Made in the Valley

Dr. Barton Goldsmith’s V-Day Picks

Fancy dinners and long-stem roses are one way to go—but some take a simpler approach to Valentine’s Day. After all, feeling the love can be as easy as getting in the right mood. Here’s relationship expert and author Dr. Barton Goldsmith with some heart-warming suggestions.

Music to get in the mood?
I like Rod Stewart’s album If We Fall in Love Tonight or Love Songs by Elton John.

Sites for gift-giving?
I prefer getting professional help. There’s a great website called Leave An Impression. They have this terrific gift expert, Jen Wolf, who puts together amazing, custom gift baskets. I like their “Honey Dreams” basket for ladies and their “Modern Man” one for men.

Favorite romantic movie?
Shakespeare in Love is wonderful because it shows how life can work out even if love doesn’t, and it’s a great film.

Book pick for the broken-hearted? I highly recommend How to Survive the Loss of a Love by Peter McWilliams, Harold Bloomfield and Melba Colgrove. It has a lot of good advice on many levels, and it’s comforting.

What about those looking for love?
Read 1001 Questions to Ask Before You Get Married by Monica Leahy. The problem with new love is that we just go with the feeling and forget to ask questions. This book has all the questions and lets you see how his or her answers may affect your future together.

Rose Eichenbaum Encino

The Actor Within: Intimate Conversations with Great Actors With a disarming interview style, photojournalist Eichenbaum delves into the lives of 35 celebrated actors including Ed Harris and William H. Macy. Her riveting photographs accompany the insightful conversations.

Robbie Tollin Studio City

Mypheme.com During the day, Tollin produces TV, but at night, she’s the tour de force behind this wickedly funny women’s lifestyle website. With the tagline “tell it like it is,” she and her east coast-based partner blog about the insanity of everyday life for middle-aged gals.

Richard Finney Encino Demon Days, Angel of Light

Finney and co-author D.L. Snell release the sequel to Demon Days with this gripping, fast-paced assassin thriller that includes a church conspiracy, a sinister stance on near-death experiences and plenty of political intrigue.

Crack in the Shell

Woodland Hills Harder The legendary engineer Shelly Yakus mastered the debut album of this Valley-based alternative rock band, spearheaded by Danny Timko and James McFadden.