SAN FRANCISCO, February 3, 2012 – Hate it or love it, welcome it or avoid it, Valentine’s Day is upon us. Whether you are single and looking for something fun to do with your friends, or in a relationship and looking to spice things up, here is a creative list of unique ways to spend the holiday.
Many of us know that the holiday started with a saint named Valentine, and has become a day on which people express their undying love for each other with words of love and gifts in the form of flowers, chocolates, dinners, romantic escapades and jewelry.
San Francisco is just the place to find all this and more.
For couples looking for romance:
Valentine’s Day Sex Safari in Sonoma: Tap into your inner wild beast at this 10th annual “Rumble in the Jungle” sexy safari tour. Complete with chocolate, wine and safari tour of the world’s most exotic creatures. Animal experts reveal their unique courting and mating rituals. $90 per person. Adults only.
Wild Jungle Love Sex Safari
Romanic Bay Cruise: The Hornblower line is offering 4 different bay cruises to whet your appetite. From Aphrodite’s premier cruise, to brunch and more. Test out your sea legs and find love while on the Bay.
Couple’s Cooking Classes: Several companies are offering couple’s cooking classes to help you heat things up in the kitchen. Different styles are being offered: traditional meals, cheese, a taste of Spain, baked goods, you name it. Various prices are offered by Parties That Cook, CookWithJames, San Francisco Cheese School, Dacor Kitchen and La Cocina.
Attend a special Valentine’s Day evening:
- The Bubble Lounge, Jour L’ Amour complete with champagne, roses, candlelight, aphrodisiacal food and drink menu, featuring Suzy Koolidge performing classic French love songs.
- Bin 38 & Americano: Both are offering an elegant 3-course menu with wine pairing. Prices begin at $55 per person.
- Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers live at Biscuits & Blues. Lavay is a SF favorite who has truly revived swing. Get on your feet and groove at this sure-to-please night of authentic 1940’s and 1950’s jazz and blues. Tickets are $20, plus additional special entrée items.
SF Lavay Smith
Singles in the house:
San Francisco is full of single men and women looking to have a good time with their friends to celebrate VD. There are about 500 things for singles to do, so here is a short list of ideas for an evening just for you:
- SF Beer Week festival: February 10 – 19th is San Francisco Beer Week. The celebration kicks off on Friday the 10th at the Concourse Exhibit Center with over 50 local breweries pouring their rarest and most unique brews, from classics through their lesser knows ales, complete with commemorative tasting glass, live music, local food and of course the beer. Pace yourself, this one could get ugly.
San Francisco Beer Week Poster
- Wilson & Wilson: 3-drink cocktail tasting menu. The very trendy “bar inside the bar” offering secret, prohibition-style drinks. This Bourbon & Branch bar takes it to a whole different level. Find it, then stay long enough and have the tasting menu twice. Keep your group small though, the drinks are bigger than the venue.
- Screwcap Bubbles: California sparkling wine tasting, aka the Bubbly Olympics. Featuring two of California’s best sparking producers: Schramsberg and Gloria Ferrer. Thursday, 2/9, 6-8p.
- Secret Valentine’s Day Dinner at The Phoenix Supper Club: You will be hard pressed to find something more unique than this limited seating 9-course tasting menu. Roll up your sleeves and dive right in. Saturday, 2/11.
- Love Bites: Yes, just like the Def Leppard song from the ‘80s. This power ballad sing-along is just what the doctor ordered for you VD naysayers. Get out there and sing your heart out. You’ll feel bad-ass and empowered. And have a heck of a lot of fun doing it. Held at the Roxie Theater, $11 on 2/14.
- Bardot-a-Go Go’s Valentine’s Day party with Nous Non Plus: featuring the best 1960’s French pop, northern soul, shagadelic electro, and rock. Drink specials, go-go girls and super risqué French visuals. Shagadelic attire encouraged. Free retro hair styling from 9-11p. $10.
A little something for everyone:
Schmooze the night away at San Francisco’s first annual Eternity Ball at Fort Mason. A black-tie gala for everyone. Eat, drink, dance and laugh the night away with your friends or partner. Tickets benefit the SF Make-a-Wish Foundation. Starting at $100.
San Francisco V-Day Dash in GG Park
Be healthy and run the “Love’em or Leave ‘em Valentine’s Day Dash in Golden Gate Park. Get out and enjoy breathtaking Golden Gate Park in this 5K run and walk event. 2/12. $30 entrance fee.Kids 10 and under can run free in the kid’s dash. Lots of food, fun and, of course, love will await you at the finish line. After party held at the Music Concourse inside Golden Gate Park.
Wine, chocolate and more wine:
Nothing says I love you or I like you enough to head out of town like a trip to wine country. San Franciscans are blessed to be surrounded by luscious wine in nearly every direction. Here are a few ideas that are sure to get you in the mood:
- Sweet 116: Sonoma tasting event focused on the boutique wineries along Highway 116. Enjoy decadent treats while tasting delicious wine, sure to get anyone in a sweet and sultry mood. Saturday, 2/11.
SF Sonoma Sweet 116 wine tasting event
- B.R. Cohn: Wine & Chocolate: A real chocolate lover’s celebration. Experience the decadence of their chocolate fountain, fit for dipping just about anything you can think of. Two-for-one tasting for all couples. Saturday and Sunday, 2/11 & 2/12.
- Rodney Strong 23rd Annual Wine & Chocolate Fantasy: If you love wine and chocolate, this event is not to be missed. Mix that with some moody music and savory appetizers, this event is sure to please all your senses. Saturday, 2/4. $65.
- Underdog Wine Bar at Concannon Vineyard: Special Valentine’s Day flights, plates and pairing. Be sure to try the red velvet cupcakes and pair with Concannon’s Crimson & Clover wine.
To plan your night out with all available public transportation, click here.
Additional Valentine’s Day ideas can be found at SFStation, the SF Examiner and Sosh.
Columnist Sherrie Perkovich is a San Francisco local that fancies herself an extroverted fine dining, wine drinking, know-it-all. Sherrie offers an insider’s perspective of the very best San Francisco has to offer. Join her weekly to experience the best the City by the Bay has to offer - from parties to parks and everything in between. If it’s happening in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sherrie is in on it. Follow her column, for the widest range of Out and About San Francisco treats.
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