1. Get in the Black History Month groove with the kickoff of the monthlong Black Artstory series: Meet Me at the Gym, an evening of cultural expression and community building featuring the Ingersoll Youth Drumline, Gospel Group Manifest, Sophia Dawson and her Roller Skating Crew, and more. (Friday, Ingersoll Community Center, FREE)
2. See a new side of the Boys in Blue at To Protect, Serve, and Understand, a series of semi-improvised monologues and scenes performed by a group of both civilians and police officers. (Friday & Saturday, Irondale Center, FREE)
3. Fall goofily in love at Griff & Joe’s Valentine’s Day Lovetacular, with comedy and performances by ventriloquist Carla Rhodes and her paramour Cecil, “how-to” expert Matt Beacon, and musician Andy Shernoff. (Friday, Union Hall, $10)
4. Or fall melodically in love at Opera on Tap’s New Brew: The Relationship Show, with tunes and arias by Anne Hiatt, Kamala Sankaram, Krista Wozniak, David Gordon, and Seth Gilman. (Friday, Barbés, $10)
5. Go wild for politics at the Big Ass Party for Bernie, a dance party with plenty of entertainments, including aerialists, comedy, sword swallowers, and socialist sing-alongs. (Friday, House of Yes, $20)
6. Why should queens have all the fun? Head to Monarchs: A Night of Drag Kings to see some masculine performances from Fox Squire, K.James, and Vigor Mortis. (Friday, One Last Shag, FREE)
7. Get dirty painting a kick-ass Broad City mural with Mike Perry—the first 100 folks to show up get a free “Broad Fucking City” t-shirt, and everyone gets to go to the after party. (Saturday, Kinfolk, FREE)
8. Celebrate Black History Month at Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturday, with a slew of activities including monologues from the New Black Fest, a workshop on intersectionalism, a screening of The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, and music from Charles Perry, Latasha Alcindor, and more. (Saturday, Brooklyn Museum, FREE)
9. Watch comedians get sloppy at Drunk TED Talks: Drunk in Love, with speakers including Sara Benincasa, Josh Gondelman, and Maris Kreizman. (Saturday, Littlefield, $5)
10. Express your creative side at the Red Envelope Show, where you can draw or paint on red envelopes to celebrate the Year of the Monkey, while checking out work by more than 50 artists. (Saturday, Grumpy Bert, FREE)
11. Learn a (sexy) thing or two at Brooklyn Brainery’s Sex on the Brain party at Babeland, where you’ll hear sex tips while sipping sexy cocktails. (Saturday, Babeland Bk, FREE)
12. Laugh for a good cause at Harriet, an old comedy show in a new venue, which is also a benefit for Planned Parenthood. Comics include Dave Hill, Liza Treyger, and Matteo Lane. (Saturday, The Landing, $8)
13. Rock out at the opening of North Brooklyn’s newest venue, with Oberhofer, Genesis P-Orridge & Edley ODowd, LODRO, and a late-night DJ set by Cassie Ramone. (Saturday, Sunnyvale, $10)
14. See the seriously intense-sounding opera Black Rage: Negro Songs From a New Age Depression, inspired by chain gang songs, slave hymns, and field interviews with former slaves. (Saturday, Signal, $5 suggested)
15. Groove very quietly at a silent dance party, where three DJs spin different tunes and it’s all in your head—everyone receives Quiet Event headphones to hear the songs through. (Saturday, Kimoto Rooftop, $15)
16. Fête the Starman at Glamdammit’s Bowie Odyssey, with performances by Michael T and the Vanities, Briana Layon & the Boys, and more. (Saturday, Grand Victory, $10)
17. Shop local for your sweetheart (or yourself!) at the Greenpointers Valentine’s Market, with dozens of vendors, plus a photo booth, henna tattoos, face painting, massages, and plenty of other activities. (Sunday, Greenpoint Loft, FREE)
18. Warm yourself while watching queer movies at Stew n View, where there will be homemade hot soup and several films from the Lesbian Herstory video collection on view. (Sunday, Lesbian Herstory Archives, FREE)
19. Maybe you’ve heard there’s a big football game today? If that’s your thing, here’s our roundup of more than a dozen places to watch it, offering very different viewing experiences. Or if you’d rather see something very cute as opposed to very testosterone-y, head to Saint Catherine for the Puppy Bowl instead. (Sunday, varies)
20. Get mystical with the NY Obscura Society’s Oracle of Dreams, a monthly salon on divination, astrology, and cardomancy, with lectures and readings. (Sunday, Catland, $10)
Want more? Check out our full events calendar and add your own events too!