2015 Valentine's Day event guide

BURLESQUE

Le Cirque Rouge: 'What's Love Got to Do With It?'
Long-running burlesque and cabaret troupe Le Cirque Rouge features red-hot performances from Queenie Von Curves, Corinne Caouette and "naughty­billy" band Courtney McLean & the Dirty Curls. (7 p.m. Fri.-Sat. $12-$15, $60-$120 tables. 21 & older. Amsterdam Bar & Hall, 6 W. 6th St., St. Paul. www.amsterdam­barandhall.com.)

Kiss of Fire Cabaret & Burlesque: 'Be My Valentine'
You may not recognize this new cabaret by name, but you're sure to know its players. It stars singer Karen Vieno Paurus of the late, great Lili's Burlesque Revue, and features Lili's alums Gina Louise, Ophelia Flame, Vica Dyn and Coco Dupree. (9:30 p.m. Sat. $15. Mattie's on Main, 43 SE. Main St., Mpls. 612-886-2121.)

Naked Girls Reading: 'Voluptuous Vernacular for Valentine's Day'
A quartet of curvy girls read strategically placed books, naked, in front of a live audience. This time around, burlesque darlings Queenie von Curves and Red Bone pay tribute to the award-winning play "The Vagina Monologues." (10 p.m. Thu. $15-$20. Ritz Theater, 345 13th Av. NE., Mpls. www.brownpapertickets.com.)

THEATER & COMEDY

'Mistress Ginger Cooks! Love Songs to Turn up the Heat'
Half vegan recipe show, half cabaret revue, this annual show from pink-haired drag chanteuse Mistress Ginger features live renditions of Cole Porter and Pink tunes — plus samples of Ginger's vegan recipes laced with saucy stories. (7 p.m. Sat. $15-$20. Bryant-Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. www.bryantlakebowl.com.)

'Sextravaganza: The Sex Pun Show'
The lurid side of V-Day is front and center in Pundamonium's "Sex Pun Show," which challenges eight of the Twin Cities' "dirtiest" comedians to come up with as many puns, innuendos and double entendres as they can in two minutes, slam-style. (9 p.m. Sat. $10. Club Underground, 355 NE. Monroe St., Mpls.)

ACTIVITIES

Victorian Poetry Slam
Actors dressed in period-specific costumes will go head to head, reading classic poems of Dickinson, Poe and their ilk with topics ranging from romance to war. Refreshments and tours of the historic James J. Hill House follow. (7 p.m. Sat. $8-$12. James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Av., St. Paul. www.mnhs.org.)

Ice skating
Ice skating is a great idea for a Valentine's Day date — provided you're well-coordinated. The Depot's indoor, 15,000-square-foot rink has skate rentals and refreshments. (10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Ends March 20. $6-$9. The Depot, 225 3rd Av. S., Mpls. www.thedepotminneapolis.com.)

Hot Metal Pour
Franconia Sculpture Park's outdoor Valentine's iron pour demonstration gives you the chance to snuggle up with a special someone — and the 2,700-degree furnaces. (Noon-5 p.m. Sat. Free. Franconia Sculpture Park, 29836 St. Croix Trail, Franconia. www.franconia.org.)

ART & FASHION

Black Hearts Ball
This fashion show comes to the American Swedish Institute in conjunction with the Nobel Prize-themed exhibit "Nobel Creations." Seven designers will present mini-collections inspired by the exhibit, with live music. (8-11 p.m. Sat., 7 p.m. VIP. $25-$50. 21 & older. American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Av. S., Mpls. www.blackheartsball.com)

MUSIC + CLUBS