Hack into Valentine’s Day

So long as we’re in the spirit of protest for the indefinite future, let’s get into some real talk about Valentine’s Day real quick: No one actually looks forward to it, right? The overpriced dinner, the crowded restaurants, the cheesy AF couples in every direction, the performative “lovemaking” afterward. There is, of course, value in you and your partner setting aside time to figuratively and sexually high-five each other, but why do this according to some arbitrary, capitalism-driven rules? I say block out time for each other on your own terms and save February 14 for something low-key and without-fail awesome, like pizza delivery. Consider the following:

On Friday, February 10, 41 artists from the Jiangsu Arts Troupe bring the Chinese Lantern Festival to life at 7:30 p.m. at Hiram Johnson High School (6879 14th Avenue) in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Acrobatics plus dancing plus a ton of pretty lanterns makes for a gorgeous spectacle. Tickets are $18-$68 and can be purchased at www.daviscff.org.

If you and bae are all fired up about Trump’s recent refugee ban and what it may signal for Muslims in America going forward, catch a screening of Resistance at Tule Lake: The Defiant Japanese Americans of WWII at the California Museum (1020 O Street) on Saturday, February 11, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can reflect on the toll discriminatory internment took on the Japanese American community, and learn from the resistance that emerged as a result. Tickets are $15-$20 and include admission to the museum; children are free. Visit www.californiamuseum.org/
resistance to find out more.

The same day from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. over at Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co. (1630 S Street), partake in American Whiskey with the Bourbon Babes for a chance to taste and get schooled on production of bourbon and rye in the states. This is a part of the wildly popular Cocktail Academy series, so if you’re interested, don’t wait on getting your tickets, which are $75 and can be purchased at https://hookandladder916.com/
cocktail-academy.

If you can’t totally divest yourself from doing something semi-romantic, the Crocker Art Museum (216 O Street) is hosting Crocker Prom, and the theme this year is the ’90s. Tubular. There will be spiked punch and tunes from DJ Epik; attendees are encouraged to dress and dance ridiculously. Solo tickets are $65-$110 and couples tickets are $120-$200. Festivities kick off at 8 p.m. Find out more at www.crockerart.org/event/
1295/2017-02-11.