Hard to believe we’re already into month 2 of 2026. Time flies when you can’t remember your New Years’ resolutions… or what you did on New Years. But, hey, Valentine’s Day is around the corner, which means there’s chocolate in you future.  Thank God(iva)! There’s also another 3-day weekend, this one to honor U.S. Presidents — special shout-out to the one who pushed all these “holidays” to a Monday.  But there’s plenty more to celebrate in LA this month, as I’ve discovered.  From art and still more art, to a play about musical artistry, to a musical about fiery wives, to fiery fun for the Lunar New Year, and a few more fun surprises along the way.  You’ve only got 28 days to squeeze everything in, so start sucking in that tummy. Here’s your guide to the good stuff…

LA Authors at Barnes & Noble

The Three Tomatoes Publishing is thrilled to announce that Barnes & Noble is hosting two of our authors for book events.

Feb. 11 at 7 PM. Meet Lisa Stuart at Barnes & Noble – The Grove

Meet attorney, speaker, host, and author Lisa Stuart at the store to discuss her book The Drama Diet. Lisa will be in conversation with Rachel McCord, TV personality, founder of The McCord List Media Network. Get the details.

Feb. 21 from 2 to 4 PM. Meet LAFD Captain Erik Scott at Barnes & Noble Thousand Oaks.

Meet LAFD Captain Erik Scott and get a signed copy of his riveting front-line memoir, Calm Amidst Chaos, about the devastating Palisades Fire. Get the details.

Feb. 21-March 1. DEEP FRIEZE

Winter typically blesses we Angelenos with warm temps and sunny skies (hallelujah!), but for the past several years, February has brought the Frieze.  No ear muffs needed for this annual art extravaganza, an international happening with versions in New York, London and Seoul.  L.A.’s event is being held for its 4th appearance at the Santa Monica Airport from February 26 thru March 1.

According to the website, Frieze Los Angeles “focuses on contemporary art and celebrates the exceptionally dynamic culture of Los Angeles and it’s global contributions to the visual arts.”  The immersive-style event features works from close to 100 galleries, ambitious installations, and pop-ups from some of LA’s most adored restaurants. If you’ve never been, get thee to this art-ery.  The visuals and the victuals will not disappoint.  PS, it looks like General Admission tickets are going fast (that’s what happens when great art meets great food at an airport), so grab yours asap.  Frieze Los Angeles at Santa Monica Airport, 3027 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica 90405. Open to the public from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday the 27th, 11:00 – 7:00 on Saturday the 28th, and 11:00-6:00 on Sunday March 1st. GET THE DETAILS.

Feb. 26-March 1. OTHER-WISE, THERE’S MORE ART

If you can’t get tickets to Frieze, or if they’re a little rich for your blood, head to the other art fair.  Literally.  “The Other Art Fair” emerged as alternate programming to Frieze.  Kind of like the Puppy Bowl to the Super Bowl. The Other Art Fair is happening, of course, on the same weekend as Frieze, and describes itself thusly:  “We’ve got a reputation for being bizarre, unexpected, and ‘never normal.’  And according their website, “We’ve created something different, and we want you to experience it.  We combined affordable and original artworks and over 150 independent artists with immersive installations, performances, DJs — and a fully stocked bar.”

Who’s saying ‘no’ to that???  Not me!  The Other Art Fair takes place from February 26 thru March 1. Opening night, Thursday the 26th runs 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Friday the 27th from 5:00 to 10:00, Saturday the 28th from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, and Sunday, March 1st from 11:00 – 6:00.  All who embrace their ‘not normal’-ness, this is your jam.  GET THE DETAILS.

GET YOUR DRAGON ON

The Lunar New Year, which we used to call Chinese New Year, starts on February 17th this year — and so do the parties.  Celebratory events for this Year of the Fire Horse are everywhere, ready to fill all your food, fashion, music, dragon-dancer, and general entertainment needs.  It’s dim sum and then some, and some more after that.  By the way, if you’re wondering what a “fire horse” is, so was I.  Per Google, apparently Horse is the Zodiac sign, Fire is the element attached to it – and per a fun piece on this in Vogue, “Fire brings intensity, urgency and passion…think energy and dynamism.” As the first Fire Horse in 60 years, “it may feel like a restless, dynamic time – with the possibility of conflict.”  Sounds like it’s time to strap on a saddle and get ready for a wild ride, so here’s a corral of party opportunities around the Southland.  Enjoy! GET THE DETAILS.

Feb. 18-March 6. THE JOY OF SIX

The gleefully anachronistic musical, “Six,” makes its splashy way to the Pantages this month.  The title refers to the famous six wives of King Henry VIII, and if you don’t remember their names, just remember “divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.”  The New York Times called the show a “rollicking, reverberant blast from the past” and a “Tudors Got Talent belt-off among six sassy divas.” The historical tale of a king who would stop at nothing to be a boy-dad gets turned on its crown here, making his queens the (pop)stars of their own stories — and they blow the roof off the joint!  Perfect for a girls’ night, m’ladies.  “Six” opens February 18 and runs through March 6 at the Hollywood Pantages, 6233 Hollywood Blvd.  Check website for tickets and showtimes.  GET THE DETAILS.

Feb. 11-March 15. SHEETED RIVALRY

There’s no hockey or hot naked bods on display here, but there is plenty of passion, talent, jealousy and ambition in this dramatic play about rival composers. “Amadeus” imagines what might have happened when royal court favorite Antonio Salieri got upstaged by younger, more musically gifted rival composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  As Mozart’s star rises, so does Salieri’s anger and frustration, and that’s when things get heated in the sheets (of music). Brilliant Tony winner Jefferson Mays plays Salieri in this production, which is reason enough to see it.  Perrsonal sidebar, my friend Lauren Worsham plays Mozart’s squeeze Constanze; she is also brilliant. Lauren starred with Jefferson Mays on Broadway in “A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder,” which was directed by Darko Tresnjak…who’s also directing “Amadeus.” I already have my tickets! “Amadeus” runs February 11 to March 15 at Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena 91101. GET THE DETAILS.

Feb. 14. BE MY VALENTINE

Ahh, Valentine’s Day…the roses, the chocolate hearts, the overcrowded restaurants stuffed with couples ordering pre-fixe dinners pour deux.  Or…the disappointed-but-not-surprised eye-rolling when scores of mates confess they “forgot it was today.”  If you’re over that, or if you and your pals are looking for a wild Galentines option, head to “Lucha VaVoom de la Liz” — a crazy spectacle of Lucha Libre-style wrestling, burlesque, music and comedy, described as “part underground fight night, part cabaret, and part rock-and-roll circus.”  It may not be romantic, but it sure sounds raucous. The Lucha VaVoom de la Liz special Valentine’s Day show, “Masked Obsession,” happens one night only on Saturday, February 14, at the restored Art Deco landmark Fox Theater Pomona, 301 S Garey Ave, Pomona, CA 91766. GET THE DETAILS.