9 sweet spots to celebrate Valentine's Day in Sacramento

Love is a many splendored thing, and there are myriad ways to celebrate it with your sweetie in and around Sacramento, from screenings of romantic films to a wine-and-chocolate-tasting train ride to a prom-themed soiree. Happy Valentine's Day weekend, everyone!

Art Mix (Thursday)
Puffy dresses and cummerbunds are encouraged at this prom-themed edition of the Crocker Art Museum’s monthly creative mixers, which will revive the high school rite of passage with everything from spiked punch to the coronation of a prom king and queen to posing for photos with your date. The evening will also bring opportunities to dance the night away to throwback tunes, create corsages and boutonnieres at a craft station and explore the museum on guided tours that focus on the various artistic representations of gorgeous gowns. $10 (free for museum members). Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. Crocker Art Museum. 216 O St. 808-7000. crockerartmuseum.org

Sudwerk’s Valentine's Day Beer Release Party (Thursday)
Hopheads can enjoy a sweet pre-Valentine’s Day treat in Davis, where Sudwerk Brewing Co. will introduce its brand-new beer: 3 Best Friends, a rich, dark lager infused with imported Madagascan vanilla beans, locally roasted coffee from Davis’ Pepper Peddler and cacao nibs from Tcho in San Francisco. The brew will debut at a release party from 4 to 8 p.m. tonight at the brewery’s casual “Dock Store” tasting room; representatives from the Pepper Peddler and Tcho will be also be in attendance, offering coffee and chocolate samples. $6.99 for 22-oz. bottles; $5 for a sample in a tasting flight. Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Sudwerk Brewing Co. 2001 2nd St. Davis. 530-756-2739. sudwerkbrew.com

The Sacramento Ballet (Thursday through Sunday)
The Sacramento Ballet continues celebrating Carinne Binda’s quarter-century as its co-artistic director with a romantic program comprising two of her favorite works: contemporary master Trey McIntyre’s passionate Wild Sweet Love (which was choreographed for and debuted by the Sacramento company in 2007) and New York City Ballet alum Edwaard Liang’s Wunderland, a fluid, intense composition set to string quartet music by Philip Glass. The program will also include the world premiere of a new work by choreographer Ma Cong. $19-$70. Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. Community Center Theater. 1301 L St. 916-808-5181. sacballet.org

Valentine’s Day Drop Off (Friday)
While mom and dad are away, the kids will play at the Sacramento Children’s Museum during this yearly event, where parents can drop off their youngsters before heading out to celebrate Valentine’s Day. In addition to exploring the museum’s many exhibits and displays, including a brand-new one that’s Lego themed, little ones can enjoy healthy snacks and take part in hands-on activities throughout the night like crafting their own Valentines to give to their friends and family. $20 per child or $15 per sibling for museum members ($25 and $20, respectively, for nonmembers). Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. Sacramento Children’s Museum. 2701 Prospect Park Dr. Rancho Cordova. 638-7225. sackids.org

The King’s Singers (Friday) 
Love is in the air as the renowned British a cappella group—which takes its name from King’s College at Cambridge University, where it was founded in 1968—hops across the pond for this special Valentine’s Day concert. The program will feature songs from the group’s latest album, Great American Songbook, and will spread the love with renditions of new arrangements of classic songs by the likes of Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. Tickets start at $35. Friday at 8 p.m. Mondavi Center’s Jackson Hall. Mrak Hall Dr. and Old Davis Rd. Davis. 530-754-2787. mondaviarts.org

The Real Thing (Friday & Saturday) 
Almost three decades after earning Tony Awards for best play and for its stars Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons, Tom Stoppard’s exploration of marriage, honesty and commitment debuts at Capital Stage. Structured as a play within a play, the wry drama centers on Charlotte, a married actress who, while performing in her playwright husband’s piece about relationships and infidelity, begins to fall for the production’s leading man. Capital Stage will sweeten the deal on Friday and Saturday with its “Date Night” package, which includes a glass of sparkling wine and tempting strawberry truffles from See’s Candies. $39-$41 on Friday; $43-$45 on Saturday. 8 p.m. both nights. Capital Stage. 2215 J St. 995-5464. capstage.org

Port, Wine & Chocolate Lovers’ Weekend (Saturday & Sunday)
Admission to this special weekend at the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg includes samples of decadent treats from chocolatiers like Capitol Confections, Chocolate Architect and About-A-Bite Bakery, plus two complimentary wine tastings at each of the 10 wineries housed inside the historic building. Throughout the day, attendees can also take part in port barrel tastings, learn how to bottle and cork the sweet dessert wine (bottles made that day are available for purchase starting at $18) or visit a lounge area to smoke cigars, which have been classically enjoyed with port for years. $40 per day ($25 in advance). Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Old Sugar Mill. 35265 Willow Ave. Clarksburg. 744-1615. oldsugarmill.com

Sacramento RiverTrain’s Wine & Chocolate Ride (Saturday)
This three-hour roundtrip excursion, which takes riders rolling along the farms, sloughs and wetlands between West Sacramento and Woodland, will feature delicious desserts like chocolate-covered strawberries and dark chocolate truffles from Davis’ Ciocolat, paired with complementary samples of vino from regional wineries including Lodi’s McCay Cellars and Klinker Brick. VIP ticket packages include early boarding, additional wine tastings and a catered meal. $45 ($65 for VIP tickets). Saturday at 2 p.m. Boards in West Sacramento at 400 North Harbor Blvd. 800-866-1690. sacramentorivertrain.com

The Before Trilogy (Sunday)
Organized by the Folsom Film Society, this afternoon at Folsom Library will feature of screenings of Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight, the acclaimed film trilogy which The New York Times calls “the great romantic epic of a generation.” Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, the three films explore the nature of love, regret and chance as they chronicle the complicated relationship between Jesse and Celine, a couple whose romance begins with a random meeting on a train and is rekindled years later after crossing paths in Paris, then grows into a deep, complex lifelong partnership. Free ($20 suggested donation). Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 411 Stafford St. Folsom. 355-7374. library.folsom.ca.us