Whether you hate it or love it, the time is ripe for another holiday to sneak its way into ad campaigns: Valentine’s Day. If you are in a relationship, you might have started thinking about a plan of action for you and your sweetheart. If you are single, maybe it hasn’t even come up on your radar yet. Either way, there are tons of events and outings planned for Valentine’s Day weekend around the Bay Area. This guide is designed to give just about everyone ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day.
– Anna Belle Peterson
Valentine’s Party
Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. at Bjornson Hall in Oakland
This is a family-friendly event designed to celebrate the Valentine’s Day holiday. The Oakland High-5 Band will be performing along with other guest performers. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
2009 Pillow Fight
Feb. 14 at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco
What better way to show your love then with a good whap to the face with your pillow? This event is 100 percent free
(if you don’t count transportation from the East Bay). Just show up with your pillow and be ready to engage in a flash-mob style event.
Origin of Love
Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. at Victoria Theatre in
San Francisco
Come and see viewings of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus and catch a spoken word performance by the creator and director of each, respectively, John Cameron Mitchell. Tickets for both screenings and the performance are $25, a steal when movie tickets are near $11 a showing.
Cockblock
Feb. 14 at 10 p.m. at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, 21+
This dance party is advertised as a “queer dance party for homos and friends.” Geared toward anyone in the LGBTQ community and their allies, this party promises dancing all night long, a DJ with guests and t-shirt giveaways. Cover is $7.
Season of Love
Feb. 13-15 at 8 p.m. at the Brava Theatre in San Francisco
Want to enjoy a night of classic love songs like “What the World Needs Now is Love”? The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will be singing that and more for three nights at the Brava Theatre. Tickets start at $23
Animal Amore!
Feb. 13 and 14 at 5 p.m. at the Oakland Zoo, 21+
Do you love animals? This event is a great way to find out how animals love each other. The zoo provides information about the courtship and mating practices of some of your favorite zoo animals. Complete with appetizers, drinks and dessert, this event is $25 for zoo members and $30 for non-members. Pre-registration is required! Call 510-632-9525 ext. 204 to make reservations.
I Heart Fruit Trees
Feb. 14 at 10:00 a.m. at Garden for the Environment in San Francisco
Want to find your environmentally conscious soul mate? This workshop tells you how to care for organic fruit trees complete with lessons in pest management and fertilizer use. The cost is $10.
F**CK Valentine’s Day Erotic Psychotic Spectacular
Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at Merchants Saloon in Oakland
This event is for all those who feel a little bit bitter towards this holiday. Advertised as a “middle finger to chocolate hearts and flying cupids” it will feature audience participation for games like “Worst Ex Ever” and include an open rant for any one who just wants to get up onstage and rail. Price is $9.
Silent Film Festival
Feb. 14 at 2:40 p.m. at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco
In this special event, four silent films will be shown at the Castro Theatre from noon until 9:30 p.m. Films shown include A Kiss From Mary Pickford and The Cat and the Canary. Every showing is $14, with separate admission for each film.
How We First Met
Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House Herbst Theatre.
Price: $20 – $35 depending on seats
This is perfect for those couples with a great ability to laugh at themselves – and have other people laugh at them too. At this show, couples are chosen from the audience and everything they say about their relationship becomes fodder for improvisational actors to use in sketches throughout the night.
