(Gwen Huerta / For The Times)
14 soul-awakening solo date ideas for Valentine’s Day
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There’s a reason why people who are on a quest to romanticize their life keep going viral on TikTok. Tips to live our best life and heal deep-seated wounds are a mere click away, and a huge part of that wisdom cites the importance of enjoying your own company. Why? Because when we’re at peace with our solitude without the attachment of a title, person or external thing, we’re less likely to operate from a place of lack. Also, we’re less susceptible to desperately searching for or clinging to outside people and vices to fill a void.
In practice, adding a romantic touch to the everyday can look like being mindful of what feels good to your senses and catering to that. It looks like this: going to that cool experience in L.A. even if you don’t have a friend or romantic partner to accompany you.
This Valentine’s Day — and any day for that matter — don’t put your joy on hold for so-called perfect circumstances. Think of these actions as tiny-but-impactful building blocks that ultimately help you craft a life that feels good to be present in. What’s more romantic than that?
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In honor of Feb. 14, we’ve carefully selected 14 experiences to try out around L.A. solo. From self-care treatments to intentional creative play, these activities are the perfect starting point for romanticizing your own company. While enjoying these solo dates, you may unexpectedly connect with like-minded people who are on their own self-care journey too. After all, the city is full of people exploring how to sweeten their solitude — and as the saying goes, just as you’d want to lavish someone you love with romance, quality time and meaningful experiences, you’ve got to shower yourself with that same lovey-dovey care as well. — Martine Thompson
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Attend a listening party for one of the most spellbinding albums of all time: D'Angelo's 'Voodoo'
Lincoln Heights Party
(The Record Club)
Even if you aren’t in a relationship, listening to music that unlocks feelings of romance, sensuality and the possibility of love can be healing — and even spiritual. The Record Club is celebrating Valentine’s Day as they’ve done for the last three years, with a deep live listening experience of D’Angelo’s career defining album, “Voodoo.” During the phone-free event, host Free Oribhabor will guide the audience through D’Angelo’s musical history and play the album from top to bottom on vinyl in high fidelity sound.
If you think you know everything about this record or the late singer, who died last October, think again because Oribhabor is bound to surprise you with an interesting fact. Afterward, attendees can hang out, grab a cocktail and vibe out to sounds provided by a live DJ.
Given that the event is Valentine’s Day-themed, some people are likely to come with a significant other or a friend, but many people attend solo as well. In fact, I was nervous to go alone when I attended in 2024, but I ended up leaving with a new friend who I still keep in touch with.
The event will be held at the Airliner in Lincoln Heights. Tickets are $32.
If you think you know everything about this record or the late singer, who died last October, think again because Oribhabor is bound to surprise you with an interesting fact. Afterward, attendees can hang out, grab a cocktail and vibe out to sounds provided by a live DJ.
Given that the event is Valentine’s Day-themed, some people are likely to come with a significant other or a friend, but many people attend solo as well. In fact, I was nervous to go alone when I attended in 2024, but I ended up leaving with a new friend who I still keep in touch with.
The event will be held at the Airliner in Lincoln Heights. Tickets are $32.
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Enjoy live jazz music and cat cuddles at Little Lions Social Club
Downtown L.A. Jazz club
(Marko Kharmyshev)
It’s no secret that jazz is having a revival in L.A. So what better way to experience this exciting renaissance than vibing out to a live band as they play romantic and dreamy tunes?
On Feb. 15, Jiji’s Jazz Club (a jazz pop up event series) is teaming up with Little Lions Social Club to present “Jazz Cats,” a night of live jazz with a side of hot tea and cat cuddles (yes, adorable rescue cats will be present). The event will take place from 7-10 p.m. in the Arts District. Tickets are $42.
On Feb. 15, Jiji’s Jazz Club (a jazz pop up event series) is teaming up with Little Lions Social Club to present “Jazz Cats,” a night of live jazz with a side of hot tea and cat cuddles (yes, adorable rescue cats will be present). The event will take place from 7-10 p.m. in the Arts District. Tickets are $42.
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Tap into your sensual side at Tea at Shiloh
Arts District Teahouse
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(Kailyn Brown / Los Angeles Times)
Tea at Shiloh, a “tea meditation” space tucked in the Arts District, understands the positive impact that taking a moment of pause can have on you.
Filled with floor-level couches that look like clouds, moody lighting and sculptural plants, Tea at Shiloh is a dreamy oasis of tranquility and a place to make meaningful connections. It offers daylight hours (imagine a quiet co-working space), various workshops (cooking and art classes) and late-night tea.
On Feb. 13, Tea at Shiloh is having a Galentine’s-themed event called “House of Damiana” to celebrate the sacred herb, which has been classified as an aphrodisiac and has long been associated with sex and romance. Hosted by Jelena Grozdanich, two L.A.-based movement artists (Cami Árboles and Eb Spins) will put on an immersive performance accompanied by live cello and violin from Maya Paredes and Eyen Paredes. Also, treats will be provided by Infinite Patisserie.
Attendees are encouraged to wear outfits that allow you to express your sensuality. Tickets start at $99.
Filled with floor-level couches that look like clouds, moody lighting and sculptural plants, Tea at Shiloh is a dreamy oasis of tranquility and a place to make meaningful connections. It offers daylight hours (imagine a quiet co-working space), various workshops (cooking and art classes) and late-night tea.
On Feb. 13, Tea at Shiloh is having a Galentine’s-themed event called “House of Damiana” to celebrate the sacred herb, which has been classified as an aphrodisiac and has long been associated with sex and romance. Hosted by Jelena Grozdanich, two L.A.-based movement artists (Cami Árboles and Eb Spins) will put on an immersive performance accompanied by live cello and violin from Maya Paredes and Eyen Paredes. Also, treats will be provided by Infinite Patisserie.
Attendees are encouraged to wear outfits that allow you to express your sensuality. Tickets start at $99.
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Delight your senses with DIY perfumes at Camp Disco
Culver City Workshop
(Camp Disco)
Camp Disco’s DIY perfume workshop is the gift that keeps on giving. Under the guidance of creator Sarah Vanover, a beauty industry vet with a soft spot for perfume, students partake in scent discovery exercises that serve as a perfume 101 primer. The experience strikes just the right balance of playful exploration, socializing and working individually.
Vanover offers two workshops (Perfume Making Essentials and Perfume Making in Vintage Vessels) at the creative studio These Hands Maker’s Collective, which adds to the delightful art class atmosphere. Camp Disco also offers private workshops and perfume bars for events and parties. It sells perfume-making kits for people interested in exploring the nuances of scents from the comfort of home. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself suddenly checking the notes on candles, fragrances and everything in between after taking the workshop. Putting your newfound fragrance knowledge to use out in the wild is part of the fun.
If you’d prefer to make your perfume creation creation at home rather than a class, you can order a DIY kit for $85.
The fee for this workshop is generally $95-120 per person.
Vanover offers two workshops (Perfume Making Essentials and Perfume Making in Vintage Vessels) at the creative studio These Hands Maker’s Collective, which adds to the delightful art class atmosphere. Camp Disco also offers private workshops and perfume bars for events and parties. It sells perfume-making kits for people interested in exploring the nuances of scents from the comfort of home. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself suddenly checking the notes on candles, fragrances and everything in between after taking the workshop. Putting your newfound fragrance knowledge to use out in the wild is part of the fun.
If you’d prefer to make your perfume creation creation at home rather than a class, you can order a DIY kit for $85.
The fee for this workshop is generally $95-120 per person.
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Turn up at a pole dancing experience at Fantasy Suite
Long Beach Event
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(Queen Skittles Photography)
Fantasy Suite is a pole dance show that features queer dancers with varying body types. Cherry Jayne and Jax “Lil Sumthin” launched the queer strip club experience in 2022 after struggling to find work due to “fatphobia that plagues traditional strip club hiring,” they said.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day and Black History Month, Fantasy Suite is having a Black queer dancer showcase at Que Sera in Long Beach. One-dollar bills — so you can make it rain on the dancers — will be available at the front door. There will be two shows: one at 8:30 p.m. and the second at 9:30 p.m. before an after-party that will begin at 11 p.m. If you’re feeling inspired and want to hop on the pole as well, message Fantasy Suite about open pole.
Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Rideshare or carpool is strongly encouraged.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day and Black History Month, Fantasy Suite is having a Black queer dancer showcase at Que Sera in Long Beach. One-dollar bills — so you can make it rain on the dancers — will be available at the front door. There will be two shows: one at 8:30 p.m. and the second at 9:30 p.m. before an after-party that will begin at 11 p.m. If you’re feeling inspired and want to hop on the pole as well, message Fantasy Suite about open pole.
Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Rideshare or carpool is strongly encouraged.
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Satisfy your sweet tooth and become the baking friend at the Gourmandise School
Santa Monica Cooking School
(The Gourmandise School)
Have you ever wanted to be the person who bakes a cake as a meditative way to destress à la Lara Jean Covey in the “To All The Boys” film? Or that friend who brings delicious pastries to gatherings simply because they were experimenting in the kitchen and love treating their friends to their tasty creations? The Gourmandise School can help turn those confectionery dreams into a tasty reality. The measuring of ingredients, working with your hands and putting your energy into creating your dessert is a relaxing way to disconnect from technology for a couple hours. Whether you’re craving a challenge such as the school’s two-day croissant class or you’re looking for something less time-intensive (the three-hour donut-making class, for example), the satisfaction of completing a goal you can eat and gaining new skills you utilize long after is extra sweet.
The Gourmandise School baking classes are generally $115-$525.
The Gourmandise School baking classes are generally $115-$525.
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Lavish your skin with the Deluxe Pansy facial
Beverly Hills Skin-care services
(Pansy Esthetics)
Since esthetician Leola Davis opened Pansy Esthetics in Los Angeles during the fall of 2021, the studio has made waves among skincare devotees in L.A. (and beyond) — those who’d been longing for LGBTQ+-inclusive beauty spaces. Davis describes the studio as “an L.A.-based, Black- and queer-owned and -operated esthetic studio catering to BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities and allies,” noting that all ages, bodies, skin types and concerns are welcomed. Pamper your skin with the Deluxe Pansy Facial, which includes a calming facial massage and exfoliation to leave your skin looking healthy and glowy. Or enjoy a range of other rejuvenating treatments available such as post-op skin care for top surgery and facial feminization surgery (FFS), chemical peels and hydrafacials.
The Deluxe Pansy Facial is $300. Also, in honor of Valentine’s Day, Pansy Esthetics is having a February special called “Chocolate, Berries and Champagne,” which includes a brightening facial and a soothing chocolate jelly — yes, you read that correctly — finishing mask for $300.
The Deluxe Pansy Facial is $300. Also, in honor of Valentine’s Day, Pansy Esthetics is having a February special called “Chocolate, Berries and Champagne,” which includes a brightening facial and a soothing chocolate jelly — yes, you read that correctly — finishing mask for $300.
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Set your intentions with a crystal candle workshop at Stone Candles
Inglewood Workshop
(Stone Candles)
Stone Candles understands the power of a good scent — how it can transport you to a state of tranquility or become essential in making a space feel more like a cozy home. This olfactory playground is a fun exercise in being present: You choose from a selection of crystals like amethyst, clear quartz and citrine; explore different oils and select what you’d like to go into your candle, and proceed to blend and decorate your creation. The elaborate range of scents to choose from in the Crystal Intention-Setting Candle Workshop will make any fragrance enthusiast feel like a kid in a candy store and brings a cool aromatherapy twist to mapping out your goals.
The workshop is $75 per person.
The workshop is $75 per person.
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Decorate a cake-themed jewelry box at Lumee DIY
Sawtelle Workshop
(Lumee DIY)
Bringing color and imagination to the mundane is a great way to romanticize your life. At this DIY workshop, visitors can decorate mini jewelry boxes in the style of decadent cakes as well as cake-themed mirrors and hair clips. There are literally hundreds of decorative charms to choose from and a vibrant array of colored icing (odorless glue mixtures that resemble cake icing) to make your jewelry boxes look extra edible. Creating something practical that can be admired in your personal space long after the experience is a great treat to give yourself.
This Lumee DIY workshop is $48.99 per person.
This Lumee DIY workshop is $48.99 per person.
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Prioritize your sexual wellness and pleasure at a Pleasure Chest workshop
West Hollywood Workshop
(The Pleasure Chest)
Adult sex education workshops, in real life and virtual, are on the rise as more adults seek out affirming spaces to deepen their understanding of sex beyond the cis straight male gaze. Many Angelenos count the Pleasure Chest as a trusted resource. The sex shop has been at its current Santa Monica Boulevard location since 1980 and offers workshops, many of which are free, to help adults prioritize their pleasure and confidently assert their wants and boundaries. Each class is a mix of people who arrive solo and with company, with intriguing topics such as the ins and outs of oral sex to community chats on navigating polyamorous relationships.
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Learn how to make cyanotypes and take your masterpiece home
Atwater Village Workshop
(Kalynn Youngblood)
There’s just something so satisfying about making a piece of artwork then being able to say “Thanks! I made it myself” when someone inquires about it. On Valentine’s Day, you’ll be able to tap into this feeling of pride at Nina Los Angeles’ cynaotype class. The Atwater-based clubhouse, which offers free coworking, creative workshops and more, is hosting an intimate 3-hour cynaotype (a camera-less photography technique that utilizes sunlight) workshop. Led by L.A. director, mixed artist photographer Kalynn Youngblood, you’ll learn to craft cyanotypes using negatives, pressed plants and stencils. By the end of the session, you’ll leave with one-of-a-kind art prints and the knowledge to create more masterpieces on your own.
The event, which will take place from 12-3 p.m. is free, but materials are $10. All you have to do is email a photograph you’d like to recreate as a cyanotype ahead of the class.
The event, which will take place from 12-3 p.m. is free, but materials are $10. All you have to do is email a photograph you’d like to recreate as a cyanotype ahead of the class.
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Nourish your creativity at the Little Green Art Studio
Highland Park Workshop
(CAMP / Little Green Art Studio)
The Little Green Studio in Frogtown is all about helping you reconnect with yourself and others while tapping into your creative flow in a calm, inviting setting. Owned and operated by multi-hyphenate artist and teacher Sadye Harvey, the gathering place is home to a variety of creative workshops such sewing, oil painting, water coloring, basket weaving, film making and more.
On February 13, the studio is hosting a stained glass workshop where participants will foil, solder and assemble pre-cut half heart shapes into a hanging piece that contains two hearts. All experience levels are welcomed and materials are provided. Tickets are $150.
On February 13, the studio is hosting a stained glass workshop where participants will foil, solder and assemble pre-cut half heart shapes into a hanging piece that contains two hearts. All experience levels are welcomed and materials are provided. Tickets are $150.
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Work on a creative project at Brand Library & Art Center
Glendale Library
(Nico Marques)
A great way to put self-care and self-love into action is by etching out time to work on creative projects close to your heart. Have you been meaning to put some serious work into that script bubbling in your mind? Or maybe you need to write a proposal for an awesome idea? As regulars can attest, the city views, interesting architecture and on-site art gallery set this public library apart from the rest. It’s easy to spend hours nestled in a cozy nook, diving into the hefty collection of available art documentaries and books, CDs and art-related archival materials. When you need a breather, step outside and unwind with a walk or a hike and flex your photography muscles with the scenic view. Added bonus: The programming includes free events such as Art Talks at Brand (which returns in March) where guests can listen to artists discuss their work followed by a Q&A, a Saturday music series that features performances from living composers and a dance series featuring performances from dance companies around SoCal that all make for great solo dates.
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Take your nervous system to the spa at Quantum Clinic
Elysian Valley Medical Spa
(Quantum Clinic)
Unwind, be still and tune in to how you feel away from the noise of everyday life. Spend an hour floating solo in water and looking up at the stars in the flotation tank. Perhaps best of all, the water is filled with Epsom salt to ensure you float so your muscles don’t have to do any work. Many people have an emotional response and a therapeutic cry in response to the thoughts and emotions that tend to come to the surface while in a meditative state of solitude. End your visit to Quantum Clinic with tea and a creative exercise in the expressive arts lounge. Think coloring exercises curated by psychologists or relaxing on the couch to process your experience before returning to the noise and needs of regular life.
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