Out and About in Martinez: Happy B'day Roy Jeans, Foster A Dream, Tree of Lights

Martinez Entertainment:

Armando’s - Second and Fourth Mondays at 7:00 pm: Blues Jam - Friday’s at 4:30 pm: Happy Hour & a Half - November 9: Come celebrate Armando’s Birthday Party with the Very Bad Boys, Caroompas Room, the Hopeful Romantics, Frankie G., Wendy DeWitt and Jeff Magdison - November 10: Houston Jones - November 11: The Hopeful Romantics - November 16: Macy Blackman & the Mighty Fines - November 17: Blues Kitchen - November 18: Don Burnham & the Bolos - November 23: Rusty Zinn & His Band - November 24: The Quinn Deveaux - log on to: www.armandosmartinez.com

Roxx on Main - Shows begin at 7:00 pm - November 9: Ro-Duo with Jay Olsen - November 10: The 2 of Us - November 16: Jim Caroompas and the Sister of Mercy - November 17: Kyle Jester Blues Duo - log on to: www.roxxonmain.com

California Magic Club - Doors open at 7:30 pm - November 9 & 10: Ron Saylor and Ray Andrews - November 16 & 17: Kerry Ross and Gerry Griffin - November 23 & 24: Timothy James - November 30 and December 1: Rob Zabrecky - For reservations: www.calmagic.com

Send your entertainment calendars to Ggerlack@aol.com

Holiday gift idea: Check with the above businesses for Gift Certificates. Something NEW, Costco has Gift Certificates available for La Tapatia, a great value and gift.

Martinez Events…Mark Your Calendars Now:

November 9 - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diablo Valley, 1301 Alhambra Avenue, are hosting a Poker Tournament. A $60.00 donation buy-in includes 1000 in chips, 2 drink tickets, snacks and prizes. Participants must be 21 years of age or older. To register or if you have questions contact: Tina Busker at 925.228.3896 ext. 102 or Tbusker@bgcdv.org.

November 9 - Foster a Dream - Wine Raffle, Wine Tasting and FOOD! Shell Clubhouse 1635 Pacheco Blvd. - 6:30 to 9:00 pm - Tickets are $20.00 pp; For tickets or additional information: 925.228.0200 or email: info@fosteradream.org

November 10 - Brown Bag Lunch - Martinez Museum, 11:30 am

November 10 - Hospice of the East Bay Thrift Store opens - 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Morello Avenue - 925.887.5678 or www.hospiceeastbay.org - Tree of Lights Ceremonies - 5:00 pm at the old oak tree on Morello Avenue - Dedicate a light for, or in memory of a loved one, refreshments, music, and more. Lights:$25.00

November 10 - Special invitation to our Martinez Music Lovers from the San Francisco Opera: FREE Community Open House: Onstage technical and musical demonstrations with Maestro Nicola Luisotti, the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus, soprano Melody Moore and tenor Brian Jagde - Family activities - Screening of Carmen for Families: the Movie at 11:00 am and 1:05 pm - Enter to win an exclusive backstage tour the day of the Open House - for more information please visit the Community Open House webpage, http://sfopera.com/Season-Tickets/Community-Open-House-Registration.aspx - tickets are not required, but by registering online you will be entered in a random drawing to win four tickets to San Francisco Opera’s The Secret Garden performance in March of 2013. For details call 415.864.3330

November 11 - Veterans Day Ceremonies: Ceremonies begin at the Alhambra Cemetery, 10:00 am with a benediction and placing of the wreath. The ceremonies will continue at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Avenue, 11:00 am. After the ceremony, a brunch will be served at the Veterans Memorial Building, 930 Court Street, the community is invited to attend.

November 15 - You’re invited to breakfast at NorCal Courts. Take a tour of this beautiful sports facility and find out how you can network with them to turn their customers into your customers! Complimentary coffee and pastries, 8:00 to 10:00 am, RSVP to: Main Street Martinez, 925.228.3577 or director@mainstreetmartinez.org

November 17 - Special Holiday Shopping: Earlier Than the Bird, join participating downtown Martinez businesses from 8:00 to 10:00 am for special deals and treats. Weekend parking is free so you will have time for breakfast at one of our many restaurants. Wear your pajamas and get a complimentary downtown shopping bag! Just gather up your shopping buddies and check in at the Main Street Martinez office at 649 Main Street, Suite 106 to pick up your shopping bag and a map of participating businesses. Details: 925.228.3577

November 17 - Kiwanis and NBC Bay Area Food Drive, look for volunteers at our local Safeway Stores to donate from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

November 30 through December 2 - Downtown Martinez Snow Park - Parade, Ice Skating, Snow Park, and Santa! Friday, November 30: 1:00 to 9:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, December 1 & 2: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For details: 925.228.3577 or www.mainstreetmartinez.org  

December 2 - Christmas Open House at the Martinez Museum, 4:00 to 7:00 pm - Refreshments, Christmas Stories, and a Holiday Sing-a-Long

December 7 through 23 - Martinez Art Association Christmas Boutique at the Old Train Depot, open Thursday and Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm - Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Information: Marlene Haws at marleneaip@yahoo.com

December 8 - Brown Bag Lunch - Martinez Museum, 11:30 am

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 Sunday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm year round - Main Street between Castro & Ferry Streets.

New Business in Martinez: ARTU4iA - 725 Ward Street, Suite C, check out the web site: www.artu4ia.com or call 925.323.6533. John and Carol Kleber are bringing new artistic adventures to Martinez.

The Compass Star, 915 Main Street, is proud to announce that during the entire month of November, we will be donating a portion of our evening wine bar sales to support Central County Homeless Outreach Inc. They are an amazing organization that helps our homeless right here in our community by providing essential supplies, like food, clothing, transportation, and shelter. We applaud the work that they do for our community and hope that you will join us in our support of Central County Homeless Outreach by dining with us often.

Coming Soon: Once again the Kiwanis Club of Martinez will be selling See’s Candies from December 1 through December 24. Purchase your holiday candy from Kiwanis and avoid the long. This fundraiser supports the Kiwanis Martinez scholarship and community grant programs. Kiwanis will have two convenient locations for you this year, Village Oaks Shopping Center and Downtown Martinez.

A special invitation to all community groups, I am preparing the Martinez Community Calendar for 2013, if you have your events scheduled for next year, please send the information to: Ggerlack@aol.com  and your event will be listed on the calendar and you will receive a copy. Many groups hold their events the in the same time slot each year, knowing these dates will help you plan your event!

I’m taking a break for the next couple of weeks, will be back in December!

See you around Martinez…