"Love, love, love," the chorus rings in the famous Beatle's song. Love is fresh on people's minds as February - the month of romance - is here, but where to go and what to do to celebrate all things of the heart? We have the scoop this month for your heart's delight out of love, searching for love or in love. Valentine's Day weekend kicks off early with some popular parties.
Head over to the Supperclub (657 Harrison St.) for Cupid's Back, 8pm to 12am on February 9. Featuring 400 single guys donning their names on big hearts ready to mix and mingle and dance until the early morning hours. Drag queen legend Juanita More hosts and spins the turntables for the sixth annual event benefiting the GLBT Historical Society and the GLBT History Museum. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. www.cupidsback.kintera.org.
Tango, classical music, chocolate, hors d'oeuvres, and wine tastings will take over the Ferry Building Marketplace at the Embarcadero at Food from the Heart on February 11 & 12, 5pm-8pm. It's free to enter the candlelit Ferry Building to enjoy the food and wine demonstrations and specials at the festival on Friday and Saturday, but tastings are $2-$4. Proceeds benefit Slow Food San Francisco. www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/ffth2011.php.
Jazz swooner Freddy Cole, brother of the late Nat King Cole, will set the tone for love and will set hearts aflutter with his suave, elegant, formidable, and articulate vocals backed up by the Freddy Cole Quartet at the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko (222 Mason St.) February 12-14. Tickets range from $35 to 40. www.therrazzroom.com/12ap/freddy_c.html.
Enjoy an evening of world class ballet and mingling at Night Out at the San Francisco Ballet on February 17, 7pm to midnight. Take in three performances featuring Wayne McGregor's award-winning Chroma and the world premiere of Beaux by acclaimed choreographer Mark Morris. The performances are followed by an encore production of Christopher Wheeldon's Number Nine, featuring an ensemble of 24 dancers set to a score by Michael Torke. This magical night begins with interviews and mingling with the creators of the ballets, performance, followed by a reception at the War Memorial Opera House (301 Van Ness Ave.). $52-$78. www.sfballet.org/niteout.
Gay and lesbian couples are invited out to a date night by the Gay and Lesbian Couple's Institute at Pisco Latin Lounge (1815 Market St.) February 18, 5pm-6:30pm. Fall deeper in love with your partner and meet other couples at Date Night for Gay and Lesbian Couples. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks, raffles for dinner for two at Destino, movie tickets, Visa gift cards and more. Free. http://tinyurl.com/DateNight4Gay-LesbianCouples.
The fab musical, Mamma Mia!, featuring Abba's hit songs spinning together two stories of love lost and found, returns to San Francisco at the Orpheum Theater (1192 Market St.). Fall in love all over again with the musical that has won hearts around the world February 21-March 4. http://tinyurl.com/MamaMia-Orpheum.
Love Bites
Down with love this year? Escape hearts, pink and red confetti, and smooching couples at these anti-V-Day celebrations.
Hate love? Hate the '80s? The Gay and Lesbian Chorus of San Francisco is going the Wedding Singer this Valentine's Day Adam Sandler style with its annual "Love Bites" concert with "Love Bites and so does the '80s" at the Mission Cultural Center (2868 Mission St.) on February 10 - 12, 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. www.lgcsf.org.
Don't want to feel so bad about failed relationships and love gone wrong? Misery loves company at the Doomed Valentines Show on February 10 & 11 at The Makeout Room (3225 22nd St.) and the Shattuck Down Low (2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley) on February 12. All mortifying, wretched, strung out, and love-sick angst-ridden confessions come out at 8pm. Tickets $15-$20. www.getmortified.com/live/.
Cupidity
More Valentine's Events
Wed 8
Aphrodesia After Hours @ Conservatory of Flowers
Mixed romantic party with hand-brewed cocktails. Live music by Le Quartet de Jazz and gourmet chocolates, all in the lush botanical garden. $10. Cash bar. 6pm-10pm. Golden Gate Park, 100 JFK Dr. 831-2090. www.conservatoryofflowers.org
Love on Wheels @ Public Works
SF Bicycle Coalition's annual fun party, with a Dating Game-style show for gay, straight and lesbian contestants, plus valet bike parking and tasty drinks. $5-$10. 7pm. 161 Erie St. at Mission. www.sfbike.org/?love
Thu 9
Hearts After Dark @ AT&T Park
San Francisco General Hospital Foundation hosts an evening of hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and live music by DJs Hubert Keller, Kevin Michael Wong and A Plus D. $75-$1000. 7pm-10pm. 24 Willie Mays Plaza. 206-4478. www.sfghf.net
Fri 10
Down With Love @ San Rafael Joe's
Porchlight Theatre Company presents a cabaret comedy sketch night with songs about love and lust sung by Porchlight Theatre Company singer-actors; served with a four-course dinner. $69. 7pm. Also Feb 14. 931 Fourth St., San Rafael. 251-1027. www.porchlight.net
Sat 11
Valentine's Dance @ Max's Caf�, Corte Madera
Katherine Holland and Iknka Von's night of dinner and dancing for LGBT singles and couples. Enjoy a three-course dinner and wine ($20; 6pm-7:30) and dancing ($20, 7:30-11pm). Portion of proceeds benefits Spectrum LGBT Center. REVSP romantic song requests: [email protected] 378-2697. 60 Madera Blvd., Corte Madera. www.maxsworld.com
Valentine Swing Fest @ Women's Building
Lindy dance and contest for same- and opposite-sex partners, plus basic swing lessons for newbies (7pm). $25-$50 with dinner options. 8pm-12am. "Shag a Valentine" dance and contest Feb 12, $15-$50. 8pm-12am. 3543 18th St. www.SFSwingJam.com
Sun 12
Sweethearts' Ball & Underwear Party
@ Space 550
Sundance Saloon's annual dance for cowboys and cowgirls. Dance the night away in boots, bras, briefs, cowboy hats. Underwear attire optional; free coat/clothes check. $5. 5pm-10:30pm.550 Barneveld Ave. near Bayshore. www.sundancesaloon.org
Mon 13
Love Hurts @ The Make-Out Room
Litquake presents a hilarious night of readings from some of the most wretched published passages on love and lust ever written, with Justin Chin, Daphne Gottlieb, Brock Keeling, Dr. Marty Klein, MariNaomi, Kirk Read, Michelle Richmond, Ellen Sussman, Michelle Tea, and Malena Watrous. $10. 7pm. 3225 22nd St. www.litquake.org