Explore the journey of falling in love -- the highs, the risks and the dangers of throwing yourself into something new. Big Theater presents The Yes! Yes! Valentine's Day Show at Swim Cafe, a daunting endeavor for those involved as the show will be created a mere 24 hours before it opens. Keeping the creation process fast-paced and unpredictable helps capture the volatile feelings that encompass love. That is to say, the show, like love, could be sublimely wonderful or it could be horrendously awful. You be the judge. The show runs February 10, 11 and 14 at 8pm at Swim Cafe, 1357 W. Chicago Ave. Admission is $10. Call 248-921-8869 for reservations and information.

With multiple rooms, varying levels and intriguing atmospheres, Maxbar is a melding of hip tavern and edgy lounge that will raise the bar for what people expect in Chicago.

Upon entering Maxbar the rich mahogany wood will inspire you to sit down relax and enjoy your favorite sporting event. Take a walk to the back bar, and you find DJs that spin pop, rock, hip hop and dance music giving you something to groove to until 4am. There are several different seating areas that can turn any night into your own exclusive private party.

With a sleek tavern style that flows into an intimate sexy dance floor, Maxbar gives Chicago what is has been waiting for the best of both nightlife worlds.

To book your reservation for MAXBAR

call 1-800-670-6423

Outside US call: 1-702-938-6380

From the pheasant with black truffle amuse-bouche to the bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizer and grilled beef tenderloin with a butter-poached lobster entrée, the $75-per-person meal ($35 extra for an optional wine tasting) is all about class. But Allen's is nothing if not decadent with its Valentine's dessert: a warm chocolate cake served with chocolate chip cookies, milk chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce and raspberries.

676 is preparing a feast fit for the Queen of Hearts to celebrate this Valentine's Day. $65 (and an additional $45 for wine pairing) buys a seven-course food parade that includes romantic dishes such as celery root-apple soup, lake perch, seared duck breast and short ribs. Reservations are recommended and seating is open.

After serving four courses worth of tapas, sweet crab, scallops or squab, mushroom soup and turbo fish or venison entree, Ambria lets you decide how to end your tastebud-tingling evening: passion fruit souffle or a chocolate degustation? Reservations are required for the $125-per-person meal.

Keep it special in the suburbs with a four-course meal that begins with dungeness crab puffs and is followed by a choice of grill-roasted quail salad, Chestnut Leaf Reserve Chardonnay cheddar fondue or Kobe beef carpaccio. The third course features a rendition of the classic surf and turf: filet mignon and lobster tail served with a merlot syrup and veal jus with a woodland mushroom crust. The Chocolate Grand Finale is as indulgent as it sounds, with raspberry-chocolate ganache, strawberry truffles and Valrhona chocolate mousse. Cost is $50 per person.

French food at its finest comes in seven courses for $160, plus wine pairings for an extra $89. Take a seat on the half-hour between 5-10 p.m. and find elaborate combinations, beginning with warm lobster salad and winter beets, moving onto bay scallops, veal medallions with wild forest mushrooms and ending on a sweet note with petit fours.

CST's groundbreaking Short Shakespeare! program transforms the Bard's plays into shorter, more accessible versions perfect for families-and anyone-as an introduction to the magic of Shakespeare. Kicking off 2007, CST Family presents an abridged version of Shakespeare's high-spirited battle of the sexes, transforming the wildspirited Kate and equally stubborn Petruchio from loudmouthed hotheads into lifelong soul mates.

Approximate Running Time: 75 minutes, plus 15 minute post-show discussion.