Published: February, 2010
Enter a Classic or Vintage Vehicle in the Concours d’Elegance
Vintage and classic vehicle owners are invited to apply for entry to the Second Annual Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance, to be held May 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Marin County Fairgrounds, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael. The Concours display will showcase 200 exotic and rare vehicles. The featured marque will be the Porsche. In addition, 16 classic wooden boats will be on display in the lagoon. The application fee is $60 if submitted before March 15 and $85 after that date. Entry fee is returned if a vehicle isn’t accepted. For information about entrant classes and to download an entry application, visit www.marinsonomaconcours.org, or call (415) 479-7727.
Celebrate African American History Month at Maritime National Historic Park
Learn about African American and West Indies seafarers, interwoven through exhibits in the Visitor Center and aboard the historic sailing ship Balclutha. View WPA-era artwork of African American artist Sargent Johnson on the exterior of the magnificent Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building. Special presentations will occur every weekend in February, including a Power Point presentation on the extraordinary life and accomplishments of the only black whaling ship captain on the West Coast on February 14 and 28. Discover the dramatic story of how ships were used as routes to freedom on the Underground Railroad on February 21 and join National Park Ranger Tom Jares on February 7 and 27 for a look at the lives of African American Seamen during the Age of Sail. Discover the pivotal role they played in maritime history. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is located at the west end of Fisherman’s Wharf. For more information about the park or its public programs, please call (415) 447-5000 or visit www.nps.gov.
Chicken Soup for the Eyes
With winter and flu season upon us, what better way to enjoy and endure the cold and rain than with a group art show aptly titled “Chicken Soup with Rice”? The exhibit is all about comfort, nesting, healing and nourishment and will run from February 5 – 27 at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts in Alameda. There will be a gala opening on Friday, February 5 from 7 – 9 p.m. with free refreshments. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free (donations appreciated) and all ages are welcome. For more information call (510) 523-6957 or visit www.frankbettecenter.org.
Crissy Field Center’s Grand gREen Opening
Bring the whole family to celebrate Crissy Field Center’s Grand gREen Opening at the new cutting edge building on East Beach in the Presidio, Saturday, February 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s a golden opportunity to see sustainable technology in action at one of the nation’s “greenest” park-based buildings. Enjoy music by the Banana Slug String Band and radio DJ Baltazar, along with site tours demonstrating some of the Center’s cool design features. Taste savory treats from the Beach Hut menu featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients, enter a free raffle, and take home eco-goodie giveaways to commemorate the day. You can also get clean, green, and gorgeous in the Urban Ecology lab as you make safe, non-toxic cleaning supplies for the home, and natural lip balms tinted with beet and strawberry powders. Trace the tracks of your favorite food by learning how many miles it travels before reaching the store and calculate its carbon emissions using special software in the Media Lab. Gather in the Sustainable Arts Workshop to see how art can empower action as you craft your own slogan to print on a button or t-shirt. Then, put your knowledge to the test by constructing a “sustainable city” that includes elements highlighted in the building tour and uses recycled packing materials from the Center’s move. Plus there will be plenty of fun, stories, and interactive games for the little ones in the “Tot Corner.” The event is free and for all ages. Visit www.crissyfield.org/2010reopening or call (415) 561-7752 for more information.
Orchids Carnaval
The theme of the 58th annual Pacific Orchid Exposition is Carnaval because of the famed event’s numerous parallels to the orchid species. Carnaval is a pre-Lent bacchanal that occurs in cities and villages throughout the Latin world, and now everyone can experience the spirit of this international celebration as the 2010 Pacific Orchid Exposition returns to Fort Mason Center, February 26 – 28. For many, the event represents a riot of color, form and fragrance. And yet, a similar riot of life goes on in the forests and mountains, in cities and villages, all around the world. The same wild colors, fanciful forms and lascivious scents are displayed by wild plants and animals and a similar compelling rhythm encompass their calls and songs. The hues and fanciful shapes, seemingly the imagination of nature itself, reach their zenith in orchids, and they bring to mind the costumes of the dancers who parade through the street. And, much like the participants in Carnaval, orchids seem to thumb their noses at often difficult and unpredictable conditions, thriving and showing off in the most unlikely of places. Orchids in their spring revel remind all of nature’s beauty and bounty, of the triumph of life, and pure joy that is found in beauty. The San Francisco Orchid Society encourages everyone to forget the worries of the world, and lose themselves in the beauty and intensity of Carnaval. For more information, visit www.orchidsanfrancisco.org or call (415) 665-2468.
Artists for Awareness Goes Red
Artists for Awareness is an exciting new group of Marin artists celebrating the passion and power they have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke with Go Red For Women on February 5, National Wear Red Day. This is the first of a series of upcoming art shows to bring public awareness and support to particular health, global, and social causes. This expressive, punchy, pithy, textural and vigorous group of painters uses color in intuitive, vibrant and rich ways. The emphasis on using the color red will be innovatively explored in thoughtful investigations of heart and emotion. Each of the nine artists is compelled to make a difference through their art. The sales of these works of art will be in support of raising funds and awareness for heart disease and stroke. Meet the artists and share their reception for the kick-off of this three-weekend show at Northbay Artworks in Novato on February 5 from 6 – 8 p.m. The exhibit will be open Fridays through Sundays February 5 – 21 from 12 – 4 p.m.
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.
