BARTable This Weekend: February 12-15

People all over the Bay, join hands, start a love train, love train. Photo courtesy of BART staff.

Valentine's Day with your boo just isn't the same without BART. This Sunday, we have 48 recommendations on where to take your darling on our love train. Additionally, we show you where to begin celebrations of the Year of the Ox on both sides of the Bay. If you're off Monday for Presidents' Day, enjoy an extra day to experience everything below.

SF Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen curates and conducts a SoundBox program. Photo courtesy of SF Symphony.

SF Symphony's "SoundBox: Nostalgia" | Virtual

San Francisco Symphony Music Director, Esa-Pekka Salonen has, through his many high-profile conducting roles and work as a leading composer, shaped a unique vision for the present and future of the contemporary symphony orchestra. Nostalgia is a longing to return home, but what if that home isn’t there anymore? In "SoundBox: Nostalgia," three composers look to a past that may or may not exist, while opening new portals to the future. Tickets are $15.

Oakland Asian Cultural Center welcomes the Year of the Ox | Virtual

Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) will present its first-ever virtual Lunar New Year Celebration with a weeklong schedule of diverse cultural content featuring new year’s traditions from China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and more! Enjoy educational presentations, interactive workshops, and children’s story time, all from the comfort of your home. The celebration is free.

“Out Front” Street Dining & Music at The UC Theatre | Downtown Berkeley

On Friday and Saturday night, enjoy an evening of socially-distant drinks and dining at Out Front at The UC Theatre, featuring live music from House Call Soul (Friday) and Los Bahianatos (Saturday). It's free to attend from 6-10pm. Go early to snag a table! Enjoy cocktails, beer, and wine with friends and family at the street bar, and a selection of food items from Cali Alley and other neighborhood restaurants.

“HellaSecret” Outdoor Comedy Show & Cocktail or Tiki Bar Night | Secret SF and Oakland locations

After a brief hiatus, they’re back! Get ready for a “HellaSecret” comedy show in San Francisco or Oakland. A brought-back series of pop-up (and socially distanced) live outdoor comedy shows at unique spots around each City. A venue will be taken over and you’ll receive an email with the secret location the morning of the show. Enjoy 70+ minutes of comedy from comics with credits that include Cobbs, Punchline, SF Sketchfest, NBC, Outside Lands and more. Required tickets run $15-20 and are available for two shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for San Francisco can be purchased here and for Oakland here. 21+ only. 

SFJAZZ Collective plays the music of "Stand!" and "In a Silent Way" | Virtual

SFJAZZ’s resident supergroup celebrates the 50th Anniversary of two of the essential albums in popular music during this performance filmed in November 2019, Sly and the Family Stone’s million-selling hit "Stand!" and Miles Davis’ proto-fusion landmark "In a Silent Way." The concert features a guest appearance by original Sly and the Family Stone drummer Greg Errico. Virtual streaming begins at 5pm with memberships available for viewing.

Place/Settings: Berkeley at Berkeley Rep | Virtual

Stories surround us, whether we can see them or not. Ten revered writers with deep ties to Berkeley – including Eisa Davis, Philip Kan Gotanda, Daniel Handler, Aya de León, Adam Mansbach, Richard Montoya, Itamar Moses, Kamala Parks (BART’s own!), Sarah Ruhl, and Sean San José – have all crafted short stories around a place or a setting within the city that is significant to them. Join them as they take you on an aural adventure from Leopold’s Records to Tilden Park, BART stations to cafes. You will also receive, via snail mail, a physical map (or a digital version if you’d like to save a tree) of the locations illustrated by a New Yorker cartoonist, lifting you out of the virtual realm and inviting you to explore the past hidden beneath the present! Audio stories available now - tickets just $10!

Designed by Deyi Zhao, this New Hope Ox design showcases themes of springtime, strength, and peace. Photo courtesy of Chinese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco.

Chinese New Year: Southwest Airlines Float Display and Year of the Ox on Parade | Embarcadero

For the first time in the Chinese New Year Parade history, you can see one of the shimmering floats up close. The big Southwest Airlines float will be on display at Pier 27, Cruise Terminal Plaza, from noon to 8 pm on Feb. 13 and 14. Take BART to Embarcadero and walk 20 minutes to Pier 27.

Additionally, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco is excited to debut The Year of the Ox on Parade. A tradition in the making, 11 life-sized oxen will be publicly displayed across San Francisco to help ring in the new year of the ox. Each ox is designed by a local artist to reflect upon the Chinese culture, people, and traditions. Snap a selfie with an ox and share your experience via social media and you'll be entered in their photo contest. Visit the Chinese New Year website to learn more about the oxen, the artists, the inspiration behind each design, and the full contest rules.

Omnium: A Bold New Circus | Virtual

A Bold New Circus transports the audience into a world of wonder, inspiring all with extraordinary feats of human accomplishment and the astounding potential of the human spirit. Experience the stars of international circus, from all four corners of the globe as they perform jaw dropping spectacles. Take in the sights and sounds of this truly amazing show from your own home. Tickets cost $25 with multiple options to view throughout the week and weekend.

Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market | Embarcadero

The Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market is widely acclaimed for both the quality and diversity of its fresh farm products, and artisan and prepared foods. Some of San Francisco’s best chefs, and most famous farmers, can be seen at the market that is known as one of the top markets in the country. While you’re there, pop inside the Ferry Building to grab a coffee at Blue Bottle and a tidbit to go with it at one of the resident vendors – you won’t be sorry you did! Take BART to Embarcadero and walk five minutes to the Ferry Building.

Black Laughs Matter Comedy Show | Virtual 

Laughter is truly the best medicine so immerse yourself and support Black comics as they come together for "Black Laughs Matter," an online comedy show live from San Francisco hosted by comedian and actor Terry Dorsey. The show begins at 8pm and is free with donations welcomed. Tune in for some feel-good chuckles.

Happy Valentine's Day from BARTable! Check out this map of places to go for date night. Map courtesy of BART staff.

Valentine's Day BART date | Across the Bay

While you may not be able to dine indoors at your favorite restaurant this year, there are still many bakeries, romantic restaurants, and outdoor adventures to enjoy with your sweetie. We've created a list of some of our favorite Valentine's Day ideas, and a handy map to get you there. Additionally, everything is within a 10-minute walk of our 48 stations. Whether you're looking to share a sweet treat, see a virtual show, shop 'til you drop or burn off all those chocolates you ate, we have you covered.

Live Comedy on Zoom | Virtual

Tune into SF Comedy Showcase on Zoom with co-presenters, Ronn Vigh and Drew Harmon. New comedians hit the virtual stage every Sunday, as seen on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and more! Free RSVPs are required with donations accepted for the performing comedians.

Dennis Watkins: The Magic Parlour | Virtual

Hailed by the Chicago Sun-Times as “Chicago’s Official Magic Man”, Dennis Watkins has taken his intimate Magic Parlour to the virtual world and into our homes for a magical experience on Friday and Saturday evenings at 6pm PST. As a third-generation world-class magician, he continues the legacy of bringing magic and a sense of wonder, creating awe and taking us back to what it felt like to be a kid. Tickets run $49 per household. Please keep in mind that these shows are engineered for an adult audience.

San Jose Berryessa Flea Market | Multiple dates

The San Jose Berryessa Flea Market is steps from our Berryessa/North San José Station. The Flea Market is a not-to-be-missed San Jose tradition where "one person's junk is another person's treasure." With over 120 acres of shopping, activities, and food vendors, there's bound to be fun around every corner. The market is currently open from Wednesday, Friday-Sunday, 8am-5pm. Walk-in admission is $2-3 depending on which day you go, and the entrance is located near Garden at the Flea and the East Lot.

SF Symphony "Throughline" | Virtual

“Throughline: San Francisco Symphony-From Hall to Home” originally aired on KQED in November and is now streaming worldwide for on-demand viewing. The vibrant program includes music by Ellen Reid, John Adams, Kev Choice, and Ludwig van Beethoven written specifically for digital medium and filmed in locations around the world, grounded with a local focus. Streaming is free so, kick back, relax and enjoy the sounds and sights this beautiful piece has to offer.

Let's get social. 

What are you doing this weekend? Let us know via social media, @SFBARTable #SFBARTable! Keep up with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see all of the best BARTable (virtual) events, places to eat (grab take out from) and have fun (outside) around the Bay.