It's beginning to feel like spring—well, at least you can pretend it is by wandering among the blooms at Tulipmania this week.
Plus, see Hamilton at last or catch it again as the legendary show returns to SHN; catch live performances from Gryffin, Ashanti, and the SF Symphony; glow with the flow at black light yoga; and find something cool to do on Valentine's.
Have a great week!
Monday, February 11th
Tulipmania Strikes!
When: 10am to 9pm daily through Feb. 18
Where: Pier 39, The Embarcadero, pier39.com
Head to Pier 39 for a special flower festival dedicated to tulips! Walk among nearly 40,000 blooming buds during daily guided tours or do a self-guided version with their handy guide. // Free to attend, RSVP via Facebook.Mayor Ed Lee, the movie
When: 5pm to 9:30pm
Where: Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave (Civic Center)
The passing of Mayor Ed Lee last year took everyone by surprise. Now, learn all about his life at the premiere of a new documentary film at Herbst Theatre, followed by a Q&A with Ben Fong Torres. // Tickets ($12.50-75) are available on eventbrite.com.
Tuesday, February 12th
Meet Samin Nosrat
When: 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Where: Scribd HQ, 333 Bush St., Ste. 2400 (FiDi), scribd.com
Obviously we're big fans of Berkeley-based chef Samin Nosrat—why else would we have launched our debut podcast with Nosrat as our premiere guest? Tonight is your chance to see the Salt Fat Acid Heat author IRL as she sits down for a Scribd Chat with Eater SF editor Ellen Fort. // Admission is free; register and get more details at eventbrite.com.
Hamilton is Back!
When: Showtimes daily, Tuesday through Sunday through September
Where: Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market St. (Civic Center), shnsf.com
Catch the song-and-rap history of founding father Alexander Hamilton in the now-legendary Broadway musical Hamilton. This one is back for another round at the Orpheum Theater, running through September. // Tickets ($111 and up) can be purchased on hamilton.shnsf.com.
Noosh previews its dishes via delivery.
When: Daily from 11am to 2pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
Where: Via Caviar
Expected to open in 2019, Noosh is an upcoming Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant from a duo whose experience includes stints at Saison, Mourad, Lazy Bear, and Eleven Madison Park. Get a first taste of some of their dishes via delivery on Caviar.
Strange Storytelling—With Drinks
When: 6:30pm to 10pm
Where: SF Public Works, 161 Erie St. (Mission),
Tonight at Open Salon Spectacle, six Bay Area authors (amateurs and experts alike) will get liquored up and then let down the guard to share stranger-than-fiction tales on topics ranging from history to epic heists. // Tickets ($15-$25) and info are available at eventbrite.com.
Wednesday, February 13th
Glow with the flow at blacklight yoga tonight.
(Courtesy of @yogaflowsf)
Get to flirting.
When: 6pm to 7:15pm
Where: The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, commonwealthclub.org
Feelin' a little lonesome leading up to Valentine's Day? Pick up some new tricks for wooing potential mates at a special flirting workshop. You'll learn three approaches to help you meet and chat someone up. // Tickets ($20) are available on eventbrite.com.
Black Light Yoga
When: 8pm to 9:10pm
Where: Yoga Flow SF, 1892 Union St. (Cow Hollow), yogaflowsf.com
Get your glow and flow on this V-Day Eve with a yoga class that promises to be a trip. White and bright neon clothing encouraged. // Sign up at clients.mindbodyonline.com.
BYOD: Bring Your Own Dog Standup Comedy
When: 8pm to 10pm
Where: El Rio, 3158 Mission St. (Mission), elriosf.com
It's almost Valentine's Day. Celebrate with the one you love the most—let's be honest, it's always the dog—at El Rio's BYOD standup show starring Bay Area comics including Chloe Kiester and Mean Dave. Get tix in advance or try your luck at the door. // Tickets ($5) are available at eventbrite.ca.
Vodka & Chocolate!
When: 6:30pm to 8pm, on Wednesday and Thursday
Where: Hangar 1 Vodka, 2505 Monarch St. (Alameda), hangarone.com
Hanger 1 is releasing two new vodkas just in time for V-day: their Petite Sirah Barrel-Reserve and Syrah Barrel-Reserve. Head to their distillery for a special tasting session to sample these new liquors, paired with TCHO Chocolates. If you're coming from SF, may we suggest a romantic ferry ride over to catch the city skyline at sunset? // Tickets ($50 per person), can be purchased on hangarone.com.
First Taste of Brooklyn at Federalist Public House
When: 5pm
Where: Federalist Public House, 2009 Matsui Alley (Sacramento), federalistpublichouse.com
Get your hands on some of the first Brooklyn Brewery beers to arrive in California, along with a collaboration beer made with 21st Amendment. Throw back an all-star lineup of beers from Brooklyn Brewery and learn what the Brooklyn-based brew company has in store for the Golden State. // Admission is free; for more info, go to brooklynbrewery.com.
*Thank you to our partners at Brooklyn Brewery.
Thursday, February 14th
Head to The Midway tonight for a mystically themed dinner party.
(Courtesy of The Midway)
After Dark: Chocolate
When 6pm to 10pm
Where: Exploratorium, Pier 15 (Embarcadero), exploratorium.edu
Geek out on the world's best bean as Exploratorium presents chocolate in an all new light. You'll learn how it goes from bitter fruit to yummy bar; taste your way through delicious demonstrations; and maybe even see new applications for chocolate you never considered before. // Tickets ($20) are available online.
Churn your own ice cream.
When: 7pm to 9pm
Where: Smitten Ice Cream, 904 Valencia St. (Mission), smittenicecream.com
Activity-based dates are always a win in our book. Belly up to Smitten for a night of Champagne cocktails and churn-your-own-ice-cream, instructed by Smitten's expert Brrristas. Pick your mix-ins to create your own flavor, and finish it off with sundae toppings for one sweet evening. // Tickets ($40-75) are available on Eventbrite.
Make it a movie night.
When: Multiple times
Where: The New Parkway, 474 24th St. (Oakland), thenewparkway.com
If you can think of nothing better to do tonight than canoodle in a dark theater, make for The New Parkway where the V-Day movie selection is choice. Go for classic (Roman Holiday), quirky (Harold & Maude), or modern (Moonlight). // Showtimes and tickets are available online.
8th Annual Dance Lovers
When: 8pm shows Thurs. through Sat.
Where: Joe Goode Performance Group, 401 Alabama St. (Mission), joegoode.org/event/dance-lovers
Duets by Crushes, Couples, and Comrades brings real-life partnerships to the stage for a performance piece that examines both different kinds of relationships and forms of dance. Look for twin sisters doing a Chinese pole act; a duet exploring indigenous queerness; and a Robert Dekkers original with dancers he met through Axis Dance Company. // Tickets ($18-$38) are available online.
A Mystical Bacchanalia
When: 7pm to 9pm
Where: The Midway, 900 Marin St. (Dogpatch), themidwaysf.com
Regular dinner parties can be such a bore. Spend tonight among enchanting nymphs, satyrs, and other mythical creatures at The Midway's multi-course dinner (with wine pairings) to usher in feelings of spring. "Lovers, friends, singles, immortals, nymphs, minotaurs, something or nothing in between" are encouraged to attend. // Tickets ($125) can be found on Eventbrite.
Lonely Hearts Club
When: 4pm to midnight
Where: Laszlo, 2526 Mission St. (Mission), laszlobar.com
Mix and mingle for V-Day at Laszlo's Lonely Hearts Club party. They're channeling '90s high school vibes with specialty cocktails, a DIY photo booth, and a lineup of John Hughes movies—think 10 Things I Hate About You and Pretty in Pink. // Free to attend.
Friday, February 15th
An image from the SoMa Nights exhibition at the GLBT Historical Society.
(Melissa Hawkins)
SoMa Nights: Exhibition Opening with DJ Junkyard
When: 7pm to 9pm
Where: GLBT Historical Society, 4127 18th St. (Castro)
SoMa Nights: The Queer Club Photography of Melissa Hawkins shines the disco lights on queer nightlife in SF during the the AIDS crisis, when Hawkins was a young photographer working for the gay weekly The Sentinel. The show is co-curated by nightlife historian Marke B., and will also feature memorabilia including flyers, posters, clothing and decorative artifacts. // Tickets ($5) are available at eventbrite.com.
Sound Meditation
When: 8pm to 9:30pm
Where: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St. (Russian Hill), gracecathedral.org
Rough week? Spend your evening in meditation with the Sound Healing Symphony. Expect gongs, crystal singing bowls, harps, and flutes to meld together in one transcendent melody. // Tickets ($15-150) can be purchased on eventbrite.com.
Saturday, February 16th
DJ Gryffin Live
When: Doors at 8pm
Where: Bill Graham Civic Center, 99 Grove St. (Civic Center), billgrahamcivic.com
DJ Gryffin heads brings his Gravity Tour to Bill Graham tonight. Dance the night away to his popular hits like "Remember (with ZOHARA)," along with classic remixes of poppy tunes like Tove Lo's "Talking Body" and Years & Years' "Desire." // Tickets ($35 and up) are available on Ticketmaster.
Pajamarama Bar Crawl
When: 1pm to 9pm
Where: Polk St. (Starting location TBA)
With all the cold weather we've been having, pajamas are definitely our preferred cozy attire these days. Don your best comfies and head to Polk Street for a pajama bar crawl. This totally counts as making it out of the house—finally. // Tickets ($20) can be purchased on eventbrite.com.
Chinese New Year at the Symphony
When: 5pm
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave (Civic Center), sfsymphony.org
Be serenaded by the sounds of a live orchestra at a special Lunar New Year performance at the SF Symphony. // Tickets ($115) are available on sfsymphony.org.
Sunday, February 17th
Ja Rule & Ashanti
When: 7pm
Where: The Warfield, 982 Market St. (Civic Center), thewarfieldtheatre.com
Forgot your sweetie on V-Day? Just want an excuse for a good Sunday Funday? Head to The Warfield to catch two of our old school favs, Ja Rule and Ashanti, in concert. // Tickets ($49.50 and up) are available on axs.com.
See Whales!
When: 10am to 3pm
Where: Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road (Point Reyes)
Join Club Urban Diversion for a 7-mile trek along the seashore to search for gray whales during the great migration. End your outing with a scenic picnic. // You must be a Club Urban Diversion member or member's guest to attend. Prospective members can pay $14 for the hike, more details on club.urbandiversion.com.
Monet Your Day Away
When: 9:30am to 5:15pm, open Tuesday through Sunday
Where: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive (Golden Gate Park), deyoung.famsf.org
The de Young Museum has opened its new exhibit with 50 works by Claude Monet, painted during his later life, from 1913 to 1926, and capturing moments from his life in Giverny. // Tickets ($35) can be purchased on tickets.famsf.org.
