La Jolla’s Best Bets for events, Feb. 11-18

Love is in the Air

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Dinner Dance starts with a buffet followed by dancing the calories away to the vocal stylings of John Cain. KatieCat & Cain will have you jumping out of your seat with every song! Tickets ($22 members, $26 non-members) include dinner, dessert and one beverage, 7-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. RSVP by Feb 15. (858) 459-0831.

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The San Diego Baroque Soloists present “Music: The food of love!” with mezzo soprano Janelle DeStefano joined by Pierre Joubert on violin, Alex Greenbaum on cello, and Alison Luedecke on harpsichord in a program of songs and instrumental music by Purcell, Handel, Telemann and more, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at St. James By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St. Tickets: $20. (858) 459-3421. sdbaroque.ticketleap.com

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The public is invited view an exhibit of photographs and paintings, “Art from the Heart,” featuring the work of Beverly Brock and Gladys Jimenez with an opening reception 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13 at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free. A portion of all sales will go to benefit the Center. (858) 459-0831.

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Write Out Loud, the San Diego theater troupe that specializes in bringing literature to life in a “storytime for grown-ups” style, presents “Orpheus Speaks: Love Notes,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St.Tickets: $25-$30. (858) 454-5872. ljathenaeum.org

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In 1987, renowned virtuoso violinist János Négyesy established a series of Chamber Music concerts called the “Soirée for Music Lovers.” The tradition continues this year at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, performed by Päivikki Nykter, the late Professor Négyesy’s wife, at La Jolla Congregational Church, 1216 Cave St. Tickets: $18 in advance, $20 at the door. (858) 459-5045.

Four Concerts of Note

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The Athenaeum’s jazz program returns to The Auditorium at TSRI for its annual spring showcase. The series opens 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 with legendary bassist Gary Peacock and his trio at 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive. Seating is limited. Concert tickets: $30-$35, Series tickets: $84-$99. (858) 454-5872. ljathenaeum.org

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New to the Winter Musicales series is a family concert, featuring WW5 (a woodwind quintet based in San Diego) performing pieces from “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter” and the theme from “Super Mario Brothers.”

This concert will include a show-and-tell of the instruments used — flute, oboe, horn, bassoon and clarinet. 2 p.m., Sunday Feb. 14 at The Darlington House, 7441 Olivetas Ave. Tickets: $40.

Proceeds benefit the Social Service League’s affordable housing program for seniors. Refreshments included. (858) 454-7625. darlingtonhouse.com

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Four-time Grammy Award-winner Aaron Neville Quintet will perform as a guest of the La Jolla Music Society, 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown San Diego. Hear Neville on vocals; Charles Neville on saxophone; Michael Goods on keyboard; David Johnson on bass; Eric Struthers on guitar; and Earl Smith Jr., on drums and vocals. Tickets: $25-$75. (858) 459-3728. ljms.org

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Sacra/Profana choir presents “Romance Isn’t Dead” — a new take on themes of love and romance by living composers, 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 at Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. (858) 552-1657. sacraprofana.org

Cultural Exchanges

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La Jolla Photo Travelers Club presents “A Visit to the Czech Republic” when Faye Girsh shows images from the waters in Marienbad, a boney ossuary, a Scottish pub in Carlsbad, and a warm beer bath at a brewery, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15 at Wesley Palms, 2404 Loring St. (East of Soledad Mountain Road in Pacific Beach). christam10@icloud.com

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Movie screenings and panel discussions continue in honor of Black History Month at UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive. All listed events are free. blackhistorymonth.ucsd.edu

▪ “Dope” screens 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at the Price Center Theatre.

▪ “12 Years a Slave” screens 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 at the Price Center Theatre.

▪ “Historical Context of Racial Health Disparities” presented by guest speaker Dr. Rodney Hood, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 in the Biomedical Sciences Building, UC San Diego School of Medicine.

▪ “Achieving Judicial Diversity in San Diego” featuring local African-American judges, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 in The Hojel Auditorium at the Institute of the Americas.

Stage Magic

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San Diego Opera’s 51st season opens 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 with Giacomo Puccini’s operatic thriller “Tosca,” fearturing the Company debut of Greek soprano Alexia Voulgaridou as Tosca and Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones as Cavaradossi, 7 p.m. Feb. 16 and 19, and 2 p.m. Feb. 21 at San Diego Civic Theater, 1100 Third Ave., downtown. (619) 533-7070. Sdopera.org

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San Diego Musical Theatre’s first production of the 2016 season, “Ragtime,” has two La Jollans in the cast. See Bethany Slomka as “Immigrant” and Juliet Garbacz as “little girl” through Feb. 21. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, downtown. Tickets: $40-$70. (619) 235-9500 sdmt.org