This week, seize the fleeting opportunity to see Yosemite's firefall phenomenon up close when the light hits just right on El Capitan's Horsetail Fall.
Plus, order up a king cake and celebrate Mardi Gras at home, ring in Year of the Ox with the San Francisco Symphony, and drink your way through California Craft Beer Week.
Celebrate Mardi Gras with a NOLA-style King Cake from CreoLa. The cinnamon brioche dessert is available plain or with cheese or praline filling. Expect plenty of glittery sprinkles; available Monday and Tuesday. // Order ($24) for next-day pickup in SF and San Carlos at creolatakeoutsf.square.site.
Sign up for chef Alicia Petrakis' two-week audio meditation series, HOLD (Hugs of Love Daily). Through just 10 mindful minutes each day, the program aims to promote self-nurturing and touch as a way of combating the isolating effects of the pandemic. // $20-$40; eholdme.com
Get down during Grace Cathedral's annual Carnivale. The virtual gala will feature the unveiling of a new art installation in collaboration with Root Division, an auction hosted by Liam Mayclem, and an after-party with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; Tuesday at 6:30pm. // Tickets ($25 with various donation options) are available at gracecathedral.org.
Head to Yosemite to see the remarkable firefall phenomenon. Just once a year, Horsetail Fall's stream turns an epic fiery hue. To see it, you'll need a pre-reserved day pass, wilderness permit, camping or lodging reservation, or a spot on a guided tour. // nps.gov
Check out the new Bernie Sanders mural created by @3nolam, at the corner of 27th Street and Broadway in Oakland.
Enjoy a Mardi Gras jazz experience starring Oakland's own "queen of New Orleans music" Michelle Jacques, through Alameda's Rhythmix Cultural Works; Tuesday through Saturday. // Register at rhythmix.org.
Celebrate the Year of the Ox by exploring 12 new murals in San Francisco's Chinatown, each one depicting a different Zodiac animal. // Find a map of the murals on Facebook.
Partake in the age-old tradition of Pancake Tuesday. Hilda & Jesse is popping up at the Mission bar Casements to serve a brunch dinner of buttermilk pancakes with grilled strawberry maple syrup. Each dinner package comes with a mezcal martini and mimosa; pick-up and delivery 10am to 4pm Tuesday. // Purchase ($35/person) on casementsbar.com.
Join Green Apple Books and Kink.com for the launch of the short fiction anthology, Kink. Expect readings, live demos, and conversations with BDSM voices; Wednesday at 6pm. // Register ($22 includes the book) on greenapplebooks.com.
Log on for The David Ireland House's Opening the Cabinet. The cross-disciplinary virtual series commences this week with Justin R. Nagle's lecture-performance, Green or Otherwise: Care, Color, and Ceilings, to do with Ireland's use of the color Institutional Green; Wednesdays at 5pm through March 10. // Register on 500cappstreet.org.
Enter Homeroom's Make-A-Mac contest. Dream up an epic cheesy recipe and create a mini video explaining it for a chance to win a $150 gift card to Homeroom—and see your creation on the menu; through Thursday. // Enter on homeroom510.com
Grab a cup of joe from Berkeley-based Souvenir Coffee's new SF location (262 Divisadero St.). Word is, an Oakland outpost is coming soon; 8am to 5pm daily. // souvenir-coffee.com
Ring in the Year of the Ox with San Francisco Symphony. Hosted by Joan Chen, the digital concert, featuring yangqin player Wenying Wu and erhu player Tao Shi. The broadcast is free, but VIP ticket holders will have access to pre- and post-show receptions; Saturday at 3pm. // sfsymphony.org
Cook tortellini en brodo with PlumpJack while winemaker Jeff Owens highlights Odette Estate's wines. Plus, get tickets to part two and three of the TruffleShuffle series for more truffle-centric meals and wine pairings in March; Saturday at 4pm. // Tickets ($280 include wine and food for two) are available at plumpjackwinery.com.
Snap a pic of Southwest Airlines' Chinese New Year parade float. While there won't be a parade this year, you can find the float parked at Pier 27, Cruise Terminal Plaza; noon to 8pm Saturday and Sunday. // Find details on Facebook.
Bring your pup to the upgraded Golden Gate Park Dog Training Area. Following a $2.4 million renovation, the park includes big and small dog areas, play equipment, pet drinking fountains, plus picnic tables and benches for humans. // sfrecpark.org
Check out the Queer Ancestors Project, with works by queer and trans artists, presented by SF AIDS Foundation and Strut. The virtual opening event is Saturday from 7pm to 8:30pm. // Register for free at eventbrite.com.
Drink your way through California Craft Beer Week. Events include delivery of Fort Point and Hong Kong Lounge's annual dim sum and beer brunch extravaganza on Saturday, plus Almanac Beer's can art competition, a beer and cake pairing from Local Brewing Co. and Tartine, and more; Friday evening through Sunday. // Find a schedule of events at cacraftbeerweek.com.
Watch Counterpulse's Beyond Gravity 2021, two nights of intersectional performances and films from nine artists exploring how to find their center of gravity amid free fall; Friday and Saturday at 7pm. // Register for free on counterpulse.org.
Nosh on Mexican pastries from Norte54. Order them for Saturday home delivery or Sunday pickup at Grand Coffee on Mission Street. // norte54.com
Learn how six African American female entertainers challenged their industry by watching How It Feels to Be Free, on PBS. Then, join MoAD curator Cornelius Moore to talk about the film and the women featured—think Lena Horne, Nina Simone, Cicely Tyson, and Pam Grier; 5pm Sunday. // Sign up at moadsf.org.
Attend Big Leap Collective's Big Feb Fest. The local music and art collective's all-day virtual festival will include sets by 26 bands from near and far, including the Bay's own Foxtails Brigade and Perhapsy, plus Nelward of Atlanta and Paria of Oslo; 11am to 7pm Sunday. // Get details on Instagram.
