I used to be depressed about Valentine’s Day. So much so that I always felt compelled to throw my own Anti-Valentine’s Day event. Screw this romantic couples BS, I’m going to own this holiday! For a couple of years I planned Anti-Valentine’s Day Girls’ Nights Out where I’d make reservations at a fancy restaurant for a lovely romantic dinner for five and then we had a night on the town afterward. And it was so much fun that at the end of the night my gratitude for these wonderful girls always dulled any remorse I’d have about being single.

But this year, I’m actually OK. Valentine’s Day isn’t so intimidating to me anymore. Very freeing. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to sit home in front of the telly in a bathrobe on this anti-singles holiday. Here are some fun things to do, more about enjoying the night out with friends than looking for your future ex.

Friday, February 10th at 8pm
My friend Merlin is throwing a “Lonely Hearts Club Pre-Valentine’s Party” at the Mountain Bar in Chinatown. Known for his fabu parties, this one comes with upstairs and downstairs djs, bunches of friendly people and dancing on and on til the break of dawn. And as Merle promises, “No one is leaving my party without any sticky sticky on their gooey ooey.” Lovely. There’s no cover charge to get in.

473 Gin Ling Way
Los Angeles, California 90012

Tuesday, February 14th
Highland Grounds coffee house is throwing its own “Alternative Valentine’s Day Dinner.” It’ll be a night of Mad Lib love poetry, chocolate-dipped broken heart cookies, and champagne toasts to freedom. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Event begins at 7pm.

742 N Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90038
(323) 466-1507

O-Bar is offering an “annual anti-couples Valentine’s Day” night where snuggling couples are actually barred from the establishment and those who do happen to arrive a deux are immediately seated with others. Ha ha! There will also be matchmaking services available to bring single Angelenos together. But the best part is having your picture taken a la prom with a male or female model companion, which is then emailed to your home or, hmm, that ex.

8279 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, California 90046
(323) 822-3300

The Bigfoot Lodge usually has Girls’ Night Out on its Tuesday nights so it’s perfect that it coincides with Valentine’s Day. With $4 pink drink and $3 draft beer specials for the ladies as well as girl dj group “Mixtape” spinning the hits, this looks to be the place to go for the ultimate night out with the girls on the most unfriendly-to-singles holiday of the year.

3172 Los Feliz Blvd
Los Angeles, California 90039
(323) 662-9227