Events
Celebrate Lunar New Year with Poetry and Calligraphy
Feb. 4. Celebrate the Year of the Ox virtually with the Asian Art Museum. Poets Michael Warr and Chun Yu will read works in English and Mandarin that reflect the essence of the New Year—vanquishing the past, embracing new beginnings and venerating ancestors—while Aiqin Zhou demonstrates her skillful calligraphy by illustrating some of the poems. 7 p.m. Free. 415.581.3500. asianart.org
“Black Laughs Matter” Virtual Comedy Show
Feb. 6. While in-person comedy may still be on hold, get your laughs virtually at “Black Laughs Matter.” Celebrate Black History Month by supporting black comics from the Bay Area and guest comics from across the U.S. every week, featuring ever-changing lineups with Terry Dorsey (pictured) as the host. 8 p.m. Tickets are free, donations encouraged.
Outdoor Samba Class
Feb. 6. Bust a move outdoors with Sambax Dance Company’s artistic director Raffaella Falchi’s samba class. Engage your mind, body and spirit while learning the fundamentals of several Brazilian styles of dance and rhythms. The level of the class depends on the level of the students that attend and will be adjusted accordingly; beginners are welcome. Face coverings are required to be worn during the duration of the class. Classes are capped at 12 dancers per class. 11 a.m. $20. Balboa Park Basketball Courts, San Jose Ave., San Francisco. Tickets
Food + Drink
Fiorillo’s Outdoor Dining
Reopened. With the latest stay-at-home order lifted, you can now enjoy a great lunch, dinner or special occasion at Fiorillo’s, a sprawling spot with an extensive menu of Naples-influenced dishes and a banquet room for events. Patio seating available outdoor and all the accouterment of fine Italian dining at your service. Call or book reservations online. Tu-Th 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., F 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sa 4-9 p.m. 638 El Camino Real, Santa Clara. 408.984.0414. fiorillos.com
iniBurger
Open. Get ready for Super Bowl Sunday! Whether you’re tuning in for the commercials, half-time show or the actual game, be sure to include some tasty food to grub on. Check out iniBurger—known for serving a varied menu of creative, gourmet burgers (made with 100% halal beef), loaded sides and milkshakes—now offering special Super Bowl spreads including M’ini Box of Burgers (mix and match a dozen 2-ounce burgers), wings (fried crispy and tossed in sauce options like buffalo, barbecue, mango habanero and cayenne pepper), mac ‘n’ cheese bites and nacho cheese fries. Locations in Fremont and Pleasanton. iniburger.com
Original Joe’s
Open. With winter weather well underway in the Bay Area, there’s no better time to indulge in hearty comfort foods to keep you warm and satisfied through these chillier months. A local standby for Italian-American classics for over 83 years, Original Joe’s has you covered with everything from savory pastas to decadent desserts, all available for takeaway, delivery and patio dining (heat lamps included). You can also find a full menu of pizza, pasta and parmigiana plus a fully-stocked marketplace at the newly opened Little Original Joe’s in West Portal neighborhood. Various locations. originaljoes.com
Sam’s Crispy Chicken
Open. This Super Bowl Sunday indulge in special offerings from Sam’s Crispy Chicken, a fried chicken concept by C3, a cutting-edge platform using new models like food halls, ghost kitchens, and mobile delivery to disrupt the food and beverage industry, helmed by Sam Nazarian. The special game-day meal—Sam’s Big Game Spread—includes one Original Sam’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich, The Classic Sandwich, Sam’s Chicken and Waffle Sandwich, 12 chicken tenders (comes with one Texas toast, 10 pickles, two classic sauces). Available for delivery through February 7. samscrispychicken.com
Arts + Culture
23rd San Francisco Independent Film Festival
Feb 4-21. SF IndieFest will once again bring the newest independent films and digital programs from around the world to San Francisco audiences. This year’s festival has 42 shorts and 38 features from 20 countries. Complete program online. Join for the virtual opening night featuring The Book of Vision, a story of Eva, a doctor and medical student, who discovers an 18th-century manuscript containing the emotions, fears and dreams of countless patients. As she immerses herself in its pages, she embarks on an intimate, sensorial journey through time. sfindie.com
Leah Rosenberg’s 18 Colors for Ghirardelli Square
Open. Take an art walk this weekend and explore Leah Rosenberg’s site-specific installation that invites you to take a multi-colored tour around Ghirardelli Square. Pick up a map in the Fountain Plaza to find all the hues selected by Leah. Post your photos to Instagram with the hashtag #18COLORS4GSQ and follow @18colors4gsq to learn more. Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point St. leahrosenberg.com
Photo credits: Lunar New Year, Asian Art Museum website. The Book of Vision, SF Indiefest website. All other images are courtesy of the venues.
