The Empress Theatre in downtown Vallejo is featuring The Going Going Gong Show on May 21 at 7 p.m. Based on the classic TV show, this is about having acts that are creative, funny, one-of-a-kind and have very little to do with talent.
Published: May, 2016
Going, Going Gong Show!
The Empress Theatre in downtown Vallejo is featuring The Going Going Gong Show on May 21 at 7 p.m. Based on the classic TV show, this is about having acts that are creative, funny, one-of-a-kind and have very little to do with talent. This is not a stepping stone to America’s Got Talent; it’s a show where some acts will be so bad that they will get the gong or even the hook that pulls them off the stage! After the show, enjoy the after party with music and cocktails. Also, if you have a “special” talent that your friends told you to keep to yourself (but you can’t wait to share with the world), now you have the perfect place to express yourself. They’re still looking for volunteers to participate in this second annual production. For tickets, visit empresstheatre.org. To apply for the competition, contact Brian O’Reilly at (530) 391-8544 or mrbrianoreilly@gmail.com by May 10.
Open House & Free Sailing
Enjoy a complimentary sail on either a catamaran or monohull boat at a fun open house event hosted by Modern Sailing in Sausalito on Sunday, May 22 from noon to 5 p.m. Take a tour of the club and check out the new boats in the fleet. There will be live music provided by the Sausalito Waterfront Pickers and a barbecue lunch. SeaTrek Kayak will also be there as well as sign-ups for the Matthew Turner “Building a Tall Ship” tour. First come first served for the sailboat rides. The club is located at 2310 Marinship Way, Sausalito. For more information, visit www.modernsailing.com or call (415) 331-8250.
Taste of the Bay Sail
Celebrate our California coast and its seafood with a sail aboard the schooner Freda B for the inaugural “Taste of the Bay” sail and seafood tasting on Sunday, May 29. With a special menu featuring local, sustainable seafood provided by Real Good Fish and prepared by Sausalito’s well-traveled Chef Dr. Jones, who has made many meals under sail. Swap fishing stories and learn the fun and delicious way about the bounty of our local coastline with Maria Finn, author of The Whole Fish and contributor to many other publications. She’ll give you the insider’s view on choosing the best seafood and tips on preparing it. The sail departs downtown Sausalito at 4 p.m. and returns at 7 p.m. Each ticket includes sail, sustainable seafood sampling, wine tasting and non-alcoholic beverages. Early bird tickets are available for $95. For more information and tickets, visit schoonerfredab.com.
BBQ and Blues at Rosenblum in JLS
Saturday, May 7 will be a finger lickin’ good time at Rosenblum Cellars, right next to the Oakland ferry landing in Jack London Square. Rosenblum Cellars will be hosting its Annual BBQ from 1 to 4 p.m. featuring fine smoky favorites from Back Forty BBQ and live music from the Allen Vega Blues Band. Featured will be Rosenblum’s favorite reserve wines, as well as its Great American Wine Company wines. Tickets are $65 for members and $85 for non-members. To reserve your seat at the picnic, call (510) 645-9823 or visit www.rosenblumcellars.com for more information.
Join the Bay Parade
San Francisco Baykeeper is proud to announce the third annual Bay Parade on Sunday, May 22. Swimmers, kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, boaters and all Bay enthusiasts are invited to join the on-the-water parade. Come on out to have a fun, active day and celebrate a healthy San Francisco Bay. Swim or support swimmers by boat 6.5 miles, paddle or kayak 1 mile, with an exuberant finale in McCovey Cove. Costumes are encouraged! You’ll make it to the big screen when the parade’s finale is broadcast on the Jumbotron at the start of the Giants’ home game. Participants raise funds to support Baykeeper’s work to stop pollution in San Francisco Bay. Fundraisers will be awarded fantastic prizes. Fastest swimmers and biggest fundraisers will win the Golden Rivet Award and will be recognized at a Giants home plate ceremony. Swimming starts at 9:30-10:30 a.m., kayak/paddle check-in is at 11-11:30 a.m., the finale is at 1 p.m, and the after party is at 2 p.m. Details and registration info are at baykeeper.org.
Open Art in Benicia
Benicia Artists Open Studios is a two-day event on May 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each year, scores of artists open the doors of their studio spaces throughout Benicia’s Historic Arsenal District and all over town, providing a unique glimpse into their creative worlds. Visitors can ride a SolTrans shuttle free of charge between the arsenal and downtown and explore artist studios on Jackson and Tyler Streets in the arsenal, see glass blowing on F and H Streets, tour galleries and other venues on First Street, speak with artists about their work, watch demonstrations and purchase original art. Represented will be the work of painters, sculptors, wood-turners, photographers, illustrators, metal smiths, jewelry designers and more. Visitors can pick up maps at Arts Benicia, 991 Tyler Street, Suite 114. For more information, visit www.artsbenicia.org.
Hot Chili and Cold Beer
Things are going to get hot in Sonoma County on Saturday, May 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. when the Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off, Salsa & Beer Tasting takes place at Fairgrounds in Petaluma. The 19th annual celebration of local chefs and amazing microbrews will feature 40 teams serving up their finest meat and vegetarian chili as well as 15 traditional or fruit salsa teams, while 15 breweries share several varieties of suds. Tickets are free for kids under 5, $10 for ages 5-11, $25 for chili and salsa tasting, or $45 with beer included for adults. The event is held in Herzog Hall at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 100 Fairgrounds Drive in Petaluma. To purchase a ticket, or for more information, call (707) 763-8920 or visit GreatChiliCookOff.com.
Picking on the Potomac
Have a stompin’ good time with fantastic bluegrass music dockside on board the Presidential Yacht Potomac at Jack London Square. The Shepherd Canyon Band will perform on Friday, May 13. Concerts are in the intimate setting of the Presidents Saloon from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. and tours are available starting at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $25 per person with all proceeds going to support educational programs for Bay Area school children. For information and reservations, visit www.usspotomac.org or call (510) 627-1215.
New SFMOMA Unveiled
The transformed and expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) at 151 Third Street opens to the public on Saturday, May 14. Purpose-built to showcase the museum’s celebrated collection, the new SFMOMA seamlessly integrates a 10-story expansion with the original building. With nearly three times more gallery space than before, the museum is opening with 19 special exhibitions, including a curated selection of 260 postwar and contemporary works from the distinguished Doris and Donald Fisher Collection, the first presentation of more than 600 works promised through the museum’s Campaign for Art, cherished favorites from SFMOMA’s permanent collection and works specially commissioned for the new museum. The expansion includes 170,000 square feet of new and renovated indoor and outdoor galleries. While tickets to the museum’s galleries on opening day are sold out, tickets are available to purchase online for May 15 and onward. SFMOMA is open to the public seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Labor Day. Free public spaces open at 9 a.m. daily. The museum hosts extended hours on Thursdays until 9 p.m. Annual membership begins at $100, and members enjoy unlimited free admission (with advance reservation). Adult admission to SFMOMA is $25, $22 for seniors 65 years and older and $19 for ages 19 through 24. SFMOMA provides free admission to all visitors 18 and younger, furthering its goal of building the next generation of art lovers. Visit sfmoma.org or call 415.357.4000 for more information.
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