There's Valentine's programming galore this week with wine and cookie tastings, cooking class for two with Brandon Jew, and this year's crop of Hearts in San Francisco making their Union Square debut.
Plus, get takeout from a couple of cool new spots, watch SF Ballet's latest digital performances, or head to Healdsburg for an epic outdoor meal at SingleThread in a Ken Fulk–design setting.
Nosh on wood-fired meats from Jaranita SF. Housed in Bistro Aix's former Marina digs, this new Peruvian eatery from the restaurant group behind La Mar offers empanadas, grilled beef heart, rotisserie chicken, and an entire roasted cauliflower. // Order online at jaranitasf.com.
View the Botanical Garden at Berkeley's "Plants Illustrated 2021," an exhibition of plant drawings by local artists. Plus, catch Zoom artist demos, lectures, and workshops through February 28th. // botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu
Read The Bad Muslim Discount. Syed M. Masood's newly released comic novel tells the story of two families who immigrated from Pakistan and Iraq respectively to San Francisco in the '90s. // Purchase on bookshop.org.
Support Oakland Zoo's furry friends by bidding on an item or two in the Wild at Heart virtual action. Offerings include a meet and greet with baby baboon Mzuzi, a Zoom lemur trivia night, and more. Bidding is open through Wednesday with pickup available Thursday and Friday. // oaklandzoo.org
Buy a Banksy of your own. Some of the street artist and political activist's iconic works go up for live auction this Wednesday. // fineart.ha.com
Celebrate Black joy and resistancethrough the photographs of Adreinne Waheed and poetry of Staceyann Chin, in conversation today; Wednesday at 3pm. // Register on sfpl.org.
Get takeout from the craft beer bar Barley SF. The Polk Street spot has to-go drafts by the pint or growler, wines, and sangria, plus melts and salads to soak it all up. // 1038 Polk St. (TenderNob), barleysf.com
Light up Valencia Street. The Valencia Street Corridor Merchants Association has big plans to illuminate Valencia from 14th Street to 24th Street with full weather globe lights—and they need your help. Just $9 covers the cost of one bulb. // Donate ($39,600 goal) on gofundme.com.
Stream SF Ballet's Digital Program 02. The 2021 Digital Season programming includes the premiere of SF Ballet soloist Myles Thatcher's new ballet, ColorForms, filmed at locations around the city; archival captures of Dwight Rhoden's Let's Begin at the End; and Mark Morris' Sandpaper Ballet; Thursday through March 4th. // Purchase 72-hour viewing access ($29) on sfballet.org.
Attend Hearts in SF, benefiting Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. Special guests include Bob Weir, Santana, and Kim Nalley Band to help honor frontline healthcare workers. Meanwhile, the 2021 Hearts in San Francisco sculpture series is on display in the windows of the Flood Building and throughout Union Square. The event is Thursday at 6pm; hearts are on view though Sunday. // Register for free at sfghf.org.
Preorder one of 200 copies of Terrain: Art & Crisis in Downtown Oakland. Published by Pro Arts Gallery and edited by Sam Lefebvre, the publication provides space for more than a dozen Oakland artists and writers to share their thoughts on mutual-aid and cultural production this past year. // $25, proartscommons.org
Splurge on a specialoutdoor dining experience with SingleThread and designer Ken Fulk. Inspired by wintertime in Hokkaido, Japan, the Healdsburg restaurant and inn's special nine-course tasting menu includes a selection of donabe hot pots with ingredients from Japan and Sonoma. A rustic forest fantasy setting pairs perfectly with your meal. Reservations are available from 4pm to 8pm Thursday through Monday in February and March. // Reservations ($375-$450 per person) are available at exploretock.com.
Take a virtual tour of the 49ers' Museum. While you can't visit Levi's Stadium IRL right now, the brand new 360-degree experience provides the Faithful with details and anecdotes from the team's 75-year history. // levisstadium.com
Learn all about the malbec grape and partake in a tasting of three different wines with SoMa wine shop Decant SF; Thursday at 6:30pm. // Register ($60, includes three bottles of malbec for pickup or local delivery) on decantsf.com.
Tune into CalAcademy's Penguin Valentines. During this annual event, you'll be sure to fall in love with the adorable creatures as they line their nests with felt hearts, learn about the Academy's Steinhart Aquarium biologists and, if you're lucky, score a penguin-painted masterpiece; Friday at 10:30am. // Watch ($3) on Facebook.
Watch the dress rehearsal performance of New Conservatory Theatre Center's Warplay. Inspired by The Illiad, JC Lee's play centers on a love story during the Trojan War and is infused with plenty of humor; on demand through February 23. // nctcsf.org
If you can't get enough of Charles M. Schulz's iconic Peanuts, don't miss the chance to virtually view Hidden Treasures: Unseen Originals from the Schulz Museum. The online exhibition yet showcases more than 65 comic strips of Snoopy and friends, along with audio and visual enhancements. // Purchase tickets ($10 for non-members) on schulzmuseum.org.
Ring in the Year of the Ox with Oakland Museum of California. The 20th annual Lunar New Year and other Asian Traditions Community Celebration kicks off this week with storytime with SF author Oliver Chin, then continues next week with crafting activities. The monthlong event closes with a virtual trip to Taiwan; Friday through February 26. // youtube.com
Snag tix to San Francisco Opera's screenings of Tosca at Fort Mason Flix drive-in. Originally set for December 2020—and postponed due to the stay-at-home order, the 2009 production of Giacomo Puccini's opera stars soprano Adrianne Pieczonka in her SF Opera debut; 5pm and 8pm Friday and Saturday. // Tickets ($49 per vehicle) are available at sfopera.com.
Drive through the East Bay SPCA's Smooches for Pooches event. Send some socially distanced love out to the animals and get some sweet treats for the kids; noon to 2pm Sunday. // Free with the option to donate, eastbayspca.org
Watch SF Urban Film Fest's seventh annual season, Wisdom Lives in Places, which dives into the theme of inequalities in urban spaces. Offerings include on-demand films, panel discussions, watch parties, and storytelling workshops; Sunday through February 21. // Details and passes are available on sfurbanfilmfest.com.
Pick up some blooms from the newly opened Mission floral oasis Wallflower. Shop in-store, preorder a wrapped bouquet, or let the designers work their magic to craft you an arrangement for delivery; Wednesday through Sunday. // wallflowerlovesyou.com
Partake in the season three finale of Last Supper Society's live culinary experience, the Cook In. Chef Brandon Jew will teach you how to make a decadent multi-course meal for two guaranteed to woo your Valentine or friend of choice; Sunday at 6pm; pickup kits at Mister Jiu's on Sunday afternoon. // Tickets ($100 with ingredients for two) on last-supper-society.myshopify.com
Enjoy a cookie and wine tasting with Maker and Cookies by Katrice. You'll pair canned chenin blanc and sparkling rosé with cheat-day worthy brown butter chocolate chip cookies; Sunday from 6pm to 7:30pm. // Purchase kits ($72) on makerwine.com.
Get some sex advice from San Francisco's own Margaret Cho. The comedian and Grammy nominee will provide plenty of wisdom, anecdotes, and anatomical descriptions; Sunday at 5pm. // Tickets are available on rushtix.com.
