Hello Richmondside readers. Some highlights of this week’s What’s Up column include: Public meetings on a proposed arts corridor, a meeting about Chevron’s and Richmond’s air quality, and a chance to play “Bicycle Bingo” this summer.
Also: There are several local Mother’s Day celebrations and an evening of jazz at Contra Costa Community College.
And finally, don’t miss this preview of Richmond summer events we just posted as well as our roundup of ongoing things to do in Richmond (many of which are free). Learn where to hike or go swimming, take an exercise class, visit art museums, and find family friendly activities using our daily things to do list.
Things to know and do in Richmond
- Things to know and do in Richmond
- Things to know
- Things to do
- Small Business Week events continue this week
- Young artists spotlighted at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
- ‘What’s in the Garden’ art exhibit at NIAD
- Road running races at Point Pinole this weekend
- Mother’s Day pancake breakfast aboard the SS Red Oak
- Enjoy Mother’s Day amid the flowers at Curious Flora
- LGBTQ+ Mother’s Day brunch at CoBiz
- Bike to Work Day coming up; bicycle champions honored
- Challenge yourself with ‘Bicycle Bingo’ this summer
- A night of jazz at Contra Costa College
- Take the ferry from Richmond to Oracle Park for a Giants baseball game
- Live music and more at local establishments
- Related stories
Things to know
Share your ideas for the Richmond arts corridor
A series of public meetings will be held to gather input for a plan to create an arts corridor in Richmond that would turn Macdonald Avenue and 23rd Street into a regional cultural destination.
The listening sessions are scheduled for the following dates this month:
- On Sat., May 10, the Richmond Art Center and Visual Artists of Richmond will co-sponsor a listening session from noon to 2 p.m. at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
- On Tue., May 13, a listening session will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, 339 11th St.
- On Mon., May 19, a listening session is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the RYSE Youth Center, 3939 Bissell Ave.
- On Wed., May 28, a listening session will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Richmond Main Street Initiative offices, 1600 Nevin Plaza.
- On Sat., May 31, the final session is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Rich City Gallery.
The gatherings are designed to spark creativity, connection and community spirit for the arts corridor plan.
The Richmond Arts Corridor plan was approved by the Richmond City Council in October. A November report on funding for Bay Area arts organizations noted that the corridor idea has the potential to “bring visibility and resources to the rich tapestry of arts and culture in Richmond.”
One significant idea in the proposed plan is to create a museum on Macdonald Avenue to honor the city’s Black history.
Chevron is holding town hall for community action plan
Richmond residents will be able to obtain more information on air quality issues related to the Chevron refinery at a public meeting next week. The meeting is the second in a series mandated by a settlement agreement finalized in February between the company and the Bay Area Air District. Chevron must hold public meetings every six months for the next five years. The first was in October.
The Community Town Hall is focused on an action plan being designed by Chevron officials to deal with flaring incidents and air quality compliance issues at its Richmond refinery and other facilities.
Breakout sessions and a public comment period are also scheduled. A light dinner and refreshments will be provided.
The meeting is sponsored by Ceres Policy Research.
The Chevron community town hall is set for Tue., May 13, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at CoBiz Richmond, 1503 Macdonald Ave. Ste. A.
Registration open for free children’s summer art classes
You can now register your children for free summer classes at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.
The classes begin on June 28 and run through Aug. 2. They’re designed for children 3 to 18 years of age.
Among the offerings are ballet, hip-hop, guitar, woodwinds and brass instruction.
The pre-registration deadline ends on June 13.
The performing arts center is located at 339 11th St. in Richmond.
Opioid overdose treatment now available at three Contra Costa County library branches
The opioid overdose treatment Naloxone (Narcan) is now available at the county library branch in San Pablo, 13751 San Pablo Ave., and at branches in Pleasant Hill and Antioch.
The medication is free and available at self-service stands in public areas of the three library branches. The doses are accessible during library hours. No identification or registration is required.
Naloxone can quickly restore the breathing of a person who has overdosed on an opioid drug. It can be administered as a nasal spray or injected into a muscle, under the skin or into a vein.
The Contra Costa County program is sponsored by the library system and Bay Area Community Resources. It comes shortly after county officials announced the OD Free Contra Costa project to help prevent drug overdoses.
“Saving lives from overdose is our collective responsibility. Human life is sacred, and second chances are miracles. Providing naloxone in public spaces like libraries is a vital step toward health equity and dismantling barriers to care,” said Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia, who represents Richmond.
Things to do
Small Business Week events continue this week
A series of events for local entrepreneurs continues in Richmond this week to spotlight National Small Business Week.
Local Small Business Week events, which began May 3 at CoBiz, include:
- A downtown walking tour hosted by the Richmond Main Street Initiative on Thur., May 8, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Meet at the RMSI office, 1600 Nevin Plaza.
- Seminars on how to start a business and how to become a vendor sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce on Fri., May 9, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 440 Civic Center Plaza.
- A Small Business Week Fair on Sat., May 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at the downtown Richmond Food Court, 1401 Macdonald Ave.
Young artists spotlighted at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts is shining its spotlight on young artists with two evening events this weekend.
The Young Artists Repertory Series has been featuring the center’s most dedicated student artists since 1989. The series represents a broad spectrum of culture from West African music and dance to jazz to theater to traditional Mexican music.
Admission is free, but reservations are needed.
This year’s performances will be held on Fri., May 9, and Sat., May 10, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, 339 11th St. in Richmond.
‘What’s in the Garden’ art exhibit at NIAD
An opening reception for a new “What’s in the Garden” exhibit will be held this weekend.
Nine Richmond-based Asian American Pacific Islander artists will be displaying their work during the exhibition at the NIAD center.
“Inspired by Yuka Kobayashi’s painting of the same title, ’What’s in the Garden’ conveys the effort and care the artists pour into nurturing their practices, and is simultaneously an invitation into a shared space of joy, contemplation, and exploration,” the event organizers stated.
The opening reception for “What’s in the Garden” will be held on Sat., May 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the NIAD Annex Gallery, 551 23rd St. in Richmond. The exhibition lasts until June 20.
Road running races at Point Pinole this weekend
A trio of races are set for Point Pinole this weekend.
Brazen Racing is organizing the Nitro Trail races with 5K, 10K and half marathon distance races.
Pre-registration fees are $73 for the 5K, $82 for the 10K and $100 for the 13.1-mile half marathon. Add on $5 for race-day registration.
The Nitro Trail races are set for Sat., May 10, beginning at 8 a.m. at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park in Richmond.
Mother’s Day pancake breakfast aboard the SS Red Oak
You can treat your favorite mom to a pancake breakfast for Mother’s Day aboard a historic ship along the Richmond shoreline.
The breakfast from the SS Red Oak ship’s galley includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon. There will also be live music from keyboard artist Rob Reich as well as free radiograms that can be sent anywhere in the world from the ship’s radio room.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children 8 years of age and younger.
There will also be a preview of the SS Red Oak’s new self-guided bilingual audio tour. You can purchase this sneak peek for $15. Starting May 18, the audio tour will be available to people who pay the $15 general admission fee to board the ship.
The SS Red Oak is the last of the 747 ships built at the Richmond shipyards during World War II. It now serves as a museum.
The launch of the 2025 Pancake Breakfast series begins on Sun., May 11, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. aboard the SS Red Oak, which is docked at the end of Canal Boulevard.
Enjoy Mother’s Day amid the flowers at Curious Flora
You can bring your mother to the flowers this weekend at a Mother’s Day event.
Curious Flora is hosting a Mother’s Day celebration with “flowers, fun, food and family vibes.”
The event includes a free annual plant for mothers as well as a raffle for a “supernursery sweep” and grab bags from on-site food vendors.
The Mother’s Day celebration will be held all day on Sun., May 11, at Curious Flora, 740 Market Ave. in Richmond.
LGBTQ+ Mother’s Day brunch at CoBiz
Mothers from the LGBTQ+ community will be the guests of honor at a brunch on Sunday.
The 2nd annual LGBTQ+ Mother’s Day Experience will feature mimosas with brunch as well as a drag show, live music, spoken word, a silent art auction and panel discussions.
The tickets cost from $17.85 to $55.19.
The event is described as “celebrating the strength, love, and legacy of LGBTQ+ families across the Bay Area.”
Her + They: The 2nd Annual LGBTQ+ Mother’s Day Experience is scheduled for Sun., May 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CoBiz Richmond, 1503 Macdonald Ave.
Bike to Work Day coming up; bicycle champions honored
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is encouraging everyone to ride their bicycles to work and other places during Bike Month in May.
The highlight of the Bike to Wherever Days this month is the Bike to Work Day on Thur., May 15.
As part of this busy bicycling month, the MTC has announced its Bike Champions for each of the nine Bay Area counties. Contra Costa’s champion is Teresa Datar, a Brentwood resident who rides her bike six miles to the Antioch BART station every workday and then cycles another eight miles from Pleasant Hill BART to her office in Martinez.
A posthumous champion’s nod went to Richmond resident Bill Pinkham, who died last year. Pinkham was active in a number of organizations, including the Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Activity Committee and the BART Bicycle Advisory Task Force.
“Every year we are amazed by the passion and dedication of the Bike Champions,” said MTC Director Andrew Fremier. “Their stories demonstrate how individuals can spark positive change through commitment to active transportation, advocacy, and community leadership.”
Challenge yourself with ‘Bicycle Bingo’ this summer
In more bicycling news: You can ramp up your cycling this summer as you visit different parts of Richmond as part of a fun community challenge.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority has announced the return of the Summer Bike Challenge for 2025.
Register on the CCTA’s 511 Contra Costa website and then select your city to get a local game board
The goal is to bike to as many destinations listed in the game board squares as you can in June, July and August. Each time you visit a locale, you cross it off your game board, much like the game of Bingo.
There are weekly prize drawings as well as a drawing for the grand prize, an iPad.
“The Summer Bike Challenge is free, fun, and healthy — the perfect summertime activity for people of all ages,” the event organizers say.
A night of jazz at Contra Costa College
The sound of jazz music will fill the concert hall at Contra Costa College next week.
The Jazz Night Concert 2025 will feature jazz singers as well as JazzNova, jazz-ology and the college’s chorus.
Tickets are $12.51 for students and $23.18 for general admission, including fees.
The Jazz Night Concert 2025 is scheduled for Thur., May 15, beginning at 8 p.m. in the John and Jean Knox Performing Art Center at Contra Costa College, 2600 Mission Bell Drive in San Pablo.
Take the ferry from Richmond to Oracle Park for a Giants baseball game
You can take a ferry from Richmond to Oracle Park this summer for select weekend San Francisco Giants baseball games.
The San Francisco Bay Ferry, which normally only travels between Richmond and the Ferry Building, is offering direct service for the following games:
- Sat., June 21, against the Boston Red Sox
- Sat., July 12, against the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Sat., July 26, against the New York Mets
- Sat., Sept. 13, against the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Sun., Sept. 14, against the Los Angeles Dodgers
The ferries depart from the Richmond Terminal and arrive at Pier 48 in San Francisco. It’s about a 12-minute walk to the ballpark from there.
The ferries depart from Richmond 90 minutes before the start of that day’s game. They leave Pier 48 30 minutes after the game. The excursion across the bay takes about 30 minutes.
One-way fares are $10.75 for adults and $8.25 for seniors and children 5 to 17 years old; kids under 5 can ride for free.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. (Clipper cards are not accepted for this route.)
Live music and more at local establishments
A number of establishments in Richmond feature live music, entertainment and other events each week.
The Armistice Brewing Company, 845 Marina Bay Parkway, Ste. 1, hosts a bingo night every Tuesday as well as free trivia games on Wednesday evenings and free game nights on Thursday evenings.
The Backyard, 205 Cutting Blvd., is a kid and dog friendly outdoor beer and wine garden with food and live music. This weekend’s lineup includes live jazz and pop music from Kaitlyn Williams on Sat., May 10, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a special Mother’s Day celebration from noon to 5 p.m.
The East Brother Beer Company, a child-friendly and dog-friendly taproom at 1001 Canal Blvd., C-2, hosts food trucks on Wednesdays through Sundays.
The Factory Bar, 12517 San Pablo Ave., which features indoor and dog friendly patio seating, will host food trucks and pop-up eateries most evenings with karaoke set for Tuesday night as well as Whiskey Wednesday the following evening. On Thursday, DJ Sir Slushalot will play tunes from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The waterfront Riggers Loft Wine Company, 1325 Canal Blvd., will have live music all weekend. On Friday, the Brazilian East Bay Ensemble will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturday, Midnight Kitchen will take the stage with its rhythm and blues music from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There is a $5 cover charge on both these days. On Sunday, it’ll be the jazzy tunes of Fake Melody from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The outdoor waterfront Sailing Goat restaurant, 1900 Stenmark Drive, with views of San Francisco Bay at San Pablo Harbor, will feature live music this weekend. On Saturday, the Adrian West Band, a five-piece acoustic rock ensemble, will perform from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday, folk artist The Real John Gary will be on stage from noon to 3 p.m. He’ll be followed by the Colombian dance music of Los Bahianatos from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Windchaser Wine Company, 1352 S. 49th St., is hosting a Mother’s Day party with live music and food from the Rocky Island Oyster Company from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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