Love & Six ways to spend Valentine’s Day with special Chicagoland events

Paul Simon once sung “there must be 50 ways to leave your lover.” Thankfully there are fewer—and more enjoyable—ways lovers can celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Chicagoland area. Here are the top six:

1. Take your Funny Valentine to ComedySportz Chicago on 929 W. Belmont. From Feb. 14 to Feb. 16, the ComedySportz cast to invites volunteer couples on stage to compete for prizes. During the special Valentine's Weekend shows, couples in the audience will receive a free photo of themselves that will be posted on Facebook per consent. For show times and tickets, call 773-549-8080 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

2. Follow the 132,736 first dates and 16,033 engagements experienced at Geja’s Café which has been serving Chicagoans fondue for almost 50 years. Named one of the 100 most romantic restaurants by the 2013 OpenTable Diners’ Choice Awards derived from more than five million reviews submitted by OpenTable diners, Geja’s features private booths, low lighting and live flamenco and classical guitarists in its wine cellar-like space on 340 W. Armitage. For reservations, call 773-281-9101 or visit www.gejascafe.com.

3. Attend Bekah Brunstetter’s “I Love You, I Think”—an evening of monologues on the topic of love presented by LiveWire Chicago Theatre from Feb. 15-16 at the Tom Robinson Gallery on 2416 W. North Avenue. Directed by Kendra Miller and Brea Hayes, the show features Sam Bailey, Joel Kim Booster, Krista D’Agostino, Lauren Fisher, Todd Garcia, Daniel Martinez, Falashay Pearson, Leana Savoie, John Taflan, Will Von Vogt, Pat Whalen and Hilary Williams with music performed by Heather Perry and Will Wood. Discounted $10 Chicago Theatre Week tickets are available with the code “THWEEK” at www.chicagotheatreweek.com.

4. See “A Very Special Valentine’s Nude Hope: A Star Wars Burlesque!” at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, at Chicago’s Gorilla Tango Theatre on 1919 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Tickets range from $28 to $35 for audience members who are 18 and over. For more information, visit www.gorillatango.com or call 773-598-4549.

5. Hear the hits of Bobby Vinton, from My Melody of Love to Blue Velvet, when the Polish Prince performs two live concerts at the Paramount Theatre on 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. Show times are 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14. Tickets range from $49 to $64 and are available at 630-896-6666.

6. Share an evening with songstress Felicia P. Fields who will perform her new show “Mess Around & Fall in Love” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14 at Theatre at the Center on 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. For details, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com. For tickets, call 219-836-3255.