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 talk to Chevron officials about refinery emissions, check out some restaurants participating in restaurant week, solve escape room puzzles and submit your favorite recipe to be published in a community cookbook.
In the coming weeks, you can plant a tree in Richmond, go on an evening full moon hike and enjoy a ghostly historic tour through downtown Point Richmond.
For additional events, check our calendar and be sure to add your own listings, too.
Chevron refinery’s emissions the topic of Wednesday town hall
A community town hall will give the public an opportunity to learn about emissions from Chevron’s Richmond refinery.
The event will be held on Wed., Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at CoBiz Richmond, 1503 Macdonald Ave., Suite A.
Information will be provided on Chevron’s flaring and air compliance performance. There will also be discussions about the Community Action Plan being developed in the wake of Chevron’s settlement with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in February.
The event is hosted by Ceres Policy Research, which is overseeing the implementation of the Community Action Plan under terms of the settlement. Chevron is required to hold two town halls on the community plan. This is the first such gathering. Chevron is also required to pay for Ceres’ services.
Meeting organizers are also seeking public input to “help shape Richmond’s environmental future.”
Light refreshments will be provided, and attendees will be asked to wear a mask indoors.
Logo design contest for community crisis program
Richmond’s Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP), a new city team that’s trained to intervene in emergency situations so police don’t have to be called, has a new name and is holding a contest asking Richmond youths and young adults to come up with a logo for its new vans.
The CCRP is now “ROCK,” which stands for “reach out with compassion and kindness,” according to the city website.
Young people can compete for cash prizes and to have their design featured on the vans. Visit the contest page for complete rules and more information.
Taste of Richmond restaurant week ends Sunday
Local restaurants continue to feature special deals and menus as well as culinary tours during the Taste of Richmond – Restaurant Week.
The event continues until Sun., Oct. 13.
Participating restaurants are offering price discounts and specialty menus.
The event’s website lists the special events, which include lunch at Johnny Boi today, Oct. 10, happy hour with El Tucan tacos and drinks at The Factory Bar Oct. 11, live Brazilian jazz and wine at Perfusion Winery Oct. 12 and a close-out celebration at The Backyard, with live music by Andre Thiery.
“The Taste of Richmond — Restaurant Week is not just a culinary event; it’s a celebration of community, flavor, and the spirit of Richmond,” event organizers say. “Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor, we invite you to experience the best of Richmond’s dining scene and support the hardworking chefs and restaurateurs who make it all possible.”
Musical at the library celebrates Day of the Dead
The Richmond Library will honor Latinx culture and the Day of the Dead holiday with a concert and memorials.
The Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda Musical will be performed by Cascada de Flores on Sat., Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Madeline F. Whittlesey Room at the main library, 325 Civic Center Plaza.
The performance will explore the meaning of the Day of the Dead through song, dance, and personal stories.
The free event is billed as the creation of a musical altar. Participants are invited to bring photocopies of their ancestors’ pictures to help build the altar.
Storytelling art exhibit opens Saturday at NIAD center
An art exhibit that promises to visually transport viewers to other worlds will only be on display through Nov. 15 at the NIAD Art Center, 551 23rd St.
A grand opening for the “Telling Stories Even in Our Dreams” exhibit will be held Sat., Oct. 12, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The exhibit features the work of artists Heather Hamann and Michael Nunez, who both are engaging in the art of storytelling.
“Storytelling has been a constant in human history. When we share a story with others, it breathes life into a room, filling it with dialogue and mysterious beings. It can also be a way to combat today’s heaviness, transporting us to other places and timelines, whether real or imagined, exhibit organizers said.
“The works in this exhibition function like a book, where we cease to exist in the everyday world and become part of a shared illusion.”
Solve ‘spooktacular’ escape room puzzles on Wednesdays this month
The Richmond library system is celebrating Halloween every Wednesday this month with free escape room-style puzzle-solving events.
The next BreakOut E.D. Boo is being held on Wed., Oct. 16, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Westside library branch, 135 Washington Ave.
Puzzles will also be provided on Oct. 23 and Oct. 30 at the main library, 325 Civic Center Plaza.
The puzzles are designed for middle school and high school students, but all ages are welcome to give them a try.
“BreakOut Edu are portable escape room challenges and puzzles that are designed for educators to help students to build social-emotional skills like teamwork, empathy, problem-solving, perseverance, and a growth mindset. Each week we are offering a different fun spooktacular challenge. Participants are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes, bring their friends, and see how fast they can solve the puzzles,” library officials said.
Pancake breakfast, Blue Angels viewing at SS Red Oak Sunday
You can enjoy some pancakes and watch the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels jets fly overhead at a special breakfast aboard an historic ship.
The Fleet Week Pancake Breakfast is being held on Sun., Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. aboard the SS Red Oak Victory Ship, which is docked at the end of Canal Boulevard along the Richmond harbor.
The event will include a pancake breakfast along with live music in the ship’s concert hall. The radio room will also be open, allowing visitors to send a radiogram anywhere in the world. You can also take a self-guided ship tour.
The Blue Angels are expected to fly over the ship on their way to San Francisco Fleet Week 2024.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 8 years of age.
The SS Red Oak is the last of the 747 ships that were built at the Richmond shipyards during World War II.
Celebrate National Chess Day at Saturday festival
Kings, queens and bishops will be on the move during a daylong celebration this weekend.
The West Coast Chess Alliance is recognizing the 5th National Chess Day with tournaments and classes at the Richmond Chess Festival.
The free event will be on Sat., Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CoBiz Richmond, 1503 Macdonald Ave., Suite A.
There will be an Introduction to Chess class from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by a casual speed chess tournament from 11 a.m. to noon.
In addition, a “bug house” tournament, where two-person teams compete on two separate chess boards, will be held from 11 a.m. to noon.
Finally, a quad tournament will be in action from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Pre-registration is recommended.
Library uniting community through recipes and quilt project
The folks at the Richmond Library have cooked up a way to distribute a variety of recipes throughout Richmond’s neighborhoods. They’re going to publish a community cookbook.
Residents will be allowed to submit one recipe for consideration. Submissions will be accepted until Nov. 30. Submitting a recipe doesn’t guarantee it will be included.
The goal of the cookbook is to showcase the variety of cuisines in Richmond.
Library officials are also coordinating a community quilt in which local residents can submit a patch to be part of the project. The library has been sponsoring quilt art classes to teach participants about quilting and contribute to the community project. The next class is on Wed., Oct. 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the main library, 325 Civic Center Plaza.
The book and the quilt are scheduled to be unveiled at a special event on Dec. 19.
“A community quilt helps us all share of ourselves and come together to represent the rich tapestry of Richmond’s communities, and a community cookbook lets us share our many cultures through the art of cooking,” library officials said.
Grants available for African-American holistic wellness programs
Contra Costa County’s Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice has started accepting applications for grants to help fund programs that promote African-American holistic wellness programs.
The office will be distributing one-time grants of up to $880,000 to community-based service organizations to existing programs to help expand services to increase the number of people served, the programs offered and the length of the programs.
The five service categories eligible under the grants are: Behavioral support, food and/or housing insecurity, maternal and infant health, youth development support and community healing support, particularly from trauma due to police violence.
Applications will be accepted through Oct. 31.
Live music, comedy at local establishments
A number of establishments in Richmond feature live entertainment and other events each week.
Music and comedy are staples at the Riggers Loft Wine Company, 1325 Canal Blvd. The schedule this week includes a performance by San Francisco-based jazz band Fake Melody on Sun., Oct. 6, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Windchaser Wine Company, 1352 S. 49th St., is hosting a Birthday Blues Bash on Sat., Oct. 12, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Sailing Goat restaurant, 1900 Stenmark Drive, will have live music on Friday and Saturday.
The Baltic Kiss restaurant, 135 Park Place, will feature live music Thursday through Monday.
The Backyard restaurant, 205 Cutting Blvd., will have live music on Sat., Oct. 12, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and then karaoke from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will also feature live music on Sun., Oct. 13, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Coming soon
A tree (actually many of them) will grow in Richmond!
You can help celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree in Richmond.
Community groups, including Groundwork Richmond, the Richmond Urban Forestry Advisory Committee and The Watershed Project, are sponsoring a free tree planting on Sat., Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at South Side Park, 361 South 6th St.
Participants can learn about urban gardening as well as help plant trees at the park and at residences where people have signed up under Richmond’s Adopt-A-Tree program.
“It’s an opportunity to learn about what a tree needs, how to give it a good start and keep it alive for three years until it can make it on its own,” said Janet Flint, the chairperson of the Urban Forest Advisory Committee. “You can learn why trees are so important to human health, and ecological health, how they provide shade and pull carbon out of the air. Studies show that people are happier when they are surrounded by trees.”
Organizers ask participants to bring a reusable water bottle, gloves, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes. The holes for the trees will have already been dug by city workers.
Event organizers are still inviting groups and agencies to set up tables at the event. Contact colin@groundworkrichmond.org, or janet4space@gmail.com.
Dia de los Muertos Fall Family Day at art center
Art and music will come together at a family event later this month.
The Dia de los Muertos: Fall Family Day will be held on Sat., Oct. 19, noon to 3 p.m., at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
The free event will celebrate the upcoming Day of the Dead holiday (traditionally celebrated Nov. 1-2) as the center’s galleries and courtyard come alive with music and art-making activities.
There will also be a live performance by Danza Azteca Teokalli.
Full moon trail run in Wildcat Canyon
Enjoy a bright full moon and get some nighttime exercise during an evening trail run next week.
The 5-kilometer run is on Thurs., Oct. 17, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Wildcat Canyon. Participants will meet at McCosker Trail in Richmond.
Organizers note there is 685 feet of elevation rise and fall on this loop, but they say the run is for runners of all levels. Wearing headlamps and lighted vests are recommended.
Organizers say the run is a chance to “experience the thrill and beauty of running through the night sky.”
An encore performance for roller derby teams
Roller derby is returning to Richmond for another battle between two Bay Area teams.
The Oakland Outlaws will take on the San Francisco Rolling Dead on Sat., Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. at the
Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza.
The battle is the final contest in a three-game series between the two all-female teams.
A special exhibition performance by the junior roller derby team the BAD Seeds will precede the main event. It begins at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets purchased before Oct. 13 are $33.85. Tickets after that date are $44.52. Both prices include fees.
Play with pumpkins in the pool!
Children can celebrate Halloween a little early at an event at The Plunge, 1 East Richmond Ave. in Point Richmond.
The swim center is sponsoring a Floating Pumpkin Patch on Sat, Oct. 19, from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Children will be able to swim amid pumpkins that are bobbing about in the pool waters. Children are allowed to take one pumpkin home with them.
Children 8 years and younger must have an adult in the pool with them. Children older than 8 years must have a paying adult supervising them.
Advanced registration is required. The fee for children who live in Richmond is $10. It’s $7 for adults who live in Richmond. For non-residents, the admission charge is $12.50 for children and $8.75 for adults.
Let Halloween inspire your artistic talents
You can paint pumpkins and rocks at another early Halloween celebration.
A Puff and Paint art session is being held Sat., Oct. 19, from 4:20 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center, 3219 Pierce St.
At this free event, participants can paint faces on pumpkins or dabble in some rock painting. There will also be craft sessions and artists’ pop-ups.
Participants will be able to take their painted pumpkin home. The decorated rocks will be placed in the healing center’s inspirational rock garden.
‘Fat People’ sponsoring hike along Richmond shoreline
“Fat People Hiking Bay Area” has organized a 1.8 mile hike on Point Isabel.
The free hike is on Sat., Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon. No registration is required. It starts at the Rydin Road Staging Area and follows the Richmond shoreline to Marina Park.
“Fat People Hiking Bay Area” is an organization of women and gender-expansive people with larger bodies who embrace the word “fat.” The hikes are designed to bring this community together to connect over their love for the outdoors.
Halloween history hike slated for Point Richmond
You can learn some spooky history about Point Richmond during a walk through downtown later this month.
The 8th Annual Haunted Halloween History Hike will take place on Sat., Oct. 26, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Participants will gather at the Indian Statue in the downtown triangle to start the kid-friendly, dog-friendly tour. The hike ends at the Biancoverde Restaurant at the Hotel Mac, 50 Washington Ave.
Along the way, you can learn about famous Point Richmond characters such as Juan Bautista Alvarado and Martha Crichett portrayed by actors in costumes. There will also be ghost stories about some of the historic buildings. The story of the Ghost of the Bathing Lady will be told at the Biancoverde Restaurant.
Tickets are $20 in advance.
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 is open every Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the main library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. The Marina Bay Farmers Market is held on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 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.
●You can now sample a variety of food at several outdoor locations citywide, thanks to Richmond’s new mobile food vendor program, open on various days at three locations. One is held on Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the downtown city public lot at 1401 Macdonald Ave. The street vendors are also open for business on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 325 Civic Center Plaza and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at Marina Bay Park off Regatta Boulevard and Melville Square. The marketplaces include everything from tacos to sandwiches to pupusas to refreshing drinks. The program is co-sponsored by the city of Richmond and the Richmond Farmers Market.
● 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 on Mondays from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane. On Thursdays, the Bear Claw Café & Bakery, 2340 San Pablo Ave. in Pinole, hosts chess games every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On Fridays, games are held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Pablo Library, 13751 San Pablo Ave.
*The Homework Help program has returned to Richmond’s libraries, at the Main, Bayview and West Side branches. The free sessions are held Mondays through Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at all three locations. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade can receive assistance with their homework from the Bay Area Tutoring Association on a first-come, first-served basis.
● 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.
● Saturdays at the Richmond Recreation Center are from 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 is on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the 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, although all ages of children are welcome.
● Family Storytime is on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. This Richmond Public Library Children’s Room program is geared toward families with toddlers. The event features 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.
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. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Oct. 15. Learn more in our guide to the City Council.
● The Richmond Planning Commission 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 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. 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 Contra Costa Board of Supervisors usually meets on Tuesdays beginning at 9 a.m. in the County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 22.
● 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.
● The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Advisory Fire Commission is looking for two volunteers to serve as an at-large member on the board. The Commission is responsible for confirming the cost of abatement reports; conducting weed abatement appeal hearings; approving surplus equipment declarations; and advising the fire chief on district service matters. The commission meets on the second Monday of even-numbered months at 7 p.m. in Concord.
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.
