Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee

Serenade your sweetie on Valentine's Day with sweet or spicy live music.

Heat up the evening with the Sauce Boss at the American Legion, or head for the Valentine's Night Sock Hop at The Sound Bar. House of Music is cooking up a Valentine's dinner and show with Maurice Mangum.

Here's a roundup of entertaining events planned around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the  Council on Culture & Arts  online listings and elsewhere.

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1. Sauce Boss stirs the pot at Legion Hall

Are you ready for a bowl of gumbo and a dash of Liquid Summer? Bill "Sauce Boss" Wharton is cooking up a Valentine's Day treat.

Mac Daddy Blues Productions presents Wharton with Extra Sauce live at The American Legion Post 13, 229 Lake Ella Drive, at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. The Sauce Boss will be cooking up his gumbo and stirring up high energy blues for a Valentine's Day dancing party. Tickets available at macdaddyblues.com and are $15 advance and $20 day of show.

The Tallahassee songwriter, musician, chef, raconteur, purveyor of gourmet hot sauce is sure to put a spark in the night. Visit sauceboss.com.

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2. Soak in the sounds at HBCU Choral Festival

The 2nd Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Choral Festival produced by the FAMU Concert Choir is taking place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in Lee Hall on the FAMU campus.

It includes performances by four outstanding HBCU Concert Choirs: Alabama State, Mississippi Valley State, Savannah State and Florida A&M University performing choral works by well known Black composers. The concert also features a renowned gospel artist, Callie Day, who dazzles audiences with her unbelievable vocal range and sweet melodic tones.

Celebrate Black History in a major musical way when doors open at 3:30 p.m. The festival begins at 4 p.m. General admission is $10 and student tickets are $3. Visit eventbrite.com.

3. Get 'Intimate' with Tallahassee Ballet

"Intimate" is the perfect choice for a romantic date night, a fun Galentine's gathering, or a memorable evening with loved ones. This diverse performance of dance, music and culinary delights takes place at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14-15 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 16, at The Tallahassee Ballet Studios, 2910 Kerry Forest Parkway. Tickets are $75 per person, limited quantity. Visit TallahasseeBallet.org . This semi-formal features 11 dance programs and a tasting experience by Growler County of scrumptious food, flavorful brews and select wines.

4. One Billion Rising at Blue Tavern

Two Clever launches Valentine's Day at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Friday.

Stick around for V-Day One Billion Rising at 8 p.m. with music, poetry and multi media by Isabel Ruano , Kristine Snodgrass and Kristellys Estanga. Suggested $5 donation. Co-sponsored by the National Association of Women, Tallahassee Chapter, One Billion Rising is a mass action to end violence against all women and nonbinary people.

Founded in 2012 by V (formerly Eve Ensler), activist and author of "The Vagina Monologues," V-Day has inspired women all over the world and raised collective consciousness about how violence and gender intersect.

5. Pettis and Webb reunite at the Req Room

Singer-songwriter Pierce Pettis, who lives outside of Nashville, got his start as a professional musician around Tallahassee when he was student at Florida State University in the late 1970s. This weekend, Pettis will be accompanied by keyboardist and accordion player David Webb, an Austin artist who also got his start in Tallahassee, for a concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Req Room listening venue, 1208 N. Monroe St. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door. Visit bluetaverntallahasee.com.

Pettis met David Webb in the 1980s. "He had come to town to work with Butch Trucks and we just hit it off, both musically and personally. So, we hit the road and toured all over the US, playing clubs, colleges, dives, etc," Pettis said. "Last year, I was looking through old demos dating from a few years ago and going all the way back to the late '80s," Pettis said. "And I found around 70 or so unrecorded songs I'd completely forgotten I wrote. Anyway, there were quite a few I thought were pretty good, so I've worked up some of them."

While he is back in town, Pettis will hold nightly guitar workshops Feb. 18 to 19 at the WinterStone Studio, 246 Sixth Ave. It costs $100 for all three sessions. "I've designed the class for anyone from novice to experienced player. So, anyone with any guitar knowledge at all can benefit," Pettis said. — Mark Hinson

Bonus events: A week of Opening Nights

It's a busy week, with three shows for the Florida State University's Opening Nights series. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.

The Music of Billy Joel Starring Michael Cavanaugh with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra steps up at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Cavanaugh is the new voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook and a charismatic performer and musician. Tickets are $75-$40.

Phat Cat Swingers brings big band fun to Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 18. If Bruno Mars and Frank Sinatra made a band, it'd look and sound like Phat Cat Swinger. Phat Cat Swinger specializes in high-energy music with that classic Hollywood touch. Tickets are $55.

An Intimate Evening with Margo Price: The Opening Nights Gala will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, on the front lawn at Goodwood Museum and Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Road. Tickets are $155.

Other events

Amicus Brewing: Yappy Hour, 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, Amicus Brewing Ventures, 717 S. Gadsden St., with Leon County Humane Society and many other local businesses. At the taproom: Live Music with The Intoxicators! Pup Meet & Greet and LCHS Guest Beertenders. On Sunday, 2025 Bartender's Bash, at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16.

Carrabelle History Museum:Special exhibit in honor of Black History Month, recognizing the remarkable achievements of several notable Black individuals with ties to Carrabelle. The exhibit features the inspiring stories of John C. Robinson, the pioneering aviator known as the "Brown Condor"; baseball legend John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil; one of Carrabelle's founding fathers, Abraham Allen; beloved midwife Laura "Aunt Laura" Wiggins; and her granddaughter, Classie Lowery, the "Mother of the Hill." Exhibit is open through Sunday, March 2. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Valentine's Day Contra Dance:Tallahassee Community Friends of Old-Time Dance at Tallahassee Senior Center for the Arts, 7:15-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, 1400 N. Monroe St. The sweetest Tally contra dance of the year with Vicki Morrison calling the dances to live tunes by The Runaway Biscuits. Singles, couples, and families alike will enjoy this fun, heart-filled community dance. $10 for adults, $9 seniors over 50, $6 for students, free for kids under 12.

Isle Newell Fund for the Performing Arts:Leon Anderson, 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, Trinity Episcopal Church, 79 6th Street, Apalachicola. Tickets are $20; $25 at the door. Students are admitted free. Open Seating. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Visit inconcertapalachicola.org.

Fire Betty's:The Soular System lights up Fire Betty's, 1122 Thomasville Road, at 8 p.m. on Valentine's Day. Gia Jones and the Funky Mofos are set to rock Betty's Stage from 9-11 p.m. Saturday.

House of Music Tallahassee:Valentine's dinner and show with music by singer/songwriter and recording artist Maurice Mangum, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St. $40-65. Dinner availability is limited to pre-purchase to guarantee seating. The bar area will be open for seating and cocktails at no additional charge. Internationally acclaimed guitarist Richard Smith plays at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Born in Beckenham in 1971, is a veteran road dog. Tickets are $20. Visit houseofmusictally.com.

Leon County Public Library:African American Read-In, 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library.

Proof Brewing:Relive your groove as local faves Deja Blu concocts a classic brew at 6 p.m. Saturday at Proof Brewing, 1320 S. Monroe St. Deja Blu is known for diverse, old school stylings that includes classics, blues, Motown, and then some. No cover.

New Stage Theatreworks: "Reefer Madness," presentd by New Stage Theatreworks at Theatre Tallahassee, 1861 Thomasville Road. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Tickets are $22 for students and seniors and $25 for adults.

Railroad Square: Tally Liquidation in Railroad Square aims to bring Tallahassee community together with a Valentine's Day Market featuring 4 bands, a movie screening, food trucks and vendors from 4-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14.

The Sound Bar:Open Blues Jam at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at The Sound Bar 1105 W. Tharpe St. On Friday, put your dancing shoes on for the Valentine's Sock Hop at 7 p.m. Feb. 14. $15 tickets. On Saturday at 10 p.m. catch Thomas's Birthday with Special Guest Jack Lovely at 8 p.m. followed by Karaoke with Big Daddy at 10 p.m. $5 cover.

Tallahassee Film Society: Oscar-nominated Short Films: Animation presented by the Tallahassee Film Society. 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15; 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16; 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at IMAX Challenger Learning Center, 200 South Duval St. Cost: $11 for general admission; $9 for TFS members and students.

Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 fun things to do around Tallahassee this weekend