Valentine’s Night
Make plans to spend an evening out with a special friend and enjoy a great meal, dancing, comedy and live music at many local restaurants. Check out the new Granada Theatre in Morgan Hill for a black tie event on Saturday, Feb. 11, or Gilroy’s newest venue, Café Thyme, or the well known Old City Hall—both offering special prix-fixe menus on Tuesday, Feb. 14. In the Hollister area check out the great menu and entertainment at Hollister’s Leal Vineyards for a night of dining and dancing. Visit their web pages for more information.

GILROY

#PixInParks Challenge
Take your fitness resolution outdoors and discover a few of the nearby hidden hiking gems for the Hike the Magnificent Seven, #PixInParks Challenge. Seven hikes have been handpicked, presenting a picturesque setting for a selfie or group photo, as proof of completion. Check out the trails at Coyote Lake Harvey Bear or Mt. Madonna Ridge in Gilroy. Share your photo using the hashtag #MummyMountain or #TieCamp. Submit photos from all seven hikes from now through Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. For complete instructions go to parkhere.org.

Local Artist’s Show
Gilroy Arts Alliance presents an exhibition featuring the art of Richard Young. Young’s works include his highly regarded Toward Tranquility paintings originally created for the Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art. Young is a celebrated artist and a local businessman in Gilroy and has taught painting, sculpture and computer graphics at Gavilan College. The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 19 at the Gilroy Center for the Arts at 7341 Monterey St. For more information go to gilroyartsalliance.com

Fungus Fun Hike
Be fascinated by fun fungus as you hike along the Timm Trail, Spike Jones Trail and more in search of Coe Park fungi. Your guide, Chris MacIntosh, is an expert in identifying the many mushrooms and fungi along the trails. Wear sturdy footwear, layered clothing and be prepared for possible encounters with poison oak and ticks. Pack an easy lunch and bring plenty of water for this moderate hike on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Meet at the Hunting Hollow Entrance off of Gilroy Hot Springs Road with $6 for parking. Reservations are required at coepark.net.

Local Theater
The Limelight Actors Theater is opening the season with a straightforward, humorous and dramatic performance of The Country House by Donald Margulies, directed by Kevin Heath. The story surrounds a family of performers who have gathered at their summer home for a weekend of unexpected turns involving simmering jealousies, romantic outbursts and passionate soul-searching. Bring your own dinner and wine through Saturday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. or on Sunday for a matinee show at 2 p.m. Curtain goes up at the Gilroy Center of the Arts on 7341 Monterey St. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at limelightactorstheater.com.

MORGAN HILL

Art Walk
If you are looking for a great idea for date night or girls night out then you need to check out First Friday Art Walk and take a self-guided tour through downtown Morgan Hill to visit restaurants and shops and see the latest art exhibits. Stop by just one or two spots or visit them all. If you see anything you like, the artwork is also for sale. This event is free and open to the public the First Friday of every month from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Stop by for a reception and a chance to meet the artists at GVA Café from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at 17400 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill. For details and location of art placements go to morganhillartgallery.com.

Hiking History
Get outdoors and do a little hiking, if the weather allows, with Peninsula Open Space Trust and explore the rolling grasslands, oak woodland ridges and sage chaparral of Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve. Join up with docent Paul Billig who will take you and your friends through many of the preserve’s landmarks and share details about the natural history of the park. Plan to meet up for this relatively slow-paced, 4.3-mile hike on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., next to Calero County Park in Morgan Hill. Sign up to get meeting location and other details at eventbrite.com.

Geologic Enigmas
There is so much more than meets the eye in the City of Morgan Hill’s geology, considering the Volcanoes and Other Geologic Enigmas. Peter Anderson, who earned a Bachelor’s of Science in geology and a Master’s degree in engineering geology, will present and answer questions related to El Toro, composed of volcanic rock, including the possible seismic risks, problems with Anderson Damm, the strange rivers that run both north and south, and the scoop on the iconic “City Rock,” Poppy Jasper found nowhere else on Earth. Find out more on Wednesday, Feb. 15 or 22 from 10 a.m. – noon at the Community and Cultural Center on 1700 Monterey Road. Cost is $20 and tickets can be purchased on brownpapertickets.com.

HOLLISTER

Wine Trails
San Benito’s winemakers share in the limestone-rich soils and ocean breezes that make the area an extremely favorable region for growing wine grapes along the San Benito Wine Trail. In fact, Pietra Santa means “sacred stone” in Italian, referencing the limestone-laden soil. Many of the winery properties and grapes were originally established in the 1800s by Italian immigrants. Take a wine tour along the trail and enjoy beautiful landscapes, special events and a wide range of Italian varietals. Find the map at Hollister.ca.gov.