Valentine's Day is a week away, and if you haven't already found the perfect Valentine's Day gift for your sweetheart, or if you haven't planned the perfect Valentine's date, let us just say two things:

1.  You're in big trouble, mister.

2.  Tikkitz can help.

You see, if you're thinking to yourself, "No worries. I got this covered," and your romantic evening plans are dinner at Red Lobster and some stale chocolates, then no, you don't have it covered.  Not.  At.  All.

No woman in her right mind wants to wait for hours to get a table in a crowded chain restaurant.  No woman in her right mind wants a generic Valentine's Day gift like a heart-shaped box full of chocolates.  And no woman in her right mind wants to be with a guy that thinks he can phone it in on Valentine's Day with these totally lame and cliche gift and date ideas.

What a woman wants for Valentine's Day is to be surprised.  Sure, she knows something's coming--after all, what kind of cad would do NOTHING for his woman on the most "romantic" day of the year (not you, that's who!).  But she wants her gift and date to be thoughtful, surprising, and--well, to be honest, she wants to gloat about it and make all the other women in the office seethe with jealousy.  She wants to hear about her date and be so overcome with jealousy that their husbands and boyfriends are in the dog house for the next 364 days.

No pressure, right?

Right.

We got your back.  Tikkitz has available tickets to more than 3000 events taking place on Valentine's Day.   Concert tickets, theater tickets, and even sports tickets are still available at this late date (but do not--I repeat--do not buy sport tickets and try to pass them off as a Valentine's Day date unless your beloved is truly an avid sports fan).  You can even score great seats to sold out events for a little added wow-factor.  And believe me, you want all the wow-factor you can get.

Here are some of our favorite Valentine's date ideas for concerts, performances, and other events happening on Valentine's Day:

• Cirque du Soleil La Nouba - Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL
• Cirque du Soleil The Beatles LOVE - Love Theatre at The Mirage, Las Vegas, NV 
• Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular -The Venetian Hotel Theatre, Las Vegas, NV  
• War Horse - Vivian Beaumont Theatre, New York, NY 
• Lion King - Minskoff Theatre, New York, NY 
• The Phantom of the Opera -Majestic Theatre, New York, NY 
• Simple Plan - Rexall Place, Edmonton, AB 
• Wicked -Gershwin Theatre, New York, NY 
• Absinthe - Spiegeltent at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV 
• Lady Antebellum - Energy Solutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT  
• Blue Man Group -Robinson Center Music Hall, Little Rock, AR 
• The Addams Family - Shubert Theatre, Boston, MA 
• Les Miserables - Progress Energy Center Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Raleigh, NC 
• Gaelic Storm -Five Flags Center, Dubuque, IA 
• Cedric the Entertainer - Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 
• Trey Anastasio - Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 
•  Elton John – The Million Dollar Piano -The Colosseum At Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV  
• Foreigner - Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ 
• All About Love: Valentine’s Day Concert with Keith Sweat and Fantasia - Arie Crown Theater, Chicago, IL 

Visit tikkitz.com for a full listing of all Valentine's Day event tickets available through the Tikkitz website or mobile ticket app.

Les Miserables is the currently the world's longest running musical, having been performed on stage for almost 27 years.  Although this breathtaking production is nearly thirty years old, Les Miserables tickets continue to be among the top three sellers, coming in behind relative newcomers Wicked (2003) and Jersey Boys (2005).  The Broadway musical, which is shows in London and tours around the world, features rich, stunning compositions and heart-wrenching tales of loss and redemption.

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, affectionately abbreviated to Les Mis, tells the story of the French revolution through the eyes of Jean Valjean, a man sentenced to nearly 20 years on the chain gang for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family.  Upon his release, Valjean steals silver from a Bishop, who offers him grace and redemption by lying to save Valjean from a life in prison.  Valjean vows to repay the kindness by living a worthy life.

Years later, Valjean has changed his name and become a prominent factory owner and mayor.  However, he cannot leave his past behind him, as he is relentlessly pursued by the policeman Javert.

Intertwined with the stories of Valjean and Javert are the stories of student revolutionaries Marius, Cosette, and Eponine.  As these young people become embroiled in the French Revolution, Eponine sacrifices everything for Marius, the man she loves--who is deeply in love with Cosette.

The musical score of Les Miserables has won numerous awards and each song reaches deeply into the emotions of the audience.  From the dramatic "The Confrontation," to the raucous "Master of the House," to the haunting "I Dreamed a Dream" and the romantic, bittersweet "Heart Full of Love," the songs of Les Mis are among the finest in Broadway history.

Theater goers can expect a surge in demand for Les Mis tickets as a star-studded film version hits movie theaters in December 2012.  Though country superstar Taylor Swift was rumored to be playing the role of Eponine, it was announced February 1 that the role would go to stage actress Samantha Barks, who played Eponine on the London stage and at the 25th anniversary performance of Les Miserables at the O2 Arena in London.  Other actors and actresses in the Les Mis movie include:

• Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean
• Russel Crowe as Javert
• Sasha Baron Cohen as Thenardier
• Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier
• Anne Hathaway as Fantine
• Amanda Seyfried as Cosette
• Eddie Redmayne as Marius
• Aaron Tviet as Enjolras 

With such a stellar cast, the modern film version of Les Miserables is sure to be a blockbuster, much like its Broadway predecessor.  Get your tickets for Les Miserables on stage before the movie spurs new Les Mis fans to snatch them up.

Veteran rock group Van Halen hasn't toured in North America in three years, and Van Halen tickets are in high demand following the band's announcement of their upcoming 2012 tour.  The band is touring with original lead singer David Lee Roth to promote its first original album in fourteen years, A Different Kind of Truth.  The new album is the first to feature Roth since the groups highly-popular and acclaimed album 1984, released nearly thirty years ago.  

The 2012 Van Halen tour is set to launch on February 18 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.  The tour currently includes forty-eight cities in the United States and Canada, with the final concert scheduled for June 26 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Current Van Halen band members include Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Wolfgang Van Halen, and David Lee Roth.  Though Eddie and Alex Van Halen have been with the band since its inception, other band members--lead singers in particular--have come and gone over the years:

• Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboard - Eddie Van Halen (1972-present)
• Drums - Alex Van Halen (1972-present)
• Bass - Mark Stone (1972-1974), Michael Anthony (1974-2006), Wolfgang Van Halen (2006-present)
• Lead Vocals - David Lee Roth (1974-1985, 1996, 2006-present); Sammy Hagar (1985-1996, 2003-2005); Gary Charone (1996-1999)

Van Halen's revolving door for lead singers means that even if fans saw Van Halen tour in another era (say, during "Van Hagar") they might get a totally different experience when they buy Van Halen tickets for the 2012 A Different Kind of Truth tour.

For those looking to see rock legend Van Halen in concert, Tikkitz has Van Halen tickets to fit every price range and concert experience, from budget seats to VIP packages.  Order your tickets to see Van Halen online or through our convenient mobile ticket app for iPhone or Android phones.

Christmas performances are some of the best selling tickets, when fans have the chance to see their favorite entertainers in special, limited-time holiday performances.  Irving Berlin's White Christmas and Trans-Siberian Orchestra are among the top-selling holiday performances this year, but perhaps the best-selling and longest running holiday performance tradition is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, held at Radio City Music Hall for eight weeks each year.

Radio City Music Hall is the world's largest indoor theater.  Its marquee alone is a full city block long.  Established in the 1930's by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., RCA, and S.L. "Roxy" Rothafel, Radio City Music Hall and the Rockefeller Center have been holiday destinations since the Depression.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular features the legendary Rockettes, and the event has sold out every year since its inception.  Along with traditional performances and dance numbers, Radio City Christmas Spectacular 2011 features new Rockettes routines and even an interactive 3D performance.

Each year, more than one million people attend the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City.  However, if your holiday plans don't include a trip to the Big Apple, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular has also been performing on the road since 1994.  Get Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets to celebrate this holiday tradition in New York or close to home.

NFL tickets were in jeopardy earlier in the summer as the league locked out players when there was a failure to reach a collective bargaining agreement.  MLB tickets for next season are threatened if baseball players and league owners do not reach an agreement after the 2011 season.  Today, the NBA announced that the remainder of its preseason games have been cancelled in light of the failure of the league and players to reach any agreement in collective bargaining negotiations.

The league sent email notification to season ticket holders explaining how NBA tickets were to be refunded for basketball fans who already purchased tickets.  Oklahoma City Thunder season tickets holders were informed that the preseason games against the Charlotte Bobcats and the San Antonio Spurs are cancelled in light of this recent development.  The league explained that the price paid for tickets will be refunded, plus 5% interest will accrue.  The refund is to remain in the ticket owner's account and applied to tickets purchased for the 2012-2013 season.

According to news reports, the league's cancellation of 114 preseason games will mean a loss of $200 million.  NBA Commissioner David Stern told reporters that if an agreement is not reached by Monday, October 10, 2011, the league will have no choice but to cancel the first two weeks of the regular season.

Sticking points in negotiations include raising the average player salary from $5 million to $7 million, the league's strengthening of the salary cap, and owners' move for a larger share of league profits.

When leagues and players' associations fail to reach agreement on collective bargaining terms, everyone loses something.  Players and the league lose revenue generated by basketball ticket sales, concessions, team merchandise, fan gear, and more. Sports fans lose the opportunity to watch their favorite sport, and many feel betrayed by the league they love.

Let's hope the players, owners, and league reach an agreement soon, allowing fans to buy NBA tickets rather than wait for refunds on the ones that have been cancelled by the failure to negotiate.

iHeartRadio Music Festival tickets sold out in only ten minutes, according to Clear Channel Radio, the communications giant behind iHeartRadio.com and the two day music fest.  Considering the lineup at this two day mega-event, it is no wonder that tickets sold out in just minutes when they finally went on sale July 23rd.  Clear Channel is billing the festival as the "biggest live music event in radio history," and with appearances from some of the hottest musical acts across genres, the claim is likely to be true.

The iHeartRadio Music Festival is to be held September 23 and 24, 2011, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the event will feature some of the top names in pop, country, adult contemporary, and rock:

Pop Concerts:

• Lady Gaga
• The Black Eyed Peas
• Jennifer Lopez
• David Guetta
• Bruno Mars
• Kelly Clarkson

NBA tickets, NFL tickets, MLB tickets, and other sports tickets give fans a chance to see their favorite athletes take the field (or the court, or the ring, or the octagon, or the track . . .) and demonstrate just why they are among the most popular athletes.

Each year, Harris Interactive conducts a poll to determine the most popular athletes in America, and this year's poll dethroned last year's favorite.

In 2010, Kobe Bryant was named America's most popular athlete, but in 2011, he slips to the number 3 slot.  LeBron James, who was ranked #6 in popularity last year, didn't even make the top 10.

According to the Harris poll, the most popular athlete in America is now Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees.

The results follow:

Most Popular Male Athletes

1. Derek Jeter
2. Peyton Manning
3. (tie) Kobe Bryant
3. (tie) Michael Jordan
5. Tiger Woods
6. Tom Brady
7. (tie) Albert Pujols
7. (tie) Hines Ward
9. Derrick Rose
10. Aaron Rodgers

Most Popular Female Athletes

1. Serena Williams
2. Venus Williams
3. Danica Patrick
4. Maria Sharapova
5. Mia Hamm
6. Anna Kournikova
7. (tie) Martina  Navratilova
7. (tie) Sue Bird
9. (tie) Kerry Walsh
9. (tie) Michele Wie

If you are following Tikkitz on Facebook, you have access to our Tikkitz@ photo album, in which we post pics of the concerts and sporting events members of the Tikkitz staff attend.  Our current gallery features pictures of Duran Duran and The Old 97s in concert and an Oklahoma City Thunder v. Washington Wizards NBA game.  Our most recent addition to the album is pictures of Rick Springfield in concert at the Winstar Casino Global Events Center in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

If you are in the Dallas or Oklahoma City areas, the Winstar is a great venue to see some of your favorite performers.  The Global Events Center is small, seating about 3,000--which means there isn't a bad seat in the house.  We learned that when we saw Duran Duran when they kicked off their All You Need is Now world tour.  That show was so amazing that we just bought Duran Duran tickets for when they stop by the Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, Texas, in September on the second U.S. leg of the tour.

But back to the Rick Springfield concert . . . 

We were in about the 17th row just right of center to see Rick Springfield, only one row behind VIP seating.  Rick's show began with a video montage of some of his television and movie clips, TV appearances, and concert appearances--sort of a "This is Your Life, Rick Springfield" introduction.  Personally, I thought the intro was a little hokey, and I was afraid that the concert was going to be a parody of itself--another aging 80s pop star phoning it in.

I was wrong.

The first thing I noticed about the concert when Rick started playing is that he has not slowed down a bit.  Rather than playing like an aging pop star, Springfield and his band got out there and really rocked each song. These edgier versions of old favorites translated well, keeping the concert from getting too mellow and appealing to both the middle aged women who loved Rick Springfield as a teen idol as well as younger fans who were introduced to the artist from his work on Californication or his new songs like "What's Victoria's Secret?" and "Venus in Overdrive."

Springfield's newer songs translate well to a modern audience, but still have enough similarities to his older work that fans of "Jessie's Girl" and "Don't Talk to Strangers" will not be disappointed by his newest offerings.

As Rick performed, I couldn't help but think how well he was aging--clearly, he's had some surgical assistance, but still--he's fit and active, jumping around on stage and even climbing into the audience a couple of times.  When he took of his jacket--and later his shirt--his female fans in the audiences still screamed and shrieked like the teenage girls they once were.  After I got home, I looked up Rick Springfield's bio to see just how old he actually is--I nearly keeled over in shock to discover that on August 23, just a couple of weeks from now, Rick Springfield will be 62 years old.  I revised my thinking from "He looks good for his age" to "HOLY COW!  THAT MAN IS AMAZING!"

One of the best things about the concert was Rick's interaction with his fans.  Not only did he joke around with the audience, rib the security guards, and encourage audience participation, but he got down off the stage and walked among his fans during the concert.  Here is a picture of me (Nicci) with Rick in the audience just over my shoulder:

You will note that Tikkitz might want to consider investing in a photographer or a high-quality camera.  Or at least remember to charge the camera battery so we don't have to rely on cell phone photography.

He seemed to really be having a good time--at one point even encouraging a camera man to follow him to the bathroom to find a band member who had taken a "break."  The camera man's camera was corded, though, and Rick was clearly disappointed.

All in all, the Rick Springfield concert was a good time, and this man, who tours constantly, proves that he's still got it after all this time.

Don't forget to visit Tikkitz on Facebook to view the Tikkitz@ photo album and upload your own concert and event pics.  Where are you @?

It's not too late to buy UFC 133 tickets and witness first-hand the long-awaited rematch of Rashad Evans and UFC legend Tito Ortiz.  In 2007, Evans and Ortiz fought an aggressive battle that ended unceremoniously in a draw.  Both Evans and Ortiz cried out for a rematch, and four long years later, they are finally getting the chance.  Four years ago, Evans was a relative newcomer and Ortiz was a UFC champ.  Now, Evans is at the top of the light heavyweight division and Ortiz was on his way out, with his last five fights yielding a record of 0-4-1 . . . until last month when he defeated the favored Ryan Bader.  The Huntington Beach Bad Boy has something to prove, and Suga Rashad Evans will have to work to win this fight.

The UFC 133 card has been beset by injuries and illness, and the lineup has changed several times since its initial announcement, which actually had Evans against Phil Davis.  As of August 1, the fight card for UFC 133 on August 6, 2011 is as follows:

Main Card

• Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz (205)
• Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (185)
• Dennis Hallman vs. Brian Ebersole (170)
• Jorge Rivera vs. Constantinos Philippou (185)
• Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle (170)