This Valentine’s Day, instead of worrying about restaurants and reservations, skip that stuff and go see some art unfold live. This art comes courtesy of the Washington Ballet’s dynamic dancers Brooklyn Mack and Maki Onuki, who will be performing John Cranko’s three-act ballet based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Accompanied by a spirited Sergei Prokofiev score, the ballet debuted in 1962 with the Stuttgart Ballet, and remains a romantic classic. Funnily enough, the Joffrey Ballet performed the first American production of the Cranko-choreographed version during its 1984–1985 season, which included shows in D.C. at the Kennedy Center. Back then, The New York Times wrote of the Kennedy Center show, “John Cranko’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is arguably the best dance treatment of Prokofiev’s celebrated ballet score. And for the first time it has been presented—with blazingly splendid results—by an American company…” Now, the ballet returns to the Kennedy Center with an American company, this time at its cushy Opera House. Don’t miss a night of unbridled passion on stage, and maybe off if you’re lucky. Read more>>> The ballet begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F St. NW. $25–$160. (202) 467-4600. kennedy-center.org. (Kayla Randall)
EAT THIS
Singles have a competitive advantage tonight at Bad Saint. The Filipino restaurant in Columbia Heights that lands on every best restaurant list will only seat solo diners this evening. They’re calling the event, “Independent Hearts.” There will still be a line since the restaurant only accepts walk-ins, so plan ahead. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. Bad Saint, 3226 11th St. NW, badsaintdc.com. (Laura Hayes)
OH AND ALSO
Noise pop duo Sleigh Bells performs at 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. at 815 V St. NW. $30.
Author Kristin Hannah stops by Politics and Prose to discuss The Great Alone, her new book about a Vietnam veteran who loses his job and abruptly moves his family to remote Alaska. 7 p.m. at 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. Free.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows and a prepared dinner at Blues Alley. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. $90.
Want To Do Today sent to your inbox five days a week? Sign up here.