We know there are some of you who can’t think of any good restaurants when pressed, and/or don’t want to put any effort into your Valentine’s Day date. Not because you don’t care, but because it’s just an all-out pain in the ass to find a restaurant that could/should impress your date, make a reservation, get everything in order, and actually enjoy the food after all that.

So we’re making it easy on you. This link from OpenTable will guide you to all the restaurants in greater LA and beyond that are offering some kind of price-gouging and/or specials for Valentine’s Day. What’s more, you can also go ahead and make a reservation for all your dates.

Or you could just go for a relaxed time at Ugo Wine Bar in Culver City. It’s up to you – but you know how we heart Ugo.

Don’t do something lame for Valentine’s Day like waste money at an expensive restaurant (you know they jack up the prices just for Valentine’s Day, right? It’s better to go the day after…). Go out, get some exercise, and play games with your Valentine’s Day sweetie. Do a Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt in Venice! Brought to you by the Waterfront Cafe, you can uncover the secrets of Venice Beach. You can rent a bike or bring your own. The top three teams win prizes, and afterwards you can enjoy a cheap beer and pretzel at the Waterfront!

http://www.outoftheboxevents.net/ – Click on Public Events and scroll down!

The LA Gold Standard, presented by the LA Weekly, is a veritable who’s who of Los Angeles restaurants, LA Weekly star restaurant critic Jonathan Gold has brought together the likes of: Babita • Beacon • Little Dom’s , Loteria • Nickel Diner • Palate Bistro LQ • Good Girl Dinette, Kogi BBQ • Mo-Chica • Upstairs 2, Meals By Genet • Kyochon • Mozza, Angeli • Jitlada • Ludo Bites, Wurstkuche • La Mill • Hungry Cat, Let’s Be Frank • Saffron Spot • Lou, Huckleberry Café • Alcazar Express, Pollo a la Brasa • Tiara • The Jar, Border Grill • Ciudad • Bulgarini, La Casita • Natraliart • Sona.

These most eclectic restaurants have come together to give you a tasty samplin of their best plates. It’s not cheap, at VIP tickets at $80 and general admissions at $60, but it’s a steal for the experience. The best LA restaurants all in one place? But of course!

As per the website information:

“LA Weekly presents the 2nd Annual Gold Standard Food & Wine Event featuring a selection of LA’s best and most eclectic restaurants hand-picked by LA Weekly’s Pulitzer Prize winning food critic: Jonathan Gold.

Jonathan Gold is known by many for his unpredictable taste and appreciation of the many ethnic cuisines represented in Los Angeles. From the tastiest taco wagons to the finest cuisine and wine, Gold is the final word on the best and most exciting foods in the city.  This event offers Angelenos the rare opportunity to sample Gold’s top picks in one location.

Sunday, February 28th, 2010
VIP early entry: 12 noon – 1pm
General Admission 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Ticket Price: $80 VIP Ticket, $60 General Admission

A portion of proceeds to benefit Heal the Bay and Make A Wish Foundation.
Look for prizes at the Raffle booth!

Self-Parking available in the Petersen Auto Museum lot for $8, held at the Peterson Auto Museum.

Superbowl parties, I think, are best spent at houses – it’s generally cheaper to mooch off your friends and you can be as loud and obnoxious as you want. But if your friends aren’t into Superbowl, or are going to City Sip wines for one of those anti-Superbowl too cool for school parties, and you’re left all alone, with your giant foam hand and rolling cooler full of beer and nacho cheese, join the crowd in Beverly Hills to root for the Saints!

Now we assumed there would be tons of Superbowl parties around here, but for a city that doesn’t have a pro football team, it makes sense that no one’s really publicly into this kind of thing. But one of the few we can find is a nondescript Superbowl party for $30, beer and buffet inclusive in Beverly Hills. Check out the website and decide for yourself…

Haven’t donated to Haitian relief yet? Can’t decide between all the Haiti benefit concerts, art shows, comedy shows, etc, et al? Here’s one you don’t want to miss – the cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Family Guy come together on Feb. 12 for a live stage show. Tickets start at $60, but it all goes to Haiti, so enjoy some laughs for a good cause!

From the press release:

“Two of television’s most provocatively funny shows will visit the Los Angeles stage to benefit Haiti relief. The cast and creators of both “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” and Seth MacFarlane’s uproarious “Family Guy” will take over Gibson Amphitheatre Friday, February 12th for a very special live event. They will be joined by to-be-announced special guests. Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 28th at 10 AM.

All proceeds will go to Partners In Health’s Stand With Haiti initiative. PIH has been providing vital health care services in Haiti for more than 20 years and is one of the largest health care providers in the country. Stand With Haiti is the organization’s immediate response to the Haiti earthquake disaster.

The “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” ensemble— Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Artemis Pebdani and Danny DeVito— will perform the FX show’s signature musical moment, the hilarious rock opera extravaganza, “The Nightman Cometh,” live on stage.

Seth MacFarlane will lead a bawdy live interpretation of “Family Guy’s” equally unique songbook. Family Guy Live will feature the cast of the Fox hit, joined by musical accompaniment, performing some of the memorable selections from the show and much more.”