From music to dance to flowers, authors on tour, and more, here are my picks for the upcoming days.
Thursday, Feb. 26
Although I usually focus on events in our fine city, there are three reasons why I’m including the climate crisis After Happy production in Berkeley. First, it’s a comedy. Second, it’s at the Berkeley City Club, a Julia Morgan-designed building of incredible character. Third, the space where the club hosts live theater feels like a cozy, charming living room. O.K., and fourth, the cast and production crew have some serious cred, like Berkeley Rep, ACT, and more. Twist my arm for a fifth: the club also has a restaurant and lounge, and it’s a hotel, so that makes for a great little getaway. 8 p.m. tonight (preview); through March 29. Tickets: Pay-what-you-can tonight; other performances from $35.
Friday, Feb. 27
The San Francisco Orchid Society will present its annual Pacific Orchid Exposition and Plant Sale this year, Orchid Obscura: A Celebration of the Mysterious and Rarely Seen Orchids, which will highlight the rare and unusual varieties . 10 a.m. through Sunday at the San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. Tickets from $4.
Premiering tonight at the San Francisco Ballet is choreographer William Forsythe’s The Blake Works, an “electrifying” three-part series paired with the vocals and electronic score of Grammy Award-winner James Blake. It’s described as “high octane, rhythmically charged, and visually striking. … as daring as it is unforgetable.” 8 p.m. at the War Memorial Opera House through March 7. Tickets from $459.
Saturday, Feb. 28
Alerting all foodies: Eat Me Artisan Food Fair is the place to be this weekend, with the extra bonus of it being in a historic building, originally the William Randolph Hearst print plant built in the 1920s. It’s now called The Box S.F., which also features a historic letterpress printing and a vintage advertising mercantile modeled after a 1850’s country store. Free.
Hear Gov. Gavin talk about his new book, Man in a Hurry, at Unscripted: An Evening with Gavin Newsom. 6 p.m. at the Golden Gate Theatre. Tickets from $60.
Welcome the Year of the Horse with the San Francisco Symphony at its annual Lunar New Year Concert, celebrating Asian traditions, music, and community. Tickets from $145.
Sunday, March 1
Hong Kong-born classical pianist Tiffany Poon, who was accepted to the Juilliard Pre-College program at 8 years old, will perform this afternoon at the Herbst Theatre. 3 p.m. Tickets from $42.
Notable next week
Tuesday, March 3
Crowd favorite Bouquets to Art opens today at the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor, where talented floral designers create beautiful arrangements in conversation with selected artworks.Through Sunday. Tickets from $24
Wednesday, March 4
Hear Michael Pollan in conversation with U.C. Berkeley psychology professor Dacher Keltner about Pollan’s new book, A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness, which explores the science of … yes, you guessed it, consciousness. 7:30 p.m. at the Sydney Goldstein Theater. Tickets: $52 (includes copy of Pollan’s book).
Enjoy, be safe, and be kind. We’re all in this together.