First Fridays

Oakland’s First Fridays should be at the top of everyone’s list already. The immersive art, music, and food gathering takes place just once a month in Oakland’s KONO district. Meander through galleries, collectives, artisanal food trucks, live music, and more on Telegraph Avenue. Plus, say hello to plenty of extended happy hours when you hit up the bars after. North Beach in SF also has an Art Crawl where galleries, museums, and bars stay open late to welcome self-guided tours.

Feb 3: 5 to 9:30pm – Oakland’s Koreatown Northgate (Telegraph Avenue above Grand/below 27th) UPDATE: this event has been closed due to rain

SF IndieFest

This under-the-radar festival has been sharing the best in “independent, alternative, and subversive” film for years. Taking submissions from across the globe, SF IndieFest plays their selections throughout the month of February in select theaters, including the Roxie. Plus, there’s plenty of special events you also won’t want to miss. Super Bowl LI Men in Tights is a not-so-sporty comedy show at the Roxy. The Big Lebowski Live on Stage is for the hardcore-est of fans: watch the film performed live against a backdrop of the actual film (White Russians not included). There’s also a Mission B.A.G. (bad art gallery in the Mission – think: a night of cat paintings and music) and Princess Bride Bingo. Check out the full IndieFest schedule here.

Feb 2-16: Select theaters (518 Gallery, Alamo Drafthouse, Brava Theater, Roxie Theater)

The Oakland Museum: All Power to the People

The Black Panther Party for Self Defense is one of the most famous radical political parties in American history…and it all began in our backyard. The gallery exhibit All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50, wrapping up its 5-month display, was extended by popular demand. See the complex history where the history was made through original artifacts, photographs, contemporary art and more. Through April, you can also see the Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture exhibit, with 140 iconic kicks displayed (including Steph Curry’s Oakland Strong custom Under Armour Curry 3s). Swing by on a Friday night for half-price admission, a (cash only) bar, and Off the Grid food trucks.

Feb 1-26: Oakland Museum of California

SFMOMA: Traced, Modern Cinema, and New Work

Back across the bay, SFMOMA is hosting the artist talk Traced: Grace McCann Morley’s Museum, which will look back at the founding director’s Bay Area legacy and her belief that art should be an accessible part of community life for everyone. There’s also Modern Cinema: Werner Herzog and Ecstatic Truth, a film series that looks at the cinema past and present, and the exploration of “ecstatic truth” in documentary filmmaking. Also wrapping up this month is New Work: Sohei Hishino, a series of large-scale collaged maps cut from photos of the most isolated alleys to the highest city vistas.

February 1-29: SFMOMA

Treasure Island Flea Market

This one is a classic event at a new location. Check out the food trucks, live music, drinks, and wares from over 400 curated vendors. This month is Mardi Gras themed, which means Louisiana-style cuisine, free Mardi Gras beads, Hurricane cocktails and sangria at the bar, and some live (we’re hoping zydeco) music.

Bonus: for all of us missing the fun on Bourbon Street, there’s a Mardi Gras Brass, Funk & Jazz Parade starting in Hayes Valley with local musicians leading the party all the way!

Feb 25 & 26:10am to 4pm – Treasure Island new location

Valentine’s Day in The Bay

Single, taken, or “it’s complicated”, with all that’s going on in The Bay, there is no excuse not to have plans this Valentine’s Day. You can belt out your angst at Idiefest: Anti- Valentine’s Day Power Ballad Sing-a-Long Show…because sometimes love is a battlefield. Schroeder’s Restaurant is putting on a German Beer Hall-style party, with games and 22 flowing taps. There also may or may not be a giant Pillow Fight in SF?!

If you’re actually feeling the love on Cupid’s birthday, the Ferry Building is holding the 10th annual “Food From the Heart” in the candlelit Grand Nave. Grace Cathedral invites you to their candlelit labyrinth with music for a quiet moment. Or, you can get back to saying “F*ck Valentine’s Day & Love Beer” at FDR Brewery in SF.

Feb 10, 11, 14: Various locations

Super Bowl LI

Viewing parties for Super Bowl LI are popping up all over the Bay Area. Of course, every one of your local bars will have something going on. But for niche parties, there’s Saucy Super Bowl Sunday with 12 food trucks and bottomless drinks, a Vegan Super Bowl Party in SoMa StrEat Food Park, and a 20’ projector screen at the Bayview Opera House.

For the not-so-into-sports fans, there’s even something for you. Roxie Theater will have a Men In Tights: Super Bowl 2017 Comedy Show, hosted by “a bunch of smart-asses” commentating on “American’s favorite couch-festival.”

Feb 5: Various locations

Pop-Up Magazine

You may or may not have heard about The California Sunday Magazine’s incredible Pop-Up Magazine already. It’s a night “to turn off your phone”, be with friends and family to watch thought-provoking, funny, fascinating musicians, writers, speakers, photographers, and filmmakers share multimedia stories. The resumes of the speakers are pretty incredible…TED fellows, award-winning poets and authors, and more. Ira Glass gives his seal of approval, and audience members describe it as “intimate, like you’ve stumbled on the most interesting person in the party.”

Feb 22: Nourse Theater Update: This event is sold out. Stay tuned for additional tickets.

Black History Month

To celebrate Black History Month, the Gran Lake Theater is having a Film Night to honor the life of Maya Angelou in poetry, song, and cinema. They’ll be hosting a one-hour preview of American Masters – Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise. All over the bay area, art galleries, museums, coffee shops, universities and more will hold their own events, from “What’s Going On?” A Tribute to Marvin Gaye, to a Hidden Figures Mixer + Power Panel with Karan Kendrick. Event topics range from the tech industry, athletics, music, art, dance, film, history, so there’s really something for everybody.

Feb 1-19: Various locations

SF Beer Week

It’s that time of year again! For 10 days the Bay Area is overrun (more than usual) with events surrounding the local craft beer scene. Over 600 events will include pairings, tastings, trivia nights, home brewing demos and more. Pinballs & Pints will take place at the new Museum Annex in Alameda with over 400 pinball machines on free play. Whole Foods Dublin is hosting a beer and cheese pairing (not for the faint-of-stomach).  Paints & Pints…well, you get the idea.

Also…who knew? The San Francisco Brewers Guild hosts the city’s first FREE, hop-on-hop-off Drink SF Beer Shuttle that will showcase local breweries along its route.

Feb 10-19: Various locations

Feature photo: Sonny Abesamis – Oakland’s Art Murmur, Clapham Common, Calling Festival, London, CC BY 2.0