Seven Nights in
Funameda
By Patti Cary
Originally published on The Alamedan March 6, 2015
Gone are the days when our sleepy island rolled up the
sidewalks at sundown and the only action to be found on Park Street was the
jukebox at the Buckhorn. Nights in
Alameda are now alive and buzzing with unique events and creative gatherings
all over town, just waiting for folks to venture out and join in on some good
ol’ fashioned fun. The following seven
weekly happenings, one for each night of the week, are examples of just a few
of the wonderful, homegrown activities taking place in an Alameda neighborhood
near you.
Bingo traditionalists take note, though, “This is not your
grandfather’s bingo,” warns DrinkO
ball caller, local DJ, promoter and all around bon vivant, Hawk Valentine. “It can get raunchy. We’ve been doing DrinkO here for almost three years and it really is the most fun
you can have on the island on a Monday.”
Also on Mondays, all rum drinks are half off, a bonus for
all you bingo-loving pirates. Have fun
but please remember to DrinkO responsibly.
DrinkO
– Mondays, 9pm til 2am * Swell Bar - 1539 Lincoln Avenue * No cover (21+)
Be a team player. Gather your most clever pals together or come make some new friends and test your wealth of knowledge at Tuesday Night Trivia at the charming Fireside Lounge on Webster Street. Teams of up to 6 people can sign up at the bar to compete for prizes and smarty-pants bragging rights by answering a series of trivia questions on topics ranging from the Sex Pistols to string theory.
Be a team player. Gather your most clever pals together or come make some new friends and test your wealth of knowledge at Tuesday Night Trivia at the charming Fireside Lounge on Webster Street. Teams of up to 6 people can sign up at the bar to compete for prizes and smarty-pants bragging rights by answering a series of trivia questions on topics ranging from the Sex Pistols to string theory.
Made
popular in Great Britain in the 70s, trivia nights have swept this side of the
pond in the last ten years and the Fireside has just the right pub atmosphere
to keep the game interesting.
The Fireside Lounge has been around since the heyday of the
Alameda Naval Air Station but the drink selection at this well-appointed
mainstay is definitely for modern “craft beverage enthusiasts” with cocktails
featuring fresh local ingredients like The Garden, a mix of Blade Gin with
fennel. Yum! Tuesday Night Trivia - 7:30pm
* Fireside Lounge, 1453 Webster Street * No cover
(21+)
There’s
no cost (although a snack, something to drink, music or art supplies to share
is always appreciated) and no pressure - just folks hanging out, left to their
own arty devices like Ed Holmes working on his Sketchbook Project and Aannah
Kay making her gorgeous Password bracelets. Bring your project supplies and let
your imagination run wild. Art Jam! - Wednesdays, 6 til 9pm * Rhythmix Cultural
Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue * All ages * No cover
Show your support. Every Thursday night is Charity Night at the High Street Station
Café, where you can enjoy a reasonably priced dinner with a glass of fine wine
and support local organizations, all at the same time. Proceeds from Charity Night go to worthy causes such as the Alameda Midway
Shelter for Women and the Alameda Food Bank.
Charity Night is a labor of
love and High Street Station Café owners, Susan Timney (an Alameda native) and
Lynda Kretlow are working hard to provide family-friendly
dining in a comfortable setting at this landmark east end eatery and music
venue. Named for the railroad station that
stood at this Encinal and High Street location back in the 1800s, the café was
voted “Best Place to
Hear Music in the East Bay” by the Bay Area News Group in 2014, and for good
reason. With its old-timey saloon feel
and historic surroundings, this airy corner spot is ideal for kicking back and
enjoying a leisurely, weekend meal while being entertained by top-notch local talent.
Also
on Thursday nights, The High Street Station hosts open mic, starting around 7
p.m. so you can stay after dinner and sit back and enjoy the show. Charity Night - Thursdays, 5:30 til 7pm * High Street Station Café, 1303 High Street * $14 fixed price menu (All ages)
Laissez les bons temps rouler. The hottest ticket for Friday nights on the island is zydeco at the Eagles Hall, bringing the energy and excitement of this Creole tradition right to our
downtown doorstep. This weekly dance featuring excellent live bands is a celebration
of all things “plezi” and is an Alameda institution that has been spicin’ up
the island for 20 years. Don’t be intimidated by the excellent two-steppin’
regulars that rock the dance floor - everyone is encouraged to get up and shake
their tail feathers. Just ask Marcia
Gill and Ron Thompson, who met zydeco dancing six years ago and have been
partners on and off the dance floor ever since.
“I stepped on so many toes when I first started but people
were in goods spirits and so forgiving and kept asking me to dance,” says
Marcia. “The people are nice and friendly
and there’s always lots of laughter. You
don’t even need a partner and if you don’t get it the first time, keep coming
back!”
Ron, a native of New Orleans, adds, “I
tell people it’s somewhere between salsa and east coast swing. It’s a very easy basic step to learn. Zydeco Flames (who perform at Eagles Hall often)
are the ones who make me homesick cause they do zydeco with a bit of a New
Orleans bluesy side.”
Zydeco, with its Louisiana roots and signature
sound, is known for its fast tempo and washboard flair. Even if you have two
left feet, you can still enjoy exciting music by talented musicians, sure to
bring a smile to your face and start your weekend off with a dash of Tabasco. Get there early and join in the pre-band
dance lesson with host, Dana DeSimone. Zydeco – Fridays, 8:30 til midnight * Eagles Hall, 2305
Alameda Avenue * All ages * $15-25
Rock this town. If it is Saturday at Speisekammer, you know the joint is jumpin’! Come for the bratwürstchen but stay for the
bands, some of the best in the Bay Area.
You’ll hear all kinds of great music including Lavay Smith (the queen of
classic jazz and blues) with Jules Broussard, local rock singer Paul Manousos, or
maybe The Saddle Cats, a western swing pocket orchestra…yeehaw! Speisekammer has been serving up delicious
German fare and pouring some of the best brews in town since 2002. The
authentic Bavarian décor, biergarten and friendly staff create an inviting,
old-world experience unlike any other on the island. Music starts around 8:30
and, amazingly, considering this is top-shelf talent, there is no cover . You’ll be raising your stein and singing
along in no time. Genießen! Live
music – Saturdays, 8:30pm * Speisekammer, 2424 Lincoln Avenue * All ages * No cover
Take a walk down memory lane. Top off your weekend by taking an evening stroll over to the Pacific Pinball
Museum on Webster Street where you can magna save your add-a-ball up until 9
p.m. every Sunday.
Pacific Pinball is a nonprofit organization “dedicated to the promotion and preservation of one
of America's great pastimes” and how lucky we are to have such a treasure trove
right here in Alameda. You can battle Gogar or match
wits with the Joker or Iron Man. Try your luck on the King of Diamonds or rock
out with AC/DC, surrounded by one of the most extensive and gorgeous
collections of pinball machines in the country, some dating as far back as the
1930s.
Oh, the sweet simplicity of the flippers flying
on a vintage Bally. Be careful though,
you may find yourself shouting things like, “Oh, boy!” and “Hot dawg!” so be
prepared to get a little wild. It is
super fun for the whole family and truly one of the most unique and wonderful
places on the island. All day play – Tues thru Sun * Pacific Pinball Museum, 1510 Webster Street * Adults $15, Under 16 $7.50
