Now through 3/2 Saturday
Lunar New Year: Dragon on Parade
Zodiac on Parade features five wooden dragon statues installed in and around San Francisco. The publicly submitted artwork reflects upon the culture, people, and traditions surrounding the Chinese New Year. For more information on the installations, planning a route to find all five dragons, and details for entering this year’s photo contest: https://bit.ly/48CEit8
Dance: Lenora Lee Dance’s 15th Anniversary Season
Featuring the world premiere of “In Visibility,” a 15-minute immersive piece inspired by efforts to stop the prison to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention pipeline in California. The performance focuses on separation of families and mass detention of immigrants as forms of incarceration and serves as a meditation on reconciliation and restorative justice, speaking to the power of individuals and communities to transcend. “Convergent Waves: EP,” 45 minutes, highlights experiences of Chinese and Latin American migration in El Paso, Texas over the decades and as Title 42 came to an end. This piece is narrated through the voices of people who have lived in the city for generations, as well as those working to provide resources and support for the individuals and families crossing the border. 8 to 9:15 p.m. $25 to $60. Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/420Y5jq
Culture: Contemporary Jewish Museum Free Admission
The Contemporary Jewish Museum explores contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas. Normally $16 for adults, on the first Friday of each month admission is free. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/3BWApAL
Education: Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival
Discover a variety of fun games and puzzles. Kindergarteners through eighth graders are welcome, accompanied by an adult. Granola bars will be provided. Please bring a reusable water bottle. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free; all participants must be registered. Space is limited. Live Oak School, 1555 Mariposa Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/424VapP
Health: Children’s Dental Health Fair
Free dental services worth more than $150 offered to children up to age 17, including orthodontic screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatment, games, prizes, face painting, balloon art, photo booth and music. Must be accompanied by parent. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. University of the Pacific’s Dugoni School of Dentistry, 155 Fifth Street. For more information: dental.pacific.edu, email pr@pacific.edu, or call 415.929.6550.
Dance: The Rebirth of Apsara
Charya Burt’s The Rebirth of Apsara is a full-length dance/theatre work that investigates the relationship between art and war, exploring how Cambodian arts — particularly Apsaras, fabled female celestial beings — have embodied the essence of Cambodian culture from ancient mythology to post-genocide resurrection. Mirroring Charya Burt’s own life’s journey as an artist interested in the impact Apsara has had on Khmer civilization and Cambodian artists of today, Burt sets her re-imagined classical dance gestures to a musical score by renowned Cambodian-American composer Chinary Ung. 3 p.m. $12.50 to $25.00. Z Space’s Steindler Stage, 450 Florida Street. For more information and to purchase tickets: https://bit.ly/490PLCD
Art: Clay Days Spring 2024
Clay Days is a shared ceramic studio specializing in hand-building studio practices. Sessions hosted from the beginning of February through the end of May. Registration entitles participants to eight studio sessions to use at their convenience. Clays, glazes, tools, and kiln firings are provided. 6 to 9 p.m. $150. SOMArts, 934 Brannan Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/47UUDbz
2/9 Friday through 2/11 Sunday
Books: California International Antiquarian Book Fair
Features collections and rare treasures from around the globe, including manuscripts, modern first editions, children’s books, ephemera, maps, and autographs, as well as antiquarian books on a vast array of topics. $25 Friday admission; $15 Saturday and Sunday admission. Pier 27, The Embarcadero. For more information: https://bit.ly/3vDybWX
Valentine’s Day: Bark at SPARK “Puppy Love”
Cupid’s bow is loaded and ready with adoptable pups ready to capture your heart, pet-centric vendors to spoil the “ruff” of your life, and Valentine’s Day activities you and your pup are guaranteed to “dig.” 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission. SPARK Social SF, 601 Mission Bay Boulevard. For more information: https://bit.ly/47JCWeG
2/16 Friday – 2/18 Sunday
Gardening: Pacific Orchid Exposition and Plant Sale
Thousands of orchid flowers and plants on display, with judging by the American Orchid Society, plants for sale from San Francisco Orchid Society members as well as 20+ local, national and international nurseries. This year’s theme, “Timeless Orchids, A Journey Through History,” will showcase orchids’ significance in various cultures, with displays of orchids alongside artifacts that highlight their role in art, medicine, and cultural practices throughout history. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $10 advance tickets purchased online. San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 9th Avenue, Golden Gate Park. For more information: https://bit.ly/3S1Ab2A
2/18 & 2/25 Sundays
Art: Experimental Impressions & Mark Making Techniques
Explore experimental and unconventional methods for creating layered and multi-colored prints using unconventional tools, materials, and processes. Combine monotype printing, relief stamping, stenciling and transfer techniques, drawing, and more. Appropriate for beginner to advanced students. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $250 tuition, $35 materials. Graphic Arts Workshop, 2565 Third Street, Number 305. For more information and to register: https://bit.ly/3U8fc0H
Black History Month: BlacKkKlansman
In 1972, Colorado Springs’s first African American police officer investigated the local Ku Klux Klan chapter by posing as white on the phone, while sending a Jewish colleague to impersonate him at KKK meetings. Directed by Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman’s Oscar nominations include Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Adam Driver, with Lee winning Best Adapted Screenplay. 6 p.m. $10; free for Mechanics’ Institute members. Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/47UTJfb
Lunar New Year: Parade
Featuring nearly 100 participating groups, the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the biggest procession celebrating the Lunar New Year outside Asia. Featuring Grand Marshall Awkwafina, award-winning actress, comedienne, and rapper. Parade route: Second at Market streets to Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue. 5:15 to 8 p.m. Free standing room; bleacher seats start at $41. For more information: https://chineseparade.com/