In case you missed all the pink and red merch in the supermarkets, it’s Valentine’s Day weekend so we’re avoiding candle-lit restaurants at all costs. All activities below are best enjoyed alone FYI.

Alternative V-Day viewing
If you’re looking for something a little different to your traditional rom-com this Valentine’s Day then head to the BFI. A series of screenings across the day range from My Beautiful Laundrette, an interracial romance set against the backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain starring Daniel Day-Lewis, to Billy Wilder’s Oscar-winning dark romantic comedy, The Apartment and Céline Sciamma’s beautiful, erotically-charged Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

Check out BFI’s full programme here. 

Encounters
Following the success of 2023’s Daidō Moriyama retrospective, The Photographers’ Gallery has opened its doors to a small-scale exhibition of the prolific photographer’s work. Titled Encounters, this specifically curated selection of images from the Japanese photographer highlights the subdued, reflective moments within Moriyama’s diverse practice.

Daidō Moriyama: Encounters will run at The Photographers Gallery until April 13th, more info here. 

Intimate performance
Paris-based trio Oracle Sisters – comprised of  Lewis Lazar, Christopher Willatt and Julia Johansen – are dropping their sophomore record Divinations today. In celebration of its release, the band will be hosting an acoustic in-store performance and signing at Rough Trade’s newest outpost on Denmark Street, so you get to hear it unplugged before anyone else.

Oracle Sisters will be performing at Rough Trade Denmark Street today, more info here. 

Family relations
Anna Mackmin’s new play Backstroke is making its global premiere at Donmar Warehouse. Following the complex relationship of mother and daughter Beth and Bo following Beth’s admittance to hospital after a stroke, plot details at the minute are scarce but with leading performances from legendary British actors Celia Imrie and Tamsin Greig, it’s sure to be an instant classic.

Backstroke runs at Donmar Warehouse until April 12th, more info here.

Hallucinating Love
Since their debut record Portraits in 2015, Maribou State has fine-tuned their soulful, genre-blending sound across eight EPs and three studio albums. Now, the electronic duo are taking their third album, Hallucinating Love on tour, kicking things off with a three-day stint at Alexandra Palace this weekend ahead of a summer at the top of festival bills worldwide.

Maribou State will be playing at Alexandra Palace on February 14th, 15th and 16th, more info here. 

Slice of life
Everyone’s favourite pizza joint Dough Hands is taking up another permanent residency following the continuing success of their Spurstowe Arms’ kitchen, but this time it’s south of the river, at The Old Nun’s Head. Chef Hannah Drye’s recipe for a good pizza is equal parts classic Italian and NYC dollar slice, building a light, crispy base which makes any topping taste bangin’. Choice of pizzas include the ‘Jode’ topped with nduja, hot honey and stracciatella, the ‘Shroomy’ topped with soy roasted mushrooms and soft taleggio cheese, and the ‘OG’ topped with pepperoni, jalapeños and lashings of parmesan. Now that’s true love.

Dough Hands is located at The Old Nun’s Head, 15 Nunhead Green, London, SE15 3QQ, more info here.