In the mood for love: Celebrating Valentine’s Day during COVID-19

Last year, Valentine’s Day was one of the last major holidays we could celebrate in-person before Bay Area counties declared shelter-in-place. This year, it will hopefully be one of the last we spend with masks on. With almost a year of remote event planning experience, organizations, institutions and individuals are ready to bring you a romantic week of intimacy and entertainment whether you’re single, cohabiting or inundated with roommates.

Tantra to Supercharge Sexual Energy7 p.m. Feb. 10
Erwan and Alicia of Erwan Davon Teachings will lead a virtual seminar combining the principles of Tantra with Taoist practices for couples and singles alike to “recharge their batteries.” This event is a bit too steamy to describe, but you can read all about it and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tantra-to-supercharge-sxual-energy-practices-for-singles-couples-tickets-138117345699

Smuin Contemporary Ballet dancers Erica Felsch and Peter Kurta perform Michael Smuin’s “The Eternal Idol,” a part of the “Long disDANCE Love” online showcase of “romance and frisky” dance pieces for Valentine’s weekend. (Photo by Keith Sutter, courtesy of Smuin Contemporary Ballet)

Long disDANCE Love with Smuin Ballet7:30 p.m. Feb. 11-14
Smuin Contemporary Ballet presents a virtual company showcase of “romantic and frisky” dance works by founder Michael Smuin, mixing ballet with tango, ballroom and contemporary styles. There are multiple dates available, with two performances on Valentine’s Day, and you can purchase tickets here: https://www.stellartickets.com/o/smuin-contemporary-ballet/events/long-disdance-love

Penguin Valentines from the Cal Academy of Sciences10:30 a.m. Feb. 12
What better role models for enduring love than a pair of African penguins? The California Academy of Sciences, closed for almost a full year now, will broadcast their penguin colony’s Species Survival Plan to coincide with a day of love. The penguins will also participate in some love rituals for human amusement, including collecting felt hearts for nests and making a painting to be gifted to one lucky viewer. The event will stream live on Facebook, with a recording available after the weekend: https://www.facebook.com/events/170913934452488/

African penguins hold a felt heart at a 2020 Valentine’s Day learning event hosted by the California Academy of Sciences. (Courtesy of the California Academy of Sciences)

Valentine’s Private Dance Lesson & Champagne1 p.m.-9 p.m., Feb. 12-14
A celebration of love calls for some moving and shaking. Arthur Murray Dance Centers will offer private dance lessons to couples looking to learn the intimate moves of tango, bachata and salsa all Valentine’s Day weekend. With multiple locations in the Bay Area, couples can opt for a virtual or in-person (distanced) lesson from an experienced instructor with a glass of champagne. Tickets and time slots available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/valentines-private-dance-lesson-champagne-tickets-139349705721

Pinot & Poetry with Peter Coyote and Ross Halleck5 p.m. Feb. 13
Wine and rhymes are quite a romantic combination, and you can have both delivered to your home. Tickets for this event include the delivery of one or more bottles of Halleck Vineyard’s award-winning pinot noir, for which owner Ross Halleck will lead a quick informational seminar over Zoom. Once guests have sampled the “elixir of the Gods,” actor, writer and accomplished media narrator Peter Coyote will lend his vocal chords to reading several love poems. Tickets allow participants to opt out of the wine and just stay for the poetry, and proceeds go to the Boys Hope Girls Hope of San Francisco, an organization helping disadvantaged students make it to college. Tickets available here: https://bhghsf.org/pinotandpoetry/

Front Row Film Roast of Twilight“, 6 p.m. Feb. 13
Romance not your thing? Now you have a chance to roast one of the teen romance genre’s most successful franchises, “Twilight,” with a group of professional comedians. Based in Salt Lake City, the performers for Front Row Film Roast are known for their monthly meetups where a select group provides commentary throughout the viewing of a film, not unlike a live-action version of “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” They’ve made the transition online this past year, with a special lineup for February featuring a rom-com classic to roast every Saturday. Find the link for their free Twitch streams here (with older shows available on Vimeo): https://www.twitch.tv/filmroast

Novato Theater Company’s “Celebrate Love” Show7 p.m. Feb. 13
The Novato Theater Company has been providing the North Bay with quality community theater for a century, even before Novato was incorporated. For Valentine’s Day, some of their most notorious performers will be pairing up with their partners and spouses for a night of curated love songs and love scene performances. The show will stream on the company’s Youtube channel for free, but they will happily accept a donation, too: https://www.novatotheatercompany.org/celebrate-love/

The Valentine’s Day Huntall day Feb. 14
It’s “the world’s largest group date,” and a way to win stock. Local event planning platform Handstand has crafted a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt to forge connections and possibly invest in the Nasdaq. With up to six friends, love-minded individuals compete in puzzles and create content to be shared through the Handstand platform to prove themselves ready for love! Sign up here: https://handstandwith.us/valentines-day-scavenger-hunt

Opera San Jose Virtual Valentine’s Day Love SongsFeb. 14
Send a virtual telegram to a loved one near or far with a serenade from an Opera San Jose resident performer. Choose from romantic classics like “La vie en rose,” “As Time Goes By” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” to be sung on Valentine’s Day with piano accompaniment. All purchases come with a cloth face mask made by the costume shop craftspeople. Pick your song here: https://operasj.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n5G00000YzIxpQAF&

Drag queen Roma Holiday hosts “Drag Yourself to Brunch” at the outdoor Alameda Comedy Club on Valentine’s Day.

Drag Yourself to Brunchnoon Feb. 14
Now that outdoor dining is back in the Bay Area, it’s high time for Sunday Brunch. Join drag queen Roma Holiday and her boisterous entourage in an unforgettable meal and show at the Alameda Comedy Club at noon with your sweetheart or best pals. The menu features prix fixe menu of waffles, bacon, fruit and mimosas, with vegetarian and non-alcoholic options available too. Seating is limited and tickets are available here: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/alamedacomedy/6447/event/1208696

Kali Love in the COVID-free Airnoon Feb. 14
The Higher Ground Neighborhood Development Corp. have led extracurricular programs for Bay Area youth for years — now it’s time for the adults to play. The Higher Ground Community Center will be hosting a COVID-safe “sip and paint” for those of age to enjoy a cocktail, make art and form new connections. Tickets available here, and new events will continue to roll out monthly: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kali-love-in-the-covid-free-air-sip-and-paint-tickets-137689291377

San Francisco-born comedian Margaret Cho will host a livestream Valentine’s show called “After Hours With Margaret.” (Courtesy of Margaret Cho)

After Hours With Margaret5 p.m. Feb. 14
Who hasn’t wanted to ask Margaret Cho for sex advice? The “jack of all trades and master of many” and her Chihuahua Lucia will be hosting an evening of advice, anecdotes and her signature snark on Valentine’s night, but not so late you can’t put her advice to good use. The stream starts at 5 p.m., and tickets are available here: https://rushtix.com/events/after-hours-with-margaret/

Grace for All virtual Carnivale gala6:30 p.m. Feb. 16
While it may not fall on Valentine’s Day, Grace Cathedral’s virtual Carnivale gala celebrates Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday just two days after Valentine’s, so it still counts. This year’s theme reflects the Cathedral’s mission for social justice, partnering with arts nonprofit Root Division to curate a virtual gallery in addition to a silent auction and after party with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The virtual red carpet will start at 5:30 p.m.; get tickets here: https://e.givesmart.com/events/iHM/

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