Art
"Fundamental Abstractions"
Here's a hot show to get on your calendar this month—Haines Gallery's group show "Fundamental Abstractions" features work by big guns David Nash, Ai Weiwei, David Maisel, Monir Farmanfarmaian, plus local artists to keep your eyes on Leslie Shows and Kota Ezawa. It's eye candy with super pedigree.
When: Through Sat. 3/1
Where: Haines Gallery, 49 Geary St., 5th fl.
Local
DIY Month in Healdsburg
Head up to Healdsburg this month for a variety of fun classes illustrating the town's farm-town friendliness and local movement. Try your hand at Francis Ford Coppola's Tasting in the Dark on 2/23, Hotel Healdsburg's Garden to Glass cocktail class on 2/23, Relish Culinary's two-day cheese making class on 2/21–2/22, or Shed's kombucha, water-kefir, and lacto-fermented soda workshop on 2/22. Make a weekend out of it—select properties in town are offering discounts when you book a DIY class.
When: Through Fri. 2/28
Where: various venues, Healdsburg
Art
"Barbara Chase-Riboud: The Malcolm X Steles"
Barbara Chase-Riboud’s abstract bronze, paint, and wool sculpture Confessions for Myself is making a homecoming. Originally commissioned by the Berkeley Art Museum, the piece introduced the Philadelphia artist to the West Coast in 1973. Now, the sculpture makes an appearance as one of six works in “Barbara Chase-Riboud: The Malcolm X Steles,” a provocative series of mixed-media sculptures honoring the assassinated civil rights leader.
When: Wed. 2/12–Sun. 4/27
Where: Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
Drink
CUESA Winter Cocktails
Gear up for the Valentine's Day mayhem with Bittersweet Love Potions, CUESA and the bartenders guild's winter cocktail of the farmers market event. Bartenders and chefs' creations will highlight California citrus. A ticket gets you 2 full-size signature cocktails, 11 sample size drinks, and hors d'oeuvres from 8 Bay Area chefs.
When: 5:30 - 8 p.m., Wed. 2/12
Where: Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Plaza
Music
Alice Smith
It's a big music week—Imagine Dragons on Thursday and Thao and the Get Down Stay Down and Band of Horses on Friday. But our pick is the gorgeous and talented ingenue Alice Smith whose stunning blend of rock, pop, and R&B is reminiscent of power houses like Alicia Keys and Janelle Monae. Last year's album She was recorded in Hawaii with writer/producer Reginald Perry (yep, the guy behind Beyonce and John Legend). See her at the Indy before she moves on to stadium-only shows.
When: 8 p.m., Thurs. 2/14
Where: The Independent, 628 Divisadero St.
Comedy
Mortified Doomed Valentine's Show
For romance phobes, singles, or kinky couples, Mortified hosts its annual Doomed Valentine's show. Laugh out loud at other people's misery as you listen to true stories of V-Day horror. It's been called "the best thing to happen to love since Viagra."
When: 7:30 p.m., Thurs. 2/13 and Fri. 2/14
Where: DNA Lounge, 375 11th St. and The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Ave.
Nature
Magnolias and Cocktails by Moonlight
Instead of a big, beautiful bouquet this Valentine's Day, go straight to the garden. We're in the thick of the SF Botanical Garden's magnificent magnolia bloom. The silver buds of these elegant trees are bursting open into dazzling pink and white flowers. What better way to spend V-Day than walking hand-in-hand through the romantic (and full moon-lit) spectacle on a guided tour? And if you want to go all the way, get tickets to V-Day Magnolia Cocktails, where you can sip petaled libations under the lantern-strung eaves of the Asian pavilion before your tour.
When: 5 - 9 p.m., Fri. 2/14
Where: Golden Gate Park
Fitness
V-Day Pilates Specials
Instead of enticing you with chocolates and flowers, my favorite pilates instructor, Karii Rurüp-Coleman, is making this Valentine's Day a little sweeter with special pricing on private and duet sessions (she's looking out for the single ladies too!) and reformer classes at her cozy boutique studio in the Inner Sunset (Karii often tempts with candlelight, flowers, and wine for evening clients). Choose from: 3 private sessions for $165 (regularly $240), 3 duet sessions for $222 (regularly $297), 1 private session for $65 (regularly $80), 1 duet session for $79 (regularly $99), or 3 reformer classes for $60 (regularly $105). It's a known fact that pilates is excellent for your sex life—all the more reason to book now. Check back again soon—she's hoping to offer a new barre class starting in March. Your core will thank you.
When: Ongoing
Where: Studio Rü, 1348 9th Ave.
Art
"Modern Nature: Georgia O'Keeffe and Lake George"
Georgia O'Keeffe—you either love her or hate her. The artist's oeuvre of suggestive, female-centric paintings elicits strong reactions for sure. This exhibit of her work, however, reveals a somewhat different style from her days on the Stieglitz estate in the Adirondacks.
When: Sat. 2/15–Sun. 5/11
Where: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.
