Upcoming Vallejo Events — Live jazz at the new Manny’s Steakhouse

VALLEJO — Live jazz is back at the waterfront this Sunday evening. Saxophonist Bryan Girard joins the Ron McGee Quartet at the newly opened Manny’s Steakhouse.

A veteran of the Bay Area jazz scene, Girard has performed with many of the region's top musicians. Sunday’s performance will feature McGee on keyboard, Nelson Yee on drums and Stan Hitchcock on bass. Girard said the group hopes to play there regularly.

Manny’s moved into its new waterfront location at 295 Mare Island Way last month and is now fully open for business starting at 8 a.m. daily.

But that’s not the only notable music performance this week. Blues masters Kid Anderson and John “Blues” Boyd will perform this evening at the Empress Lounge.

The Norwegian-born Anderson’s guitar chops earned him a green card as an “Alien of Extraordinary Ability.” Boyd grew up in Mississippi, and sang while he picked cotton as a teenager. He found a second career as a blues singer and songwriter after he retired from construction work in California. Boyd is known for singing with “sweetness, ferocity and pure old-school charm.”

On Saturday you can catch another blues band at Bambino’s. Red’s Blues plays with a “finger-poppin’ attitude — straight outta the golden years when blues, R&B and swing all meshed together.”

Also on Saturday at the Mare Island Brewery Taproom, Nicholas Lefler mixes live loops from multiple instruments, mixing a fusion of Latin, reggae, new-Flamenco, classical, jazz, country and world music, to innovate his own exotic style without a band.

A new monthly fitness series opens at the John F. Kennedy Library on Saturday morning with a beginner-friendly yoga class.

Check the list below for details and more events.

Wednesday, January 3

Kid Anderson and John “Blues” Boyd

Kid Andersen is known as the guitarist for Rick Estrin & The NightCats, has 3 Blues Music Awards nominations for guitarist of the year. Singer John “Blues” Boyd delivers with sweetness, ferocity and pure old-school charm.

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

Wednesday Night Open Mic

Musicians with a wide range of talent perform here. A few of them will make you wonder why they aren’t touring the world to large crowds. A welcoming space for beginning performers. Comedians and poets also welcome.

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

Friday, January 5

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, 2:00 to 4:45 p.m.
• John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St.

Reflection Goth Night

DJ Owen Owington Owensford plays Classic Goth - Nu Goth - Industrial - Goth Metal - EBM - Synth Pop - CyberPunk - Dark Wave - New Wave - Post Punk - 80s - 90s and more. All ages, no cover.

• Fri, 9 p.m. to midnight
• IntegriTea Art + Event Space
• 717 Marin St.

Saturday, January 6

Farmers' Market

Shop here for a great selection of California-grown greens, fruits and other goodies

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

First Saturdays Fitness - Yoga

Instructor Amy Raupach will guide the group through a beginner/intermediate-friendly yoga session. No yoga mat? We have one you can borrow! Appropriate for all ages.

• Sat, 11 a.m. to noon
• JFK Library – Joseph Room
• 505 Santa Clara St.

Live Music with Red's Blues

Enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing with Red's Blues, playing blues, R&B and Swing.

• Sat, 6 to 9:00 p.m.
• Bambino’s
• 301 Georgia St. #122

Live Music Saturday with Nicholas Lefler

A modern one man band, Nicholas Lefler mixes live loops to create sultry compositions right before your eyes, as he adds over 20 live layers of original music.”

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

Sunday, January 7

Bryan Girard and the Ron McGee Quartet

Saxophonist Bryan Girard joins the Ron McGee Quartet at a new site for Sunday jazz - Manny's Steakhouse!  

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

Monday, January 8

Vallejo Senior Roundtable

This month’s speaker is Ms. Sheralyn Lime from the Aging and Disability Resource Connection.

• Mon, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
• Florence Douglas Center
• 333 Amador St.

Solano County Board of Supervisor District 2 - Candidates Forum

Meet the Solano County Board of Supervisors District 2 candidates in person. Incumbent Monica Brown, Nora Dizon and Rochelle Sherlock. Read more about the candidates here.

• Mon, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Benicia Veterans Hall
• 1150 1st Street, Benicia

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 some very special guests – now every other Monday night.

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

Tuesday, January 9

"I Need a Mic" writing workshop

New workshop for writers, poets and novelists hosted by Rachel Davis, alternating Tuesdays.

• Tue, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St.

Editor's note — this story was updated to add the Solano County Candidates Forum