Listen & Be Heard Network Arts News

Ooo-ooo-ooo there is a Haunting good time available at the Depot. Friday, October 31 from 6-9 PM, the Historic Benicia Railroad Depot will be transformed into a Haunted Depot. This was once a Benicia tradition that I am thrilled to see being brought back to life. Halloween night will be the last night for this to be open. Admission will be $3 for adults and $1 for children under 8 with a donation of a canned good. Or adults $6 and children under 8 $3. Call 745-9791 for more info. THERE IS A PUMPKIN PATCH AT THE DEPOT! Pumpkins are $2, $4, and $6 and you support your own downtown!

Be sure to watch out for the little ones on Halloween. You may see them, but they may not see you.

The BENICIA OLD TOWN THEATRE GROUP is presenting “ Bottoms Up” at the BDES HALL. This comedy by GREGG KREUTZ takes place in the Hotel Grande on the Caribbean Island of Santa Pequena. I found the first performance of the group’s 44^th year adorable. The timing was right on . There were familiar faces and new comers and all gave polished performances. PAUL ZILL gave us an interesting set which served as a double stage with activity on several levels. DANIEL MORGAN kept us laughing with his antics in this, his third Benicia performance. CASSANDRA METZ made her acting debut and held up her end of the play with boundless energy. Other new comers include JOSH CLARK, PHIL OLOCCO, and SEAN WEST all added to the fun of the performance. Local favorites, DAN CLARK, LAINA PERRY, SARAH ROZETT and RACHEL OBRESTAD didn’t disappoint as they each brought their strengths to the play. All worked under the apt direction of MICHAEL SCAHILL. Be ready to chuckle, giggle, and belly laugh as you enjoy this comedy. Performances will continue through November 8. Friday and Saturday shows start at 8:00 PM and Sunday Matinees are at 4:00 PM. Tickets are available for “Will Call” at www.beniciaoldtowntheatregroup.com . Doors open one hour before the curtain and tickets are available at the door. They also have special group rates for groups from 10 to over 100. Local theatre is such a wonderful treat so come and share a laugh as you support our own local theatre. For info call 746-1269.

Fall classes at ARTS BENICIA will be beginning in October. Great instructors will hone your talents in watercolors, printmaking, painting, plein air painting, and more. Call 747-0131 to reserve your space now.

Over 40 First Street Merchants and Businesses have signed up for the Scarecrow Decorating Contest sponsored by the BENICIA MAIN STREET PROGRAM!. That means the downtown will be painted orange for October. Stroll down First Street and check out the scarecrows and you can place your votes for your favorite with a participating merchant. The scarecrows are numbered so remember the number of the one you like. The judging will be done by the public who will be depositing ballots. I have so enjoyed the creativity and variety of these scarecrows, I hope this becomes a Benicia tradition. So come on down and pick a winner!

Thursday, October 30 from 4-7PM will be the FARMER’S MARKET FINALE.

We are so lucky to have this wonderful market that I have heard people from Contra Costa go on about our market and how great it is. There will be special events and live music among the special surprises for this end of the season market. For more info call 745-9791.

October 30 stop in at THE SHORELINE RESTAURANT to catch the tunes of the DLEBERT BUMP TRIO. Delbert is a master of the B3 Hammond Organ and well worth the trip. They take the stage form 5-8 PM. No cover. Call 7453364 for more info.

October 30 it will be Karaoke Night at the UPSTAIRS venue at THE FIRST STREET CAFÉ. Yes, TJ is back with his massive array of background music. There is a two drink minimum for this event. The fun begins at 7:30 PM. Call 745-1400 for more info.

October 30 the BENICIA KNITTING CIRCLE will be knitting for soldiers. Patterns will be provided for all levels of skill. This Thursday night knitting project will continue each week through November 20 from 6-8 PM. Call 746-5800 for more info.

DOUG HOUSER will be on hand for Halloween at the UPSTAIRS venue at THE FIRST STREET CAFÉ. If you just want fun and good music, this is your stop. Doug takes to the stage at 8:00 PM. No cover. Call 745-1400 for more info.

October 31 the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE will have a special guest for their Friday Night Supper Club. They will present the adult entertainment puppet show, “Dracula del Lobo”. MICHAEL and VALERIE NELSON have taken this timeless story and turned it into a spooky thriller using paper puppets. This play is definitely not for children under 16. The dinner will be catered by BACA RISTORANTE. Tickets are $20 and reservations are required due to limited seating. For reservations call 649-2787 or go online to www.vallejomusictheatre.org and click on buy tickets now.

Saturday, November 1 will be the third and final Jokers of Ace Comedy for a Cause. BENGT WASHBURN will be supplying the laughs at the HAYLEY HORN AUDITORIUM at the BENICIA HIGH SCHOOL as he raises funds for the BENICIA HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA DEPARTMENT. All shows are $20 and start at 8:00 PM. Tickets are available at www.reddragonflyproductions.com or at 771-0140. Then like all good things the Jokers will be gone.

Saturday, November 1 JOANNE WEIL HEALD will be on hand with friends at the UPSTAIRS venue at THE FIRST STREET CAFÉ. She will offer a mix of swing, Country, Bluegrass and folk music. She takes the stage at 8:00 PM. No cover. For more info call 745-1400.

November 8 your are invited to join the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE and the VALLEJO SUBURBAN KIWANIS as they host “Putting in the Ritz–a 1920’s Speakeasy” at the VMT BUILDING. You are invited to come in costume and play black jack, craps, Roulette and more. (no poker or pai gow). There will be live and silent auctions, prizes, and a No Host Bar. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Admission is $25 and you get $10 worth of chips to get you started. Tickets on line are available at www.vallejomusictheatre.org . For info and reservations call 649-2787.

November 14 GAYLA REITER will host a Past Lives Regression Workshop at 240 Baker Street at 7:00 PM. Gayla is a certified Hypnotherapist and proceeds from this workshop go to NORTHER CANLIFORNIA SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYDROPME Programs. For more info call 745-0105.

November 16 THE MC CUNE COLLECTION will hold its last in its Fall lecture series. KATHLEEN BURCH will present “Tiptoe through the Tarot”. She will discuss the history and design of Tarot cards. Sharing her extensive knowledge she will give an introduction to card games and divinatory systems in the context of this printed medium. All lectures are free to the public and begin at 2:00 PM. For more info go to www.mccunecollection.org .

November 16 and 17 at 7:00 PM the VALLEJO MUSIC THEATRE will be holding auditions for “The Fantasticks”. Auditioners are asked to bring music for a song not in the show. Call backs will be on November 20. For more info call 649-2787.

Thursday, November 20 will be the next Benicia Community Blood Drive. Donors can show up at the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH on Southampton Road from 1-7 PM. All donors names will be put into a drawing for a gift certificate from PEDROTTI ACE HARDWARE. Sandwiches are provided by KAUFMAN CHIROPRACTIC OF BENICIA. Juice and other refreshments are available to donors. Donors must be 17 years old or more , in good health, and weigh at least 110 pounds. For more info call 428-6001.

November 22 GAYLA REITER and DR. WALTER SERNKIW will host a workshop on Reincarnation and Past Life Regression at SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE at the Fairfield campus. The class will begin at 9:00 AM and run through 5:00 PM. Bring a pillow, blanket or pad, as well as a light bag lunch. You can register at 864-7115.

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).

November 29 and 30 THE BENICIA BALLET will present “The Nutcracker” at the HOGAN HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. Saturday, November 29 the performances will be at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.. Sunday, November 30 the performance will be at 2:00 PM. Admission will be $20 for adults and $15 for Seniors and Students. Tickets are available at the BENICIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SHIRACO’SD, OR AT THE Ballet School. The professional guest dancers will be DAVID FONNEGRA and CONSTANSE AN. For more info Ca;; 746-6757.

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF BENICIA is looking for women they can help. The first is their VIOLET RICHARDSON AWARD. This is an award given to a young woman aged 14-17 who is striving to make the world a better place. They can do this by identifying a problem and working on a solution or she can demonstrate noteworthy volunteer accomplishments. Deadline for applicants for this award is December 1. Contact leslie.Sullivan@valero.com for more info.

The second is their WOMEN’S OPPORTUNITY AWARD. This goes to a single Woman who is the head of a household and has returned to school to better the life of her family. The deadline for this award is December 15. Call LESLIE SULLIVAN at 826-2005 for applications to both programs and further info.

THE BENICIA HISTORICAL MUSEUM is creating an exhibit titled “WAR TO END ALL WARS . . .90^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WWI”. The museum has been looking for loans and gifts of photos, memorabilia, armaments, uniforms, documents, newspaper articles, personal items and stories from relatives and friends in the Benicia Area. The exhibit is scheduled to open November 1.

December 7 at 2:00 PM the BENICIA BALLET will present its Annual Nutcracker Tea. Get out your Holiday attire and come enjoy tea and crumpets with your favorite Nutcracker Ballerina. Admission will include finger sandwiches, desserts, a picture with a Nutcracker Character and a Dance demonstration. The event will be at 938 Tyler Street Suite 204. They haven’t told me the admission price yet., but for more info call 746-6757.

Benicia will be getting its own RELAY FOR LIFE in 2009. The date has not yet been scheduled, but May or June are looking like possible dates. More info to follow as it becomes available.

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF BENICIA is working with THE BLUE STAR MOMS in putting together 30 Christmas Stockings for women soldiers. They are looking for travel sizes of food items, personal items and fun things. Please remember to keep them small. For more info call CHERYL SPENCE at 746-6618 or TERRY BALDWIN at 746-7876.