Wild Beasts.

Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf -- or synthesizers? Two UK bands playing this week in San Francisco -- Editors (Monday, Feb. 8, at the Warfield) and Wild Beasts (Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Independent) -- find swathes of fresh intrigue in those patches and plug-ins, all while baring their breasts and revealing busily percolating emotional lives.

We all had so much fun at our last Friday Flash Mob that not doing a Valentine's Day camera opp would be heartless of us. Show us (and the rest of San Francisco) what you're doing on Valentine's/Single's Awareness Day. Whether you're cuddling over a fire, on an awkward date or burning old love letters, we want a visual! So go ahead and shoot.

Date: February 14, 2010
Time: 8 p.m., sharp
Location: Anywhere in San Francisco

It's probably every writer's dream to go to Hollywood, produce a single genius screenwrite and live off those livings for a century. Scriptapalooza is the chance for those handful of amateurs to pursue their dreams in getting picked up by the bigshots. Disney, Miramax, Big Light and Bender-Spinks, names that bring fear and admiration to the hearts of screenwriters, will be in attendance to review the works of hopefuls. The grand prize?

Fresh outta drinking games? Prepared to drink in a new adventure? Ready to discover your next favorite watering hole?

There’s a lot of art happening in this city but often it’s hard to find. SF’s First Thursdays and Oakland’s Art Murmur are great ways to see a lot in a short span of time, but if you’re looking for one-offs, you may find yourself lost. Here’s our guide to the hot shows in February.

Luc Tuymans Retrospective

Editors

Showing off their brand new album In This Light And On This Evening, Editors have made a stealthy comeback with a whole new sound to match. What they're calling "dystopian, apocalyptic, mechanical ambience," translates to heavy synths, way more soaring guitars and lyrics dedicated to London, their "adopted home town." What's not to love?

Zodiac Trio

Quarteto Vivace Brasil: Young hipsters of the male persuasion tend to refer to Brazil as "that place with the hot girls" - with an occasional reference to tango (where there are also hot girls). But in addition to the women and the rainforests, Brazil also has some stunning classical music, namely, Quarteto Vivace Brasil. The quartet features some of Brazil's best musicians - two guitarists, a percussionist, and a flautist - who play with an energy that makes Brazilian sambas and Argentinian tangos pop. Their premiere U.S.

Beth Rankin @ Flickr

People are kind of freaking out about this Dolores Park thing, no? The Uptown Almanac broke the news that the park will be closing for a massive $12 million dollar renovation, scheduled to begin as soon as August 2011. Holy hell! That means we're only eighteen months away from a hipster catastrophe of the highest order! And while I'm sorry for the businesses and residents who will have to suffer through the reno (Really. I am.

Secretary of State, Gaskamer, Ignatius Von Loyolla

Luc Tuymans may not be a household name but don’t mistake that as reason to bypass this very important exhibit. The Belgian artist’s first US retrospective is the most comprehensive presentation of his work to date, featuring nearly 75 key paintings from 1978 to the present. Considered by many as one of the most significant painters today, Tuymans’ has already made a lasting impression on today’s generation of artists.

Bradley Castellanos' 'Swamp Bonham.'

Consider First Thursday fully ramped up for the new year, spanning everything from West Coast comers to unsettling urban decay.

“Assemble -- Taha Belal, Jonathan Burstein, Weston Teruya, Julie Weitz, and Bernhard Haertter”
Multi-hued fantasy faces, raw constructions, and vibrant, collaged portraits make a stand at this group exhibition. Thursday Feb. 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Through March 6. Patricia Sweetow Gallery, 77 Geary St., mezzanine, SF. (415) 788=5126.