Love it or hate it, there are a slew of ways to celebrate Valentine's week (or not), from cabaret to special prix fixe dinners to an anti-Valentine's comedy show and an '80s power ballad sing-along.
But it's not all about love and heartbreak) this week. It's also Mardi Gras, the last days of SF Beer Week, and SF Indie Fest.
Have a good one!
Admire this year's installation of Hearts in SF. The display of18 new heart sculptures marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved benefit for SF General Hospital; through Feb 29. // 1 Ferry Building; details at ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
Embrace the sultry side of Valentine’s Day with some cabaret. Grab your boo or pals and head to see Ray of Light Theatre’s rendition of “Love Bites” in which some of the Bay’s best singers will celebrate romance, heartbreak, and the joy of being single; Tuesday at 8pm // Feinstein’s at Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St.; details at feinsteinssf.com
Hear hilarious breakup stories at “So This Sucks," an annual anti-Valentine’s Day show where local comics and brave storytellers take the stage; Tuesday at 7pm. // Gateway Theater, 215 Jackson St.; tickets at eventbrite.com
Wolfgang Tillmans, Frank, in the shower, 2015, and young man, Jeddah, 2012, Tukan (Toucan), 2010, with Truth Study Center tables, allinstallation view SFMOMA, 2023, courtesy the artist, David Zwirner, New York / Hong Kong, Galerie Buchholz, Berlin / Cologne, Maureen Paley, London, photo: Adam Jacobs Photography.
Wolfgang Tillmans: To look without fear is organized by The Museum of Modern Art.
Don’t miss the final two weeks of Wolfgang Tillmans: To look without fear, the most comprehensive exhibition of the influential artist’s work to date. From early experiments with a photocopier to ecstatic nightlife images, intimate portraits, incisive documentation of social movements, and innovative cameraless abstractions, Tillmans’ broad subject matter reveals his steadfast commitment to engage unflinchingly with the world; through Sunday March 3. // SFMOMA, 151 Third St. (SoMa); reserve tickets now at sfmoma.org.
Thank you to our partners at SFMOMA.
Don your beads to celebrate Fat Tuesday at a New Orleans–style street festival in the Fillmore. Hear blues and Zydeco music, take part in a second-line processional, and eat NOLA-inspired fare at the SF Mardi Gras & Fat Tuesday Parade & Festival; Tuesday 5pm to 10pm. // 1475 Fillmore at O’Farrell; details at eventbrite.com
Put on some Spanx, tease up your hair, and get ready to belt your lungs out at the Anti-Valentine’s Day Power Ballad Sing-a-Long. Let it all out to classic hits by the likes of Bon Jovi, Journey and Guns 'n' Roses; Wednesday at 9:15pm // Roxie Theater,3117 16th St.; tickets at sfindie2024.org
Eat your heart-shaped pizza at Eataly. Onsite restaurant La Pizza & La Pasta is serving Valentine's specials (daily through Sunday), plus Terra is offering a three-course prix fixe menu ($95, Wednesday). // 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose;, eataly.com
Create an artistic ode to your beloved animal at a Paint Your Pet Valentine’s workshop. You'll send in a photo of your pet in advance, and they'll set an image transfer onto a birch panel for you to add your artistic touch. Plus, local poet Amanda Saeed will help you craft a love story to attach to the back of the portrait. Admission per couple is $150; bubbly, chocolate, music, and candles will set the mood; Wednesday 6pm to 9pm. // Hunt & Gather, 1108 Irving St. (Inner Sunset); tickets at eventbrite.com
Take part in one of SF’s best V-Day traditions: Penguin Valentines. Watch curious penguins nab felt hearts to feather their nests (which is great for penguin pair bonding) and learn about work of museum biologists; Wednesday at 10:30am // California Academy of Sciences,55 Music Concourse Drive, details at calacademy.org
Paint, plant, and sip at Hella Plants Market. Billed for both singles and couples, the event combines drinks from the bar with potting and painting on terracotta pots; Wednesday 7pm to 9pm. // Oakstop, 2323 Broadway (Oakland); tickets at Eventbrite
Get close with your bestie or babe at Dirty Habit’s Bonded with Bae event, hosted in partnership with custom jewelry maker Bonded SF. For $110, experience a seasonal eight-course Valentine’s tasting menu and choose from a selection of permanent bracelets, anklets, necklaces and custom-fitted rings; Wednesday and Thursday from pm 9pm. // Hotel Zelos, 12 4th St; details at opentable.com/dirty-habit
Celebrate the finale of SF Beer Week 2024 with pours from 35 brewers at the Celebration of Craft 2024. For $75-$85, tickets include tastings, a commemorative glass, and dinner from Talavera Tacos; Saturday 4pm to 9pm // Trumer Brewery, 1404 Fourth St. Berkeley, details at eventbrite.com
Get your swing on at the Treasure Island Museum Benefit Swing Dance. For tickets starting at $39, enjoy an evening of live music, retro cocktails, and vintage attire to celebrate the museum’s role as a cultural hub on the island; Saturday at 7 pm. // Administration Building, 1 Avenue of the Palms, Treasure Island; details at Eventbrite
Get a taste of nine local craft breweries at North Beach Beerfest, which is taking over bars including the Boardroom, Ghost Town, Waystone, and Bella Cora. Proceeds go to local dog rescue organization Muttville; Saturday 2pm to 6pm. // Start at The Boardroom, 1600 Powell St.; tickets at eventbrite.com
Be among the first to experience the Dark Bar, a moody space featuring local art, seasonal food, and drinks that highlight preserved and fermented local ingredients; opens Saturday, 7pm to midnight. // The Line Hotel, 33 Turk St. (Tenderloin), thelinehotel.com
Head to the Palace Hotel for an extravagant Valentine’s-themed tea for two. Enjoy finger sandwiches and other accompaniments under the historic stained-glass dome of the Garden Court restaurant; Saturdays in February, 2pm to 4pm. // Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery St. (SoMa); details at gardencourtsf.com
Hear, see, smell, taste, and feel a truly synesthetic work of art. The San Francisco Symphony has collaborated with Cartier to present a multi-sensory production of Alexander Scriabin’s tone poem Prometheus, The Poem of Fire. This one-of-a-kind presentation combines music, lights, and scent cues by Cartier for an immersive concert experience. Also on the program: Béla Bartók’s bloodthirsty fairy tale Duke Bluebeard’s Castle; March 1–3. // Tickets are available now at sfsymphony.org.
Thank you to our partners at SF Symphony.
