Boy Meets World Tv Tome

There's really nothing very funny about Valentine's Day no matter what that great old song proclaims. For many, it's just that red- letter day on the calendar when relatively normal folks go out of their minds desperately searching malls, gift guides and the Internet to find the most unique and romantic trinket in the world to bestow upon their loved ones.

To them we say, fret not! Our crack staff of romantics has done some searching of its own, and we lovingly offer up the following helpful list of romantic books, music, videos, outings and other assorted lovey-dovey flotsam and jetsam should you still be hunting for that perfect way to say (cue Barry White here): "You're the first, the last, my everything" to your beloved tonight:

LOVE SONGS: Chicago's own talented vocalist Dee Alexander will perform original and classic songs from and for the heart with guests Ernie Adams, Charlie Johnson and Harrison Bankhead joining her for An Evening of Love and Celebration. An after party birthday party will ensue with DJ Vincent Randale providing the dance music. Showtime is 9 tonight. Tickets are $15. The HotHouse is located at 31 E. Balbo. (312) 362-9707.

It'll be nothing but smooth sailing and a stepper's delight with a little comedy mixed in when the Isley Brothers perform from their stellar career of hits at the UIC Pavilion tonight. Up-and-coming Motown recording artist Kem, whose latest single, "When Love Calls," has all the steppers jumping from their seats, will also perform. Chicago's own funnier-than-life comedian and V-103 (102.7 FM WVAZ) host George Wilborn will host the concert. Show begins at 8 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine. Tickets are $37.50-$57.50 and are available at Ticketmaster, (312) 559-1212 or the UIC box office, (312) 413-5740.

--Regina Robinson

LOVE SONGS WITH A LATIN FLAIR: "Be my love ... for no one else can end this yearning ..." That song, popularized in the '50s by "the people's tenor," Mario Lanza, still thrills the hearts of lovers everywhere. It also supplies the theme for the latest disc by another "voice of the people," Daniel Rodriguez, the NYC cop turned crooner. On "Be My Love" (EMI/Manhattan), released earlier this week, just in time for Valentine's Day, Rodriguez sings songs of amor in English and Spanish, including "Only You," "If I Loved You" and "Solamente Una Vez."

But if you prefer your Latin music mas caliente, head over to Aragon, where Mexico's Alejandra Guzman headlines a bill starting at 8 p.m. Saturday. With her raspy voice, leathery attitude and steely yet vulnerable veneer (think of those tin animals that vendors sell in Mexican zocalos), she's like a Latin version of the GEICO gecko.

--Laura Emerick

LOOKING FOR LOVE: Single diners at Aria at the Fairmont Hotel may call for reservations and ask to be placed at a "singles table." Guests will be seated at tables for 6 with an equal number of men and women. The rest is up to fate. A special Valentine's dinner menu filled with "aphrodisiac" foods and cuisine from around the world will be featured today and Saturday. For reservations, call (312) 444- 9494; www.fairmontchicago.com.

--Celeste Busk

COULD IT BE YOU?:One crooner who will definitely get you in the mood: Andrea Marcovicci in So in Love: The Love Songs of Cole Porter."I don't think people can fall in love without reaching for one of these classics. Porter's songs are so sophisticated, so passionate, so clever. All without being overly sentimental," Marcovicci said. Show time is 8 tonight at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Tickets are $25-$40. Call (773) 929-5959.

--Misha Davenport

SAY IT WITH PICTURES: The Kiss--A Romantic Treasury (2000, Running Press) by Molly Jay is a beautiful hardcover tome featuring 60 famous (and not so famous) kisses from every walk of life. Remember your first kiss? That goodbye kiss in the rain? That wedding day kiss? That torrid lip lock from a love long gone that still makes you quiver when you think about it? Each photo is accompanied by a short essay or quote from notable authors and historical figures. A sweetly romantic gift.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Sabrina" may well be two of the most romantic movies ever made thanks in no small measure to their gorgeous leading lady, Audrey Hepburn. And the most romantic book about this willowy beauty has to be Audrey: An Intimate Collection by Bob Willoughby. The author was the photographer hired by Paramount Studios to snap thousands of photos of Hepburn beginning in 1953. The book chronicles his 13 years with the star and the photos, all black and white, are perhaps the most intimate photo essay of Hepburn ever assembled. A great coffee table book, and one that would be a loving addition to a home library. Package it with a nice trinket in a Tiffany blue box if you must.

--Miriam Di Nunzio

ON THE TUBE: Only Cupid could have conjured the enchanting annual matchup of Valentine's Day and the TV sweeps ratings period. Just look at what the networks have for us this weekend: three women jockeying to impress a middle-aged couple so they can go out with their loser son (Meet My Folks, Saturday on NBC), a librarian falling for a swindler trying to drain her hometown's treasury (The Music Man, Sunday on ABC) and a pathetic shoe salesman forever wishing he'd never walked the aisle (Married ... With Children Reunion Special, Sunday on Fox). It's enough to make you cherish your own love life-- no matter how crappy it is.

--Darel Jevens

A CRACKLIN' GOOD TIME: A romantic evening with a little faux-Neil Diamond. Based in Milwaukee, the quirky duo Lightning & Thunder have built a cult following with renditions of songs by Neil Diamond, ABBA and others. The married couple (he's Lightning, she's Thunder), who sing to recorded music, are favorites at the Wisconsin State Fair and Summerfest, and count among their fans members of Pearl Jam and Garbage. Lightning sticks to Diamond material, while Thunder takes on ABBA and Patsy Cline. Show time is 10:30 tonight at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport. Admission is $10. Call (773-525-2508)

--Mary Houlihan

LOVELY LIBATIONS: Those who enjoy romance, exquisite wine and fine dining can aim Cupid's arrows at the BIN School at BIN 36 Lincolnshire. From 6 to 9 tonight, wine director Michael Baker will create unusual pairings of champagne with chef Jon Fortes' delectable cuisine. The class begins at 6 p.m. followed by a casual soiree where you can challenge your friends to a "cork count" or make eyes at the new boy/girl in class. More fun includes tarot card readings and BIN 36's signature "blind" wine tastings and chocolate-covered strawberries. Cost is $50, which includes tax and tip. The restaurant is at 275 Parkway Dr., Lincolnshire. Call (847) 808-9463.

--Celeste Busk

VOLUMES OF ROMANCE: My father gave my mother a copy of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind as a wedding gift, and we kids read it over and over until it literally fell apart. How romantic is that? While GWTW is often criticized for its Southern tilt on slavery and the Civil War, Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler are the premier romantic couple of American literature. Sure, you've seen the movie, but this is one book that everybody who loves a love story ought to read.

William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet conveys the seismic power of young love like no other. It's wonderful to see the play performed, of course, but reading it--savoring the language, the settings and the exuberant youth of the lovers in your own imagination--is a great Valentine's Day experience.

--Delia O'Hara

CHEESE WHIZ-BANG: Cheesy love songs, cheesy romance movies from the '70s and '80s, and cheesy drink specials are on the menu for the Cans Velveeta Valentine's Night Party. Cheesiness ensues at 8 tonight for this alternative V-Day experience. Cover charge is $5 at Cans, 1640 N. Damen. Call (773) 227-2277.

--Regina Robinson

PIECE, BABY:No partner, no problem! Piece, the hip Wicker Park pizzeria where cast members from MTV's "The Real World--Chicago" worked once upon a time, is hosting the Anti-Valentine's Day Party. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. tonight, DJ Matty will spin '80s tunes while single revelers eat, drink and mingle. Who knows, you may bump into the love of your life. If not, enjoy the pizza--it's fabulous! Your $30 includes all-you-can-eat pizza and salad, plus bottomless glasses of Piece microbrews. Piece is at 1927 W. North. Call (773) 772-4422.

--Teresa Budasi

ARTISTS AND LOVERS: Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera--artists and lovers who were married to each other twice--were locked in a relationship that couldn't get much stormier or more passionate. See their work at the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, 1852 W. 19th St., in Pilsen, as part of the impressive exhibit Frida Kahlo, DIego Rivera and 20th Century Mexican Art. Then go see Julie Taymor's biopic "Frida," starring Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina. Very hot.

--Hedy Weiss

AT-HOME DOUBLE FEATURE: The best romantic double-feature of all time is "Casablanca" and "Now, Voyager." Set in a dusty Moroccan town during World War II, Casablanca (1942) is cynical and sentimental and says as much about friendship as it does love. Among the action and suspense, Bogie and Bergman sizzle. Now, Voyager (1942) is a wonderful old love story about a spinster (Bette Davis), dominated by her mother, who is brought out of her shell by a psychiatrist (Claude Rains) and her love for a man (Paul Henreid) she meets on a cruise. With love cast among the moon and stars, the subtle, yet very sexy, final scene is a Davis classic.

--Mary Houlihan

AND ALL THAT JAZZ: Searching for the perfect date movie on Valentine's Day? Look no further than Chicago (red hot with 13 Oscar nominations). There's nothing quite like a musical about wives murdering their spouses to make you both think twice about ever having an affair. Trust us.

Misha Davenport

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