The jewel box at the center of the Castro is open once more.

Why it matters: The Castro Theatre closed in February 2024 (102 years after first opening) for an extensive, $41 million renovation and all-around glow-up.

• The facelift involved revealing the theater's hidden proscenium arch, the installation of a digital organ (which will be revealed on March 17) and extensive hand restoration of its ornate ceiling.

Catch up quick: The theater reopened on Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a rendition of Judy Garland's "San Francisco" from local singer Ruby Day, before crowds came in for champagne and a sold-out screening of the iconic Australian drag film "The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert."

• "When you walk in there, your eyes will pop out, your heart will pound — it's back," Donna Sachet, aka the "first lady of the Castro," told Axios on opening night.

Friction point: The theater's new owners, Another Planet Entertainment, met with pushback over their choice to replace fixed orchestra seating with removable chairs.

• While the fixed seats only dated to the early 2000s, the switch signaled a shift for the Castro from dedicated movie house to mixed-use concert venue.

Reality check: This tester found the new seats comfortable, with a lot more leg room than before (State Sen. Scott Wiener — who is 6'7" — told me he also approved of them). The original fixed seating is still in place on the balcony.

• The fact remains, it's better to have a theater that stays #BookedAndBusy with new seats than another shuttered venue in SF.

By Saturday, the slide-away chairs were off the main floor and the stage exploded in glitter for D'Arcy's Drag & Disco — a party night headed up by Oasis owner and SF drag icon D'Arcy Drollinger.

💭 My thought bubble: After Oasis temporarily closed its doors on New Year's Eve, the city has felt a little less sparkly. But as a Castro resident, it's so wonderful to look down the hill on Castro Street and see the famous neon lit up again.

• Welcome back, Castro, and may you let no stranger wait outside your door.

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Amid President Trump's widespread immigration crackdown, lawmakers nationwide have been issuing clarion calls to "Abolish ICE" or "Abolish Trump's ICE."

Why it matters: The rallying cries have grown louder in the wake of the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by immigration agents last month, but few agree on what the phrase means.

Here's where California politicians stand on the matter:

✅ State Sen. Scott Wiener has been among the most vocal in his support of abolishing ICE.

• He supports reforms prohibiting federal and local law enforcement — including ICE — from wearing masks during operations in California and allowing Californians to sue federal agents for constitutional violations.

❌ Gov. Gavin Newsom disagrees with dismantling the agency, but has said he supports "comprehensive immigration reform."

💸 U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff has taken a firm stance against approving further funding for the agency until "real reforms" are made.

• He opposes agents conducting mass sweeps against the opposition of local leaders, intrusions into homes without warrants and masked agents conducting operations without identification.

🏛️ Mayor Daniel Lurie has not publicly called for abolishing ICE, but has been opposed to immigration agents raiding San Francisco.

• He said their presence in the city has contributed to widespread fears among the immigrant community.

What's next

🖊️ Union Square will continue hosting free events, such as weekly lessons in sketching and mahjong, through summer 2027. (SF Chronicle)

🏅 Milano Cortina officials are investigating reports of defective Olympic medals after Oakland figure skater Alysa Liu, who helped Team USA win the mixed-team competition, posted a TikTok of a broken gold medal. (SFGATE)

🩺 The Trump administration plans to rescind $600 million in grants already allocated across California, Minnesota, Colorado and Illinois. (SF Chronicle)

The day before Valentine's Day has become its own holiday for platonic love, known as Palentine's Day or Galentine's Day.

Why it matters: The holiday helps make love feel less exclusive and reminds us of the importance of platonic relationships, says Marisa G. Franco, a psychologist and author of "Platonic," a book about how to make and keep friends.

• Every year, Franco throws a party for her friends and hosts discussions on love and friendship.

Want to host a similar soirée? Here are some questions to ask.

🧠 On defining love:

• What's something you've learned about love that you no longer believe?
• What's a way you might need to be loved that's different from most others?

🫂 On platonic love:

• What have your friends taught you about what it means to love?
• What's the single most powerful moment of love you've had in friendship?

🧘‍♂️ On self-love:

• When you are in love with someone, do you feel like more or less of yourself? Why?

Romance is temporary. Your dog's judgment when you don't share snacks is forever. So what better way to celebrate their devotion than by showering them with what they love most — attention, treats and tons of play time.

"Bark" at Spark Social, a Valentine's celebration in Mission Bay on Sunday, is designed for dogs and the humans who happily orbit them.

• Expect dog-centric activities and a themed costume contest.
• Make sure to dress your pup in all-out Cupid vibes, sweet hearts, or any over-the-top Valentine look. Arrive by 2pm to check in for the contest, which kicks off at 2:30pm.

🐶 Nothing says true love like puppy kisses and zero personal space. It's giving peak "who rescued who?" energy.

If you go: 11am-5pm Sunday at 601 Mission Bay Blvd. North.