Upcoming Vallejo Events — Vallejo celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

VALLEJO —  With a long weekend ahead for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, there will be several events in Vallejo and Benicia this weekend to honor his legacy fighting for civil rights and racial equality.

On Saturday, the Vallejo city government is hosting a tree planting ceremony in his honor behind Vallejo City Hall – in the park that was named for King last year – at 9 a.m. On Sunday,  the Benicia Public Library will hold a commemoration and march that begins at 2 p.m. And on Monday, the NAACP Vallejo Branch and the City of Vallejo will hold a march through downtown Vallejo starting at 9 a.m. to a ceremony in the lower level of the John F. Kennedy Library.

The Vallejo Symphony will perform George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and other French-inspired music at the Empress Theatre on Saturday and Sunday. Clarinetist Todd Palmer is the evening’s featured performer.

Vallejo’s second Friday Art Walk goes dark every January, but that won’t stop IntegriTea! They’re having an “Art Walk Alternate” party with David El 3-Oh’s dance-inducing jams and Air Lift Underground’s stream of consciousness word jazz. Artists are invited to set up there for a mini-Art Walk.

The “Poetry in Notion” casual poetry circle will resume for the first time since the pandemic this Saturday at the John F. Kennedy Library. Bring some poetry to share or just come and listen. Launched by Vallejo’s first Poet Laureate Genea Brice in 2015, our new Poet Laureate duo Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann are rebooting the event.

The Free Music Collective is hosting two events this week – Star Stunna’s open rap cypher with a Mainey Swog DJ lineup at Carnalito’s Customs on Friday night, and on Saturday they’ll host a car show to support Los Amigos Taqueria at the Meadows Plaza parking lot.

You can support the Humane Society of the North Bay at their Betty White birthday fundraiser at Provisions restaurant on Saturday. Tickets for the dinner and raffle are $85.00.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors races are underway. A forum for District 1 and 2 candidates will be held tonight at the Dan Foley Cultural Center, and the District 1 candidates will meet with the public again at the Sir Winston Business Center on Monday.

These are just some of the highlights of this week’s upcoming events. Check the list below for more live music, comedy and art and gardening classes.

Wednesday, January 10

Disricts 1 and 2 Board of Supervisor Candidates Forum

This will be first forum for the District #1 Board of Supervisor candidates: Cassandra James and Michael Wilson, and the second forum for the District #2 candidates: Monica Brown, Nora Dizon, and Rochelle Sherlock.

• Wed, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
• Dan Foley Cultural Center
• 1499 North Camino Alto

Blues Defenders

The Blues Defenders are the West Coast support band for the great Mississippi Blues-man Johnny Rawls. Jeff Piche’s gritty vocals and soulful harmonica, the funky bass sounds of Donny Mederos, David Scott’s smooth blues saxophone, Matt Silva’s wailing guitar and the mighty Mike Rippee on drums will keep the crowd on their feet all night long.

• Wed, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Empress Theatre Lounge
• 324 Virginia St.

Alibi Bookshop January Book Club: "Just Kids" by Patti Smith

“Just Kids” begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. It serves as a salute to New York City during the late sixties and seventies and to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions. A true fable, it is a portrait of two young artists’ ascent, a prelude to fame.

• Wed, 7 p.m.
• Alibi Bookshop
• 624 Marin St.

Comedy Night

Comedy hosted by Devone Barry. No cover — just come drink and laugh with us!

• Wed, 7 to 9 p.m.
• After Hours Cocktails
• 1687 Lewis Brown Dr.

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 11

Art Beat Radio Show – Literary Dialogues with Nina Serrano

Serrano will interview her husband, Paul Richards, about his book, "Private Property and the Goddess".

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

Friday, January 12

The Makery: Open Use Hours & Make it Fridays!

The Makery’s equipment includes a 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 p.m.
• John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St.

Vallejo Car Culture Exhibit - Opening Reception

A retrospective of Vallejo's car culture from the early days to thy present. Displays include Vallejo car clubs memorabilia, racing trophies, scrapbooks, specialty parts, tools, oral history interviews, vintage photographs, films. audio, video and much more.

• Fri, 4 to 7 p.m.
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St.

Everything Nowadays

Live deliciously and support post-punk, Rasta, funk, ska and alt-folk-flavored goodness in Vallejo. Original and slightly unusual music that is 100% good for your soul! Free show with dinner.

• Fri, 6 to 10 p.m.
• Bambino’s
• 301 Georgia St. #122

David El 3-Oh and Air Lift Underground

Even though it's officially been canceled, we're doing Art Walk anyway at IntegriTea. David El's Trio will play original compositions and dance-inducing jams. Air Lift Underground will play psychoactive, stream of consciousness word jazz. DJ Ennui Goa will bend traditional trance with interspersed thought-bombs and synth jams. We welcome any artists who want to set up for Art Walk.

• Fri, 7 to 10 p.m.
• IntegriTea Art + Event Space
• 717 Marin Street

STAR STUNNAS Open Rap Cyphers & DJ music

Slide thru this Friday for another live cypher — this time with the legend SydeQuest! Open Rap Cyphers start at 8 p.m., then we’ll have another Mainey line up of some of this areas hottest DJs starting at 9 p.m.

• Fri, 8 p.m. to 1:00 am
• Carnalito’s Customs
• 905 Tennessee St.

80's Night with DJ Zero Effs

DJ Zero Effs takes you back to the 80s every second Friday.

• Fri, 8:30 p.m. to midnight
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St.

Saturday, January 13

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

Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Grove Ceremony

Tree-planting ceremony to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.-Leave your Legacy! Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and bring your own water bottle. Snacks will be provided.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to noon
• Open space behind Vallejo City Hall
• 555 Santa Clara St

Rose Pruning Workshop

Bring gloves and clippers and the North Bay Rose Society will teach all you need to know to grow beautiful roses.

• Sat, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Grant Mahoney Park
• 818 Mariposa St.

Vallejo Project's Unity Garden Tree Workshop

Learn about tree replanting and drip irrigation and help the Vallejo Project prepare their garden space for the new season.

• Sat, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Unity Garden
• 2160 Sacramento St.

Save Los Amigos Taqueria - car show

Free Music Collective and local car clubs will be feasting and jammin'. Bring the whole family out for this one and let’s show Los Amigos our love!

• Sat, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Los Amigos Taqueria
• 5184 Sonoma Blvd., #310B

Poetry in Notion

Join Vallejo’s Co-Poets Laureate Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann for Poetry in Notion. Bring some poetry to share or just come and listen. Meets in the Program Room on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

• Sat, noon to 2 p.m.
• John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara St.

Betty White's Birthday celebration with the Humane Society

The Humane Society of the North Bay celebrates beloved Betty White’s birthday. Her love of animals has inspired millions to support animal shelters. This fundraiser will include a delicious Italian-themed buffet dinner, dessert dash and raffle.

• Sat, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
• V-Town Provisions
• 300 Virginia St

Live Music with the Git With It Band

Git With It is a Bay Area cover band that ranges from rock, R&B, oldies, and pop. 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 Saturday with Yolo Hot Club

‍This violin, guitar, and bass trio specializes in old swing tunes and “gypsy jazz” music of the 30’s and 40’s.

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

Vallejo Symphony - An American in Paris

George Gershwin,’s “An American in Paris”. Aaron Copland’s “Concerto for Clarinet, Strings, and Harp,” and George Bizet’s “Symphony in C.” Featuring three-time Grammy nominee Clarinetist Todd Palmer.

• Sat, 8 to 9:45 p.m.
• Empress Theatre
• 330 Virginia St.

Townhouse Divas Drag Show

Come join Vicodonia Knightingale, Charity Kase and Holotta Tymes every 2nd and 4th Saturday night at the Townhouse Cocktail Lounge! These are the Divas you want to see!

• Sat, 10:30 p.m. to midnight
• Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St.

Sunday, January 14

Bryan Girard Jazz Quartet

Saxophonist Bryan Girard will be joined by Greg Sankovich on keyboard, Dave MacNab on guitar and Kendrick Freeman on drums Buy lunch and get listen to a live jazz show free!

• Sun, noon to 3 p.m.
• Bambino’s
• 301 Georgia St. #122

The Arc-Solano - Bunco Fundraiser!

The Arc-Solano is hosting a Bunco party! Tickets are $35 and include the game, appetizers, drinks, and prizes.

• Sun, 1 to 4:30 p.m.
• Arc-Solano
• 3272 Sonoma Blvd. Suite 4

We walk with Martin: Profiles in Unity

Benicia Public Library invites you to an exploration of how King’s work and message stay current and relevant in the words and labors of those who strive to keep his dream alive. Participants will have an opportunity to share this message with others in a peaceful march through downtown Benicia.

• Sun, 2 to 4 p.m.
• Benicia Public Library
• 150 East L St

Vallejo Symphony - An American in Paris

George Gershwin,’s “An American in Paris”. Aaron Copland’s “Concerto for Clarinet, Strings, and Harp,” and George Bizet’s “Symphony in C.” Featuring three-time Grammy nominee Clarinetist Todd Palmer.

• Sun, 3 to 4:45 p.m.
• Empress Theatre
• 330 Virginia St.

Monday, January 15

Martin Luther King Jr. march and ceremony

The march will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Georgia Street and Marin Streets and proceed west to Martin Luther King Jr Park. The ceremony will begin at at 11 a.m. in the Vallejo Room, below the John F. Kennedy Library.

• Mon, 9 a.m. to noon
• Downtown Vallejo

District 1 Board of Supervisors Candidates Forum

Hear from the candidates Cassandra James and Michael Wilson about their plans for Vallejo and Solano County.

• Mon, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Sir Winston Business Center
• 515 Broadway, Vallejo, CA 94590

Tuesday, January 16

Sculpture Workshop with Tyson Snow

This intensive workshop will offer students a 3-day sculpting experience of the human head with Tyson Snow.

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

Family Friendly Comedy

Bay Area Comics — Family Friendly comedy and Italian inspired cuisine. No cover with dinner.

• Tue, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Bambino’s
• 301 Georgia St. #122

Editor's note — this story was updated to add the Car Culture Club Exhibit at the Vallejo Museum