Hello Richmondside readers. Here are some highlights of things to do and know this coming week and beyond.
On Sunday, Sept. 8, if you don’t mind mingling with a huge crowd, visit what’s billed as the East Bay’s largest street festival: The Solano Avenue Stroll. Or, for a quieter outing on Saturday, learn how to plant a hillside garden at an Annie’s Annuals workshop.
Next week, you can attend a parade spotlighting Latin American independence or view a runway show displaying some fashionable pieces designed by Richmond residents.
For additional events, check our calendar and be sure to add your own listings as well.
Consider taking shuttle to Solano Stroll Sunday
The popular Solano Avenue Stroll 48 is scheduled to fill the streets of Albany and Berkeley from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. with a parade down Solano Avenue.
The event will feature more than 400 vendors, including entertainers, government agencies, food specialists, artists and jewelry makers, along Solano Avenue, which will be closed to through traffic from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and completely closed to all traffic from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with AC transit buses being rerouted to Marin Avenue. The nearest open cross streets will be San Pablo Avenue in Albany and The Alameda in Berkeley.
With more than 100,000 people expected to visit what’s billed as the East Bay’s largest street festival, we advise you take the free shuttle (which is wheelchair accessible), take a rideshare vehicle or ride a bicycle — there’s free bicycle valet parking near 1275 Solano Ave. and plenty of bike racks, according to organizers.
The shuttles run from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the North Berkeley BART station to Marin Avenue, which runs one block south along Solano Avenue. Visit the event’s How to Get to the Stroll page for details.
League of Women Voters, West County Forum host City Council candidates
The League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County is sponsoring three Democracy in Action Forums. The first one, for the Richmond City Council race, is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 11, at the Richmond City Council Chamber, 450 Civic Center Plaza.
You can also watch the forum via Zoom or on Channel 28 TV.
On Sat., Sept. 14, the group will sponsor a candidates forum for the Contra Costa County Board of Education and the East Bay Municipal District (EBMUD) governing board as well as for the city council elections in El Cerrito, Hercules and Pinole.
That event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Richmond City Council Chamber.
And finally, on Oct. 9, the league is hosting a forum on the Ranked Choice and Richmond Election Reform Act on the November ballot. That event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City Council Chamber.
On Thursday, Sept. 12, at noon, the West County Forum will host the city council candidates at La Strada, 2215 Church Lane, San Pablo. The event is open to the public, but candidate questions are only allowed from current paid members and need to be submitted in advance. Email abelsonolivas@gmail.com to reserve a space or submit questions. Lunch is $30.
Final neighborhood connection meeting is tonight
The final neighborhood meeting will be held as part of the citywide Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative sponsored by the California Volunteers organization through the governor’s office.
The program, which will award 20 Richmond neighborhoods $16,000 grants, aims to explore social connections and neighborhood improvement ideas. The final of six focus group meetings will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight, Sept. 5, at the Nevin Community Center, 598 Nevin Ave. This meeting focuses on the Belding Woods and Iron Triangle neighborhoods.
Become a screen printing expert
Looking to custom design a cool looking T-shirt?
The Richmond Art Center has you covered.
A screen printing basics class begins on Wed., Sept. 11, at the center, 2540 Barrett Avenue. (Some other crafty kinds of classes start then too but may have waitlists so check their website for details.)
The class is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Wednesday through Oct. 16. It’s for anyone age 14 and older.
During the six-week course, students will learn all aspects of screen printing to create unique designs on a number of surfaces.
Adult literacy program graduation is Friday
A graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept. 6, for 15 Richmond residents who earned their high school diplomas through the Richmond library’s Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP).
The ceremony will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza.
LEAP has been in action since 1984. It started out as a library-based adult literacy program to improve reading and writing skills for local residents. Since then, it has branched out to include services to help participants prepare for GED high school equivalency exams and improve their math literacy and computer literacy skills.
The program provides small group sessions as well as one-on-one instruction.
Saturday: Learn how to garden on a slope
Planting a backyard garden has its challenges, but what if you live in a house on a hillside?
Don’t fret. An arborist will be available Sat., Sept. 7, to help you overcome the obstacles of gardening on a slope.
Ellyn Shea, a horticulturist and certified arborist, will discuss strategies for gardening in vertically challenging spaces from 11 a.m. to noon at Annie’s Annuals and Perennials Nursery, 740 Market St.
Shea’s tips will include irrigation best practices, design techniques and plant selection.
Woof! Kids gain confidence reading with a furry companion
Did you know that children can gain fluency and confidence in their reading skills with the help of a dog?
The Read to a Dog program is from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tue., Sept. 10, in the Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. Call 510-620-6557 to reserve a spot.
The program is offered on the second Tuesday and third Wednesday of every month. Each child gets 15 minutes to read a dog.
More music on tap this weekend at Sailing Goat
Here’s the upcoming musical line-up at the Sailing Goat restaurant, 1900 Stenmark Drive.
On Fri., Sept. 6, Colin Cotter, a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, will perform from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
On Sat., Sept. 7, Ruby Lee Hill, a classic country artist from the Carolinas, will take the stage from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
And on Sun., Sept. 8, Allex Costa, known by the stage name Allzee, a Brazilian music fusion artist, will entertain the crowd from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Funk music, comedy at Baltic Kiss
A variety of music is also coming to the Baltic Kiss restaurant, 135 Park Place. Here are a few of their many shows:
On Fri., Sept. 6, Ghost Town Hangmen, Hot Laundry and Heebie Jeebies will perform from 8 p.m. to 11:55 p.m.
On Sat., Sept. 7, Funk Nugget, a Marin County cover band that plays funk and disco music, will be on stage from 8 p.m. to 11:55 p.m.
On Sun., Sept. 8, a Bang the Bay concert will feature a half-dozen bands from noon to 5 p.m. That will be followed by a performance from Okie West & the Zydeco Playboys from 7 p.m. to 9:55 p.m.
On Mon., Sept. 9, the weekly I Heart Monday Night Comedy show will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m, followed by the weekly Monday Night Jam from 9 p.m. to 11:55 p.m.
Opening reception for latest Richmond Art Center exhibits
An opening reception will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 7, for the newly opened exhibits at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
The works will be on display until Nov. 21. The art center galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
The Richmond-inspired “Right Here, Right Now” exhibit features artists Anthony Delgado, Art Hazelwood, e bond, Erin McCluskey Wheeler, Helia Pouyanfar, Quinn Keck and Taro Hattori.
Much of the artwork reflects the Richmond community and some of the issues it is facing such as trash along the shoreline and the experiences of refugees.
The “Sentinels & Saviors: Iconic Avatars” exhibit at the South Gallery showcases two Oakland artists, Joell Jones and Kim Thoman, with a goal to “remind us to pay attention to our inner lives and those avatars or symbols of our own choosing that can be our signposts giving guidance and encouragement,” according to the art center.
Also opening are “Abi Mustapha: Recent Work,” by Sierra Leonean/American contemporary artist Abi Mustapha of Santa Cruz, and a student showcase of Japanese ink brush paintings from Fumiyo Yoshikawa’s beginner sumi-e class at Richmond Art Center. Sumi-e is a traditional East Asian painting technique that uses black ink (sumi) on paper.
Coming soon: Parade, LGBQT+ celebration, and more
Fiestas Patrias parade is Sept. 14
Organizers are making final preparations for the Fiestas Patrias parade.
The event, which celebrates Latin American Independence Day, was rescheduled from its original May 5 date due to rain.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 14, at the intersection of 23rd Street and Barrett Avenue in Richmond. It ends at 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1845 Church Lane in San Pablo.
Fashion runway event at NIAD galleries
A fashion runway show is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 14, at the NIAD Art Center, 551 23rd St.
The runway show will highlight the fashion exhibits currently on display at the NIAD galleries until Sept. 20.
The NIAD exhibit, “The Way We Are, Now,” is a collection of designs from NIAD’s fashion classes.
The runway show will be a multi-sensory gallery experience with dance, opera and spoken word performances.
Several dresses designed by veteran NIAD artist Karen May will be among the designs featured on the catwalk during the runway show.
NIAD artist Julio Del Rio will display sketches and embroidery during the show.
All NIAD events are free to the public.
5K run to raise money for brain cancer research
You can walk or run along the Richmond shoreline to help raise funds for brain cancer research.
The Fast Track to a Cure 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 21, at Lucretia Edwards Shoreline Park. The course goes out and back along the San Francisco Bay Trail.
The event will feature music, food and prize giveaways.
The funds raised go to Oligo Nation, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness and money for research into oligodendroglioma.
The 5K run/walk is organized by Stanley Currier, a Richmond resident who was diagnosed with this form of brain cancer more than three years ago.
First LGBTQ+ pride celebration in El Sobrante
History will soon be made in El Sobrante. The community’s first LGBTQ+ Pride celebration will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 22, at La Moine Park, 3444-3530 Morningside Drive.
The event will feature food trucks, local vendors and community booths as well as music from DJ Page Hodel, drag queen bingo and speeches from local leaders.
Children can enjoy the park’s two playgrounds as well as a petting zoo.
“For years, we’ve chanted ‘We are everywhere’ at big city pride celebrations and, now, we’re bringing that spirit to El Sobrante,” said the Rev. Dr. Melinda V. McLain, a pastor at The Good Table United Church of Christ, a sponsor of the event. “This is our time to shine, to come together and to show that love has no boundaries — even in semi-rural places like El Sobrante.”
Registration open for walk to support hunger programs
You can literally take some steps in the right direction early next month to help end hunger and homelessness in the Richmond area.
The 38th annual Harmony Walk is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 5, at Nicholl Park, 3230 Macdonald Ave.
The event will feature food trucks, live music and family-friendly activities.
It is sponsored by the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP), a non-profit organization that serves 15,000 people annually in west Contra Costa County.
Registration for the event is now open. Cost is $38 per person and $12 for each additional individual signed up with the original registration.
“The Harmony Walk brings together the community in a vibrant celebration of GRIP’s work in Richmond,” said Jilly de la Torre, the Harmony Walk chair. “We’re thrilled to put on this event and to bring people together to celebrate the amazing work happening around Richmond and Contra Costa to uplift our community members in need.”
Ongoing events, news and government meetings
Every week, local agencies and organizations host a variety of recurring events. See our calendar for more and add your local events for free.
- Two farmers markets are held weekly in Richmond. The Civic Center Farmers Market runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Friday in front of the main library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. The Marina Bay Farmers Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at Marina Bay Park in the parking lot near Regatta Boulevard and Melville Square.
- A farmers market is also held weekly in El Sobrante. The market, organized by Planting Justice, is held on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5166 Sobrante Ave.
- The West Coast Chess Alliance sponsors a number of weekly chess events throughout West Contra Costa County. The Richmond Senior Center, 2525 Macdonald Ave., is the host for chess players every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chess enthusiasts can also gather from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays at the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane. You can also play chess every Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Pablo Library, 13751 San Pablo Ave.
- Visit a museum, get a free transit ride. The Contra Costa Library is offering free $20 Clipper cards to residents when they make a reservation to visit a museum. There are nearly 30 museums in the Bay Area that qualify under the program. Offer is limited to two Clipper cards per household. The program runs through the end of December.
- For seniors, every Thursday the Seniors Network Activity Program hosts free Tai Chi from 11 a.m to noon at Lifelong William Jenkins Wellness Center, 150 Harbour Way. Attendees are advised to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Sessions are open to both seated and standing participants. For more information call (510) 684-9266.
- Saturdays at the Richmond Recreation Complex, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3230 Macdonald Ave. Enjoy instructional activities such as Zumba, soccer, basketball, and chess Visit the website to register. Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Infant & Toddler Music and Movement Storytime, 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Mondays, Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. This Richmond Public Library Children’s Room program includes songs, fingerplays and books that are designed for families with babies and toddlers, but all ages of children are welcome.
- Family Storytime, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesdays, Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. This Richmond Public Library Childrens Room program is geared toward families with toddlers. The event is a storytime session with a Richmond librarian.
- The Knit ‘n’ Needle Club meets Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the West Side Branch Library, 135 Washington Ave. The gathering is for knitters, crochet and needleworkers of all levels. The meeting is a chance for people who enjoy this craft to get together while they work.
- Are you able to “eat, drink and think?” Test your knowledge of obscure facts at a weekly trivia night, Head Games Trivia, on Wednesdays at East Brother Beer Company, 1001 Canal Blvd., in Point Richmond.The Richmond City Council usually meets on the first, third and fourth Tuesday of every month. The meetings are held at City Hall, 440 Civic Center Plaza. Its next regularly scheduled meeting is Tues., Sept. 10. Agendas are usually posted the preceding Friday. Learn more in our guide to the City Council.
- The Richmond Planning Commission usually meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month, but its meeting this week was canceled, presumably because three of four positions on the commission are vacant, and it wouldn’t have a quorum. The meetings are usually held at City Hall, 440 Civic Center Plaza. The next scheduled meeting is Oct. 3.
- The West Contra Costa Unified School District board usually meets twice a month, often on Wednesday nights, in the multipurpose room of Lovonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave. in Richmond. The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Visit the WCCUSD calendar for the most current meeting information and for the agenda, which is posted a couple of days before the meeting. Read our guide to the school board for more information.
- The Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications for three open seats on the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee. The 10-member commission is seeking two new at-large members as well as an at-large alternate member. Applications are due by Nov. 4. Applicants must be residents of Contra Costa County.
Be sure to add your Richmond events to our calendar. If you know of an event that you think we should highlight in What’s Up, please email hello@richmondside.org at least two weeks in advance if possible.
