This Weekend's Best Bets: Feb. 12-14

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or Singles Awareness Day, mark the occasion by heading out for delicious food, high culture, or great music. The West Michigan Golf Show reminds us that the snow will eventually melt while the Grand Haven Ice Festival takes advantage of the weather. Whatever you do, make sure it includes a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates.

1. DON’T MESS WITH A MAN IN FACEPAINT: Pagliacci, the tale of the “the mad clown,” comes to DeVos Performance Hall on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.This play-within-a-play follows a jealous lover who cannot carry on with the show; $20-94; more info here

2. BIG IN JAPAN:The Ragbirds bring an energetic and crowd pleasing performance to the New Holland Brewing Company on Friday, Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. The “infectious global groove” of the Ragbirds caught on in Japan, where the band signed a record deal; free; more info here

3. LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE: You have two chances to attend “an evening of sophisticated silliness” during the Laugh Lover’s Ball featuring comics Drew Hastings, Tim Lee, Dwight Slade and Nikki Glaser. Catch it at the Kalamazoo State Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. or Sunday, Feb. 14 at DeVos Place at 7 p.m.; $29.50-40; more info here

4. NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAR GRUB: The HopCat is hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner on Sunday, Feb. 14. Reservations are needed to enjoy the four-course meal, featuring flank steak, oysters and more; each course has a beverage to complement; $70 per couple; more info here

5. HAND COUNT: Rock/jam band Four Finger Five will celebrate its first independent CD release on Saturday, Feb. 13 at Founders along with special guest Theo Katzman. The three-piece group has played Rothbury twice and was mentioned in Billboard magazine as a new band “breaking the rules;”$5; more info here

6. A FAMILY AFFAIR: The Verve Pipe will perform songs from its latest record, A Family Record, on Sunday, Feb. 14 at the Peter Wege Theater at 3 p.m.Frontman Brian Vander Ark will play a solo show of fan-requested love songs at 8:30 p.m. and will be joined by Lux Land and The Lazy Blue Tunas; Verve Pipe: $10-15; Vander Ark: $20; more info here

7. SWING SHOW: Think spring and get a jump on the latest golf equipment at the 22nd Annual West Michigan Golf Show in DeVos Place on Friday, Feb. 12 from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 14 from 10 to 5 p.m. You can plan a trip to a golf resort, learn about area courses and practice your swing; $4-9; more info here

8. NICE ‘N’ ICY: Grand Haven on Ice returns for its 6th year. This family event features live ice carving, a Wii winter sports tournament, ice-skating and more. Head to downtown Grand Haven on Saturday, Feb. 13 starting at 11 a.m. for the fun; free; more info here

9. KNOCKOUT: It’s here: after five rounds, the final round of WGRD’s 10th Heavyweight Championship of Rock comes to a close on Saturday, Feb. 13. The show starts at 8 p.m. and features Uncommon Road, Page 66, Stone the Manic, 6 Prong Paw, Night of 1000 Knives, Sin Theorem and Dead Against; $8-10; more info here

Good Bets: the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel is hosting the Big Bands ‘n’ Romance Gala, an overnight stay with a reception, dinner and dessert buffet on Feb. 13; more info here…Alonzo Bodden, winner of Season 3 of “Last Comic Standing,” comes to Dr. Grins on Feb. 12 and 13; more info here…the Vagina Monologues will be performed at Wealthy Theatre in partnership with the GVSU Women’s Center on Feb. 14; more info here