Clean the beach, catch a show, grab a drink, take a walk!
Have you checked your screen time lately? Here at the Alameda Post—an online newspaper—we can’t deny the wonders of the World Wide Web. But when it’s time for a break from blue light, check out the plethora of local events in Alameda. Every Thursday at 11 a.m., the whole community is invited to a laid-back beach cleanup. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 20-22, catch Suddenly, Last Summer at Altarena Playhouse. On Saturday, June 21, check out fantastic, free performances at Rising Seas 2. On the same day, beer enthusiasts and their designated drivers are invited to the popular annual Rock & Roll Beer Stroll with Alameda Strolls. And on both Saturday and Sunday, history buffs and architect admirers are in for a treat with this week’s Alameda Post History Walking Tour, “Queen Anne-style Blossoms.”
Alameda Beach Cleanup
Thursdays at 11 a.m.
Beautifying our island doesn’t have to be a huge commitment. Drop by the Thursday 11 a.m. Alameda Beach Cleanup group on your lunch hour to help pick up trash along the shoreline. Volunteers meet on the beach across from the McDonald’s at 2239 Shoreline Drive.
“I have a laid-back approach to our beach cleanup—there’s no recurring commitment,” founder Chase Martin told the Alameda Post. “Come every week or just once. Stay an hour or five minutes. Pick up one piece of trash or countless.”
The efforts have certainly added up—the group will celebrate their fifth anniversary in August!
Attendees are asked to bring their own gloves and a trash bag or bucket. You’ll get an extra gold star for bringing a separate receptacle for recyclables and cutting down on single-use plastic by using reusable gloves and garbage pails.
Rising Seas 2
Saturday, June 21
The latest installment of Rhythmix Cultural Works’ Rising Seas performances is scheduled for Saturday, June 21. Grab some sun protection and head over to Svendsen Maritime Park, formerly Harbor View Park, at 2315 Stanford Street. Family-friendly festivities are scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m.
Rising Seas 2 will feature performances from Gamelan Sekar Jaya (GSJ) and guest taiko artists. “Gamelan Sekar Jaya will showcase Balinese music and dance inspired by the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana,” reads the English translation of a statement by GSJ Dance Co-Director Anak Agung Anom Putra. “This concept emphasizes the harmony of life, rooted in maintaining balance among three key relationships: Parahyangan (connection with the divine), Pawongan (connection with fellow humans), and Palemahan (connection with nature).”
The “Climate Detective from the Future” will make another appearance at the event, featuring the skillful theatrics of former Cirque du Soleil performer Jeff Raz. KT Nelson, a Bay Area Izzy-winning Choreographer, will return with dancers to present her piece, “Where do we draw the line?” And artist and activist Kanyon CoyoteWoman Sayers-Roods will acknowledge ancestral lands, teach an Earth Song, and provide “a global perspective about living in balance and respect for our natural surroundings.”
Admission to the event is free. Rhythmix kindly requests that guests RSVP in advance to help with their planning. Read more about the performers online. Save the date for Rising Seas 3 on July 12 at Shoreline Park and Rising Seas 4 on August 23 at Bohol Circle Immigrant Park.
Rock & Roll Beer Stroll
Saturday, June 21
Alameda Strolls is back with their immensely popular Rock & Roll Beer Stroll! Mark your calendars and grab your tickets ASAP for music, drinks, food, and fun on Saturday, June 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Downtown Alameda. General admission check in begins at noon at Alameda Avenue, between Park and Oak Streets.
Sip and stroll your way through 12+ locations in and around Park Street. Our island’s regular favorite breweries, including Faction Brewing, Humble Sea, Alameda Brewing, and Almanac Beer, will of course be participating. Broaden your horizons with other California breweries such as Bike Dog Brewing, Canyon Club Brewery, Drake’s Brewing Co., and more. Along the way, attendees are invited to enjoy small bites from participating businesses like Moxie Steakhouse and Spinning Bones. Check out the full list of breweries and businesses online.
Several ticket types are available for purchase. General admission is $70 and includes a customized Alameda Strolls tasting glass, beer tastings, small bites, and a commemorative guide. Designated driver tickets are $25 and include small bites and a commemorative guide. VIP Tickets are $75 and include everything that general admission includes, plus an exclusive extra session with Admiral Maltings at Dragon Rouge beginning at 12:15 p.m. Please note that there is a small processing fee for all ticket types.
History Walking Tour: Queen Anne-style Blossoms
Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22
If you were in charge of street names in Alameda, what names would you pick? Join award-winning Historian Dennis Evanosky for a leisurely stroll down Mozart and Verdi Streets. Along the way, you’ll get to know Caroline Dwinelle, who named the roads after her favorite composers. The tour will meet at 10 a.m. on both Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22 at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Verdi Street.
Mozart and Verdi Streets boast 30 examples of Victorian- and Edwardian-era homes by famed local architects such as Marcuse & Remmel, Denis Straub, and A. R. Denke. During the tour, you’ll learn how to spot the differences between Queen Anne-style, “Stick,” and Colonial Revival architecture. Prior to the tour, a supplementary online lecture will be made available so attendees can hit the ground running.
Alameda Post History Walking Tours generally last about 90 to 100 minutes and cover one to two miles. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring water and sunscreen. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome to attend. Tickets are $20 each, and kids under 6 are free. Get your ticket for Saturday, June 21 or Sunday, June 22 online.
Altarena Playhouse Presents Suddenly, Last Summer
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 20-22
A lesser-known one act play by Tennessee Williams is bringing Southern Gothic overtures to Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High Street. Catch Suddenly, Last Summer on Friday, June 20 or Saturday, June 21 at 8 p.m., or on Sunday, June 22 at 2 p.m.
“This is a tricky play in that Williams takes two themes—homosexuality and mental illness—and wraps them in rosy language, subtle metaphor, innuendo, and allusion.” writes Gene Kahane. “…This is not Girl, Interrupted or Brokeback Mountain, but it is Tennessee Williams, who in incredible play after play told stories of deeply troubled characters who bravely struggled, much like the playwright himself.”
Tickets are $35 for adults and $33 for seniors. Bring a special someone for a Saturday performance to receive a discounted rate of two tickets for $50. Please note that Suddenly, Last Summer contains adult themes. The performance is 90 minutes long and does not have an intermission. After this weekend, there are three more performances on Friday, June 27, Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29.
What else is going on in Alameda?
All these events and more, in Alameda and beyond, are always posted on our online Events Calendar. Post yours, too, for free!
Amanda Laird is the Content Manager and Events Editor of the Alameda Post. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Amanda-Laird. Reach her at [email protected].
