History tour, cyanotype workshop, Memorial Day ceremonies, and a unique bingo night
While many of us are enjoying an extra day off and some beautiful weather this weekend, we hope you’ll join us in a moment of reflection and gratitude to honor our service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice. On Monday, May 26, everyone is invited to two special ceremonies to commemorate the day. Stop by the Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony at Alameda Veterans Memorial Park for the first event, or head over to the USS Hornet for the second ceremony. They’ve been scheduled apart from one another, and everyone is invited to attend both ceremonies if they wish.
The rest of the week promises a usual smorgasbord of engaging local activities. On Thursday, May 22, head over to Alameda Brewing for the first installment of Music Bingo Thursdays—a fun twist on the classic game. On Saturday, May 24, join Alameda Walks for a free tour of Alameda’s beautiful Gold Coast neighborhood. The same day, artists of all skill levels are invited to get creative at the cyanotype print workshop at RADIUM Runway. And on Wednesday, May 28, grab a brew at Faction Brewing and check out the latest Profs & Pints® lecture, How Music Affects Our Brains.
Music Bingo Thursday
Thursdays, starting May 22
There’s a new game in town! Head over to Alameda Brewing, 1716 Park Street, for Music Bingo Thursdays starting May 22. The weekly events will run from 7 to 9 p.m., and they are completely free to attend.
Alameda Brewing is partnering with Leaderboard Games to bring Music Bingo to our Island City. The game is similar to traditional bingo, but there’s a twist—instead of calling out numbers, the hosts will play song clips. Find the corresponding song on your bingo card, and mark it off. Guests will compete for prizes, and Alameda Brewing promises “plenty of opportunities to sing and dance along to the music!”
Please note that you’ll need a smartphone to participate in Music Bingo. Each participant will get one interactive electronic bingo card. No registration is required to attend this free event.
‘Interpreting Alameda’s Wetlands Environments with Cyanotype Prints’ Workshop
Saturday, May 24
Artists of all skill levels are invited to a cyanotype print workshop on Saturday, May 24. The outdoor workshop will take place at RADIUM Runway, 2151 Ferry Point, and last from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Cyanotype is an early photographic process that predates cameras. You may have seen some striking images of plants and other biological specimens captured using this method. Cyanotype utilizes photochemical reactions to sunlight and produces a mesmerizing white image of an object placed over the resulting bright blue background of the chemical-treated medium. In fact, the distinctive hue is the reason that we still use the word “blueprints.”
The workshop will begin with an overview of the cyanotype process. Then, attendees will take a stroll around Alameda Point to find materials to use in their cyanotypes. Instructors and multimedia artists Clara Pitt and Simone Lassar will then guide attendees through the chemical process. If you’d like, bring any special objects that you’d like to capture. Items with some texture and transparency are best, such as leaves, feathers, and glass.
This workshop is open to everyone aged 10 and up. Please bring sun protection and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting messy. Tickets are available online for $65.87 per person. This workshop is part of the In Plain Site photography festival, made possible by the collaboration of RADIUM Presents and the West End Arts District.
Alameda Walks: Gold Coast Neighborhood Walk
Saturday, May 24
After a tour of Encinal Beach last week, Alameda Walks is back for a walk around Alameda’s beautiful Gold Coast neighborhood this Saturday, May 24. Meet at Franklin Park, 1432 San Antonio Avenue, for the 9 a.m. start. This week’s walk will last approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
Join award-winning historian Dennis Evanosky for this tour of this famous Alameda neighborhood. You’ll learn about the development of Franklin Park, stroll down San Antonio Avenue to St. Charles Street, and discuss iconic architecture along the way. Dennis also will explore the advent of the electric streetcar and how it shaped the Gold Coast.
Alameda Walks are sponsored by Alameda Recreation and Park Department. All events begin at 9 a.m. and last approximately an hour unless otherwise noted. Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes, use sun protection, and bring water to stay hydrated. Registration is not required. Kindly leave pets at home.
Memorial Day Events
Monday, May 26
Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony
Alameda Veterans Memorial Park, Intersection of Island Drive and Doolittle Drive
Everyone is invited to join the Veterans Groups of Alameda for keynote speakers, short addresses, and a wreath-laying ceremony. The schedule features several speakers, including:
- CDR Trisha J. Kelly, Commanding Officer, NRC Alameda.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
- Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft.
- Speakers who will honor Gold Star Parents.
This event is scheduled from 11 a.m. until noon and is free to attend.
Memorial Day Commemoration
USS Hornet, 707 West Hornet Avenue
Join the USS Hornet for a wreath laying, special guest speakers, and a flyover from the Memorial Squadron. Featured speakers are CDR Trisha J. Kelly, Commanding Officer, NRC Alameda, and CDR Michael “BC” Molloy, Commanding Officer, Navy Talent Acquisition Group, Golden Gate.
Doors to the museum open at 10 a.m., and the main event starts at 1 p.m.
The event is free for veterans and active duty military personnel. Tickets are $10 for youth (ages 7-17), $15 for students and seniors, and $25 for adults. $2 discount tickets to the museum are available with presentation of an EBT card, thanks to Museums for All.
Profs & Pints®: How Music Affects Our Brains
Wednesday, May 28
What does science have to say about “earworms?” How can we tell that a note sounds “wrong?” Join cognitive neuroscientist Petr Janata at Profs & Pints®: How Music Affects Our Brains on Wednesday, May 28, to explore the psychology and neuroscience of music. Head over to Faction Brewing, 2501 Monarch Street, for the lecture, scheduled from 6 until 8:30 p.m.
“Petr Janata holds an academic appointment in the Department of Psychology and is a faculty member in the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain,” states his UC Davis bio page. “He is a cognitive neuroscientist studying the psychology and neuroscience of music, and is especially interested in the basic psychological and neural mechanisms that underlie strong experiences that people have with music, such as music-evoked remembering or feeling ‘in the groove.’”
Tickets are available for advance purchase online for $13.50 plus a processing fee, or may be purchased at the door for $17, or $15 for students with a student ID. This lecture is presented by Profs & Pints®, an organization with a mission to bring “college faculty members into bars, cafés, company offices, and other off-campus venues to share their knowledge.”
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].
