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February is a month of firsts for Irish theater company Inis Nua.

They launch their first production of the season, stage their first play by the Tambor Award-winning Irish playwright Elaine Murphy, welcome local director Kathryn MacMillan to the Inis Nua family and hold their official opening at First Baptist Church in Center City.

Want to be a part of all those firsts? Nab a ticket to Little Gem, a Philadelphia premiere on stage February 7-26.

It’s a look into one transitional year in the lives of three generations of a Dublin family. Daughter Amber is taking a break from binge-drinking with the girls, mother Lorraine is testing the waters of love on the north side of 40, and Granny Kay is watching her dear man slip away.

Artistic Director Tom Reing calls the show “simply one of the best plays I’ve seen out of Ireland in the last ten years.”

Get tickets online.

Inis Nua’s Little Gem
When: February 7-26
Where: First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom Street
Cost: $25
More info: www.inisnuatheatre.org

Mega-Bad Movie Night returns to the Academy of Natural Sciences this Thursday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m.

A popular regularly-recurring program in which absurdly awful movies are presented party-style, Mega-Bad Movie Night is also a great time to check out the academy’s exhibits after-hours.

This week’s edition features a screening of The Lost World: Jurassic Park. As always, the academy’s experts will be onstage to comment on the many scientific absurdities of the film.

Grab some snacks and a beer, and check out the many cool things on display at the academy. They’ll unveil some amazing fossils from their Paleontology Collection in honor of the event.

In addition, The Berserker Residents, the “mighty warriors of comedy,” will perform “Jurassic Park the Experimental Movement Puppet Exploration” prior to the show.

Register online.

Then be sure to check out the nearby Franklin Institute’s Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs exhibition, curated by none other than the world’s leading dinosaur collector and popularizer, Philadelphia-bred Don Lessem, advisor to the movie Jurassic Park.

Mega-Bad Movie Night at the Academy of Natural Sciences
When: Thursday, February 9, 6:30 p.m.
Where: 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: $15
More info: www.ansp.org

The always-impressive Arden Theatre has a truly sensational play in production now on the upstairs Arcadia Stage.

Titled Clybourne Park, the piece, a 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner, leases characters and setting from the 1959 classic A Raisin in the Sun.

The play deals with important issues of gentrification, particularly poignant in Philadelphia’s urban setting. It takes you through the story of a house, a neighborhood and the people who have come and gone over five decades’ time.

Get tickets online.

Clybourne Park at the Arden Theatre
When: Now through March 25
Where: 40 N. 2nd Street
Cost: Tickets start at $29
More info: www.ardentheatre.org

Chef Brad Spence is dishing up an all-pig dinner at Amis on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Amis)

Amis Trattoria, the Washington Square West Vetri Restaurant Family eatery, is hosting a four-course whole suckling pig dinner Wednesday night, February 8.

Chef Brad Spence is preparing the meal, just $65 with an additional, optional $35 wine pairing. It will be served at the Chef’s Counter for an extra-special evening.

Feast on Amis’ self-proclaimed “favorite animal,” from trotter to tail. Chef Brad Spence will be dishing up everything from porky borlotti bean stew to pici pasta with pigs head ragu & kale.

Latest word is that there are still a few seats left, so make a quick call and reserve your spot: (215) 732-2647.

Four-Course Whole Suckling Pig Dinner at Amis
When: Wednesday, February 8
Where: 412 S. 13th Street
Cost: $65, optional $35 wine pairing
More info: www.amisphilly.com

Leave it to the experts to instruct you on how to pair hand-craft chocolates made at Shane's with delicious wine, selected from an unparalleled selection at Ristorante Panorama. (Photo courtesy Shane's)

Wine and chocolate.

Individually they’re two of the most delicious and decadent delights one can enjoy. But pair them together and the flavors uniquely enhance one another, creating a taste so exceptional that it practically feels illegal on the tongue.

Fortunately, it’s perfectly legal to indulge in this luscious combination. So the experts from Ristorante Panorama and Shane’s Confectionery want to make sure you know how to pair them correctly.

On Wednesday, February 8, from 6-8 p.m., join sommelier William Eccleston of Ristorante Panorama and Eric Berley of the newly-remodeled Shane’s Confectionery for an evening of tasting, trying, sipping and sampling of a variety of superior wines and ports, all the while becoming enlightened on how to mix and match them with a rich array of dark and light chocolates from around the world.

Tickets to this appetizing and instructive event (learn how to impress your date on Valentine’s Day!) can be purchased in advance online for $25 or $35 at the door.

Ristorante Panorama and Shane’s Confectionery Wine and Chocolate Pairing
When: Wednesday, February 8, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Ristorante Panorama, 14 N. Front Street
Cost: $25 in advance, $35 at the door
More info: www.localwineevents.com

Still don’t have your Valentine’s Day plans squared away?

Top of the Tower, located on the 51st floor of Three Logan Square, celebrates Valentine’s Day a little early with dinner, dancing, panoramic views and cabaret entertainment on Saturday, February 11.

Whether you’re single or attached, enjoy bites to eat from various dinner stations, a full bar pouring all drinks under $10 and a love tunes showcase from Eddie Bruce and the Tom Adams Trio.

Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. with dancing to follow.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Top of the Tower: Valentine’s Day
Where: Three Logan Square, 51st floor, 1717 Arch Street
When: Saturday, February 11, 6 p.m.
Cost: $90 per person
More info: www.topofthetower.com

The music of the silver screen hits Verizon Hall as the POPS play 'A Night at The Oscars.' (Photo courtesy Philly Pops)

Take a trip to Hollywood with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops’ “A Night At The Oscars,” on stage February 8-12 in Verizon Hill at the Kimmel Center.

Jodi Benson, the famous voice of Ariel in the Oscar-winning Disney movie The Little Mermaid, will join the POPS along with Philly-based Broadway and film star Sal Viviano for a passionate evening featuring the magnificent music of the cinema.

With two time Grammy Award-winning pianist Peter Nero at the helm, the Philly Pops always deliver a rousing performance.

Tickets are available online.

Peter Nero And The Philly Pops Present “A Night At The Oscars”
When: February 8-12
Where: Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Streets
Cost: Tickets start at $28
More info: www.phillypops.com

Celebrate Valentine's Day early with the Penn Museum's love-themed lecture and reception this Thursday, February 9. (Photo by L. Hansen-Flaschen courtesy Penn Museum)

The Young Friends of the Penn Museum are continuing their tradition of non-traditional Valentine’s Day events, this year bringing Philadelphians “Love Hurts,” an exploration of the harsher side of love in ancient times.

Previous year’s lectures, including “Ancient Girls Gone Wild” and “Cougars, Playas, and Baby Mama Drama” shed light on the love lives of the ancients. This year’s lecture given by museum scholars is sure to contain equally salacious tales.

Whether you are dateless and disgusted by pink heart candies and all things February 14th or just looking for interesting facts on relationships to share with (read: impress) your friends, even happily-in-love couples are welcome to attend this event.

Stick around after the program and join the Young Friends for a cocktail reception (cash bar).

Tickets are available online.

Love Hurts: Annual Penn Museum Young Friends Valentine’s Event
Where: 3260 South Street
When: Thursday, February 9, 6:15 p.m.
Cost: $10 ($5 for members and full-time students)
More info: www.penn.museum

Watch PAFA artists as they work inside their studios, many with stunning views of the city.
(Photo by F. Dean for GPTMC)

On Friday, February 10, join the faculty, students, and staff of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) for an Open Studio Night in the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building from 5:30-8 p.m.

You’ll get a unique behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the professional academy artists’ studios, as well as the exceptional works-in-progress being created by PAFA students in more than 175 individual studios.

Artists and art lovers alike will enjoy this exclusive opportunity to meet America’s next generation of artists in person.

You’ll even have the chance to speak to the art students one-on-one to discuss the concepts and inspirations behind their diverse and exciting original paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints that will be part of this spring’s Annual Student Exhibition.

This event is free and open to the public.

Open Studio Night at PAFA
When: Friday, February 10, 5:30-8pm.
Where: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building, 128 N. Broad Street
Cost: Free
More info: www.pafa.edu

Sunday is pay-what-you-wish at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a great chance to check out the brand new Van Gogh Up Close exhibition. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

No matter what the weather decides to do this weekend (it’s so hard to keep up!), there are activities and festivities aplenty.

Warm up with one of our picks for fireside dining or the new daily hot chocolate bar at the Omni.

Catch a Philly basketball game (NBA or NCAA), or take in one of the newly opened art exhibitions (the New York Times calls the newly opened Van Gogh Up Close “a succinct, revelatory exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art”).

Tonight’s First Friday, and Sunday is something else important that we just can’t… hold on… what is it again? Ah, the Super Bowl! Even though it’s depressingly Eagle-less, we have you covered on where to watch or pick up good eats.

Of course, don’t forget to enter our 29 Nights of Dates Contest each day this weekend.

All of our top picks for this weekend, below:

Friday, February 3

First Friday in Manayunk, Old City, Doylestown, on Frankford Avenue and Chestnut Hill

Center City Restaurant Week — Closing Day!

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Marvels & Monsters: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics at the Asian Arts Initiative (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

Intelligent Design at the Michener Art Museum (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

Art Stroll in Historic Kennett Square

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat

The Pigeon Presents: The Philadelphia Poetry Slam

46th Anniversary Chinese New Year Banquet at Ocean City Restaurant

Unframed and Uncorked Art Sale at the Main Line Art Center

“Totems and Topographies: Samantha Mitchell” at Grizzly Grizzly Gallery

Green Chair Dance Group at the Annenberg Center (Fri, Sat)

First Friday Wine and Speakeasy at the Wine School

Art Show at Hot Diggity

The First Friday Fighting Burrito Comedy Showcase

Vox Populi Gallery Talk: Erik Geschke and Ronald Lambert

First Friday party at Smak Parlour

Saturday, February 4

LaSalle vs. St. Joseph’s at the Palestra

Mitchell & Ness 17th Annual Winter Sale — Closing Day!

Meadowbrook Farm Tropical Plant Sale

Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit at PAFA (Fri, Sat, Sun)

The Pajanimals Pajama Party at The Market & Shops at Comcast Center

20th African American Children’s Book Fair

Heart On Your Sleeve Sale at Third Street Habit

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