Get into the holiday spirit with live music and festive songs at Jack London Square in Oakland on Friday, December 2 from 5-7 p.m. Join radio station KBLX with a children’s holiday singing competition, see live reindeer, get caught in a snow flurry, see colorful dancing Christmas trees, shop for holiday gifts at a pop-up gift market, and preview parade floats and costume characters from the Oakland Children’s Holiday Parade taking place on Saturday, December 3.
The holiday tree at Jack London Square will light up the night at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 2.
Published: December, 2011
Jack London Square Lights Up for the Holidays!
Get into the holiday spirit with live music and festive songs at Jack London Square in Oakland on Friday, December 2 from 5-7 p.m. Join radio station KBLX with a children’s holiday singing competition, see live reindeer, get caught in a snow flurry, see colorful dancing Christmas trees, shop for holiday gifts at a pop-up gift market, and preview parade floats and costume characters from the Oakland Children’s Holiday Parade taking place on Saturday, December 3. Remember to bring donations for the Alameda County Food Bank and join city officials as they light up the skies with the Jack London Square holiday tree at 7 p.m. For more information, visit wwwjacklondonsquare.com.
Holiday Lights Illuminate Nature Trail at Mare Island
On the Mare Island Aglow Holiday Lighted Trail Walk, open Friday to Sunday through New Year’s Day, including the Christmas and New Year’s weekends from 10 a.m to sunset, visitors will enjoy walking in the outdoors with four lighted stops along the one-mile paved trail route to the top of Mare Island Hill with panoramic nightscape views of the Carquinez Strait and its lighted Al Zampa Memorial Bridge, the historic marquee lights of C&H Sugar, the California Maritime Academy, Sandy Beach Cove and the towns of Crockett, Rodeo, Hercules, Benicia, Martinez, Vallejo and American Canyon with more distant views of the night lights of seven Bay Area counties. The Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve is at the southern end of Mare Island situated at the confluence of the Napa River/Mare Island Strait, the Carquinez Strait and San Pablo Bay. Although the preserve is open to the public for free, there is a suggested donation of $5 per person with no cost for children 14 and younger. Funds raised keep the preserve open weekends year-round and provide visitor amenities like benches and bathrooms. The self-guided tour is accessible rain or shine. For more information, visit www.mareislandpreserve.org or contact manager Myrna Hayes at (707) 249-9633.
Walk in an Artist’s Shoes
The public is invited to “Walk in an Artist’s Shoes” at the 43rd annual Winter Open Studios December 3 and 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The non-profit Industrial Center Building (ICB) Artists Association in Sausalito is home to one of the largest art colonies in the country, gathered together under one large roof in the ICB at 480 Gate Five Road in Sausalito’s Marinship district, a cultural hub in San Francisco’s North Bay area. Experience firsthand the varied and inspirational workspace of the ICB, see works in progress and ask the artists questions about their process. Painting, fiber arts, sculpture, digital arts, photography, printmaking, fashion, jewelry and more will be featured. Artists of all media share their art, stories, and inspiration, and offer works for sale in their studio workspaces giving an opportunity to galleries, collectors and you to witness the creative process and acquire artworks of many styles and varieties. A special art installation titled In Her Shoes will also be on view throughout December in the ICB Gallery 111. Many of the artists in the building are creating a work of art out of a pair of their shoes in honor of Frances Galli, who maintained her studio at the ICB for almost 25 years. Mrs. Galli passed away in September at the age of 92. She actively painted until only a few days before she died. One of her iconic paintings, “Shoes #3,” painted in 2006, will be on display. The public is invited to discover exceptional and unique works of art and get inspired by their creators. For more information, visit www.icbartists.com or call (415) 331-2222.
Holiday Open Studios in San Rafael
Holiday Open Studios at Art Works Downtown will take place the weekend of December 10-11th from 11a.m. to 5p.m. at 1325-1337 Fourth Street in San Rafael. The kick-off party for the Open Studios weekend is on Friday December 9 from 5-8 p.m. during the monthly 2nd Fridays Art Walk. Over 40 artists will open their studios to the public, giving everyone an opportunity to explore, interact and purchase original art in all media. See paintings, mixed media, collage, sculpture, photography, jewelry, ceramics, glass, digital and fiber art. The event is free and all ages are welcome.
Holiday Arts Festival in Richmond
An East Bay tradition for over 60 years, the Annual Holiday Arts Festival at the Richmond Art Center will take place Friday, December 2 from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday, December 3 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. This festive two-day event is a spirited way to celebrate this holiday season. Purchase unique handcrafted gifts from artisan vendors working in ceramics, jewelry, textiles, encaustics, paint and more. Also enjoy live music, a silent auction, the Richmond Art Center’s famous ceramics sale, wine bar, café and kids’ activities (Saturday only). The Richmond Art Center, located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, has been a leader in art education programs and exhibitions for 75 years. For more information, visit www.therac.org.
Readers’ Theatre Does Shakespeare
The Sitdown Readers’ Theatre will host a unique literary event at the North Beach Library where participants will read aloud Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well on Saturday, December 10 from 2-5 p.m. Participants are provided with a script and may elect to read aloud a part. Parts are changed after each act. There is no formal audience and it is all quite comfortable and informal—although this is a participatory event, it is fine to come just to listen too. The event is free and is being held in conjunction with the North Beach branch of the San Francisco Public Library and sponsored by Friends of the Library. The North Beach Library is located at 2000 Mason Street at Columbus in San Francisco; the #30 bus stops right in front.
Macy’s Holiday Windows Featuring SPCA Adoptable Pets
Press your nose up against Macy’s Holiday Windows on Union Square at Stockton and O’Farrell streets as the San Francisco SPCA continue their famous holiday tradition with decorated windows featuring animals hoping to spend the holiday season in a new home. Go and see the furry little kitties and puppies in the Macy’s windows until January 1. San Francisco SPCA’s experts will help you meet your match and adopt right from the adoption outpost in Macy’s. For more information, visit www.sfspca.org.
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