Many ways to feel the love this Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day. It's a special day, set aside for us to show those we love just how much they mean to us. Some people do it with flowers. Some with jewelry. Some with a fancy dinner.

But there are lots of other ways to show your sweetie some love this holiday. How about taking in a play or musical act? Or maybe you can show that you love your fellow man just as much as you love your significant other, by giving to a local charity or program.

Here's a look at some of the ways you can spend the most romantic day of the year.

n Take in a show: Lots of area venues are offering musical performances, and at least one play, on Valentine's Day (which is Sunday) or the surrounding days.

Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport, is hosting a concert by The Broadway Boys Sunday at 3 p.m. The Boys is a collection of the hottest male voices working on the New York stage. Through their dynamic vocal prowess and redefining arrangements, the Broadway Boys add elements of gospel, jazz and folk to show tunes, classic pop and romantic ballads. Tickets are $40 per person and $15 for students. Call 203-227-4177 or visit www.westport

playhouse.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the theater's box office.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St., Newtown, is also offering a musical treat for lovers. At 3 p.m. Sunday, the Newtown Friends of Music will present a concert by the Paris Piano Trio. The group will offer a program featuring the works of Mozart, Ravel and Schubert. Tickets are $20 and children are free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. An informal reception will follow the concert. Call 203-426-6470 or visit www.newtownfriendsofmusic.org.

Music lovers can also stop by Pizzeria Lauretano, 291 Greenwood Ave., Bethel, between 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday, as the restaurant presents the jazz stylings of Cool Struttin'. The group will perform as part of the restaurant's Sunday night jazz series, and will present its take on a variety of love songs from The Great American Songbook. There is a $5 music fee and a $10 minimum. Reservations are recommended. Call

203-792-1500.

Other Valentine's Day entertainments include performances of the A.R. Gurney Classic "Love Letters," which take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Square One Theatre, 2422 Main St. Stratford. Tickets are $20 for single adults, $19 for seniors and students. Call the box office at 203-375-8778.

n Think of the children: Adults aren't the only ones who need love this Valentine's season. Thankfully, there are a few holiday events your young ones can enjoy.

The Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Road, Fairfield, will host a mother-daughter tea from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Costumed storyteller Carolyn Stearns will entertain the audience with stories about family memories and valentine's history. Enjoy fresh tea, lemonade and other refreshments and create your own Victorian paper craft Valentines. View a mini-exhibit of interesting cards from the museum's archives, too. The program is for girls 7 and older. The fee is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Registration is required. Call 203-259-1598.

The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, Ansonia, is also hosting a Valentine's-related event. On Saturday at 10 a.m., children 8 to 12 can come to the Redwing Pond House for the first in a series of science-based programs for kids. This program centers on cooking, and will teach kids how to make homemade goodies for their loved ones, just in time for Valentine's Day. Tuition is $15 for the two-hour class. Call 203-736-1053.

And Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, will host a holiday-themed event the day after Val's Day. From Monday through Friday, Feb. 19, the zoo will host a Cupid's Corner. From 1 to 2 p.m. on these days, bring the kids to the zoo for story time, a special craft and even an animal encounter at 1 p.m. each day. All activities are free with zoo admission of $11 for adults and $9 for children 3 to 11 and adults 62 and older. Children younger than 3 and Connecticut Zoological Society members are free. Call

203-394-6565.

n Have a heart: Love isn't something we only share with our significant others or our children. Love is something we can share with everyone. So why not take the time this Valentine's weekend to give to a worthy cause?

• Saturday, Area Congregations Together and the Valley Food Back Network will conduct the annual Valley Has a Heart Food Collection at Stop and Shop stores in Ansonia (100 Division St.,) Seymour (15 Franklin St.) and Shelton (898 Bridgeport Ave.). The goal is to gather enough nonperishable food to last for at least two months and at least $3,000 in cash to use for restocking pantry shelves. The collections will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each location. Volunteers are also needed. Call Liz Holcomb at 203-225-0453. Those unable to visit one of the three stores are still encouraged to make a donation. Checks should be made payable and mailed to: Area Congregations Together Inc., Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, Shelton CT 06484. Donate via PayPal at

www.act-spooner.org.

Or, if you like entertainment with your charity, the Greenwich Choral Society will present "A Gershwin Valentine," a benefit concert and silent/online auction Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Norwalk Concert Hall in the Norwalk City Hall at 125 East Ave., Norwalk. Funds from the benefit will be used to help underwrite the costs of annual concert production, the scholarship program and educational outreach. Tickets are $25 to $35, with discounts for groups and students 13 to 17. Children 12 and younger are free with an adult. Call 203-622-5136 or visit

www.greenwichchoralsociety.org.

And it's not just humans who need help. Bully Breed Rescue and Outreach for Pets in Need are holding their first annual joint dog adoption and fundraising event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Best Friends Pet Care in Norwalk, 528 Main Ave., Norwalk. There will be over 30 puppies and dogs to choose from -- please help these deserving dogs find new loving homes. The event will include raffles, food, prizes and sales of all types of pet merchandise. Call 203-849-1010 for more information, or go to www.loveabull2010.com to see pictures of the dogs.