Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN RICHMOND!
Week of October 16, 2012

Welcome to the new look of "What's Happening in Richmond", the weekly newsletter from your Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Please let us know what you think of our format!

Each week we will spotlight one of our lodging properties - their staff, amenities and what makes each property unique.

For a quick reference, click on the day (to the right) to go directly to that day or heading.

If you have an upcoming event, please send the details to my  email  to be included in the next edition.

 

If your event isn't listed here, we probably aren't aware of it. Either send us your information by Monday morning to be included in the weekly edition or enter your event on the  Community Calendar.

Don't hesitate to call us for more information at 510-237-1403.

 

We are happy to help!

 

Michelle Itagaki
Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau
201 W Richmond Avenue
Richmond, California 94801
510-237-1403
Wednesday, October 17
Wednesday
Thursday, October 18
Thursday
Friday, October 19
Friday
Saturday, October 20
Saturday
Monday, October 22
Monday
Ongoing Events
 Here
Planning Ahead
 Here
Spotlight on Lodging
Extended Stay
Extended Stay America - Richmond - Hilltop Mall

Welcome to Extended Stay America - Richmond - Hilltop Mall. Our hotel is designed especially for longer stays with studios featuring fully-equipped kitchens and plenty of work space... amenities you won't find in a typical hotel room.

 

Lisa Smith is the General Manager & would love for you to stop by and introduce yourself.  While you're there, ask her about her volunteer job as "Chief Wrangler of the Distinguished Clown Corps" for the Luther Burbank Rose Parade...she might even share a picture.  

 

Newly Renovated Rooms - Everything from new flooring and fresh paint to upgraded bedding and flat screen TVs. Better Rooms. Better Stay.

Wednesday
WEDNESDAY
 

Students at Richmond High Welcome Their Writing Coaches!

 

Richmond High School

1250 23rd Street

Wednesday, October 17th

Noon

Please RSVP to Shelli Fried

Richmond Volunteer Coordinator

sfried0530@gmail.com | 510-530-7600

 

FREE

 

The official launch of the WriterCoach Connection Program at Richmond High will take place on October 17, 2012 at noon in front of the school. The community is invited to honor the commitment made by local volunteer coaches, RHS teachers and administration, and WCCUSD to improving crucial communication skills needed for success in school, career, and life.

 

WCCUSD Superintendent, Dr. Bruce Harder says: "WriterCoach Connection works. Student writing achievement goes up, teachers get much-needed relief with the extra individual attention to students, community members bond with their schools as they walk the hallways with their students and sit with them to help develop more effective writing and deeper critical thinking. Everyone wins, and we need more of it."

 

 

Maritime Childcare Center NPS Tour

 

Maritime Childcare Center

1014 Florida Avenue (corner of Harbour Way

Wednesday, October 17th

11:00am

Reservations required: call 510-232-5050 x0. to RSVP.

FREE

 

At the Maritime Center, tour a wartime preschool classroom exhibit, and learn the vital role of child care in the war effort. Tour begins at 11:00 am in the lobby
 

Award Winner Author Daniel Alarcon Speaks

 

Contra Costa College Library

2600 Mission Bell Drive

Wednesday, October 17th

6:00 pm

 

Daniel Alarcon is the author of "Lost City Radio" and "War by Candlelight". His fictional and journalistic works have appeared in Harpers, El Pais, and McSweeney's. Don't miss this opportunity t hear him read and discuss his work.

Thursday
THURSDAY
 

Wine Tasting at La Strada!

 

La Strada Restaurant

2215 Church Lane

Thursday, October 18th

$55 per person

Reservations required (707) 226-3027 or brenda@lastradanapa.com

 

"Italian All the Way!" Appetizers and a variety of Italian Wines.

 

 

3rd Thursday ArtWalk

 

Point Richmond

Thursday, October 18th

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

 

            This month's Art Walk special features are:

 

JIM DeWITT RECEPTION at Point Richmond Art Collective 5:30 to 9:00 pm

 

JAZZ JAM SESSION at the Baltic Restaurant. Bring your instruments and your voices.

 

LIVE MUSIC & LATE NITE BAR B Q at Up & Under Bar & Grill

 

DAY OF THE DEAD EXHIBIT AND LIVE MUSIC at Refined by Fire Gallery

 

 

Art Reception featuring Artist Jim DeWitt

 

Point Richmond Art Collective

121 Park Place

Thursday, October 18th

5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

FREE

 

Please join us for a special showing of the latest work by Artist Jim DeWitt, World Reknowned Maritime Artist and Artist in Residence for th 34th America's Cup!

 

~as always, beverages and tasty bites will be provided!

 

Friday
FRIDAY
 

BART Small Business Programs Outreach Meeting

 

 

Richmond Main Street Initiative

1000 Mcdonald Avenue, Suite C

Friday, October 19th

FREE

 

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District invites you to attend an outreach meeting and learn about a number of initiatives that BART has developed to assist small businesses that are seeking to work on BART contracts.

 

Annual Free Drive Through Flu Shot Clinic

 

Doctors Medical Center

2000 Vale Road

Friday, October 19th

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

 

Community residents are invited to receive a vaccination without leaving their vehicles. Participants should enter from the hospital's West entrance on Vale Road and follow the signs.

 

"A vaccination is the best way to avoid the flu, and our drive through clinic is the fastest, most affordable way residents can get a vaccination, without leaving their cars or scheduling an appointment," explained West Contra Costa Healthcare District Board Chair Eric Zell. "By providing free vaccinations at a time that is convenient, the Healthcare District is helping to fulfill its obligation to meet the diverse healthcare needs of our community."

 

This year, Doctors Medical Center staff will be assisted by experienced nursing students from Contra Costa College. "The clinic is a great partnership," Zell pointed out. "By working with the nursing students, we can reach more seniors, residents who have mobility challenges, and all of our community members in just one afternoon. And the students gain from hands-on clinical experience in a true public health setting."  

 

Doctors Medical Center is located at 2000 Vale Road, in San Pablo, off of San Pablo Dam Road. Shots are available to adults aged 18 and over. Thimerisol-free vaccines are available for pregnant women and individuals with thimerisol allergies.

 

Saturday
SATURDAY
 

"A Wish Bestowing Ceremony"

 

The NeXus

1414 Harbour Way South #110

Saturday, October 20

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

$20 at the door

 

This is a great opportunity to experience Karma's virtuosity in our warm, Buddhic atmosphere as he rings in the sacred silence that creates all manifestation.

 

Karma Moffett has developed, over a period of thirty five years, an exceptional program of music, which is presented to the community as a Wish-Bestowing Ceremony. He uses his unique collection of instruments, featuring antique Tibetan Bowls, Bells, Tingsha Cymbals, Longhorn & Conch Shells.

 

Karma begins by playing Native American Flute, then he plays the Tibetan Longhorn, patterning the ceremony as a symbolic sojourn to Tibet. There follows a journey through the Bowls, from the low tones to the high, creating different harmonics among the attuned & paired sets of bowls. Next resound the higher notes of the Bells. The journey upwards culminates in the highest-pitched tones of the Tingsha & the Conch Shells resonating above. Gently, Karma reverses the pattern, back downward through the Bells & Bowls. At the end, he dissolves the movement of sound into the stillness of the Great Mystery. This entire process takes about eighty minutes.

 

 

Brooks Island Bring Your Own Boat Voyage

 

Richmond Marina

Saturday, October 20th

10:00 am - 3:30 pm

$20 Residents of Contra Costa & Alameda Counties

Registration required at 1-888-327-2757.  

 

Paddle the rising tide across the Richmond Harbor Channel to Brooks Island. Explore the parks natural and cultural history and enjoy views from its rocky peaks. For experienced boaters who can provide their own kayak and safety gear.

 

Must be 14+ years of age. Parent participation required.

 

Artisan Glass SF Annual Open Studio

 

Artisan Glass SF

3409 Andrade Avenue

Saturday, October 20

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

 

Don't miss this wonderful Open Studio event. Light refreshments will be served.

 

 

Urban Burp Grand Opening

 

Urban Burp

200 South Garrard Boulevard Suite 3

Saturday, October 20

Store open Noon - 7:00 pm

Reception 3:00 pm

 

Door prizes, gift certificates, demonstrations & other surprises. Special raffle for a brand new Babylock Sewing machine!

 

 

 
26th Annual Harmony Walk & 5K Run to End Homelessness

Civic Center Plaza

450 Civic Center Plaza

Saturday, October 21

8:00 am - Noon

 

One day, 3.5 miles! Join hundreds as they walk/ race to end hunger and homelessness in West Contra Costa County.  We need both walkers and runners!  Visit us online at  http://harmonywalk.teamraiseeasy.com.  Got questions? Contact  kcroom@gripcommunity.org or 510-233-2141 ext. 304.

The 26th Annual Harmony Walk & 5K Run to End Hunger and Homelessness Presented by Chevron is the largest fundraising event in Richmond. The event will feature kid's races and activities, a dog walk, a free pancake breakfast and the Community Fair/Festival.

Monday
MONDAY
 

Birding at Miller/Knox Reginal Shoreline

 

Miller Knox Regional Park

Monday, October 22

9:00 am - Noon

FREE

 

Join EBRPD Naturalist Anthony Fisher for Birds! Birds! Birds! And other stuff! For information, call 510-544-22333.

Ongoing
ONGOING EVENTS
  
 

Rosie the Riveter Visitor Center 

 

Open Daily

RORI Visitor Center

1414 Harbour Way South

FREE

 

Meet a ranger or volunteer for a 45 minute program (topics vary) at the Visitor Center at 2:00pm every day. Come early to see the exhibits in the Visitor Center. Ranger Betty Soskin speaks on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  

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Richmond Main Street Farmers Market

 

Nevin Plaza

13th Street & Nevin

Wednesday 

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

 

Your neighborhood Richmond Main Street Farmers' Market is the BEST place for local, seasonal fruits & vegetables. All our produce comes from California farms! Along with the freshest produce around, you will also find delicious baked goods, fresh cut flowers, gourmet foods, local honey, and more! Come to the Richmond Main Street Farmers' Market for lunch and leave with groceries for dinner!

 

WIC/EBT gladly accepted. PLUS: Spend $10 or more with your food stand or EBT bard and get $5 in market produce FREE. Just visit the Famers' Market info table to take advantage of this amazing offer.

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Richmond Certified Farmers Market at Civic Center Parking Lot

 

Civic Center Parking Lot
24th & Barrett Avenue
Fridays
8 am - 5 pm

The market, in the Richmond Auditorium parking lot at 24th and Barrett Avenue, has offered locally grown fruit, vegetables, nuts, plants,eggs, chickens and other edibles since l983.

A free market basket is given away each week.   For more information contact Steve Ghigliotto, market manager, at 510-206-7271.

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"Trading Places" NIAD Exhibit 

 

NIAD

551 23rd STreet

Through November 2nd

Gallery Hours 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

 

A group show featuring NIAD's studio staff and artists, who have selected each other's artwork for display in the exhibit. The staff chose one piece of art by a NIAD artist whose work shares an affinity with their own. That artist then chose a work of art created by the staff member. The work will be exhibited in the following pairings:

 

Staff Member                Artist

Veronica De Jesus      Karen May
Jan Mignuad                Shantae Robinson
Andres Cisneros          Kevin Randolph
Ruben Guzman           Jonathan Velasquez
Tomoko Murakami      Maria Radilla
Lauren Ari                     Billy White
Maria Hartikainen       Marlon Mullen
Jenn Brazelton            Luis Estrada


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Bingo!

 

Marina Gardens Bingo

1401 Marina Way South

Wednesday - Saturdays

Doors Open at 5 pm

Games begin at 7 pm

 

Bingo players are loving this wonderful hall, the friendly and safe environment, and the honest games. Marina Gardens Bingo has become a new destination for people from all over the bay area.

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Golden State Model Railroad Museum

 

Golden State Model Railroad Museum

900-A Dornan Drive

Wednesdays 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Saturdays Noon - 5:00 pm

Sundays Noon - 5:00 pm  

Admission Prices (when trains are running)

  $4 for Adults

  $2 for Senior Citizens & Children under 12

  $9 for Families

 

A visit to our 10,000 square foot Museum of operating model trains provides an inexpensive, fun-filled outing for young and old, with plenty of room for youngsters to stretch their legs and expend energy as they follow trains along the 200+ feet of public walkway.

 

More information here

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The Baltic

 

The Baltic

135 Park Place
 More information here 
 

 

Wednesday, October 18th

9:00 pm - 11:30 pm

Tarah's B-Day Bash  

 

Thursday, October 19th

8:00 pm - 11:00 pm 

Baltic Sessions - Jazz Jam

Hosted by The Kit Eakle Trio" featuring Michael Price and Marcelino Quiroz

 

Friday, October 20th

9:30pm - 11:59pm

Luv Stoned 

 

Saturday, October 21st

9:30 pm - 11:30 pm

Howell Devine
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Free Teen Hip Hop Dance Classes

 

Crescent Park Apartments

Multi-Cultural Resource Center

5000 Hartnett Avenue

FREE

Call (510) 692-4720 to register

 

Free Hip Hop dance class for teens, taught by The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.

 

Please call the Bayview Branch Library for more information, at 620-6566. This program is sponsored by the Crescent Park Apartments and the Friends of the Richmond Public Library.

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FREE Zumba in Downtown is Back! 

 

310 9th Street  

(at 9th Street & Macdonald Avenue)

 

Mondays ~ Lunchtime Zumba

12:30-1:30pm

 

Thursdays ~ After-Work Workout

5:30-6:30pm

7:00-8:00pm

 

We are excited to once again offer these free, high-energy fitness classes in downtown with Zumba instructor extraordinaire, Willa 'Bontle' Willis.

 

Plus, we've secured a new location in Downtown that will allow a flexible class schedule and class size! No need to reserve a spot--just show up and get fit moving to those fun beats!

 

All classes last one hour. Make sure to wear comfy, loose clothing and athletic/supportive shoes. Healthy snacks and water will be provided.

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The RAC Dazzles with 4 New Exhibits 

 

Richmond Art Center

2540 Barrett Avenue

Gallery Hours, Wednesday - Saturday

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Exhibit through November 9th

 

MAIN GALLERY

Hobos to Street People: Artists' Responses to Homelessness from the New Deal to the Present

This timely exhibit features the works of 30 artists working over the last 75 years to document the tragedy of homelessness and the government's role in the crisis. Through painting, printmaking, photography, and mixed media, Depression-era and contemporary artists offer glimpses of life on the street and show many similarities between the eras. Featured are works by New Deal era artists such as Dorthea Lange, Rockwell Kent, and Giacomo Patri along with contemporary artists such as Sandow Birk, David Bacon, and Christine Hanlon.

 

WEST GALLERY

Ahhh! Silica - Work by ACGA Clay & Glass artists that inspires AWE!

Featuring over 30 artists from The Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California (ACGA). Juried by Steven Allen, Artist and Ceramics Studio manager at the Richmond Art Center. Silica is a basic and abundant ingredient shared by both clay and glass artists that is magically transformed by the creative spirit and fire to create inspiring works of art. This exhibition showcases artists practicing various methods such as working on the wheel, hand-building, sculpting, slumping, slip casting, and blowing, among others.

 

SOUTH GALLERY

Beyond Borders Experimentation and Innovation in Enameling

The 11th International Juried Enamel Exhibition sponsored by the Northern California Enamel Guild (NCEG) features works by 50 artists. This exhibition includes functional and non-functional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional works that illustrate the wide scope of artwork created by the enameling process. Work is chosen for it's melding of technical excellence and content, and for daring to push the boundaries of the medium.

 

COMMUNITY GALLERY

Art on the Greenway Celebrating the City of Richmond's 2012 Neighborhood Public Art Program

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Wizards & Witches Weekend at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach

 

Playland Not-at-the-Beach
10979 San Pablo Avenue
Saturday, October 20th
Sunday, October 21st
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Adults $15
Children/Seniors $10
    

As the bewitching time of the year approaches, Playland becomes a bit more haunted. All Harry Potters and friends can explore our magic potions, mysterious spells and enchantments. Bring your magic wands and broomsticks, come in costume for special prizes!

 

More information about Playland here

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"A REFINERY SAGA" Exhibit

 

Richmond Museum of History

400 Nevin Avenue

Exhibit through November 17th 

$2 Adults

$1 Senior/Students

Under 12 free with adult  

 

Dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the Chevron Richmond Refinery and funded from the Clarabelle Hamilton Fund, members, friends and volunteers of the Museum. The goal of the Museum exhibit is to highlight some of the more interesting scenes, events and milestones of Chevron's history in Richmond by showcasing documents, objects and photos exclusively from the Museum archive.

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SS Red Oak Victory Ship Museum

 

SS Red Oak Victory Ship

1337 Canal Boulevard

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

$5

 

SS Red Oak Victory is open for docent tours on Tues, Thurs, Sat, and Sun from 10am-4pm. Last tour begins promptly at 3pm. Boarding fee is $5 for everyone. The ship is berthed at 1337 Canal Blvd and the ship phone is 510-237-2933. 

 Planning
PLANNING AHEAD
 

Oktoberfest East Bay

 

Craneway Pavilion

1414 Harbour Way South

Saturday, October 27

$15 - $50

Purchase tickets here   

 

FREE Shuttle from BART
Plenty of Convenient Onsite Parking
Festival Entertainment Includes: Delicious Food, Cold Beer, Live Music, Interactive games
Kid Zone, Bring the Entire Family, 21+ w/ ID to drink
Prize for Best Lederhosen and Dirndl Costume

GAMES:
Oktoberfest East Bay features fun and ridiculous games for professional drinkers, hobbyists and designated drivers alike.

Spectators may find themselves yelling, "Ausgezeichnet!" as their fellow festival goers complete relay races while balancing beer coasters on their heads or "Frauen" on their shoulders.

German and American inspired games such as: Bierdeckel Zielwerfen, Flip Cup, stein races, and more will keep the participants and the crowd entertained for this festive occasion. Viel Spass will be had by all!

MUSIC:
BAYERN MAIDEN does Oktoberfest music right bringing the true Wies'n party songs that you would hear in a tent in Munich. They do not play 6 piece horn polka. Instead, Bayern Maiden plays a mix of German pop, rock, folk and disco (which they teach the audience) and American classic tunes so everyone can sing along. Get ready to stand up on your chairs and belt out some high notes because Bayern Maiden is coming to play.

 
RPAL Halloween 2012