What’s up: Coastal Cleanup Day, LGBTQ+ celebration

Hello Richmondside readers. Here are some highlights of things to do and know this coming week and beyond.

In the next few days, you can help clean up the coast, check out some Cuban art and go bird watching along the Richmond shoreline.

In the coming weeks, you can hoist a beer aboard an historic ship, enjoy a clean air bicycle ride and walk to help support hunger programs.

For additional events, check our calendar and be sure to add your own listings as well.

Help clean up Richmond’s shoreline Saturday

The Richmond shoreline is picturesque, but it needs volunteers to help keep it that way. 

Volunteers will gather on Sat., Sept. 21, to participate in the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.

To participate, meet at Shimada Friendship Park, 79 Harbor View Drive, at 9 a.m. Volunteers will pick up litter and other trash from 9 a.m. until noon.

Volunteers are advised to wear a hat and sunscreen and to bring a bucket, reusable gloves and a water bottle. Other cleanup supplies will be provided.

Artist Erin McCluskey will be doing her part. She will be picking up beach litter for material to incorporate into her mixed media work.

First LGBTQ+ pride celebration in El Sobrante on Sunday

The LGBTQ+ community will achieve a milestone this weekend in El Sobrante when the area’s first LGBTQ+ Pride celebration is held on Sun., Sept. 22, from noon to 5 p.m, at La Moine Park, 3444-3530 Morningside Drive.

The free 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. 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.”

Cuban art, music on display at Saturday fundraiser

Live music and an art auction will be part of a colorful fundraiser organized by Arte Cubano in Richmond.

The event will be on Sat., Sept. 21, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Point Richmond Gallery, 145 West Richmond Ave.

The art auction will feature 23 signed and numbered original works from Antonio Canet Hernandez as well as a few reproductions. Works from other Cuban artists will also be featured.

In addition, there will be music from Calle Ocho, a Cuban charanga and salsa band.

Admission to the event is free, although donations of $10 and $20 are requested.

Funds from the art auction go toward youth travel scholarships for the Richmond Cuba sister city delegation, which plans to travel to the island nation in December.

“The event is a fundraiser to help Richmond youth travel to Cuba as part of a sister city delegation in celebration of our 25th anniversary, and it is also a rare opportunity to see some works by one of Cuba’s premier graphic artists,” Tarnel Abbott, co-chair of the Richmond Regla Friendship Committee, told Richmondside.

5K run to raise money for brain cancer research is Saturday

You can walk or run along the Richmond shoreline this weekend to help raise funds for brain cancer research.

The Fast Track to a Cure 5K is on Sat., Sept. 21, at 8:30 a.m. at Lucretia Edwards Shoreline Park, 1500 Marina Way South. 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 oligodendroglioma research.

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.

Saturday car wash benefits youth fire academy program

You can clean up your car and help young aspiring firefighters at an event this weekend.

The Richmond Fire Youth Academy is sponsoring a car wash on Sat., Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Richmond Fire Training Center, 3506 Cutting Blvd.

Cost is $20 for regular size vehicles and $40 for larger vehicles and trucks.

Proceeds go to the Fight Fire Get Dirty — First Responder Youth Mentorship program.

Arf! Adopt a pet at Pinole mobile event Saturday

If you’re thinking about adopting a pet, you might want to head to Pinole this weekend.

Contra Costa Animal Services is holding a free mobile adoption event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 21, at Pet Food Express, 1430 Fitzgerald Drive in Pinole.

Experts will also provide information on spaying, neutering and licensing. You can view dogs, cats and other animals available for adoption on the Animal Services website.

Cultural festival in Point Richmond Friday

A festival to celebrate Spanish-speaking cultures will take over downtown Point Richmond tomorrow.

The Kermes Viva Cultural! festival is from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Fri., Sept. 20.

The free event is sponsored by the Washington Elementary School PTA. It’s for the community at large as well as the school’s students and families.

The celebration will feature live music as well as a variety of foods.

Today: Meet a bat at the main library

Bats will be among the books at the Richmond Main Library today.

A free presentation on bats and the harmful myths that surround these flying mammals will be held this afternoon, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Madeline F. Whittlesey Room at 325 Civic Center Plaza.

Some live bats of California native species will be present for viewing.

Members of NorCalBats will be on hand to discuss the importance of bats in our environment. The organization is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of bats as well as to educating the public.

Jazzy reading event at the library Saturday

Children will be able to learn about great jazz musicians and hear some of their music at a free event Saturday.

The storytime will be on Sat., Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to noon, in the Madeline F. Whittlesey Room at the main library, 325 Civic Center Plaza.

Children will be read books about jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker.

Musicians from Oaktown Jazz Workshops will also perform classic jazz numbers to which audience members can dance. Oakland Jazz is a nonprofit cultural education organization dedicated to passing along the history and traditions of jazz music.

Children can learn how to dig gardening Saturday

Children love to play in the dirt, so why not also teach them how to tend a garden.

Gardening expert Earl Nickel will instruct children and parents on the basics of gardening during a free talk on Sat., Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to noon at Annie’s Annuals and Perennials, 740 Market Ave.

Nickel will discuss how to design a garden for children with plants that stimulate the senses and attract pollinators.

Bird watching at Point Pinole on Monday

You can wander along the shoreline and search for unique feathered friends at a birding event early next week.

The bird watching walk will be on Mon., Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Dotson Family Marsh at Point Pinole along the Richmond shoreline.

Naturalist Anthony Fisher will lead visitors on a walk through the marshy lands.

The event is free, and no registration is required.

Saturday sewing workshop for beginners

You can learn the fundamentals of sewing at a workshop this weekend.

Sewing Machine Basics will be held on Sat., Sept. 21, from noon to 3 p.m., at Vibe Bistro, 1503 Macdonald Ave.

Shiree Dyson, the founder of Sage & Needles, will guide workshop participants through the three-hour tutorial. 

Attendees will learn how to set up a sewing machine, do basic stitches and get hands-on experience with sewing techniques.

Participants are asking to bring a sewing machine. All other materials are provided.

The cost is $25. You can register through ClassBento.

Wrestlers mix it up at new art exhibits Friday

A group of wrestling celebrities are helping to promote some new exhibits at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.

On Fri., Sept. 20, members of the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre Wrestlers will be at a Sunset Social sponsored by the art center.

The free event is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the art center. It will also feature photographs of the wrestlers taken by Anthony Delgado as well as custom cocktails from The Factory Bar and music from DJ Graham LP.

The new 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.

Live music, comedy at local establishments

A number of establishments in Richmond are featuring live entertainment in the coming week.

The Sailing Goat restaurant at 1900 Stenmark Drive will have live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Baltic Kiss restaurant at 135 Park Place will feature live music Thursday through Monday.

The Factory Bar at 12517 San Pablo Ave. hosts stand-up comedy on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ukulele music will be on tap at the Windchaser Wine Company at 1352 S. 49th St. on Sunday afternoon.

Coming later this month and next month

USS Hornet beer festival moved to Richmond to help Red Oak Victory

A variety of craft beers will be available during tours of the historic SS Red Oak Victory ship at a fundraiser next month.

The Battlestar Classic 8 Craft Brew Festival Fundraiser will be on Sat., Oct. 12,  from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., aboard the SS Red Oak, which is docked at 1337 Canal Blvd., in Point Richmond.

More than 30 craft breweries will be on hand to provide beer samples to of-age visitors.

There will also be food trucks as well as live music. Visitors will also be able to board the SS Red Oak for a self-guided tour.

In addition, the California Cornhole Association will be conducting a tournament. You need to sign up to participate.

Tickets for the brew festival purchased in advance for adults 21 and older are $65 plus fees. Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $75.

Advance tickets for people under 21 and those who don’t wish to drink are $10 plus fees. Those tickets are $15 on the day of the event.

The craft beer festival has been held for the past seven years on the USS Hornet in Alameda. This year, it was moved to the SS Red Oak to raise funds for the restoration and maintenance of the historic ship as well as to celebrate the legacy of Rosie the Riveter workforce and the Richmond Shipyards.

The SS Red Oak is the last surviving vessel of the 747 ships that were built in the Richmond Shipyards during World War II. The ship is generally only open to the public every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Clean Air Day bike ride through Richmond

You can learn about the environment and breathe in some fresh air during a bicycle ride through Richmond.

The Clean Air Day Ride is on Sun., Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It begins at South 12th Street and Maine Avenue.

The free event is sponsored by the nonprofit organization Rich City. Along the route, riders can go on a guided group ride as well as learn about air quality and environmental health at various educational stops. Free bike tune-ups are also available.

Cyclists of all ages and skill levels are welcome.

Registration for walk to support hunger programs

You can literally take some steps in the right direction early next month to help support the fight against hunger and homelessness in the Richmond area.

The 38th annual Harmony Walk is set for Sat., Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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 nonprofit 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.

What’s in a name? A one-woman show is Sept. 28, Oct. 6

Irma Herrera will explore the societal prejudices and assumptions in a person’s name in a one-woman show later this month

Herrera will perform “Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name” on Sat., Sept. 28, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Central Stage, 5221 Central Ave.

A repeat performance is scheduled for Sun., Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. 

Tickets are $28 for general admission and $17 for students.

In her show, Herrera portrays more than 20 characters, including herself at different ages, as well as her parents and teachers.

She says these characters “collectively illustrate how names can serve as minefields of misplaced notions, sometimes comical, sad or demeaning, and which speak volumes about where we stand as a diverse and highly divided nation.”

Richmond City Council candidates and ballot measures featured at upcoming forums

The Marina Bay Neighborhood Council is hosting an online forum for District 5 City Council candidate Ahmad Anderson on Wed., Sept. 25, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (They previously held one for his opponent Sue Wilson on Sept. 18.) The candidates are competing for the seat being vacated by Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin.

Richmondside is co-hosting election forums for City Council candidates in District 5 and District 6. (The District 1 forum was held Wednesday.)

The District 6 event is on Mon., Sept. 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the Bermuda Room at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza.

The District 5 gathering is from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday., Oct. 8, at Easter Hill United Methodist Church, 3911 Cutting Blvd.

Please RSVP here for the forums, which are free and will feature Spanish translation.

In addition, the Richmond Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a City Council candidate forum at 6 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 2, at the Riggers Loft, 1325 Canal Blvd.

On Wed., Oct. 9, the league is hosting a forum to discuss two ballot measures that will change how Richmond voters choose candidates, the Ranked Choice and Richmond Election Reform Act. That event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the city council chamber. You can watch that forum via Zoom or on Channel 28 TV.

If you’re not sure which council district you live in, you can check out this map.

Red our voter registration guide for more information, including important dates.

Safety seminar for older adults

A seminar providing adults with safety tips ranging from how to avoid falls to what to do in a fire to how to spot a scam artist will be held next week.

The Commission on Aging’s Senior Safety Summit will be held on Sept. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center, 403 Civic Center Plaza.

Ongoing events

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., hosts games on Fridays 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. On Fridays games are held 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.
• 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. every second Tuesday and every third Wednesday in the Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. Each child gets 15 minutes to read to a dog. Call (510) 620-6557 to reserve a spot. 
• 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.

Get involved in your community: Civic meetings and committees

• 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. Agendas are usually posted the preceding Friday. Learn more in our guide to the City Council. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Sept. 24.
• The Richmond Planning Commission usually meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. 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 Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. 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.
• There is also a vacancy on the North Richmond Municipal Advisory Council. The term is for four years. The seven-member council advises the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors on issues affecting the North Richmond area.
• The county is also seeking to appoint four new members to its 15-member Mental Health Commission. The term length is three years. Each of the county’s five supervisorial districts has three members. The commission advises county supervisors on their community’s needs and services. The commission usually meets on the first Wednesday of every month.
• The Contra Costa Resource Conservation District will soon have three openings on its five-member board of directors. County officials are seeking applicants for those positions. The district’s mission is to carry out natural resource conservation projects. The board usually meets on the third Thursday of every month.

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.