You gotta have heart

Susan Menning

At a loss for the perfect Valentine? UC Irvine has something for

everyone.

With February comes Valentine’s Day and the opportunity -- or in

some cases, obligation -- to show the special people in our lives

just how much we really care.

Among the wide range of community resources available at UCI are a

wealth of arts, educational and cultural events -- all at affordable

prices and likely to include something to tantalize the eclectic

taste of almost everyone’s certain someone.

UCI’s Film and Video Center, for example -- a cinematic landmark

in Orange County (at five bucks a head, no less) -- offers a diverse

selection of films from around the world, complemented by lively

exchanges with directors themselves.

Under the guidance of Kyung Hyun Kim, associate professor of East

Asian languages and literature, the center presents a slate of films

not widely available elsewhere -- classics, American independents,

documentaries, avant-garde and experimental.

This month, Kawase Naomi, the youngest director to win the coveted

Camera d’Or prize for first-time filmmakers at Cannes in 1998,

introduces three of her films on Feb. 10. Bernardo Bertolucci’s

classic 1970 film, “The Conformist,” screens Feb. 17, and Jem Cohen

makes his Orange County debut on Feb. 24 with the introduction of

four short films.

Offerings later this spring include a Latin American Film

Festival, Vietnamese International Film Festival, and “Visions from

the South: South Korean Cinema 1960-2004.” Information: (949)

824-7418.

For wine and music lovers

Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Wine is bottled poetry.” So if the

perfect poem still eludes you, take your valentine to UC Irvine

Extension’s wine lovers’ circle, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the

Women’s Opportunities Center. No expertise is required -- just a love

of the grape. Wine and cheese are served, and circle members receive

a 10% discount on all viticulture and enology courses offered by

Extension. The cost is $25, and registration is required; call (949)

824-2212.

The Claire Trevor School of the Arts presents a valentine’s

concert with Men in Blaque at 7 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Monday in

Winifred Smith Hall. Conducted by Joseph Huszti, the program features

Broadway and classical love songs, poetry and a greeting from Ogden

Nash in verse and song. A “Hearts and Flowers” reception follows the

performance. Cost is $12, with discounts for students and seniors.

Information: (949) 824-2787.

For talented teens

For students who love -- and excel -- in math and science, the

perfect valentine’s gift might be the opportunity to spend four weeks

this summer on a UC campus learning about astronomy, marine biology,

robotics, computer graphics, environmental science, ecology,

earthquake engineering, technology and much more.

The mission of COSMOS -- the California State Summer School for

Mathematics and Science -- is to motivate the most creative minds of

the new generation of prospective scientists, engineers and

mathematicians.

Small classes, lectures by UC faculty, fieldwork and excursions to

such destinations as the Palomar Observatory, NASA’s Jet Propulsion

Laboratory and the Laguna tide pools make the program a rich

intellectual experience for qualified eighth- through 12th-graders.

Selection is highly competitive, with admission based on a number of

factors. Information: www.ucop.edu/cosmos.

For broken and

mending hearts

UCI Medical Center’s Dr. John Connolly discusses the fascinating

evolution of cardiovascular care -- from the first surgeries at

Harvard in the ‘30s to the promises offered by stem cell research.

Learn how pioneering advances in cardiovascular medicine are

improving health and prolonging lives. University Club Forum, 11:30

a.m. Wednesday, University Club. More: (949) 824-7960.

And a heartfelt thanks ...

... to Pilot readers who responded to our January column. Stay in

touch, and continue to let us know how we can help you become better

connected with the top-ranked research university right here in your

backyard.

* SUSAN MENNING is assistant vice chancellor of communications at

UC Irvine. She can be reached at uciconnect@uci.edu.