Time Warner Center's Circle of Taste will launch on Tuesday, February 9 with an exclusive dinner of Beef & Barolo at Porter House New York featuring Chef Michael Lomonaco and Master Sommelier Roger Dagorn. This event, which will take place inside Porter House's intimate wine cellar, will allow guests to indulge in robust, hand-crafted Barolo wines paired with a bold steakhouse-inspired menu celebrating exceptional cuts of beef in modern preparations.

The expertly selected chef's menu will offer the best of American beef including poached filet mignon, succulent short ribs and dry aged prime rib among other flavorful Barolo-inspired presentations. All the wines will be a selection of highly sought after and difficult to acquire Barolo wines produced in limited quantities. The selection of rich, deeply concentrated full-bodied wines of Italy's Barolo region will be curated and presented by Master Sommelier Roger Dagorn from Porter House New York. Surprise your Valentine early with this delicious and delightful evening for two.

Click here for tickets to the premiere evening of Circle of Taste 2010.

Cirque du Soleil invites the Upper West Side to a behind-the-scenes look at its new production, Banana Shpeel! Get an exclusive sneak peek at the creative process on Wednesday, February 10, from 4:30 - 7:00pm at the historic and recently renovated Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway between West 74th and 75th Streets, at a free Open House. Meet and greet the artists of Banana Shpeel and enjoy a tasting from area restaurants and businesses. The first 100 people to bring a banana will receive a pair of tickets to the show... all bananas will be donated to the Garden of Dreams Foundation!

Banana Shpeel is a roller-coaster mix of performance styles inspired by vaudeville that blends comedy with tap, hip hop, eccentric dance and slapstick, all linked by a hilarious narrative that ignites a succession of wacky adventures. This is not a circus, or a musical or a variety show, or even vaudeville. It is Banana Shpeel! Previews begin Thursday, February 25.

Be the first to see Banana Shpeel and save 35% on shows through March 31! Use code: BT35 at www.ticketmaster.com/promo/b0vvnn.

Legal: Offer valid on select performances thru March 31, 2010. Offer not valid on premium, lower or upper balcony seats. 8 ticket limit per order. Service charges apply to phone and Internet orders. Offer subject to availability and not valid on previously purchased tickets. All sales are final - no refunds or exchanges. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice. Offer expires March 31, 2010.

February is Black History Month and Lincoln Center is rolling out a series of programs to celebrate the contribution of African Americans to the arts. Free neighborhood events include a performance by the Harlem Gospel Choir on Saturday, February 6 at 11:00 am in the new David Rubenstein Atrium; an exhibit entitled The Jazz Loft Project featuring more than 200 images captured by celebrated photographer W. Eugene Smith at the Donald and Mary Oenslager Gallery in the New York Public Library for the Performing opens Wednesday, February 17; American girl, World Citizen: A Musical Journey of Nina Simone on Monday, February 22 at 7:00 pm at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College; and The Mighty Third Rail on Thursday, February 25 at 8:30 pm at the David Rubenstein Atrium.

Click here for in-depth descriptions of these events and the full schedule of Lincoln Center's Black History Month celebration.

Image: Thelonious Monk and his Town Hall band rehearsal, Feb. 1959 / Photo by W. Eugene Smith

For the past two weeks, savvy diners took advantage of NYC Restaurant Week (January 25th - February 7th) to sample some of Lincoln Square's finest fare. Participating restaurants in the neighborhood included A Voce, Asiate, Bar Boulud, Café Fiorello, Ed's Chowder House, Gabriel's Bar and Restaurant, Nougatine at Jean Georges, Porter House New York, Shun Lee West, and Rosa Mexicano.

Missed out on the fun? Don't worry! Many Restaurant Week participants have agreed to extend their special promotions through February 28th. For more details on which restaurants are extending, and NYC Restaurant Week in general, please visit the official NYC Restaurant Week website. And, don't forget that you can always find information on all of Lincoln Square's restaurants in our free guide, Where to Eat in Lincoln Square.

Did you know that the City of New York has a free tool designed to help you start a business in New York City? NYC Business Express is an interactive website that can assist you with obtaining general license, permit, tax and other useful information online. It even has an Incentives Estimator that will provide you a customized list of incentives for which your business might be eligible. NYC Business Express is an initiative of the New York City Department of Small Business Services, a city agency dedicated to promoting the vitality and growth of small businesses in New York City, as an engine for job creation, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/bizexpress.

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and the BID wants to help you find everything you need to celebrate with that special someone. Looking for the perfect restaurant? Start your search using our free dining guide, Where to Eat in Lincoln Square. Chocolates or other sweets can be picked up at Godiva Chocolatier, at Bouchon Bakery or near the bakery section of Whole Foods Market; all located in Time Warner Center. Whole Foods Market also has a large flower selection - pick out the blooms you like and a staff member will arrange them for you... for free! You'll find cards at Barnes and Noble (1972 Broadway), Duane Reade (1889 & 2025 Broadway), and Borders (2nd floor, Time Warner Center), to name a few. Want to do something different? Magnolia Bakery will be selling an array of Valentine's-themed cupcakes at their Columbus Avenue store at 69th Street. Other sweet treats can be found at Le Pain Quotidien on 65th Street just east of Broadway and at Soutine Bakery on 70th Street just west of Columbus.

Of course, any romantic knows that one of the best ways to spend a meaningful moment is by sharing a breathtaking view of the city that we all love. And when it comes to breathtaking views, Lincoln Square has plenty to offer. Here's our list of some of Lincoln Square's finest vistas (listed in no particular order):

Time Warner Center: Many of the restaurants and bars at the Shops at Columbus Circle feature sweeping panoramas of Columbus Circle and Central Park. Sky- level dining and drinking is also available at the Mandarin Oriental right next door.

Museum of Arts and Design: Most floors, including the 9th featuring the newly opened restaurant Robert, offer impressive views of Columbus Circle, Central Park West and Broadway.

Empire Hotel: The Rooftop Bar & Lounge located on the 12th floor offers magnificent views of Lincoln Center as well as the Broadway and Columbus Avenue gateway to Manhattan's Upper West Side.

What's your favorite romantic spot in Lincoln Square? Join the conversation now on our Facebook page.