19 Fun Things to Do This Week (2.14.22)
Chinatown is roaring back to life with the return of the Chinese New Year Parade this Saturday. (Photo courtesy Chinese Chamber of Commerce).

19 Fun Things to Do This Week (2.14.22)

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Roses are red, violets are blue. We've handpicked the best things for you to do.

This week, Cal Academy's penguins accept warm and fuzzy Valentine's, a multi-sensory Red Envelope pop-up takes over Viridian bar in Oakland, Noise Pop brings live music back to the Bay, Nisei blesses foodies with a series of pop-up dinners, a brand new indoor roller rink brings skating to the East Bay, and the long-awaited return of the Chinese New Year Parade.


Have a good one!

Make Monday suck a little bit less with the scientifically adorable tradition of penguin Valentines. Watch in-person or virtually as Cal Academy biologists distribute heart-shaped valentines to the colony of African penguins. The male penguins typically accept the hearts and take them back to their nests to present them to their female counterparts as nest-lining material; Monday at 10:30am. // In-person at California Academy of Sciences or online live stream via the Academy's Facebook page


Celebrate Valentine's Day with a family-style, Cal-Israeli dinner at Pomella. Mingle with the chef and enjoy culinary surprises and conversation on the outdoor patio; Monday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm. // Pomella, 3770 Piedmont Ave. (Oakland); reservations at store.pomellaoakland.com


Misery loves company. Broken hearts come together for "So This Sucks: A Night of Heartbreak & Disappointment," a decidedly unromantic V-Day storytelling sesh; Monday, 7:30pm to 10:30pm. // The Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson St. (Jackson Square); tickets at eventbrite.com

See 20 new “heartworks” atthe Ferry Building. This year's Hearts in San Francisco is on display through February 28th; the artist-designed heart will be auctioned off to benefit San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. // Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero); details at sfghf.org


Shake up your night with a seasonal mixology class. You'll arrive cocktail-curious and leave as the ultimate host; Monday, 7pm to 9pm. // The Alembic, 1725 Haight St. (Upper Haight); tickets at eventbrite.com


Dodge the day at Heart & Dagger Saloon's anti-Valentine's party. The indoor/outdoor Oakland bar will be showing horror movies like "Bride of Chuckie" and there will be plenty of hateful tunes blasting all night long. Oh, and absolutely no kissing allowed; Monday from 8pm to 1:30am. // Heart & Dagger Saloon, 504 Lake Park Ave. (Oakland); details at eventbrite.com

Get immersed in a multi-sensory art, culture, and culinary experience to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The gorgeous Oakland cocktail bar Viridian has been transformed for a Red Envelope pop-up this month. Expect special cocktails, treats from the historic Oakland Fortune Cookie Factory, a 60-foot illuminated silk dragon, playlists representing Asian artists from around the world, and more; 5pm to late night Wednesdays through Sundays, through February 27th. // Viridian, 2216 Broadway (Oakland); details at redenvelopepopup.com


Belly up to Old Devil Moon for a Dynamo Donut and beer pairing as part of SF Beer Week; Wednesday, 5pm to 10pm. // Old Devil Moon, 3472 Mission St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com


Speaking of Beer Week, Holy Water also has it going on. Swing by the Bernal Heights bar to sample beers made with malts from Alameda's Admiral Maltings (Wednesday); imperial stouts (Saturday); and the last of Pliny the Younger (Sunday). // Holy Water opens at 3pm; 309 Cortland Ave. (Bernal Heights), sfbeerweek.org


Clear your calendar: Noise Pop Festival kicks off this weekend, starting with an official pre-party with Kamaal Williams at California Academy of Sciences on Thursday; Carpool Tunnel and Breakup Shoes at Bottom of the Hill on Saturday; and happy hour at Zeitgeist with Zelma Stone and Mae Powell on Sunday; February 17-27. // At various venues around the Bay Area, noisepopfest.com


Singin' with the Sisters Karaoke takes over Laughing Monk for a night of zin. Sing along and LOL while sampling Laughing Monk's new wine-lager hybrid along with food from Cousins Maine Lobster; Friday, 7:30pm to 10pm. // Laughing Mong Brewing, 1439 A/B Egbert Ave. (Bayview), laughingmonkbrewing.com


Only us West Coasters would dare make our own bagels, so if you're going to do it, do it right. Let the bakers at Daily Driver teach you their ways in this hands-on bagel-making workshop, plus wine and cheese to munch on while they rise; Friday, 12:30pm to 2pm. // Daily Driver, 2535 3rd St. (Dogpatch); details at eventbrite.com

See some live painting while sipping cocktails to beats by DJ Shawn Steele. French artist Lucas Beaufort will set up in the S&R Lounge to paint three canvases that will be auctioned off at the end of the night; Friday, 6pm to 9:30pm. // Hotel Zetta, 55 5th St. (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com


Have a roaring good time at the return of Chinatown's Chinese New Year Parade—the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. Considered one of the best night parades in the world, the procession will include fabulous floats, ferocious lions, and firecrackers; Saturday, 5pm to 9pm. // 2nd St & Market to Kearny & Columbus;, chineseparade.com


Uncover the stories behind the Cliff House, Sutro Baths, and Sutro Heights with an intimate tour of The Museum at The Cliff. Explore souvenirs including one of Adolph Sutro's taxidermy monkeys, a collection of 4,000-year-old Egyptian artifacts, and more objects that showcase the special history of Lands End; 10am Saturday. // The Museum at The Cliff, 1090 Point Lobos Ave. (Sea Cliff); details at eventbrite.com


Do some sun salutations beneath the actual sun at a silent disco yoga sesh led by Left Coast Power Yoga.Since you're at Nido's, grab a marg and a taco afterward; Saturday, 11am. // Nido's Backyard, 104 Oak St. (Oakland); tickets at eventbrite.com


Get to know your wine on its journey from the vine. Cuvaison's four-part Vine to Wine series begins with a tour through the dormant winter vineyard, an immersive tasting presentation, and two bottles of wine to take home; Saturday, 11am to 1pm. // Cuvaison, 1221 Duhig Rd. (Napa); tickets at tock.com


Make like Bow Wow in "Roll Bounce" at the East Bay's new Aloha Roller Rink. On Sundays, enjoy free skate from noon to 8pm and a late-night adults-only session with a DJ, 8pm to 11pm. // Aloha Roller Rink, 5625 Bay St. (Emeryville), aloharollerrink.com


Ward off the Sunday scaries with Nisei chef/owner David Yoshimura and a few of his culinary friends. His fresh series of collaborative tasting menus kicks off this weekend with Hén-zhì chef Chris Yang, master of Taiwanese street food; Sunday nights through March 13th. // Nisei, 2316 Polk St. (Russian Hill); tickets at tock.com


Celebrate East Brother Beer's fifth year on the Richmond waterfront. To celebrate their b-day, they'll be pouring three new releases alongside birria tacos from La Santa Torta, live music, and lawn games. Well-behaved dogs and children welcome; Sunday, noon to 8pm. // East Brother Beer Co., 1001 Canal Blvd (Richmond), eastbrotherbeer.com

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