Soul goddess Erykah Badu is back! While you’re awaiting her much anticipated album, New Amerykah, to drop in a couple of weeks, you have a chance to see her perform live at a secret location in Brooklyn, NY. You and a guest may be lucky enough to check out this special, invite only, performance hosted by VH1 Soul on Tuesday, February 19th. Click here for more details and rules on how to enter. Also, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for Erykah’s lovely face gracing our upcoming Art Issue. Don’t sleep on it!

If you have not yet witnessed the physical visual griots of Evidence Dance Company, you’ve got all week to turn that around. With a signature style that touches African, Caribbean, Modern, Ballet, and Contemporary dance movements while summoning warriors and angels dedicated to the pursuit of liberation, the Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Dance Company is performing a kaleidoscope of works from February 12th-17th at The Joyce Theater. The award winning company, choreographed with exquisitely sculpted symmetry by founder and Bed-Stuy native Ronald K. Brown, will premiere One Shot- a piece inspired by African-American artist, photographer, and Pittsburgh native Charles Teenie “One Shot” Harris. One Shot seeks to discover and exercise the still images of community, dignity, celebration, and legacy framed inside Harris’ photography from 1936-1975. The second half of the evening, Program B, is an engagement of repertory pieces including Upside Down (1998) which has seamless tributes to Nina Simone, Femi Kuti, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, and Fred Hammond. As an added bonus, Afro-beat artist Wunmi will take the stage for a live collaboration. And if the babies aren’t ready, on Saturday, Feb 16th at 2pm a special Family Matinee will be featured with an inspirational opportunity to meet the dance ensemble after the show.

Children get in for $10 and Sundays finale tickets are $25. Joyce Theater members get in for $29 and all other admission is $38. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Ave on the corner of 19th Street, NYC. Showtime is at 7:30pm. Get there early and prepare to save seats for your friends. If you can’t make the New York City show this week, check the dance troupe at the following cities and dates:

Wilmington, DE - Feb. 23
Lincoln, NE - Feb. 28-Mar. 1
Alburquerque, NM - Mar. 8
Tuscon, AZ - Mar. 11
Scottsdale, AZ - Mar. 14
Asheville, NC - Mar. 25
Portland, ME - Apr. 8, 9
Amherst, MA - Apr. 11, 12

Celbridge, Ireland’s Bell X1, and their videoclip for “Flame”, serving the dual purpose of getting you in the mood for lovin’ and warming you up a bit should you be in the throes of Old Man Winter’s icy love grip. Lots of octave jumps, toasted marshmallows, pyrotechnics and a giant phone. And yeah, there’s shadow puppets. And whether you’re lovelorn or absolutely smitten, you gotta love fuckin’ shadow puppets. Especially these shadow puppets.

So whether you’re treating that special someone to a romantic dinner at some (overpriced) place that requires reservations (well) in advance or simply cozying up to some Skinemax and a bottle of wine, enjoy V-Day to the fullest and bask in the warm, loving, glowing glow of the cheesiest and most inexplicable holiday on the calendar. And remember, TRACE loves you to pieces, Valentine’s or not.