San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Performances, virtual experiences and more
Here are some ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2021:
Inperson events Smooches for Pooches DriveThru:
Send socially distanced love to shelter animals, and receive candy and nonfood treats for the kids, including an East Bay SPCA activity/coloring book.
Noon2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. Free, donations welcome. Two locations: 8323 Baldwin St., Oakland and 4651 Gleason Dr., Dublin. bit.ly/3t8orOm
Virtual events Smuin Contemporary Ballet Presents: ‘Long disDANCE Love’:
An online livestreamed dance showcase featuring a program of frisky, romantic choreography by Michael Smuin, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Cassidy Isaacson. Favorite Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee and other tunes provide the soundtrack. The lineup includes the balcony pas de deux from “Romeo & Juliet” (Feb. 14).
4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. $30. smuinballet.org
‘Pinky … A Love Story’:
A livestreamed performance featuring the romantic story of first love, written by local playwright David Templeton and directed by Larry Williams. Performed as overlapping, and sometimes merging, monologues and based loosely on a true story, it invites the nowgrown characters to take turns telling their versions of what happened during a magical bygone summer. 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 and 21; 7 p.m. FridaySaturday, Feb. 1920. Registration required. Pay what you can. 7079399018. sonoma artslive.org
Gold Coast Chamber Players: Russian Valentine:
Spend a romantic afternoon listening to live chamber music performed by harpist Olga Rakitchenkov and her husband violist Sergey Rakitchekov. The program offers works by Debussy, “Girl with the Flaxen Hair,” “Romance,” and “Arabesques” for harp. Select movements from Max Reger’s “Suite No. 1” for viola, as well as his rarely performed “Romance” are also included. Music written for the performers by Dmitri Smirnov called “Shadow and Light,” and “Duo” for viola and harp by local composer Shinji Eshima, will complete the concert.
4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. $20. Available to stream on their YouTube channel. gccpmusic.com
Valentine Carnaval Virtual Fundraiser for Peña Pachamama:
Celebrate love and help bring live performances back to the Peña Pachamama stage with an hourlong online fundraiser featuring flamenco music and dance artists, along with special archived footage that includes Robin Williams’ appearance at the venue.
Available to stream starting 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. Through 11 p.m. Feb. 15. $20$100, register at bit.ly/3t6Z3sj. 4156460018. pachamamacenter.org
Mario’s The Luxury of Love Live: virtual concert experience
Get in a romantic mood with an evening listening to a livestreamed performance featuring the popular singer and actor. VIP tickets include a meetandgreet with the artist, as well as addon merchandise options.
After Hours: Sex with Margaret Cho:
Join the comedian on Valentine’s Day for an evening of sex advice, quips, anecdotes and anatomical descriptions of anything and everything, for adults only. See the show and get a personal “shoutout” video from Cho. Record a short video request, and ask for a shoutout or an answer to your most burning questions.
5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. $20$100, available at bit.ly/afterhoursmargaretcho. Ticket holders can watch the show for 24 hours after the live stream broadcast. margaretcho.com
Love and Others: Valentine’s Day concert with Miss Faye Carol:
Enjoy a livestreamed jazz performance from the Bay Areabased vocalist and her band in celebration of all things loveydovey.
6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. Free. facebook.com/thedynamicmiss
Tuck & Patti: Valentine’s Day live stream:
For more than 42 years, the unique vocalguitar duo of Tuck & Patti has cast its musical spell worldwide, capturing the hearts of lovers and the respect of jazz buffs. Their annual Valentine’s Day concerts never cease to inspire fierce love warriors old and new.
7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. $30, available online at bit.ly/ 3anfus4. 8314272227. kuumbwa jazz.org
Babes on Babes: Virtual Queer Dance Party:
Multiroom event and dance party taking place on Zoom and Remo, featuring MC Autokrat, dancer Natasha Gorrie, DJ Lykx, S.F. DJ China G, Easy Bake Coven, DJ Skylar Love and others. With a virtual social hour, icebreaker games and singles tables, the event also includes cocktail tutorials with a guest bartender, a Zoom dance party and more.
7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. $10$20. queerfamjam.com
S.F. Opera: February For the Love of Opera:
This interactive lecture series gives operagoers a frontrow seat to scholarly talks, and includes dialogue with fellow attendees, experts and guest artists. Feb. 14: “Opera’s Unlikeliest Valentines” with Cori Ellison; Feb. 21: “Love Potion No. 9: When Magic Sends Love Askew” with Laura Prichard; Feb. 28: “From Opera to Hollywood” with David Conte.
1 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 1428. $20. 4155653274. sfopera.com/ aficionado
AltValentine’s Day: Alone Together live stream with Martin Luther McCoy and Kev Choice:
Celebrate love, but on a different day than everyone else. The livestreamed concert will feature Bay Area vocalist and guitarist Martin Luther McCoy. He returns to the stage with an evening of love songs and standards for Valentine’s Day week and material from his new project, in collaboration with pianist and producer Kev Choice, who joins McCoy live from the SFJazz Joe Henderson Lab. There will be an encore broadcast on Feb. 21 and the concert will be available on demand through March 31.
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. $5$10. 8669205299. sfjazz.org
Opera San José Virtual Valentine’s Day Telegrams:
Send a melodic declaration to loved ones near or far with a virtual performance. Choose from a selection of love songs performed by one of Opera San José’s resident artists, which will be sent to the recipient along with a custom greeting. Performers include soprano Maya Kherani, mezzosoprano Ashley Dixon, tenor Carlos Enrique Santelli, baritone Eugene Brancoveanu and bass Nathan Stark. The singers will be accompanied by pianist Veronika AgranovDafoe. $85 minimum donation. Schedule a virtual telegram by calling 4084374450 or at operasj.org/uniqueexperiences