Listen & Be Heard Network Arts News

August 22 is once again Outdoor Movie night at the Gazebo in CITY PARK. Movies start at 8:00 PM They will be screen Disney’s Enchanted Movie. There is no alcohol allowed in the park, but bring your picnic or take out dinner, blankets , jackets and enjoy. Popcorn is provided. Call 746-4285 for more info.

The RAYMOND VICTOR BAND will be the featured artists at the Wednesday Night Celebration on Georgia Street in Vallejo. The Celebration runs from 4-8:30 PM.

Thursday, August 21 you will be able to enjoy the music of KEITH LITTLE AND FRIENDS. If you enjoy bluegrass, this nationally acclaimed bluegrass musician will give you a great evening. He takes the stage at the UPSTAIRS venue at THE FIRST STREET CAFÉ at 7:30 PM. No cover. Call 745-1400 for more info.

August 21 PAMELA ROSE will make a return appearance at THE SHORELINE RESTAURANT . Pamela is a favorite at many Bay Area venues abd brings a high energy quartet with her. Stop in and give a listen while you are at the FARMER’S MARKET. She performs from 5-8PM. For more info call 745-3364.

August 22 will be the beginning of the next run of “Friday Night Supper Clubs” being run by the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE. The guest performers are from the GASLIGHTERS THEATRE GROUP of Vacaville. You will enjoy the musical melodrama, “Stuck Fast in Holdemat Bay or The Showboat Must Go On”. A reception begins at 6:00 PM with dinner at 7:00 PM and the show following. Tickets are $20. Call 649-2787 to get your reservations in.

Friday, August 22 will be another DOUG HOUSER NIGHT at the UPSTAIRS venue at THE FIRST STREET CAFÉ. Come on down and see why this Benicia Teacher is asked back again and again. He takes the stage at 8:00 PM. No cover. Call 745-1400 for more info.

Saturday, August 23 you will be treated to the talents of RICH FLYNN at the UPSTAIRS venue at THE FIRST STREET CAFÉ. Rich has been a Benicia Favorite for years in many venues. He takes the stage at 8:00 PM. No cover. Call 745-1400 for more info.

Sunday, August 24 the BRYAN GIRARD QUARTET will perform with YAGO VASQUEZ at THE SHORELINE RESTAURANT. Yago is a Spanish Piano sensation and is making a rare west coast appearance. Put that together with this veteran Bay Area Jazz Quartet and you have a definite Sunday Stroll destination. They take the stage at 2-5 PM. No cover. Call 7453364 for more info.

Tuesday, August 26 MARTHA CINADER MIMS (publisher of the LISTEN AND BE HEARD NETWORK) will hold an online open mic. To connect go to www.blogtalkradio.com/listenandbeheard . Featured poets of the evening will be OLIVIA JOHNSON. Poets interested in participating can go to www.listenandbeheard.net/home and click on the “Open mic sign up list”.

August 26 the BENICIA-VALLEJO AAUW will be celebrating Women’s Equality Day at 7:00 PM at the STONE HALL located at the BENICIA HISTORICAL MUSEUM on Camel Road. Join this tribute to Solano County Women Legislators. The event is FREE and open to the public.

CATHERINE MC SHARRY has written a musical based on her experiences in Benicia. There will be a fund raising, staged reading at 6:00 PM on August 24 at the PEACE LUTHERINE CHURCH in Danville. The reading is a fund raiser for funds to make \a full production possible. Requested donation is $10 or more. Tickets are available at ABC MUSIC.

September 5 the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE will present “An Evening With Buddy Nash”. Buddy was the winner of the VMT Best of the Bay Talent Search. Buddy is multi-talented, comes from a musical family, and has been performing from the age of three. For more info call 649-2787.

Those who would like to take part in the SUSAN G. KOMEN 3 day Walk for a cure. The Bay Area walk is scheduled for September 5-7. You can register by calling 800-996-3DAY or by going on line to: www.The3Day.org .

September 5 & 6 will be the 8^th Annul Moonlight Film Festival at the BENICIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. Young Benicia film makers have been working all year to get ready for this event. Film makers aged 12-22 will compete for awards. The festival will entertain you for two evenings and then after the second evening the awards ceremony will take place. Admission is free. The festival begins at 7:00 PM each night.

THE CALIFORNIA MARITIME ACADEMY has filled out its Summertime at the Maritime Concert Series for 2008. The Series of FREE CONCERTS will continues with the next concert. September 6 DR. LOCO’S ROCKIN’ JALAPENO BAND will be opened by the RAYMOND VICTOR BAND. The series will end up on October 4 with CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE. It looks like quite a line up and some of these opening bands could well be headliners in their own right. All concerts are free and open to the public, but donations are welcomed. Bring lawn chairs, jackets, and a picnic dinner to enjoy as you sit on Morrow Cove watching the sun set over the Marin hills. Gates open at 5:00 PM. Opening Act starts at 6:00PM. Call 654-1550 for more info.

The BENICIA HISTORICAL MUSEUM AT THE CAMEL BARNS is planning quite an event for September 6 and 7. The H.L. HUNLEY will make a return visit to the museum. This is a replica of the actual Confederate Civil War Submarine. I saw the Hunley on its last visit and the ingenuity of the operating systems is remarkable. The Museum will also open Building 7 which will be dedicated at the SILAS P CASEY HALL which is dedicated to an industrial exhibit. You will also get to see the dedication of the new and beautiful PAUL AND CATHERINE SPENGER MEMORIAL GARDEN that stretches out behind STONE HALL. Tickets for this event are available at BOOKSHOP BENICIA, BENICIA MAIN STREET, online at www.beniciahistoricalmuseum.org or by phone at 745-5435.

September 7 the Cytomax Benicia town Bicycle Race will take place. The race is sponsored by CYTOSPORT and KAISER PERMANENTE. Registration begins at 7:00 AM with the first race beginning at 8:00 AM. There will be eleven races in all each starting about 30-55 minut4es apart. Children are encouraged to enter at their skill level as well as races for adults. Pre-registration can be made at www.BikeReg.com . Pre-registration is $15 for Junior (15-18 and $25 for adults. Younger children race free. For more info you can go to www.beniciatownrace.com or call PETER VAN SLYKE at 332-5537.

On September 12 the BENICIA SITER CITY delegation will be leaving for Tula, Hildago, Mexico. These 16 members will represent you at the Mexican Independence Day Celebration. They will also meet with dignitaries about the Ambulance recently sent to Tula to work as a mobile medical, dental and optometry clinic in the poorer areas in and around Tula. This month’s meeting was delayed one week and will be at ACITY HALL on Tuesday August 19 at 7:00 PM in the Commission Room where the trip will be discussed.

Beginning September 13 and running for seven Sundays, through October 25. Students will be cast in the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE will offer its Fall semester of its CONSERVACY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS . All students will be cast in the YOUNG AUDIENCE PRODUCTION of “Willy Wonka Junior”. Instructor JO NASH of Benicia will be emphasizing audition techniques. There will also be a puppet show by the MAGICAL MOONSHINE PUPPET COMPANY. The program works on developing acting skills, movement, singing properly , protecting young voices, and music reading. Class size is limited to 30 students. Children from grades 3 -6 are accepted into the program on a first-come first-served basis. For more info call 649-2787.

ARTS BENICIA, THE BENICIA-VALLEJO BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN ASSICIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN, and THE LEGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS will hold the 5^th Annual Creativity Symposium Sunday, September 14 at ARTS BENICIA. From 3-5 PM. “Creativity–Culture at the Crossroads of the Abstract and Concrete” will be the theme this year. Presenters include RUTH SAXTON, Professor of Literature at Mills College; KIM ANNO, Professor of Painting and Department Chair at California College of Art in Oakland; and MAESTRO DAVID RAMADANOFF, Conductor, of the Vallejo Symphony. The Symposium is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.

September 15^th the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE will be holding its first ever Golf Tournament.. The event will be at the HIDDENBROOK GOLF COURSE. Proceeds will go toward the renovation of the old Post Office/Federal Building into a performing arts center. They have to do Earthquake retrofits before proceeding with other renovation plans. Fees are $140 per golfer or $540 per foursome and $45 if you just want to join them for dinner. Whether you golf or not you shall be treated royally for the event. The Guest Speaker for dinner will be WILL DURST. For more info call 649-2787.

September 19 will be the “Pirates” Friday Night Supper Club Backer’s Night Preview. presented by the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE. These Friday night dinners include an evening of unique entertainment. This time guests will be given a preview of the upcoming “Pirates of Penzance”. For more info call 649-2787.

September 20 SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF BENICIA will present their Sixth Annual Fall Follies Community Talent Show. I didn’t realize what a wealth of talent this town has until these shows started. The theme this year is a 50’s 60’s review. For tickets email Carlagal@aol.com . I can’t wait to see what they’ve lined up for this year!

September 21 the PETALUMA POETRY WALK will feature MARTHA CINADER MIMS, CARL TRENT, and PAUL NEAL at 4:00 PM at the PHOENIX THEATRE. The 51^st Poetry Walk runs from 10:00 AM through 7:00 PM.

September 22 is the beginning of the 10-week Teen Rock Camp at ABC MUSIC. Class I runs from 4-5:30 PM and Class II runs from 7-8:30 PM. The camp is designed for young musicians who want to play in a rock band, but need experience playing with other musicians, how to solo, and reading charts. Students should have at least 6 months experience on their instrument.

Starting on September 25 students from throughout the community are welcomed to become a part of the BENICIA CHOIR. Students in grades 2-8 are welcomed. The choir will focus on fun pop tunes and Broadway music. No prior singing experiences is necessary. The instructor is DON O’BRIEN . The Choir meets on Thursdays from 3:45 through 4:45 PM at the CLOCKTOWER. For more info call 746-4285.

The “Jokers of ACE “ was such a success last year that this Fall it is coming back to the HAYLEY HORN AUDITORIUM at the BENICIA HIGH SCHOOL. September 27 the series will kick off with DON FRIESEN , A TWO-TIME WINNER AT THE San Francisco International Comedy Competition. He will be joined by DAN ST. PAUL and proceeds will go to the Adult Literacy Program at the BENICIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. General admission is $20 for adults, $10 for Seniors and youths. There is also a season ticket for $50. Tickets are available at BOOKSHOP BENICIA or online at www.reddragonflyproductions.com

The ARTS BENICIA Auction is 16 this year so they are having a “Sweet Sixteen Auction and Benefit and Dessert Soiree”. The event will be September 27 from 7-11:30 PM. The event will be held at the Tyler Street ARTS BENICIA GALLERY. Music will be provided by DUO GADJO (Café jazz with a French twist). Their will be a preview and preview bidding from September 11-27 at the Gallery which is open Thursday through Sunday from Noon -5:00 PM. For more info call 747-0131.

Getting a new cell phone? What do you plan to do with your old one? Two kids in Massachusetts started by raising money for a soldier they read about with a huge phone bill from calling home. CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS is now a 501c3 program that collects 15,000 phones each month. They sell the phones and use the money for phone cards for soldiers and their families so they can keep in touch. You can go on line and print out a pre paid shipping label to send in your old phone at www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com .

On the third Saturday of each month through November the Young Eagle Flight Program is available to youths aged 8-17. A group of generous volunteers take part in this FAA program at the NUT TREE AIRPORT. Flights begin at 7:30 AM and continue until everyone who registered has flown. At least one parent or guardian must be present and sign the registration form. For general information call GERALD GORDON (446-8532), DUKE SCHOELL (448-0604) or HOWARD GUNN (448-0589).

The SOLANO-NAPA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY can turn your unwanted vehicles into homes. No, people won’t be living in them, they will be sold to fund homes. To donate call 1-877-277-4344 or visit www.carsforhomes.org/ you can donate cars, trucks, boats, RV’s, Motorcycles, airplanes or other motorized vehicles. Be sure you say you want proceeds to go to the SOLANO-NAPA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

BRIDGING THE GAP will return for its 7^th year on Sunday, October 5. An application form is inside the back cover of the Fall 2008 BENICIA PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Guide. You can also go online at www.ci.benicia.ca.us to find more forms, visit the department at CITY HALL or call 746-4285.