Upcoming Vallejo Events — Grand opening of new public sports gym

VALLEJO — This is a good week for sports – a new Greater Vallejo Recreation District sports gym will celebrate its grand opening on Friday. 

The district has secured a new lease agreement with the local school district to manage the shuttered gym and fields at Franklin Middle School at 501 Starr Ave. 

The facility will be home of the Junior Warriors basketball program, will host open gym hours for pickleball and basketball as well as an assortment of other classes, camps, leagues, and events. This gym is a welcome addition to the recreation district’s facilities in light of the closure of the Mare Island Sports Complex in 2020. The grand opening celebration will start at 4 p.m.

Also for sports fans, The Carquinez Quad Squad is holding their “Tomato Jam'' Roller Derby tournament at the Solano County Fairgrounds on Saturday. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. and includes games, raffles, scrimmages and a costume contest, and will end with an afterparty at the Coalshed Brewery on Mare Island.

Sculptor Tyson Snow and painter Steve Gordon’s “Echoes of Humanity” art show will have its grand opening at Temple Arts Lofts  this Friday at 6:30 p.m. Snow is known for major public bronze works installed all over the country. Gordon’s paintings are translations of colors and textures found in the landscape, in which light, atmosphere, earth and sky come together in celebration of the beauty of nature.

Artist Priscila Soares is launching a new series of her “Letting Go Art Experience” workshops, starting tonight at 7 p.m. with “Hidden Figures,” a creative self-exploration in a judgment-free zone at Mare Island Art Studios.  

Rock for Shelter at the Empress Theatre on Saturday will raise funds for SHELTER, Inc. to help prevent and end homelessness. Dan Ashley, Rudy Colombini and SHELTER’s own Steely Dan cover band will open the show headlined by the Unauthorized Rolling Stones. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Check the list below for event details and more community, recreational, and live music activities.

Wednesday, January 17

Sculpture Workshop with Tyson Snow

Day two of sculpting workshop with Tyson Snow.

• Wed, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Temple Art Lofts Gallery
• 340 Virginia St.

Qigong class with Dr. Thomas McCombs

Special guest appearance by Dr. Thomas McCombs, who teaches at the Academy of Abbots of the Taoist Sanctuary of Los Angeles.  $3.

• Wed, 11 a.m. to noon
• Florence Douglas Center
• 333 Amador St.

Lawyers in the Library

The Lawyers in the Library program offers free 15-minute appointments with attorneys. Please come in-person at 9 a.m. or call 866-572-7587 on the day of the program to reserve a spot.

• Wed, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St.

Tia Carroll and Friends

The incomparable Tia Carroll will be joined by an all-star group including Willy Jordan, Eamonn Flynn, Anthony Paule and Endre Tarczy.

• Wed, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Empress Theatre Lounge
• 324 Virginia St.

Hidden Figures - The Letting Go Art Experience

This event will include a meditation and painting. All materials included. No art experience necessary. Materials used: acrylics and primed canvas cloth.

• Wed, 7 to 9:30 p.m.
• Mare Island Art Studios
• 110 Pintado St.

Wednesday Night Open Mic

Musicians with a wide range of talent perform here. A welcoming space for both beginning performers and seasoned professionals. Comedians and poets also welcome.

• Wed, 8 to 11 p.m.
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St.

Thursday, January 18

Toastmasters Open House and Speech Contest

Toastmasters is a great place to work on personal communication goals and gain self-confidence. Come and observe and get some tips and tricks on giving speeches and how to provide effective feedback.

• Thurs, 7:30 to 9 p.m.
• Online

Sculpture Workshop with Tyson Snow

Day three of sculpting workshop with Tyson Snow.

• Thurs, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Temple Art Lofts Gallery
• 340 Virginia St.

Art Beat Radio Show – Literary Interview

Former Benicia Poet Laureate Tom Stanton will host Coral Magenta, author of "A Pitch for the Angels."

• Thurs, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Ozcat Radio
• 89.5 FM KZCT

Speaker Series: Benicia Budget Challenges with Sarah Shawky

Deputy City Manager Sarah Shawky will present the 2024 Benicia Resiliency Plan to resolve the city’s financial challenges and the path ahead. There will be a Q&A at the end of the presentation, which comes ahead of a proposed sales tax increase on Benicia’s March ballot.

• Thurs, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Benicia Public Library
• 150 East L St.

Sip and Paint "Cosmic Night"

Artist Jena Webber will guide you step-by-step, as you paint your very own "Cosmic Night" themed image on a 16x20 canvas. The class will be held inside The Great Room of the mansion.

• Thurs, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
• Vino Godfather
• 1005 Walnut Ave. @ Kansas St.

Friday, January 19

The Makery: Open Use Hours & Make it Fridays!

The Makery! Equipment includes: 3D printer, vinyl cutter, digital production equipment, and much more! Drop-in and discover what we have, or make an appointment to use specific equipment.

• Fri, 2 to 4:45 pm
• John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St.

GVRD Sports Gym opening ceremony and free drop-in pickleball

The Greater Vallejo Recreation District is happy to announce the opening of the GVRD Sports Gym. Celebration at 4 p.m. Free drop-in pickleball will be available after the ribbon cutting ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m.

• Fri, 4 to 7 p.m.
• GVRD Sports Gym
• 501 Starr Ave.

Youth Job Fair

Calling all ambitious 16-24 year-olds in Vallejo! Vallejo Project is hosting a job fair, with workshops covering career building skills, networking opportunities and job placement assistance.

• Fri, 5 to 8 p.m.
• USA World Classics Event Center
• 1525 Sonoma Blvd.

Art Exhibition - "Echoes of Humanity" Grand Opening

Sculpture by Tyson Snow and paintings by Steve Gordon

• Fri, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Temple Art Lofts Gallery
• 340 Virginia St.

Saturday, January 20

Farmers' Market

Shop here for a great selection of California-grown fruits & veggies at  down-to-earth prices.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Downtown Vallejo
• Georgia and Marin Streets

Guided Bird of Prey Hike

Observe and learn about eagles, hawks and other raptors. The hike fee is $10. There is a separate parking fee of $6 at Lynch Canyon. Bad weather may cancel. Participants are encouraged to register, so that they can receive updates in the event of cancellation. Lynch Canyon is important open space and wildlife habitat between the cities of Fairfield and Vallejo

• Sat, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Lynch Canyon
• 3100 Lynch Rd., Fairfield

Safety Day

Safety Day presented by Boys and Girls Empowerment Group and Elite Public Schools. Meet city and county officials and learn about public safety. Sounds by DJ Rell, hosted by Sara Speaks.

• Sat, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Elite Public School
• 100 Witney Ave.

Tomato Jam Roller Derby

Carquinez Quad Squad proudly presents an all-day roller derby showcase featuring skaters from around the region to celebrate the Fun Tomato at the Solano County Fairgrounds.

• Sat, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• McCormick Hall, Solano County Fairgrounds
• 900 Fairgrounds Dr.

Bryan Girard Jazz Trio

Saxophonist Bryan Girard joins Tim Campbell on keys, Dave MacNab on guitar. Manny’s has a spectacular waterfront view, good food at reasonable prices and a full bar.  Advance dinner reservations recommended.

• Sat, 5 to 8 p.m.
• Manny’s Steakhouse
• 295 Mare Island Way

Live Music with Barrio Funk

The band's name, Barrio Funk, says it all! Free show with dinner. Arrive early to get a seat near the stage.

• Sat, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Bambino’s
• 301 Georgia St. #122

Live Music with Hannah Jern-Miller

Hannah Jern-Miller is a guitar/harmonica player, singer-songwriter who will leave you teary eyed with her soulful originals, and wanting to sing along with her upbeat covers.

• Sat, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Co. Taproom
• 289 Mare Island Way

Rock for Shelter

Fundraiser and celebration to support SHELTER, Inc.’s mission to prevent and end homelessness. An evening of incredible music by the Dan Ashley Band, Rudy Colombini, the Unauthorized Rolling Stones and more.

• Sat, 7 to 10 p.m.
• Empress Theatre
• 330 Virginia St.

Sunday, January 21

Touro University's 6th annual, Integrative Medicine Symposium

The Integrative Medicine Symposium is Touro University California’s largest student run event, welcoming hundreds of physicians, healthcare professionals, students, and general community members to learn about special topics in Integrative Medicine.

• Sun, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Touro University California
• 1310 Club Dr., Mare Island

"Apostrophe" art exhibit

Closing date for the “Apostrophe” art exhibit. Featuring works by: Rebeca Bollinger, Conrad Guevara, Kendall Henderson, Bessie Kunath, Megan Mueller, Amy Nathan, Gay Outlaw, Helia Pouyanfar, and Lucy Puls.

• Sun, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Personal Space Art Gallery
• 1505 Tennessee St.

Lecture: Historic Mare Island Naval prison - Old 84

Join historian and journalist Brendan Riley as he describes another Mare Island legacy. The Navy's first land-based prison was built on Mare Island in 1868, and that prison soon became infamous throughout the fleet.

• Sun, 3 to 4 p.m.
• St. Peter’s Chapel
• 1181 Walnut Ave., Mare Island

Bryan Girard Jazz Trio

Saxophonist Bryan Girard joins Tim Campbell on keys, Dave MacNab on guitar. Manny’s has a spectacular waterfront view, good food at reasonable prices and a full bar.  Advance dinner reservations recommended.  

• Sun, 5 to 8 p.m.
• Manny’s Steakhouse
• 295 Mare Island Way

Ajar and Sinickhouse

Crazy, crazy, far out, hypno, boppin', bangin' good time live music!

• Sun, 5:30 to 11 p.m.
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St.

Monday, January 22

Townhouse Ramblers

Acoustic Evening of Americana, folk and blues featuring Don Bassey, Pato Milo, Jeff Campitelli, Rich Adams, Mark Reed, Eric Wood, Erin Bakke, plus occasional special guests – now every other Monday night.

• Mon, 7 to 10 p.m.
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St.

Tuesday, January 23

City Council Regular Meeting

It’s not listed on the city’s website yet, but City Council meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Check the city’s Agendas and Videos page for updates.

• Tues, 7 to 11 p.m.
• Vallejo City Hall
• 555 Santa Clara St.