Calendar: 2/14-2/20
Thursday:
St. Valentine was a priest beheaded for performing unauthorized marriages on the church steps. Celebrate his holiday with “The Road Home,” the story of a tenderhearted romance between a village girl (Zhang Ziyi from “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”) and a schoolteacher in rural north China. Director Zhang Yimou (“Raise the Red Lantern” and “Shanghai Triad”) explores themes of love, family and education in this powerful film. The screening is tonight at 7:30 in Campbell Hall. Not your cup of tea? The Stu Carey Quintet provides an evening of cool, romantic jazz, entitled “Valentine’s Day,” tonight at SOhO. The show starts at 8. SOhO is located at 1221 State St.
Friday:
Embrace me, my sweet Sarah Vaughan. Grammy Award winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves sings a tribute to one of the greatest women in jazz tonight with the Santa Barbara Symphony. Immerse yourself as Reeves emulates Vaughan’s style on classic songs including “Fascinating Rhythm” and “Send in the Clowns.” The show is at 8 at the Arlington Theatre. Tickets are $45/$35 for general admission, $25 for UCSB students (limited availability). “Kandahar,” a film by Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, shows the horrors of life in war-torn Afghanistan without using professional actors. It opens today at the Metropolitan 4 Theater, downtown.
Saturday:
The State Street Ballet presents the stylish and high-energy “Ballroom, A Salute to the Swing Era.” The show features three original ballets, including the world premiere of “Five by Gershwin.” Performances are tonight at 8 and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Lobero Theatre. Tickets are $18-38. Call 965-6066 for ticket information. The Lobero is located at 33 E. Canon Perdido St. For something a little more funky, check out Santa Barbara’s very own Area 51, playing the booty-shakin’ grooves of yesteryear tonight at SOhO. Area 51 goes on at 9:30. SOhO Restaurant and Music Club is at 1221 State St., downtown.
Sunday:
“American Steel is the band that was playing when I yelled at Billy Joe Armstrong.” Find out what the hell DJ Fatkid is talking about when East Bay punks American Steel play tonight at The Living Room. Lookout Records calls their music a “combination of traditional music and punk rock.” The show starts at 8. The Living Room is located at 430C South Fairview Ave. in Goleta, and all ages are welcome. For a little more jazz and folk, all rolled into one, check out Darol Anger and the American Fiddle Ensemble tonight at SOhO. Anger is credited with redefining modern string music and how it is played. The show starts at 8. SOhO Restaurant and Music Club is located at 1221 State St., downtown.
Tuesday:
What is paradise if you’re already there? A living hell. Arts and Lectures presents a screening of “Life and Debt,” an unapologetic documentary about Jamaican life as determined through money borrowed from other countries. The film features Jamaica Kincaid, reading excerpts from A Small Place, and music from Bob Marley. Screenings are tonight at 7:30 and 9:30 in Campbell Hall. In the true Catholic spirit, A.S. Program Board presents a sneak preview of “40 Days and 40 Nights,” with pretty-boy soldier Josh Hartnett (who looks like a young Tommy Lee Jones) playing a man who decides to abstain from penile joy for Lent. The screening is at 8 p.m. in I.V. Theater. Tickets are free and available at the A.S. Ticket Office at noon.
Wednesday:
Haoles don’t eat Spam like the locals do. Come learn about the history of our 50th state in “Then There Were None,” a telling documentary by former Miss Hawaii, Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey. The film intends to briefly tell Hawaii’s 247-year history for those who only know it as a tourist destination. The screening is at 7 p.m. in the MCC Theater on campus. Following the film will be a discussion by the UCSB Pacific Islander Student Association. How do you manage to be punk when you’re pushing 40? Check out Agnostic Front, playing tonight at the Coach House. The show is at 9. The Coach House is at 110 S. Santa Barbara St. Call 965-0789 for more info.
