9 New Ways To Explore SF This February

The Bay Area kicks off the year with everything from high fashion to delicious fare.

Alfresco dining at Izzy’s on the Peninsula.

DINE

Peninsula bound for a date night or the weekend? We have a culinary option. Izzy’s on the Peninsula (formerly Izzy’s San Carlos) reopens after a significant redesign by renowned design firm GACHOT. The impressive new 7,500-square-foot venue will showcase a grand and elegant design, celebrating Izzy’s famous Bay Area legacy. Additionally, the restaurant offers a vibrant new menu (we love the whole Snake River trout and crispy brick chicken), a bustling bar and lounge, generous private dining areas and a charming outdoor garden patio. 525 Skyway Road, San Carlos, 650.654.2822, izzysonthepeninsula.com

Discover vintage and first-edition books and ephemera at the 56th California Antiquarian Book Fair.

COLLECT

The premise of this annual event—the 56th California Antiquarian Book Fair—is intriguing: Hundreds of rare first editions, vintage manuscripts, mind-blowing maps and ephemera on sale for three days at Pier 27, The Embarcadero. Over 5,000 collectors and the curious will attend and be wowed by what’s on display. A recent show in New York showcased an incredibly rare First Folio Shakespeare—fetching a $7.5 million purchase price. Look for similar surprises in San Francisco. Feb. 9-11, abaa.org/cabookfair

Erin Hupp’s latest creations

DECORATE

Prolific Bay Area artist Erin Hupp recently launched a new collection of wheel-thrown ceramic and glass mirrors. “My art draws you closer to slow moments of connection—to your surroundings, your home, the restaurant you dine in and the food you eat,” says Hupp. “These mirrors are meant to be a portal. Through my mirrors, I experience glimpses of fabrics, colors, textures, art, light, and the people in the room.” The mirrors range from 4 inches to 11 inches in diameter; they are crafted from hand-cut glass and Hupp’s wheel-thrown ceramic frames. erinhuppceramics.com

Dress from Jean Paul Gaultier

POSE

Strike a pose, indeed. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and Snap Inc. celebrate how technology transforms the way we experience fashion and culture. Via an interactive augmented reality installation at the de Young Museum, patrons will love Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style, which spans a century of high fashion and haute couture worn by Bay Area women. It marks the first time Snap’s AR Mirrors have been featured in an American museum. See works from 50 fashion designers, from Valentino to McQueen—most of the ensembles are on view for the first time. We can’t wait to virtually outfit ourselves in pieces by the French designer Yves Saint Laurent, Italian designer Valentino and Chinese-American Bay Area-based designer Kaisik Wong. Through Aug. 11, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., famsf.org

Amy Tan (right) is one of the superstar authors in the lineup for this spring’s festival.

ATTEND

Bibliophiles have a lot to celebrate as the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival returns for another year this spring. Insider’s secret? Snatch up tickets now. The intimate, curated event occurs over three days at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission (fairmont.com/sonoma). It features over 20 superstar writers, including Amy Tan, David Grann, Colm Tóibín, Elliot Ackerman, Akhil Reed Amar, Yiyun Li and Jonathan Eig. April 26-28, svauthorsfest.org

Noise Pop brings together artists like Albert Hammond Jr.

LISTEN

The Bay Area’s OG indie music gathering, Noise Pop Festival, returns this month. The lineup features cherished indie rock favorites such as Snail Mail, The Mountain Goats (in a solo acoustic performance), Cherry Glazerr and Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter, all of whom have recently unveiled new music. Additionally, the event boasts an impressive array of international talent, including iconic Ethiopian keyboardist Hailu Mergia, Peruvian DJ Sofia Kourtesis and European electronic maestros Actress (in a rare live performance) and Alessandro Cortini. Various locations, Feb. 22-March 3, noisepopfest.com

The stage adaptation of Mystic Pizza sizzles in Walnut Creek this month.

SEE

Center Repertory Company presents Mystic Pizza this month in Walnut Creek. This sizzling romantic comedy starred Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor and Annabeth Gish on the big screen back in the day (yes, we are dating ourselves.) Reimagined by Sandy Rustin, this engaging play delves into the ambiance of a neighborhood eatery, where the tantalizing scents of romance, laughter and mouthwatering pizza permeate the atmosphere. Feb. 16-25, Leshner Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 925.943.7469, lesherartscenter.org

Michael Smuin’s legacy is celebrated with Zorro! and Fly Me to the Moon this month.

CELEBRATE

Smuin Contemporary Ballet celebrates its 30th anniversary with a tribute to Michael Smuin, its dynamic late founder. This program will showcase Smuin’s inimitable pizzazz with Zorro!, a ballet about the adventures of a beleaguered movie theatre usher who longs to emulate the swashbuckling masked California folk hero. A captivating original score by Grammy- and Emmy-winning composer Charles Fox complements the magical dance moves. Patrons also will enjoy Fly Me to the Moon. The show is performed against a twinkling backdrop of glowing stars. It brings to life an array of warm and witty Frank Sinatra favorites, including “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “That’s Life.” Feb. 29-March 3, Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, 700 Howard St., smuinballet.org

Jamón ibérico

FEAST

Union Square recently added another spot for a little culinary unwinding. The Post Room, a new Mediterranean-inspired bar and lounge, sits inside the historic Beacon Grand and overlooks the hotel’s lobby. The venue will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The menu leans Mediterranean, with roasted whole branzino, jamón Ibérico, K&J fig salad and curated flatbreads. Wines showcase exceptional California vineyards. Guests also will love the weekend brunches—all complemented by an engaging live music program. 450 Powell St., 415.395.8516, beacongrand.com/dine-drink