Out and About in Martinez: What's Happening in 2013

First Congregational Church’s coffee venue, The Coffee Break at 1229 Court Street on Mondays - FCC is offering this service to Martinez businesses, residents and visitors as a way to say welcome to our community. We are inviting you to be our guests and enjoy great coffee or tea and home baked goodies, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. every Monday.

April 12 - Happy Healthy Families with Dr. Susan Lawton - 6:30 pm -Encore Gymnastics - Please give Virginia or Tam a call if you have any questions: Virginia 925-932-1033 or Tam 925-864-2093 - Here is a link to the invitation: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/144300052408370/

April 13 - Mini-Motorland at the Amphitheatre - 10:00 am to Noon - ages 2 - 5 to register: 925.372.3510

April 13 - Citizens of the Year Awards Dinner - Martinez Event Center - 6:00 - 9:00 pm - for reservations: 925.228.2345

April 13 - “A Saunter With my Muse” - Martinez Artist Sally Rodriguez Opening Reception - Colorz Hair Gallery - Walnut Creek - 6:00 - 9:00 pm - 925.933.2888

April 13 - Texas Hold Em Tournament - Benefit for Loaves & Fishes - Veterans of Foreign War Post #6435 - 815 Fulton Shipyard Road, Antioch - 6:30 to 10:30 pm - Dinner by Antioch Lions Club - 5:30 pm - Loaves & Fishes serves over 150 meals per day in Martinez - register online at: www.loavesfishescc.org or call: 925.687-6760

April 14 - Soroptimists International of Martinez will host a Personal Emergency Preparedness Workshop “PEP” - IBEW Union 302 - 1875 Arnold Drive - 1:00 - 3:30 pm - Open to the public - FREE - Refreshments will be served - RSVP: dotsold@comcast.net  or jdy_moon@yahoo.com

April 18 - Martinez Chamber Educational Series - Robin S. Fox, Linked In 2013 - Noon to 1:00 pm, doors open at 11:30 am - Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room - 444 Fig Tree Lane - Martinez - FREE to Chamber Members, $20 for Non-Members, lunch will be provided - RSVP by April 15 - 925.228.2345 or Shannon@martinezchamber.com

April 18 - Alhambra Cemetery Daylight Tour - The tour is FREE but donations are gladly accepted for cemetery restoration - adults only - space is limited to 20 people - 10:00 am to noon - register: 925.372.3510

April 20 - John Muir Birthday / Earth Day Celebration and the John Muir Conservation Awards - John Muir National Historic Site - 402 Alhambra Avenue - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm - FREE

April 20 - Bay Area Craft Beer Festival - Waterfront Park - 12:00 - 4:00 pm for information: www.bayareacraftbeerfestival.com

April 20 - “Life is a Gift” Dinner & Auction - “Viva Las Vegas” fundraiser for Grad Night - Martinez Event Center

April 20 - The Contra Costa County History Center will celebrate its recent move to 724 Escobar Street in Martinez with a Grand Opening from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A Member's Preview will be held on Thursday, April 18 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For further information, please contact the History Center at 925-229-1042 or e-mail info@cocohistory.com

April 23 - LA-DI-DA Vocal Quartet - 6:30 pm - Join the Martinez Library as we celebrate jazz appreciation month with a vocal performance by LA-DI-DA, bay area locals who specialize in polished, close harmony A Capella singing of jazz, standards, barbershop and contemporary music - additional information: 925.646.9920

April 25 - Thursday’s Farmer’s Market Opens - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Court Street between Main and Escobar Streets

April 27 - Downtown Martinez Clean Up Day - 7:30 am to 1:00 pm - to volunteer call: Barbara Kapsalis: 925.408.1338

April 27 - The Catholic Community of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish cordially invites you to join in celebrating its 140th Anniversary. Come be part of this historic event  beginning with the 4:30 PM Liturgy, continuing with fellowship and celebratory adult dinner at 6:00 PM. Tickets for the dinner event are $40 per person and may be purchased at the Saint Catherine Parish Office at 1125 Ferry Street; School at 604 Mellus Street; or by calling 925-270-9830. Over 150 years ago the village port of Martinez gave witness to its first Mass. It was held in a local store and the mass was offered by Dominican Father from Benicia. The first church was built in 1868 and actually established as a parish in 1873 three years before Martinez was established as a City. The Saint Catherine's Parish is inviting the community at large to be part of its 140 year history celebration.

April 27 - Second Annual Martinez Education Foundation Golf Tournament Pine Meadow Golf Course - For full details or to become a sponsor, contact: 925.370.0184 or jeni.waters@edwardjones.com 

May 4 - Downtown Martinez Wine Stroll

May 4 - National Park Service FREE Campfire Program at the John Muir National Historic Site - 7:00 pm - Rangers will lad the group in songs, skits, and stories to celebrate the legacy of John Muir. No reservations are required. Meet at the front gate of the John Muir Historic Site and bring the whole family. Come with picnic blankets, lawn chairs, marshmallows and a desire to have a good time! Heavy rains will cancel the event. Campfire programs continue through September.  For more information, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/jomu  or call (925) 228-8860.

May 4 - 5 - Martinez Art Association Open Studios - Saturday, May 4, 2013 - 11am to 6pm - Sunday, May 5, 2013 - 11am to 4pm -www.MartinezOpenStudios.org or email info@MartinezOpenStudios.org.

May 5 - MUSD Music Booster Wine Tasting Fundraiser - Viano Winery - 1:00 to 4:00 pm - Music - Art Auction - Includes 4 wonderful tastings, a Viano glass, a wonderful time, art to purchase donated by generous artists in our community. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available for non-drinkers. Please join us, enjoy an afternoon out, and support our kids and their music in all our schools. Cost: $25/person - RSVP Required. Space is limited - Advance tickets need to be purchased, so anyone interested can contact Carrie at 372-8450 or sccrfrancis@sbcglobal.net

May 7 - Summertime Beading Workshop with Yolanda - Martinez Library - 740 Court Street - 4:30 to 5:30 pm - registration required - 925.646.9900

May 10 - 34th Annual Wine Tasting Benefitting the Martinez Early Childhood Center - Martinez Event Center - 524 Main Street - 5:00 to 8:00 pm - for tickets: ggerlack@aol.com or 925.229.2000

May 14 or 18 - Creative Visual Thinking: A study of Studio Habits - 6:30pm – 9:00 pm @ ARTU4iA - $20 with advanced registration - To register for either one of these 2.5 hour workshops please email redbrickworkshops@gmail.com Include your name, what you teach and which workshop you will be attending. Payment will be needed at the start of the workshop payable to ARTU4iA. Cash, check or credit card is acceptable. We will reply to your registration email with more details. You may also call Roger Renn at 925 768-7816 to answer any questions. Register early. The working studio limits class size to 20 participants.

May 17-18 - Kiwanis Club of Martinez Rummage Sale - Kiwanis Clubhouse - 750 Allen Street - 7:00 am to 5:00 pm

May 18 - Peddlers Faire - Downtown Martinez - 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

May 18 - Friends of the Library Book Sale - 10:00 am for FOL Members - 11:00 am for the public - 740 Court Street

May 25 - Martinez Historical Society Program - Andrea Blachman: The History of the Martinez Library - Veterans Memorial Hall - 1:00 to 3:00 pm - Free - Refreshments - Open to the public

June 1 - Boys & Girls Club Auction and Dinner - The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diablo Valley is presenting their 28th annual gala dinner and The event sponsored by Shell Oil Company will take place at the Concord Hilton located at 1970 Diamond Blvd. in Concord. This is a black tie optional event. Registration and silent auction will begin at 5:30 pm, dinner served at 7:00 pm and live auction at 8:00 pm. This year’s honorary chair is Steve Lesher. Tickets for the event are $75 prior to May 15th and $100 after May 15th. For more information about Boys & Girls Club programs or activities, please call 925 228.3896 ext.102 or visit our website at www.bgcdv.org

June 8 - Celebrate World Wide Knit Day - 2:00 pm - Calling all Knitters to pack up your needles and join us as we knit and Crochet together. Get inspired by knitwear designs from your community. Bring in your projects and knit with new friends. Check out many items for sale. All proceeds from the sale of knitwear benefit the Martinez Senior Center and the Friends of the Martinez Library. Additional information: 925.646.9920

June 11 - 6:30 – 7:30 pm - Photography educator Jerry Ott, (www.darkroomz.com) will be on hand to give tips on how to take great summer digital photographs using your own equipment. Adults and teens are invited to practice their photography skills on our stuff animal subjects who will be visiting the library for the “Stuffed Animal Sleepover & Midnight Feast.” Enter your pictures into our photography contest and receive a gift card from a local restaurant. Contest rules will be available at this event. Additional information: 925.646.9920

June 15 - 16 - King of the County BBQ - Waterfront Park

June 22 - Vintage Fashion Show and Luncheon - proceeds to benefit Central County Homeless Outreach - for information or reservations: ggerlack@aol.com

June 23 - Farmer’s Market 25th Anniversary Celebration - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Main Street

June 30 - Loaves & Fishes Summer Garden Party “Food for Thought” - Celebrating 30 years of service in Contra Costa County - Hacienda De Las Flores - Moraga - Food, Wine, Music, and Auction - register online: www.loavesfishescc.org 

Upcoming Events, Mark Your Calendars:

July 4 - Downtown Parade

July 20 - Port Chicago Commemoration  

July 29 - August 2 and August 5 - 9 - John Muir Mountain Day Camp

August 3 - Peddlers Faire - Downtown

August 3 - 6th Annual Beaver Festival - 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the corner of Marina Vista and Alhambra Avenue - FREE - www.MartinezBeavers.org

August 18 - Art in the Park - Susana Park

August 24 - Muir Heritage Land Trust Fresh Aire Affaire

September 26 - 29 - Eugene O’Neill Festival 12th Annual

September 28 - 29  Italian Street Painting Festival - Downtown Martinez

September 28 - Martinis on the Plaza

October 5 - Pasta Feed for the Run for Education

October 6 - Run for Education

October 12 - Martinez Historical Society Home Tour

October 12- Martinez Restaurant Tour

October 19 - Zombie Brew Crawl

October 27 - Halloween Spooktacular

December 6-8 - Holiday Frolic Snow Park - Downtown Martinez

December 14 - Santa Beer Crawl

FREE ongoing activities in Martinez: the Martinez Museum, www.martinezhistory.org or 925.228.8160; the John Muir National Historic Site, www.nps.gov/jomu or 925.228.8860; the Shell Museum, open Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Pacheco Boulevard and Arreba.

Martinez Farmer’s Market Thursday (Court Street) and Sunday (Main Street), 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

If you have events you would like to share: ggerlack@aol.com

For Entertainment, Dining, and Shopping - Support Martinez Businesses!

See you around Martinez…