Here’s where I’d love to spend my Valentine’s Day, a place that is near and dear to my heart, the Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St.

Black Ensemble Theater founder Jackie Taylor promises a “memorable and romantic evening,” at a special, one-night-only Valentine’s Day event, “For Lovers Only (Or For People Who Love Themselves),” featuring some of the greatest love songs ever performed by the incredibly talented Black Ensemble members Katrina Miller, Rick Stone, Dawn Bless, RaShawn Thompson, Lyle Miller, Melanie McCullough, David Simmons, Theo Huff, Lawrence Williams, Rueben Echoles, Carrie Abernathy, Stori Johnson and Daryl Brooks.

Love will surely fill the air starting at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 14 at the theater. If you’ve never been to a Black Ensemble Theater show, I guarantee these performers will steal your heart. Black Ensemble’s second floor will be turned into “The Love Club” with a four-piece band, champagne and sweets.

“There’s nothing more fitting than to spend Valentine’s Day celebrating some of the best-loved songs of all time,” said Black Ensemble Theater founder Jackie Taylor.

Tix are $125 per couple, $65 per single, which also includes champagne and desserts. Call (773) 769-4451 for more information.

Valentine’s Day… It’s a day that we’re supposed to feel the love, and after all, as the Beatles have taught us, love is all you need.

But what if besides love, your life also included mean-spiritedness and hate? Many of us have never been bullied. But there are a lot of people out there who have.

People are being singled out for their race, ethnicity, sexual preference, as you know, there are all sorts of reasons. But often the ones who really get the whammy are the disabled.

Over the past few years, advocates across America have pursued anti-bullying efforts in their schools and their communities. It does my heart good to know there’s a place in the Skyline area working hard to try and make others share the love.

Advance Youth Leadership Power is a youth advocacy group for young people with disabilities from various neighborhoods around the city, based out of Access Living, 115 W. Chicago Ave. Its members are hosting a bake sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, at Access Living, and all proceeds go toward anti-bullying campaigns.

“We will have cookies, cake, pies, candies and fruit at the bake sale, and we are open for donations if anybody wants to donate to sell,” said Candace Coleman, Access Living’s community development organizer for youth.

Coleman, who is disabled, knows all too well about being picked on — she experienced it while in school. Therefore, “I like to empower young people with disabilities to change the things that affect them the most,” she said.

Coleman organizes youth with disabilities towards system changes, and teaches them how to become advocates, gain leadership skills, and the disability movement. Access Youth Leadership Power comes up with its campaigns based on a general group vote of issues that have an effect on them.

And the group didn’t pick Valentine’s Day to have a bake sale just because chocolate is an aphrodisiac and they want to spread some love around.

“We choose Valentine’s Day because we want people to love each other instead of bullying them,” said Coleman.

That’s amore… Kudos to Gino’s East owner Jeff Himmel, who for every $10 heart-shaped deep-dish cheese pizza purchased through the end of the month at Gino’s East (162 E. Superior St. or 633 N. Wells St.) will donate a portion of proceeds to Children’s Memorial Hospital through its “The Giving Heart” campaign.

Himmel said he was “delighted to join forces with our guests in raising funds to benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital and all of the deserving families it serves.”