Valentine’s Day has always been a girly holiday. Think about it. Stuffed animals, cutesy cards, balloons, flowers … Want to get more men onboard? Just add beer.

Seriously, Cupid even stacks the beverage aspect against guys. In a word-association game based on “Valentine’s Day” and “drink of choice,” chances are “Champagne” wins every time. Followed closely by “wine.” The truth is beer can be a suitably sexy alternative to bubbly. It may not sparkle, but it’s certainly suds-y.

Besides, beer no longer means mass-produced lagers and “lite” knock-offs. The rise of specialty, craft-brewed beers has softened its appeal to women, and each of ones mentioned below might make for a fun at-home holiday. Or any given Friday night.

Local to Southern California, Hangar 24 is based at the Redlands Municipal Airport. The chocolate porter is a big, bold, almost-dessert like beer, thanks in part to the addition of vanilla beans. Pair it barbecued meat or even chocolate itself.

Schmaltz Brewing Company produces pomegranate strong ale called Origin. Brewed with actual pom juice, it reportedly boasts all the benefits of the fruit, not to mention a taste unique to most beers—in fact, it may still well be the only one of its kind.

The Lagunitas IPA has the distinctly bitter taste characteristic of its style, but also enough sweetness to offset it a bit. A bit much for sensitive palates on its own—much like a tannic Cabernet Sauvignon isn’t much of a “porch sipper,” it pairs well with a number of cheeses, even some blues.

Belgian blonde ale La Caracole Saxo is mostly sold in 750ml bottles—like most wines—and it’s high carbonation level recreates the celebratory spirit of Champagne for a fraction of the price. The spiciness is also quite unexpected, but it’s still very approachable.

Tara de Lis is a freelance writer who lives in Hollywood.

Venus and Jupiter are in the southwest sky shortly after sunset and until after 9:00 p.m. They start the month separated by 40 degrees and are 12 degrees apart by month’s end. Telescope users should see the faint planet Uranus slightly more than a third of a degree south of blazing Venus on the 9th.

At dawn, two objects with stellar appearance are side-by-side high in the south. The object on the right is the blue-hued star Spica, of “Virgo the Maiden,” while the golden object on the left is the planet Saturn. A telescope shows a view of Saturn’s rings, tilted at 15 degrees.

While not spectacular like comet Lovejoy—which briefly graced southern hemisphere skies last Christmas—comet Garradd continues its period of visibility in binoculars and small telescopes this month moving into the far northen consellations of “Draco the Dragon” and “Ursa Minor, the Little Bear” (also known as the “Little Dipper”).

After the 18th, the comet will be close enough to the North Star that it is above the horizon all night.

Detailed viewing information available at www.griffithobservatory.org.

THIS STORY HAS BEEN CORRECTED. MOHAWK BEND NO LONGER OFFERS A PIZZA SPECIAL ON MONDAY NIGHTS, AS WAS PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN. WE REGRET THE ERROR.

Since its summer opening, Mohawk Bend has become Echo Park’s all-purpose rec room. At first, getting into the restaurant was nearly impossible as it was always packed. The crowds have evened out now so it’s still hopping during peak hours, but not too hard to get a table earlier on weeknight.

The restaurant’s centerpiece is the long bar with 72 taps of nearly all Californian beers. We tried a Jamaica Red from the extremely remote Mad River Brewing at the top of the state, and a beer flight is a fun way to try several different varieties.

The menu concentrates on pizzas and other simple dishes, many of them vegan-friendly.  On Wednesday nights, diners can get a pound of steamed mussels or vegetables and cous cous and a pint of Golden Road beer for $15.

Not only are the beers Californian, most of the hard liquor is from small California-based producers. Even cocktail ingredients are local, like Miracle Mile Bitters.

The philosophy extends to the menu, where much of the produce comes from farmer’s markets. But except for the Carlsbad mussels, the reasonably priced dishes don’t come with any particular pedigree, just brief descriptions like “natural beef patty.” Nicely fried cod in an IPA beer batter ($14) has a lighter crust than some and the caper aioli makes a zingy topping. The Kennebec potato’s flavor comes through in the fries, which can also be ordered as a side with Japanese togarashi seasoning or rosemary gremolata.

Pizzas are whimsically named: Salad Daze has avocado and lettuce, while Pig Newton ($14) has Serrano ham, fig tapenade and goat cheese. The crust has a good yeasty flavor, so keep the toppings simple for optimum flavor. Vegan toppings include house made seitan sausage and vegan mozzarella.

The menu changes frequently, so the Dork burger that was available at opening—made from duck and pork—has been replaced with a beef burger, while vegetarians might like the quinoa/lentil burger.

Salads include organic quinoa with almonds and oranges and Flash Gordon—grilled lettuce with avocado and an assertively dilled dressing. During weekend brunch hours, try Huevos Divorciados, breakfast quinoa or the Elvis French toast with bananas, peanut butter and bacon ($11).

The attention to local ingredients is appreciated, though the food is fairly basic. But whether you sit on the fireplace-warmed front patio, the back room with soaring ceilings and another fireplace, or the tap-dominated front room, Mohawk Bend is a temple to beer and a versatile spot for festive eaters and drinkers.

Mohawk Bend, 2141 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park, 213-483-2337

Taking care of your dog’s teeth is just as important as taking care of your own oral hygiene.

Just like humans, dogs are faced with a host of problems when it comes to dental care. Food left in between teeth and under the gum line creates bacteria, which can lead to periodontal disease. This plaque can look yellow or brown in the dog’s mouth. It is the stuff that’s responsible for your dog’s bad breath.

In its early stages, periodontal disease causes mild to moderate irritation. If left untreated, it can cause loose teeth, bleeding, receding gum lines and, just as in humans, this plaque buildup in the mouth can eventually lead to heart disease.

Experts say if you take care of your pet’s mouth, you can add two years to your dog’s life.

Start by brushing your dog’s teeth every day. You can use a regular toothbrush, or if your dog has a particularly small mouth, use a rubber pediatric toothbrush that slips over your index finger.  The pastes come in flavors like chicken or beef for your dog’s enjoyment. Vets recommend getting your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned once a year. For this procedure, dogs are often anesthetized in order to avoid discomfort, anxiety or pain during the cleaning.             While there are a host of snacks and treats that claim to “clean” your dog’s teeth and rid its mouth of bacteria, nothing beats dental care better than regularly brushing. And it makes those dog kisses much more enjoyable.