Valentine's Day

parties and events

'Big Lou's Polka Casserole' Schroeder's, 240 Front; 421-4778. Thurs, 6-9:30pm. Call for price. Grab your sweetheart and take a romantic spin on the dance floor as Schroeder's serves up a hearty meal and a hefty polka.

'The Fencesitters Winter Ball' Studio Z, 314 11th St; 820-3907. Thurs, 9pm. $10 ("Threesome Special": $8 each). This annual bi dance party features Didje Kelli, an appearance by the Moral Minority Inc., door prizes, and more.

'Fourth Annual Valentine's Dharma Party' Sahara Buddhist Center, Presidio Alliance, Bldg 563, Lombard at Ruger (near Lombard gate), the Presidio; 585-9161. Sat, 6:30-10pm. $25. The Sahara Buddhist Center's monks, nuns, and lay practitioners celebrate with an evening that welcomes all comers. Highlights include a panel discussion on love, plenty of chocolate, live music, and dancing.

Hyatt Regency 5 Embarcadero Center; 788-1234. Thurs. The swank hotel's restaurants offer a number of special meal packages ($65 and up) and a dinner and dance event ($65) on Valentine's Day.

'Natural Selection: A Valentine's Party' California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park; (415) 750-7525. Thurs, 8:30pm. $20-25. This dressy party features music by Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, a planetarium show, and refreshments. Proceeds benefit the academy's education and research programs.

'Obscure Love and Death' Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission; 822-2885. Thurs, 7:30pm. $4-7. The San Francisco Cinematheque's Stom Sogo presents a program of Super 8 movies that address love, sex, compulsion, and obsession.

'Peepshow 28' Lusty Lady Theater, 1033 Kearny; www.nolivegirls.org. Feb 14-28, 24 hrs. See 8 Days a Week, page 48.

'Pink Bubble Bath: The Sexy Film Festival' Spanganga, 3376 19th St; 821-1102. Fri-Sat, 8pm. $10. Pinup girl Dita Von Teese hosts two nights of naughty films, including Sean Kelly's "epic bacon porn," BLT&A.

'Sex in the Sea' Aquarium of the Bay, Embarcadero at Beach; 623-5301. Thurs, 6-11pm. $60 (reservations required). See 8 Days a Week, page 48.

'Spiegelmania' Spanganga, 3376 19th St; 821-1102. Thurs, 10pm. $5. Comedian Mike Spiegelman hosts a holiday version – the "Valentine's Day Massacre" – of his weekly stand-up show.

'Sprocket Ensemble Valentine Extravaganza' Foley's Irish House, 243 O'Farrell; 681-3189. Thurs, 7:30 and 9:30pm. Nik Phelps and his Sprocket Ensemble perform new tunes, plus jazzy scores to four animated films about love and romance.

'St. Valentin: Dinner Tango' Alliance Française de San Francisco, 1345 Bush; 775-7755. Thurs, 7-9pm. $25-30. Mark the red-letter day with a dinner buffet followed by a tango dance demonstration.

'The Subject Is Sex' Artists' Television Access, 992 Valencia; 824-3890. Sat, 8pm. $5. Other Cinema hosts Stephen Parr of Oddball Films, who presents a program of "erotic oddities," including vintage films and cartoons, sex-ed classics, and more.

'A Valentine's Affair' W Hotel, 181 Third St; 1-866-468-3399, www.ticketweb.com. Sat, 9pm-3:30am. $20. Head to a huge tented terrazzo at W Hotel for this fete, featuring Vikter Duplaix and five full bars.

'Valentine's Day Package from Friends of Recreation and Parks' $50-75; for information call (415) 750-5105. Butter up your sweetheart with this gift that keeps on giving. The package includes a Stow Lake boat ride, a bottle of wine, a cyclamen plant from the Golden Gate Park Nursery, and a membership to Friends of Recreation and Parks.

'Valentine's Day Pajama Party' Red Devil Lounge, 1695 Polk; 921-1695, www.ticketweb.com. Thurs, 9pm. $5. The Phenomenauts, Chub, and Rootbeer provide the tunes at this party; other attractions include a kissing booth and a kissing contest.

'Valentine's Day Reception and Conversation' Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission; 978-ARTS. Thurs, 6pm. $4-6. Literary artists in residence Dennis Cooper and Kevin Killian discuss their work in the gallery, in conjunction with "Slowdive," a performance-visual exhibit.

'Valentine's Dinner Cruise' Leaves from Pier Nine, Broadway at Embarcadero; 788-9100. 6:30-9:30pm, $115. This semiformal affair includes a four-course gourmet dinner, an open bar, live entertainment, and great views of the city.

'Valentine's Love-in Festival' Studio Z, 314 11th St; 453-0658, www.earthdance.org/ambientgroove. Sat, 8:30. $15-20. A roundtable discussion on the meaning of love kicks off this evening, which gives way to a dance party sponsored by the Ambient Groove Temple. Proceeds benefit Earthdance International.

Bay Area

'Berkeley Slam!' Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 841-2082. Wed, 8pm. $5. Charles Ellik and Dany Eurynome host the "Annual Infamous Erotic Slam" version of this weekly poetry event.

'Love: The Final Frontier' La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 849-2568. Thurs, 8pm. $8. Aya de Leon hosts an evening of poetry and music in celebration of "love's varied manifestations."

The X-Plicit Players (510) 848-1985. Celebrate in the altogether with the X-plicit Players' "nude rituals of Group Body:" "Veiled Body of Love" (Thurs, 1pm, free, People's Park, Telegraph at Channing, Berk) followed by "Valentine's Day Love-In" (Thurs, 6pm, free, corner of Telegraph and Haste, Berk); plus "Human Nature" (Sat, 8:30pm, $15, Art-A-Fact Studio, 1109 Addison, Berk).

'Power of the Erotic' Montclair Women's Cultural Arts Club, 1650 Mountain, Oakl; (212) 529-8029, ext 20. Thurs, 7:30pm. $25-50. Astraea Lesbian Action Foundation presents this evening of performance, poetry, music, and erotica. Featured performers include Dorothy Allison, Tina D'Elia, Jewelle Gomez, Maiana Minahal, and more.

'Romantic Valentine's Day Cruise' Departs from 21 Main, Tiburon; (415) 435-2131. Thurs, 6:30pm. $15. BYOB (as in "bubbly") or purchase champagne and wine aboard this 75-minute cruise around the bay under the stars, courtesy of the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry.

'The Sex Indie-stry Show!' Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 444-6174. Thurs, 9pm. $6. This benefit for sex workers' advocacy group COYOTE includes sexy music and spoken word by the Pre-Teens, Bitesize, Good for You, Shmoogie, the Clarendon Hills, poetry slammer Jamie Kennedy, and activist Carol Leigh, a.k.a. "Scarlot Harlot."

'Valentine's Day with Ray Dennis Steckler' Parkway Theater, 1834 Park, Oakl; (510) 814-2400. Thurs, 7:30pm. $8. The man who brought Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-up Zombies and The Thrill Killers into the world (in 1963 and 1965, respectively) invades the Parkway to screen his two most famous films and chat with Thrillville host Will "the Thrill" Viharo. You can also catch Steckler and Viharo (and screenings of two other Steckler classics, Rat Pfink a Boo Boo and The Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Monsters) Wed/13, 7:15 p.m., Fine Arts Cinema, 2551 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 848-1143 ($7).

clubs

'Duality' Danzhaus, 1275 Connecticut; 487-8680. Thurs, 9pm-4am. $15-20. This "mystic celebration" balances Valentine's Day with the Chinese New Year. Flow from the Chasing the Dragon Room to the Five Elements Room for an eclectic sampling of styles.

'Future Sound of Urban Rhythm celebrates Valentine's Day' 26 Mix, 3024 Mission; 826-7378. Thurs, 10pm-2am. $5. Master beat-mixer DJ Mei-Lwun meets vocalist Gina Rene in a perfect Valentine's Day pairing. DJ Sep of Dub Mission also lends a hand.

'Hush Hush Valentine's Nite 2002' Hush Hush Lounge, 496 14th St; 1-866-510-6560, ext 1671. Thurs, 8pm-2am. $10. Wear red or black to this party, which features live music and DJs, plus a chance to meet your Valentine in the crowd.

'Kwality' Club Caliente, 298 11th St; 282-4941. Thurs, 9pm. $5. Boogie off all those chocolate kisses to latin house, R&B, and hip-hop with DJ Miss Juanita More and guest. Also on tap is a fashion show by designer Roberto Coto.

'1900 Hearts' Border Cantina, 1192 Folsom; 1-866-201-0254, ext 1397. Fri, 9pm-3am. $10-15. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society benefits from this party, which features the DJ skills of Melamie and Richard Summerhayes, St. John, Gianni, DJ D, Ron Reeser and David Garcia, Madam Mercury, Clockwork, and Joey Mazola.

'Valentine's Dance Party' Broadway Studios, 435 Broadway; 626-3971, www.movetothegroove.com. Fri, 7:30pm. $15. Come early for the dance lessons (8-9pm) and stay late for the swing, funk, salsa, and disco tunes.

'We Like Boys III: It's a Love/Hate Thing' DNA Lounge, 373 11th St; www.sistersf.com. Thurs, 8pm. Free until 10pm ($5-7 after). All-female DJ crew SisterSF battles male DJs at this special cross-dressing Valentine's gig featuring breaks, electro, ghetto tech, and industrial.

Bay Area

'Love Affair' Hotel Ibiza, 10 Hegenberger, Oakl; (650) 569-3300, www.globalparty.com. Sat, 9pm. $25. Little Louie Vega leads a lineup of 40 DJs spinning at this dance party.

'Valentine's Party and Dance with DJ Steve Lucas' Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1606 Bonita, Berk; (510) 540-0898. Fri, 6-11pm. $5-10. This event features a potluck supper and an open mic for poets, singers, and storytellers, plus a dance party with music from the last six decades.

performance

Beehive and the Barracudas, the Subtractions, the Husbands Attic, 3336 24th St; 643-3376. Thurs, call for time. Free. Meet your valentine at this rock show.

Blue Period, 78 RPM, Ploughhound Eagle Tavern, 398 12th St; 626-0880. Thurs, 9pm. $5. The rock bands play for lonely hearts and sweethearts.

'Clit Chat' Bindlestiff Studio, 185 Sixth St; 974-1167. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. $10-12. To celebrate the release of Eros Pinoy: An Anthology of Contemporary Erotica in Philippine Art and Poetry, Bindlestiff Studio and Bastos Inc. Productions host a night of performance featuring Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre, members of Tongue in a Mood, and more.

Eleonor England Rite Spot, 2099 Folsom; 552-6066. Thurs, 9pm. Free. The jazz-torch singer performs songs and slow jams for lonely hearts.

'How We First Met' Bayfront Theater, Fort Mason Center, Bldg B, Third Fl, Marina at Laguna; 1-866-3399, www.ticketweb.com. Thurs, 8pm. $20. Real-life couples in the audience supply the stories that become improvised onstage entertainment in this unique performance.

'Love Letters' Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton; 364-3450. Thurs-Fri, 6:30pm. $185 and up. Robert Wagner and Jill St. John perform the romantic play; the evening also includes a sit-down dinner, dessert buffet, and champagne reception.

'Love on Wheels' Curve Bar, 747 Third St; 431-BIKE. Thurs, 6-9pm. $7 ($20 to join SFBC). The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition hosts an evening of live music and dating games.

'Love's Fire' and 'Talk to Me like the Rain and Let Me Listen' New Langton Arts, 1246 Folsom; 731-6027. Opens Thurs, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through March 3. $15. La Vache Enragee Productions presents a series of short plays by Eric Bogosian, John Guare, Tony Kushner, Marsha Norman, Ntzoke Shange, and Tennessee Williams.

Michelle Latimer Canvas Cafe and Gallery, 1200 Ninth St; 504-0060. Thurs, 9-11pm. Free. Enjoy West Coast jazz with Latimer and her pianoless quartet.

'Puppet Thursday' Odeon Bar, 3223 Mission; 648-8627. Thurs, 9pm. $5. See 8 Days a Week, page 48.

Tango No. 9 Mechanics' Institute Library, 57 Post; 393-0100. Thurs and Sat, 7:30pm. $12-15. Explore the romance of the tango, from the sophisticated to the sizzling, with this Bay Area ensemble.

'Vaudeville Valentines' Club Deluxe, 1509 Haight; 468-4454. Thurs, 9:30pm. $5. The Frisky Frolics perform Tin Pan Alley love songs from the 1920s and '30s.

Paula West The Plush Room, York Hotel, 940 Sutter; 885-2800. Thurs, 7 and 9:30pm; Fri, 8 and 10:30pm. Call for price. The jazz chanteuse, currently appearing Wednesday through Sunday at the Plush Room through April 14, performs special Valentine's Day-themed sets.

Bay Area

'Escape from V-Day Musical Extravaganza' Rose Street House of Music, 1839 Rose, Berk; (510) 594-4000, ext 687. Thurs, 7:30pm. Call for price. Rebecca Hart, Nicola Gordon, Marca Cassity, Christine LeDoux, and others perform folk tunes.

'Julia's Valentine Cabaret' Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College, Berk; (925) 798-1300. Thurs, 7:30pm. $35. The Julia Morgan Center for the Arts benefits from this love-ly evening of theatrical performances by members of the California Shakespeare Festival and the Shotgun Players, plus romantic jazz standards and show tunes by cabaret singers and the Julia Morgan Ensemble.

La Tania Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 843-0662. Thurs-Sat, dinner seatings at 6 and 8:45pm; shows at 7:15 and 9:30pm. $60. Settle in for paella, free roses for the ladies, and a performance by flamenco dancer La Tania and her accompanying artists.

'Love Is in the Air' Sequoia Country Club, 4550 Heafy, Oakl; (510) 836-6772. Sat, 6pm. $65. Enjoy cocktails, a romantic dinner, and a musical program of show tunes and Italian classics with tenor Jorge Orlando Gomez and pianist-vocalist Joyce Whitelaw.

'The Vagina Monologues' UC Berkeley, Dwinelle Hall, Room 155, Berk; (510) 642-4786. Thurs, 8pm. Through Feb 28. $5-10. Eve Ensler's play hits Berkeley for a three-week run to benefit Bay Area Women Against Rape, Deaf Women Against Violence, and other groups.

art shows

'Love's Mysteries Revealed' Atelier of Famous Melissa and Co.!, 545 Sutter; 788-1866. Gallery hours: Tues-Sat, noon-6pm. Through March 1. Free. The new art space opens with Valentine's Day-appropriate works by Bill Wareham, Philip Hacket, Al Honig, members of Anon Salon, and more.