Bay Area virtual events

Just because you’re stuck at home during the COVID-19 shutdown doesn’t mean you can’t explore the greater world. Here’s a sampling of virtual, and occasionally in-person, family-friendly shows, concerts, activities and other events over the next several weeks.

IN-PERSON

Livermore Art Installation: Through Feb.

18, Republic Square at Livermore, 4705-4729 Livermore Outlets Drive, Livermore. Featuring more than 50 professional Bay Area artists with creations displayed inside empty storefronts. All works are for sale. http://conta. cc/2xezgjw

VIRTUAL

American Chinese Restaurants: 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 13. The Chinese Historical Society’s webinar delves into the story of Chinese food in the Midwest and connects Chinese food to Jewish Americans, Chinese restaurants in the South and Central America and the “new” American Chinatown. Free. http://bit. LY/35RKUFP

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Virtual Screening: Now through Oct. 24. This year’s tour features a streaming collection of action, environmental and adventure films and benefits the Rio Theatre Santa Cruz and Banff world tour. $15. http://bit.ly/3asd8vj BATS Improv Online Shows: This San Francisco-based improv group will stream free shows each week to bring a little improv magic into homes via Zoom. At 7:30 p.m. on the night of each show, click the link next to the show you want to see to connect to the BATS virtual theater. www. improv.org/online-shows/ Bay Area Children’s Theatre Creativity Corner: This virtual “playborhood” offers kids stories that unfold via video, plus followup activities they can do on their own, inspired by the make-believe they’ve seen. Parents can submit their children’s creations to BACT, which is planning to share examples online. https://bactheatre.org Beat the Lock Escape Room: 10a.m. to 10p.m. daily. Solve a virtual escape room with your friends via an audio/video call and live feed that lets you play by instructing a game master to search for clues. $25. www.beatthelock.com

Bringing BADM to You:

Bay Area Discovery Museum offers a series of fun, engaging learning experiences to enjoy as a family. Explore three different themes — science and math; body and brain; and talk and play — designed to develop skills for children to succeed in school and life. Within each theme, you’ll find step-by-step videos and activities with instructions written out. bayareadiscoverymuseum. org/bringing-badm-to-you Broadcast Platform, Marshstream: 7:30 p.m. nightly. Programming varies by night with offerings including short performances, book/writer discussions, singalongs, storytelling, game nights and more. Find more information at: www. themarsh.org.

Chinese New Year Children’s Program — Year of theox: 3 to 4 p.m. Feb. 18. Hear a reading of “The Year of the Ox: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac,” written by Oliver Chin and illustrated by Jeremiah Alcorn, and part of a series featuring the 12 charming animals that represent the Chinese New Year. This virtual program is recommended for elementary school-age children, but all are welcome. Free, $10 donation suggested. http:// bit.ly/3bwwids

Diablo Symphony Orchestra Virtual Concerts:

First Thursday of each month, featuring works that have been performed and recorded at Lesher Center for the Arts in past years. www.diablosymphony.org/ 18 Reasons Cooking School: Check out a slate of new online classes. You may not have everything listed in the equipment and shopping list, but instructors will give you guidance on how to adapt their recipes to what you have access to. Learn new recipes and techniques. https://18reasons.org/ Family Game Nights: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and March 19. The musical theaterthemed game nights range from trivia to dance-offs, bingo to musical chairs. Free. https://playfulpeople. org/family-game-nights/ Festival Napa Valley’s Remote Ensemble Project: This virtual performance of the “Va, Pensiero” chorus from Verdi’s opera “Nabucco” features instrumentalists and singers from 26 states, eight countries and five continents. They represent two dozen orchestras, ensembles, opera companies and music conservatories, such as the Juilliard School, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Orchestra. The performance can be seen on Festival Napa Valley’s Youtube channel: https:// youtu.be/jhv9wlvnyxa Festpocalypse — An Epic Virtual Variety Show: 5 p.m. Jan. 30. This all-star SF Sketchfest alumni livestreamed show will celebrate 20 years of the festival with comedy sketches, improvised scenes, game shows, musical performances and more. $20. www.sfsketchfest.com/ Full Moon Fridays — Live Cabaret Series: 8 p.m. Fridays. Featuring live cabaret style performances. https://www.facebook. com/42ndstreetmoon/