Offbeat and little known stories about the San Francisco Southern waterfront will come to life on Tuesday, July 14.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Clark Surfboards
Published: July, 2009
Wacky Waterfront Stories
Offbeat and little known stories about the San Francisco Southern waterfront will come to life on Tuesday, July 14. The tales will detail how bums repeatedly caused a wharf to burn, why writer Jack London was ripped off when he ordered a yacht, and where severe anti-Chinese feelings made many of them jobless. Those and many other stories, plus a slide show, will highlight a lecture by Stephen Canright, curator of Maritime History.
“On the Waterfront” will be held at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center, 3200 California at Presidio, at 7:30 p.m. A reception at 7:00 p.m. will precede the event, which is sponsored by the San Francisco Historical Society (SFMHS). It is free to members, $5 for nonmembers. For more information visit
Musical Mondays at JLS
Jack London Square hosts live musical entertainment every Monday in July at the foot of Broadway from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Enjoy the music while playing your favorite board games. Start your Monday evening with great music, refreshing cocktails, balmy breezes and a chance to challenge your friends in a game of checkers, dominos, backgammon or for the kids (or the kid in you!) pick-up sticks, jacks, Candy Land, etc. Build up an appetite and check out the prefix dinner menus that the JLS restaurants will feature to help you ease into another work week. For more information visit www.jacklondonsquare.com or call (510) 645-9292.
The Painters Are Coming!
The Painters Are Coming!
For the fourth consecutive year, the Frank Bette Center for the Arts is hosting an event known as a Plein Air Paintout, or “in the open air.” Largely a west coast phenomenon centered on coastal California, for this hardy group of painters, the event combines the love of being outside in this beautiful world the with love of painting. The painters relish continuing and extending the legacy of the Impressionist painters, that of painting with light. From July 13-19, 40 painters from all over will converge in Alameda to record its unique character and beauty. As seasoned veterans of this art form, most of these confident artists are not shy or exclusive and appear unfazed by onlookers and their questions. This event is a chance for Alamedans to participate in the creative process by observing and dialoging. There will also be several opportunities to purchase the paintings produced during the week. The Frank Bette Center is located at 1601 Paru at Lincoln in Alameda. For more information visit www.frankbettecenter.org or call (510)523-6957.
Surf’s Up at Fort Mason Dude
Scheduled to coincide with Fort Mason Center’s three-month summer festival, “Pipeline: Art, Surfing, and the Ocean Environment” will run July 16 through August 28 and will feature nearly two dozen artists, as well as custom surf boards by renowned big wave surfer Jeff Clark. The Gallery is installing a surf education room in partnership with The Surfer’s Journal where visitors can read about the history of modern surfing and view some of the best films on the subject. Located in the Marina district, the gallery space offers unparalleled views of Golden Gate Bridge. Against this beautiful backdrop, an opening reception will be held on July 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. featuring local surf band The Eldorados. For more information, visit www.sfmoma.org/artistsgallery or call (415) 441-4777.
Waterfront History Comes to Life
San Francisco maritime labor history comes alive with living history reenactments at Hyde Street Pier. From July 13 to October 2, 1901, San Francisco’s waterfront was shut down by sailors, teamsters, and longshoremen striking for better pay and working conditions. On Saturday, July 11 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park will present an afternoon of costumed living history depicting events during the 1901 San Francisco waterfront strike. Also, in cooperation with Labor Fest, the park will host a living history presentation with David Giesen portraying 19th century newspaperman Henry George. Mr. George will share his experiences as an advocate of sailors’ rights. Experience the sights and sounds of San Francisco history through a living history reenactment. The strike reenactment will take place on Hyde Street Pier at 12 p.m. and will be repeated at 3 p.m. The Henry George presentation will be aboard the historic sailing ship Balclutha at 2 p.m. Admission to historic ships: adults, $5; ages 15 and under, free. Free with National Park passes. There is no admission charge to walk on Hyde Street Pier. For more information, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/safr or call the park’s Visitor Center at (415) 447-5000.
Fourth of July Fireworks Displays
San Francisco
PIER 39 invites you to enjoy a fun-filled Independence Day celebration. Rock out with Take 2 followed by San Francisco’s favorite 1980s cover band, Tainted Love. Immediately after the entertainment, look to the sky at approximately 9:30 p.m. as the City of San Francisco lights up the night with its Fireworks Spectacular, accompanied by a musical simulcast from KISS FM 98.1. View from PIER 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquatic Park or aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien.
Oakland/Alameda
The Port of Oakland and the City of Oakland will present a 20-minute fireworks show over the Oakland and Alameda estuary starting at 9:15 on the Fourth of July. Jack London Square and the USS Hornet are both hosting events that culminate with the Fireworks display.
North Bay
Sausalito - Waterfront fireworks display off Spinnaker Point starts at approximately 9:00 p.m.
Marin County - Fireworks display over the lagoon at 9:30 p.m.
East Bay
Berkeley Marina - Fireworks display starts at 9:30 p.m. and will last almost a half-hour.
Benicia - Waterfront fireworks display at approximately 9:00 p.m. at the foot of First Street.
Martinez - Fireworks begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. at Waterfront Park
Hercules - Fireworks display will begin at 9:00 p.m. at the waterfront.
To have your event or announcement considered for the Bay Crossings Around the Bay listings, please send information or a press release to: joel@baycrossings.com.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Clark Surfboards
