to snag a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift, or perhaps take your Valentine here and let them pick out a gift themselves. (Even more perfect if you’re your own Valentine—treat yourself!) 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, to Sunday, Feb. 19. 279 S. Linda Ave.

Asian Lantern Festival. The Reid Park Zoo, Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc, UA Global and the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center are partnering to produce this cultural festival featuring more than 400 larger-than-life, interactive lanterns. Be transported across the world with Asian-inspired cuisine and culture, as well as live entertainment including dance, music and acrobatics. There are also weekly crafts and games like Mah Jong, Chinese Checkers and an origami station! 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, to Sunday, March 29. (Thursday through Sunday until March 1, then nightly from March 5 to March 29). Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court. $18 adults, $16 kids 2 to 14, free for kids 1 and younger, $2 off for members.

Romantic Comedy stars Vanessa Hollingshead

Maybe Laff’s should offer a prize for the first engagement of the evening. Valentines Day date night starts with dinner at 8, featuring dreamy “sirloin medallions with roasted garlic and bacon, smothered in a creamy Marsala sauce” or similarly salacious sounding chicken and salmon options. Sides include salad, vegetables and steamed basmati rice.

The main course, so to speak, are the laughs, delivered with style and sass by the estimable Vanessa Hollingshead. Classy and vulnerable under a veneer of New York brass, Hollingshead is an actor and playwright as well as a comedian. At age 18, she won a scholarship to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatrical Institute.

Her upbringing, though, was weird and awful, with occasional twists of psychedelic color. Spawned by self-absorbed, committed drug addicts in stereotypically hippie camouflage, Hollingshead has told interviewers that her mother rewarded her house housework with amphetamines. A tour of foster homes ensued. At least some prestige was involved: Her Father apparently introduced Timothy Leary and Sir Paul McCartney to LSD.

Once she learned she could make people laugh she worked as much as possible. Among her jokes, she’s created enough hilarious characters to populate a madhouse. Within two years, she began supporting herself with comedy. When personal tragedy took her off-track for a few years, she says, a cruise-ship booking eventually rescued her. Call it a Love Boat.

Reservations for Love and Laffter: Dinner Date at 8 are $30 via laffstucson.com/valentine. Beverages, tax and tip are added after the show, Hollingshead also performs at Laffs’ regular showtimes: 10:30 Friday, and 7:30 and 9 p.m. Reservations are $12.50 and $17.50 via Laffstucson.com

Minting Mishka

If you’ve been looking for a reason to revisit The Mint, here’s a great one. Author, guitarist, songwriter and comedian Mishka Shubaly performs there at 8 p.m., Wednesday, February 19. Admission is by donation.

The Mint's interior has benefited from some deft remodeling by its most recent owners. The bar feels lighter and roomier. The stage is smaller, but brighter and ideal for the Wednesday, 9 p.m. open mic hosted there most of the year by long-time Tucson comedian Joey Giron.

Shubaly released his 12th Amazon book last December in audiobook form,  It’s his fifth since his 2011 bestseller, The Long Run. Jeff Bezos is a fan. Titled This Van Could Be Your Life, the new work explores the meaning of family as revealed over a thousand-mile journey in a rickety van with seven family members in crisis.

Shubaly is best known in the comedy world for having composed the soundtrack for The Unbookables, a raunchy film frolic through the travails of Stanhope’s friends and acolytes on a tour of sketchy midwestern comedy clubs. Among the film's comedians is Kristine Levine, now co-host of The Frank Show on 96.1 KLPX. Levine frequents The Mint open mics, and Stanhope has made unannounced visits there to perform with friends.

Shubaly's official featured comedian is Ray Porter whose main hustle is narrating audiobooks. According to industry resource Audiofile, Porter can speak with 27 accents. That could be a whole set.

Comedy A – Z at The O

Ali Musa and Matt Ziemak, two of Tucson’s hardest working, and commensurately popular, local comedians, play on their names for the title of their show at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 15 at The O. Tickets are $5. It’s a chance for Tucson comedy fans to see them stretch into much longer sets than local showcases allow.

Ziemak co-hosts, with Rory Monserrat, the monthly comedy showcase Brew Ha Ha at Borderlands Brewery. He also co-hosts, with Green Shirt Guy Alex Kack, the popular concept show, The Switch, which moves from The Hut to Skybar starting Thursday, Feb. 27 at 9 p.m. The Switch invites audience members text fun words for the night's lineup of comedians to riff on. The show is free.

Register to vote by Feb. 18!

Thank goodness for Capitol Steps. Founded in the Reagan era, they’ve continued to remind us that politics can be funny, and that without the First Amendment, we might not be able to laugh about it. On Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m., the D.C. comedy troupe performs at the Fox Tucson Theatre to benefit the UArizona Hillel Foundation’s annual campaign. Tickets are $65 to $145 via foxtucson.com, and $180, which includes a $90 donation to the Hillel Annual Campaign, at uahillel.org.

Lots More Comedy

Thursday, Feb. 13, improv showcase for Improv 101 and 201 at 7:30 ($5), and a free public improv jam at 8:30, TIM Comedy Theatre (Tucson Improv Movement), and standup

Friday, Feb. 14, standup with The Amazing Cop Comic Jim Perry with locals Chris Haughton and Allana Erickson-Lopez, 7 p.m., Coyote Trail Stage, 8000 N. Silverbell Rd. ($10); long-form improv with Harold Team Alpha and The Dating Scene at 7:30 p.m. ($5) and The Soapbox at 9 p.m. ($7) at TIM Comedy Theatre (TIM)($10 for both shows). Family-friendly improv with Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed (NBOJU) at 7:30 p.m. and Freeform Friday at 9 p.m., Unscrewed Theater ($5 and $8).

Saturday, Feb. 15,  improv with The Laugh Tracks and Game Show Show at 7:30 p.m., and Standup 101 Showcase and The Dating Scene at 9 p.m. at TIM ($7, both shows for $10, $2 off with Cat Card). Family-Friendly Improv with NBOJU at 7:30 p.m., and House Team Double Feature at 9 p.m., Unscrewed Theater ($5 and $8).

Free Open Mics

Sunday, Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m., The O, and 8 p.m., Chuckleheads in Bisbee.
Monday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m., Comedy at the Wench,
The Surly Wench Pub.
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 6:45 p.m., Neighborhood Comedy, The Music Box Lounge.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m., The Screening Room; 8:30 p.m., The Mint; 9:30 p.m., The Rock.
Thursday, Feb. 19, 8 p.m., Laffs Comedy Caffe and 8:30 p.m., Rockabilly Grill.

Blood Road. Summit Hut is honoring ultra-endurance mountain bike athlete Rebecca Rusch by screening the 2017 documentary Blood Road. This Emmy-winning film follows Rusch’s search for answers surrounding her father’s death in the Vietnam War, as she bikes the 1,200 miles of the Ho Chi Minh trail. Rusch and her Vietnamese riding partner Huyen Nguyen ride through the dense jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to reach the crash site and final resting place of Rusch’s father. This screening even includes a Q&A with Rusch after the film. 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. Screening begins at 7 p.m. 5251 E. Speedway Blvd. $15. Ticket proceeds benefit The “Be Good” foundation, Rusch’s 501c3, which supports the Mines Advisory Group in their efforts to remove unexploded ordnance from Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Parish specialty dinner. The Parish, known as “Tucson’s only Southern Fusion Gastropub,” is celebrating the head brewer of 1912 Brewing Company with a specialty four-course dinner. Featuring the delicious work of Chef Travis Peters, this dinner also includes two 1912 craft beers: the Sour de Salle peach sour and the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Gose with strawberries from California Giant Berry Farms, rhubarb, Mexican vanilla, and hints of graham crackers. Head over to The Parish for a blend of local beer and Southern cooking. 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. $40.

Second Annual San Diego Take Over. Craft, A Modern Drinkery is celebrating “America’s Finest City” by hosting four breweries out of San Diego. This second annual event features multiple one-off brews and collaborations, such as the Super Mario Tart kettle sour from Pizza Port Brewing, the Viking Space Probe double IPA from Stone Brewing, the Thimble Country lager from Modern Times Beer, and the Marine Dream hazy IPA from Coronado Brewing Co. Molecular Munchies food truck will also be on site dishing out food to go along with your beer. 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. 4603 E. Speedway Blvd.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Advanced screening). The Loft Cinema presents an advanced screening of a historical drama about the “forbidden affair” between an aristocrat and the woman commissioned to paint her portrait. This is the latest film by French director Céline Sciamma (Tomboy, Girlhood). The film was the first directed by a woman to win the “Queer Palm” award at the Cannes Film Festival, and was also a contender for the Palme d’Or. The film will be presented in French with English subtitles. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. $10. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Regular screenings begin Friday, Feb. 28.

Having traversed “The Rocky Road to Dublin” and returned with a fresh take on traditional Irish ballads, The High Kings perform at Rialto Theatre…

Artists working at the fringe. Golden Saguaro: Experiments In Sound & Music provides a platform for tomorrow’s pioneers to explore. Vicki Brown, Steev Hise, Skincage and Lavender Lattice are slated to perform. At Golden Saguaro…

“Stretched myself until I fit you/All my threads pulled wire thin.” Emo/indie rockers Floral Guilt learn to cope in the aftermath. At Club Congress. Associations, Nocturnal Theory and Hussie lend support…

Infusion Night at Pueblo Vida. For Arizona Beer Week, Pueblo Vida Brewing Company is releasing two limited-edition infusions. First up, it’s the Orange Medley “Highly Compatible” Double IPA, made in collaboration with Wren House Brewing. This DIPA includes multiple citrus notes, including navel and blood orange on top of a hoppy finish. They’re also releasing a non-alcoholic beer, the dry-hopped POG juice (passionfruit-orange-guava) featuring Riwaka & Citra hops. It’s a tropical time for all. 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. 115 E. Broadway Blvd.

Book of Mormon. I have a vague recollection of, last time this show came through town, some poor woman trying to warn others on an online post about the event that this show was not, in fact, educational or serious story about the history of Mormonism. Heed her warning! This famously irreverent, and famously hilarious musical from the guys who created South Park, tells the story of two Mormon missionaries who travel to Uganda who meet characters like General Butt-Fucking Naked and sing songs like “Hasa Diga Eebowai!” (“Fuck you, God!”). If this is up your alley, you’ll be rolling around laughing. Tuesday, Feb. 11, through Sunday, Feb. 16, with shows at various times. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. $35 to $155+.

Becoming Dr. Ruth. If you like shows with strong sexual content appropriate for mature audiences age 13 and up, we’ve got a show for you! But also, if you like shows that are fascinating, inspiring and hilarious, we’ve also got a show for you. Well, Invisible Theatre has a show for you. This play by Mark St. Germain is about the radio and TV sex therapist Ruth Westeheimer, who is also a Holocaust survivor. And a former scout and sniper with the Haganah in Jerusalem. And someone who traveled to the United States as a single mother. You’ll be amazed at what you learn! 7:30 p.m. evenings at 3 p.m. matinees Wednesday, Feb. 12, to Sunday, Feb. 23. Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. $35. A special low-cost preview at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11 is just $20.

Navigating Health Care for Older Adults. Navigating your own health, and our country’s health system, tends to get more complicated the older you get. LGBTQ+ community members often face their own particular set of challenges. So, the next session of the Senior Pride Speakers Meeting, “Being Your Own Rescue: Become a Savvy Consumer of Health Care” might be just what you need. It’s hosted by Amanda Sokan, a faculty member at the UA College of Public Health, who has a PhD in gerontology. She’ll be talking about how to find and work with a health care provider and about lesser-known factors in bolstering healthy lives, like spirituality, humor and alternative health services. 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. Himmel Park Library, 1035 N. Treat Ave. Free.

Tucson Storytellers: Love & Heartbreak. It’s pretty much impossible to not be aware that Valentine’s Day is coming up, right? For some, this is a time of year where we think about how wonderful their loved ones are, and how special it feels to be able to sit across the table from a person they love deeply and make effortless conversation. For others, Valentine’s Day brings up memories of that time they sent a Valentine to their crush in seventh grade and he didn’t even say thank you. Or that time a relationship which somehow felt like a cozy couch and a picnic in a meadow and a raucous Labor Day weekend celebration all at once ended with their hearts smashed into a million pieces. Come hear stories about the good, the bad and the ugly at this event hosted by the Arizona Daily Star and This is Tucson. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. The Loft Cinema. $12 GA, $8 students.

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. The University of Arizona’s Cinematopia film club is continuing their “Giallo Month” with a screening of this 1970 thriller. Directed by Dario Argento, the master behind many artsy Italian horror/mysteries, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage tells of an American writer living in Rome who witnesses a murder attempt. The film was even graced with a soundtrack from the one-and-only Ennio Morricone. Before the film, Cinematopia will also be screening a curated pre-show of Giallo movie trailers. 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. Screenings take place on the UA campus in the Harvill Building room 104, 1103 E. Second St.

Titanic. Just in time to get you in the Valentine’s mood, Harkins Theatres is screening the classic romance film about 1,500 people drowning to death. But even if the RMS Titanic ship isn’t historic enough, James Cameron’s vision, paired with stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, left an enduring impact on Hollywood. Namely, we learned the most expensive film ever made could still manage to rake in plenty of cash. Nominated for 14 Academy Awards, Titanic managed to actually validate its more-than-three-hour runtime. That’s a feat worthy of a Tuesday Night Classic designation. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz and 5755 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive. $5.

Can you “Feel The Volume?” At 26 years old, this San Francisco DJ/EDM producer has stayed true to his creed: “Music has no boundaries.” Gnashing teeth, Jauz wades into Dangerous Waters. From the South of France, Habstrakt and TYNAN help to “Fuck It Up.” At Rialto Theatre…

Serving up some swampy zydeco-esque dishes to accompany your hooch, The Carnivaleros Trio are at the Tucson Hop Shop…