Valentine's Day, The Reptile Man, and The End of Hygienic XXXII

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and New London Main Street has found a few events and deals you can take advantage of. For gifts, the organization suggests the fair trade products of Flavours of Life, the merchandise at (which is also holding a children’s at 10 a.m. on Sunday), the flowers and chocolates of , and a spa treatment or beauty products at . For that dinner with a loved one, and are having special menus Saturday through Monday. At , you can sample a variety of wines and chocolates for $15 (or $20 per couple) starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

There are also a few places you could take your sweetheart for a musical performance. In addition to the ’s usual $10 tango class at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Richard Zack returns as always to for his 8 p.m. acoustic guitar performance. Jazz vocalist Karen Frisk starts singing at 8 p.m. with $8 admission at at on Saturday. That same night, the features , a blues-rock spinoff of Jefferson Airplane; tickets are $34 to $52. The performs on Sunday in a free concert recognizing Presidents Day and Black History Month; the show starts at 2 p.m. at the Garde. At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, the hosts Gary Baillargeon as he performs his cabaret tickets are $35, and the show includes wine, chocolate, and hors d’oeuvres. On Valentine’s Day itself, the CBYD Jazz Quartet performs as usual at Bean and Leaf.

There are plenty of films, theatrical performances, and other interesting events going on this week as well. At 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Provenance Center, associate professor of art Ted Hendrickson will host a discussion on “The Changing Face of New London.” With ticket prices ranging from $10 to $18, the Garde Arts Center welcomes reptile expert to the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday to discuss his wildlife encounters. The starts a three-week Black Film Festival at 7 p.m. on Friday. Hygienic XXXII ends on Saturday with an open mic and poetry slam at 7 p.m. at and a screening and discussion of Burial Boys at 7 p.m. at 230 State Street. makes some popcorn for their Exploring Art Films Series, starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday and focusing this week on Pablo Picasso; the show is free with admission. The will have the authors of a book on on hand for discussion, starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday. , meanwhile, presents a series of one-act plays starting at 7 p.m. on the same day at the with ticket prices of $5 or $7.

Other events happening this week:

• Baptiste-Method Power Vinyasa classes at : starting today at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; $15 drop-in
• Bookmaking with Jon Buller: a course on putting together a children’s book, 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Custom House; $75 registration
• Weekly Wine Tasting, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday at
• , this week featuring Fascia’s chocolates, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at on Saturday
• Emerging Artists 2011 show, continuing at the until March 25
• La Latina Network: a monthly networking event of Latina women in southeastern Connecticut, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Provenance Center on Tuesday.
• UNH Open House: a representative from the University of New Haven speaks about available programs, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Mitchell Hall of