Bay Area events
Just because you may be stuck at home during the pandemic doesn't mean you can't explore the greater world. Here's a sampling of family-friendly in-person and virtual Bay Area shows, concerts, activities and other events over the next several weeks.
As with all things in the pandemic era, everything here is subject to change. Double-check locations, dates, times and COVID precautions before you go. An Evening of Song with Brian Stokes Mitchell: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. An uplifting evening of song featuring a wide range of music from American songbook to Broadway and contemporary tunes. $52$92. lesherartscenter.org Comedy at the Factory: 8:45-9:45 p.m. first Tuesday of the month, starting March 1, The Polka Dot Room at The Factory Bar, 12517 San Pablo Ave., Richmond. A monthly standupcomedy showcase that brings half a dozen of the best Bay Area comedians to perform short sets. $20. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3totstm Dance Series 1 — Love Smuin: Now through Feb. 27, Walnut Creek, San Francisco and Mountain View. A diverse program featuring choreographer Gina Patterson's “You Are Here,” plus two works by former Smuin choreographer-in-residence Amy Seiwert, “Dear Miss Cline” and “Been Through Diamonds.” This program will also be offered as an on-demand streaming option in March. $25 to $99. smuinballet.org
Drag Night @ Casa Orozco: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 16, 7995 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin. Enjoy this outdoor spectacle on the casa patio. There will be heaters for your comfort but you're welcome to bring sweaters and blankets to keep warm. $30 to $75. ebbrock.ticketleap.com/dragnight8 54th California International Antiquarian Book Fair — Feb. 11-13, Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland. Featuring the collections and rare treasures of 120 booksellers from around the world. Includes a selection of manuscripts, early American and European literature, modern first editions and antiquarian books on history, science, law, architecture, cooking, wine and a wide range of other topics. $10 to $25. cabookfair.com
Historical Walking Tours of History Park: A museum guide will lead small groups of visitors through San Jose's History Park discussing the historical and architectural background of each building. 1 p.m. (by appointment only) Tuesdays and Thursdays. $0 to $12. historysanjose.org
Idle Threat: 11 a.m. March 12, Town Hall Theatre, 3535School St., Lafayette. This film screening follows director/producer George Pakenham as he explores environmental dangers caused by idling cars. Following the film, Project Earth will lead a youth panel discussion. Free. Townhalltheatre.com Japanese-american Internment at Tanforan — Photographs by Dorothea Lange: Now through April 10, San Mateo County History Museum, 2200Broadway in Redwood City. During World War II, Japanese Americans were sent to the Tanforan Racetrack in San Bruno, where they spent months until permanent internment camps were built in remote locations. Lange was hired by the federal
War Relocation Authority to document this forced evacuation. Admission $4to $6. historysmc.org
Let Us Entertain You — Vintage Amusements from Earlier Eras: Now through Sunday, Museum of American Heritage, 351
Homer Ave., Palo Alto. moah.org
Mardi Gras Carnival: 4 to 10 p.m. Feb. 19, Main Street and Broadway, Redwood City. Celebrate this rich, cultural festival, complete with a Grand Marshall and Second Line at 4:30 p.m. and four bands steeped in New Orleans roots. Beads, masks, authentic Cajun cuisine and beverages will be available. Dance over to the Main Street Stage, bring your chair. Free admission. redwoodcitydowntown.com Men on Boats: Live now through Feb. 20(streaming on-demand Feb. 17-20.), Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. See this 19th century adventure story about 10 men, four boats and two rivers. $20 streaming, $27 to $57 live. Paplayers.org
Musical Flair: Now through April at the Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio in
San Jose. Enjoy today's hottest jazz artists with four-top seating at these intimate concerts featuring Tiffany Austin on Feb. 17, Helen Sung on March 19 and Miguel Zénon Duo on April 28. $25 to $30. hammertheatre.com
“New Beginnings”: Through Feb. 25, art Cottage, 2238 Mount Diablo
St. in Concord. The Lamorinda Arts Alliance's newest exhibit. laa4art.org
Opera San José — Carmen: Saturday-feb. 27, California Theatre, 345 S. First St., San Jose. In a new collaboration with the Flamenco Society of
San José, dance, song and drama come together to tell the passionate tale of a defiant heroine whose rebellious quest for freedom defies societal expectations of women and seals her tragic fate. $55 to $195. operasj.org
Pirates of Penzance:
Feb. 18-27, Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Ave., San Jose. Two casts of adults and teens, ages 13 and older, will bring to life this swashbuckling musical adventure chock-full of swaggering buccaneers, maidens in distress, cowardly cops, conflicted orphans and the very model of a modern major general. $20. Playfulpeople.org Sense and Sensibility: March 9 through April 3, Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Follow sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood through their abrupt change in fortune after their father's untimely death and ensuing romantic trials and events that test and affirm the bonds of sisterhood. Starting at $30. theatreworks.org
Shadelands Ranch Free Events: Classic Car Show, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 5. Enjoy live music, vendors, food trucks, raffles, prizes and a display of cars from the past century. Summer Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 31. This outdoor market features more than 40 vendors, food trucks, music, and entertainment. Oktoberfest, 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 1. Get in the Oktoberfest spirit with live music, dancing and German beer and cuisine. 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. wchistory.org
VIRTUAL EVENTS
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. 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. bactheatre.org
Beat the Lock Escape Room: 10 a.m. to 10 p.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. 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-bystep videos and activities with instructions written out. bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/bringing-badmto-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 online at themarsh.org.
Concord Couch Concerts: 8p.m. first Friday of the month. This showcase for local indie bands and artists will be streamed on Facebook Live and Youtube; facebook.com/concordcouchconcerts and youtube. com/c/concordcouchconcerts.
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. 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. 18reasons. org
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 26states, 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: youtu.be/ JHV9WLVNYXA.
Full Moon Fridays — Live Cabaret Series: 8 p.m. Fridays. Featuring live cabaret style performances. facebook.com/42ndstreetmoon Funkmode Dance Studio Digital Workouts: Offering free dance videos, including breakdance, hip hop, youth dance party and more. Find the videos at youtube.com/ USER/FUNKMODE.
Lamplighters Music Theatre Multimedia:
Lamplighters brings their wit and musicality to the virtual stage with an inside look into the company and the rich history of Gilbert and Sullivan. The monthly assortment includes new interviews and video essays, alongside archival vignettes highlighting the best of the company's 68year performance history. Free. lmt.lamplighters.org/ patreon
Livermore Shakes Educates: A Shakespeare resource webpage for kids and parents, this is an extension of the company's “So Wise So Young” program for second, third and fourth graders. livermoreshakes.org/educates