TBI’s 5 Best: Galentine’s Date Ideas
By: The Bold Italic Editors
Tags: Bay Area, San Francisco, Friday Five, Valentines Day, Oakland

TBI’s 5 Best: Galentine’s Date Ideas

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

It’s almost February 14, and you know what that means: Galentine’s Day, the official holiday during which you live it up with your gal pals instead of a romantic partner.

As Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation once said, “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst.”

There are plenty of ways to celebrate with your lady friends this weekend and leading up to February 14. Here are our favorites:

1. Drunk in Love: Galentine’s Day Bottomless-Sangria Brunch

The description of this Galentine’s Day gathering says it all: “Ladies, leave ya man at home / The park is full of brunch trucks, and their kitchens full blown / And all you divas better tag yo girlfriends / ’Cause it’s 11 a.m., and the park is jumpin’, brunchin’.”

The event takes place at the SOMA StrEat Food Park on February 10 at 11:00 a.m., and brunch-goers are encouraged to attend wearing Beyoncé- or Rihanna-inspired attire, especially if they want to participate in the Beyoncé x Rihanna costume contest. A DJ’d Beyoncé x Rihanna dance party is scheduled to happen at the food park too.

428 11th Street (SOMA); tickets sold here

2. Galentine’s Day Happy Hour in Oakland

Do you just want to celebrate Galentine’s Day by throwing back a few beers with your ladies? Even better if that beer is served in a glass boot? Brotziet Lokal, a Bavarian-inspired biergarten on the Oakland waterfront, is hosting a special Galentine’s Day happy hour.

The establishment keeps “a well-stocked, rotating beer selection,” according to its website, with about 20 beers on draft and dozens in bottles. These beverages usually come from small German and Austrian family breweries. Bar bites, wine and two special cocktails will be served between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on February 14.

1000 Embarcadero (Oakland waterfront); more information here

3. Cupid’s Undie Run

OK, it’s been quite cold outside in the Bay Area as of late, but if you’re up for something different, there’s the Cupid’s Undie Run on February 9, which could make for a memorable Galentine’s Day. Don’t worry — the “brief” mile-ish run is for a good cause though. The run is meant to raise funds for research on neurofibromatosis, also known as “NF.”

NF affects one in every 3,000 births; it’s a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves. As the parent organization, Cupid’s Charity, explains, “We run in our undies because those affected by NF can’t cover up their tumors. They can’t put on clothes to feel more comfortable, so why should we?” Registration is $45.

128 King Street (Embarcadero, San Francisco); register here

4. Attend a Goat Party

This event is likely to be filled with romantic couples, but they don’t discriminate from Galentine’s Day goers too. The East Cut Community Benefit District has partnered with City Grazing to host a “Valentine’s Day GOAT Happy Hour.” The event is free with an RSVP; however, VIP tickets cost $20 and include Valentine’s Day photos with the goats.

All proceeds from the event will benefit City Grazing, a San Francisco–based goat-landscaping nonprofit organization (you can find their goats on Mt. Sutro sometimes). The event will have a pop-up art gallery too. Wine, goats and art? Sounds like Leslie Knope’s dream.

302 Folsom Street (East Cut); tickets here

5. “F*ck Valentine’s Day” Comedy Show

If your intent in celebrating Galentine’s Day is to truly say buh-bye to traditional Valentine’s Day forever, this event might be for you. Produced by HellaFunny, this show promises “some of the funniest Tinder horror stories and some fire stand-up comedy from some of SF’s top comics.”

The comedy show will take place at Neck of the Woods, a grungy-enough watering hole in the Inner Richmond. And bonus: there’s a dance party afterward.

406 Clement Street (Inner Richmond); tickets here