Second Saturday in February + Valentine's Day = Oh, What a Night!

Oh, What a Night! If you are not fortunate enough to have a reservation at Orom or Touch of Thai or with Cody Miller McGinn at Ginkgo Tree Cafe or with Margie Wildman at Baker Street for Valentine's Day evening, you can still venue-hop during Downtown Dixon's February 2015 Second Saturday, from The Next Picture Show, which opens its Regional Art Show tonight to Crystal Cork for a glass of wine (or a special martini mix) and a view of photography by Brian Lutz.  There are lots of other sites with artwork on display including the Main Street Dixon office.  A full list is with Sauk Valley Telegraph.  For full-fledged live music, come to Books on First where Hitz City is playing.  Hitz City, a full-fledged blues band, has been here in the past with Queen Bee singing.  Unfortunately, Queen Bee has departed this life, but fortunately, Hitz City is still thriving and wanted to be with our crowd.  So, come down 7-9pm for the incredible presence and sound of Hitz City.  And, right down the street, Rosbrook Studio, Dixon's own not-for-profit performing art cooperative, has open mic beginning at 8pm.  A little further on First Street, Val's has The Beaux playing 8:30pm - 12M.

A little further afield, Books on First fav Trinadora -- Ron Holm and Janne Nelson joins local poet Christine Swanberg for a Valentine's Day concert about all sorts of loving, at Rockford's Just Goods.

Is this going to be a "Galentine's" Day outing to see the newly released film, Fifty Shades of Grey?  Come in for a copy of this title along with the other two in the trilogy: Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

And, if you are interested in other titles made into movies coming out in 2015, we have them, also, like American Sniper, by (and about) Navy Seal Chris Kyle (whose killer has just pleaded not guilty for reasons of insanity), Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon, IndieNext Pick (2009) Still Alice by Lisa Genova, Testament of Youth -- a World War I memoir by Vera Brittain, or Nicholas Sparks's The Longest Ride.  The list can go on.  Check out Chapter 1's blog post and then, write us at chin@booksonfirst.com to reserve your copy.