Event Spotlight: Science of Seduction, Polkapalooza, Pillow Fight

Event Spotlight: Science of Seduction, Polkapalooza, Pillow FightPhoto: deeptrip/flickr (cropped)
Geri Koeppel
Published on February 10, 2016

Each week, we'll feature an especially interesting event in the neighborhood based on the event submissions we get, and what we hear about while we're out on the beat. If you want to be considered for next week, please submit your event here.

Many of you red hot lovers might have plans already for this Valentine's Day weekend, which extends to Monday for some lucky ducks thanks to President's Day.

But in case you haven't yet booked up, there's a host of things to do, several of which don't require triple-digit date night expenses. To whet your appetites, there's a talk on the "Science of Seduction" at the Commonwealth Club at 7pm Thursday for $25 ($20 for members). Dr. Jennifer Rhodes will help you sharpen your seduction skills (it's not all about sex, she promises), followed by booze, snacks and a chance to flaunt what you've learned. 


Next up, whether you're single, you think Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday, or you simply prefer suds to bubbly, Schroeder's "Polkapalooza! Beer. Brats. Broken Hearts" is for you. This "anti-Valentine's Day party" runs 5–10pm Saturday, and with polka band Polkalicious, beer hall games and speed dating, it should have you laughing—not crying—into your beer.


Finally, it's something of a mystery, but each year on Valentine's Day, a flash mob of at least 1,000 gathers at Justin Herman Plaza to pound each other silly with pillows. Show up at 6pm Feb. 14th, bring your pillow (no real feathers, please) and a bag to help clean up the mess afterward. Love—and pillow stuffing—may be in the air that day, but for both, no one wants to view the aftermath.


If you still want to make that fancy reservation, Inside Scoop reports on San Francisco's most romantic restaurants, but good luck getting in. On another note, SFGate breaks down the most highly rated restaurants in town versus the most booked, according to OpenTable, and the results might surprise you. What's not shocking is the good showing that the downtown area does in the survey. Kusakabe at 584 Washington St. ranks the highest-rated restaurant in town, with Kokkari Estiatorio, Quince, Wayfare Tavern, La Mar Cebicheria Peruana, Coqueta and Hakkasan all on the list, too.

Now, for more things to do this coming week:


To check out more local events around the city, visit hoodline.com/events

If you have an event you'd like to add to our calendar, you can submit it here for free. If approved, your event will appear on our new calendar and within the Hoodline news feed, which is seen by thousands of local readers every day. If you submit, we may also choose to write about it.