Our Neighbors: Lots happening at Richmond's Ford Craneway

By Chris Treadway
West County Times

Posted: 07/01/2009 02:46:19 PM PDT

Updated: 07/01/2009 07:40:25 PM PDT

THE CRANEWAY Pavilion in the Ford Point building, at 1414 Harbour Way South in Richmond, is an established popular venue for major events, offering large, unobstructed space in a historic waterfront setting with sweeping Bay views.

The glass-walled Craneway space in the rehabilitated auto assembly plant takes another major step this weekend, when it hosts three public events that will showcase new amenities.

The free Independence Day Celebration at 7 p.m. Friday, featuring music by the Oakland-East Bay Symphony and a prime view of the city's July 3 fireworks display. Seating is first-come, first-served. The Craneway's new BoilerHouse Restaurant will make its unofficial debut that day.

On Saturday, the venue turns theatrical, hosting a single performance of "Disney's High School Musical: Summer Celebration!" Doors open at 5 p.m. for dining, family activities and vendors.

The 15-song live musical is at 7:15 p.m. and will be followed by a view of July 4 pyrotechnics over the Bay. For tickets, visit www.411tixs.com or www.groovetickets.com, and at retail outlets throughout the city.

The official opening of the restaurant is Sunday and coincides with the dedication of the quarter-mile Ford Point section of the Bay Trail. The day will be marked by a 9:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting and a LIVESTRONG bike ride benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Cyclists are welcome to come to the site from anywhere along the Bay Trail and take advantage of an on-site complimentary bike valet when they arrive at the Craneway.

The new section of trail connects Lucretia Edwards Park with Harbour Way South and creates a continuous 15-mile stretch from Golden Gate Fields in Albany to Point Richmond and Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline.

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July 3 Dinner Aboard the Red Oak Victory

Red Oak Victory: Friday, July 3 4th of July celebration. Have dinner aboard ship and then watch Richmond's fireworks display from the after deck. Food, a ringside seat for a fine display, and it's easy getting in and out. Reservations required. Everything for just $25/person. Boarding starts at 6 p.m.. Send check to: PO Box 1267, Richmond, CA 94802. No tickets will be mailed out: when boarding, your name will be checked off a roster. Call the museum or the ship if you have questions.

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press release

Jun 30, 2009, 2:34 p.m. EST

The Craneway Pavilion Celebrates Two Truly Grand Openings on July 5: The Ford Point Segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail and the Boilerhouse Restaurant, 8am-2pm

--HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE BAY TRAIL BIKE BRUNCH BASH FOR THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION

RICHMOND, Calif., June 30, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- On July 5 from 8AM-2PM, the Craneway Pavilion at Ford Point on the waterfront in Richmond, CA will host two grand openings: the Ford Point segment of the magnificent San Francisco Bay Trail, and the BoilerHouse Restaurant, serving fresh seasonal fare made from locally harvested ingredients. Both openings bring valuable new recreational offerings and leisure activities to people visiting this historic and exciting East Bay destination.

The official opening of the quarter-mile Ford Point section of the San Francisco Bay Trail will be marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30AM. The Ceremony will take place in front of the Oil House site of the future visitor education center for Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. Speakers will include Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, California Assemblyperson Nancy Skinner and National Park Superintendent Matha Lee with Bruce Beyaert, Chair of Trails for Richmond Action Committee (TRAC), acting as moderator. The Ford Point trail segment -- which includes the site of the future visitor center for Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park -- is the keystone for closing the last Bay Trail gap on Richmond's southern shoreline, resulting in 15 miles of trail connecting Golden Gate Fields in Albany with Point Richmond and Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. When completed, the San Francisco Bay Trail will encircle San Francisco and San Pablo Bays with an uninterrupted 500-mile network of bicycling and hiking trails, connecting all nine Bay Area counties.

Guests arriving by bicycle anytime from 8AM-2PM will automatically be counted as participants in the Bay Trail Bike Brunch Bash (http://craneway.com/livestrong/), benefiting LIVESTRONG and the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF). LAF was founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong. Based in Austin, TX, it seeks to inspire and empower people affected by cancer, and provide survivors with practical tools and resources to live life on their own terms. LAF's goal is to create a fundamental change in the expectations and experience of living with cancer, and to lead and sustain a survivorship movement to help eliminate suffering due to cancer.

There will be a complimentary bike valet on-site at the Craneway, and the National Bike Registry (a national database working with law enforcement to return stolen bikes to right owners) will be on hand to register bikes. The event is made possible through the participation of sponsors including [add names here].

Whether arriving by bicycle, on foot, or by car or other transport to the Craneway, everyone is invited to indulge in brunch at the grand opening of the BoilerHouse Restaurant. Selections on the special Bay Trail Bike Brunch Bash menu include House Made Granola, Buttermilk Griddle Cakes and Bacon, Potato & Cheddar Frittata--all under $10. Featuring only the freshest seasonal fare--hand-crafted from locally harvested foods--BoilerHouse breakfast, brunch, lunch and gastro-pub menus will be updated daily to highlight farmer's market specials and organic ingredients whenever possible.

Directions: See the Richmond Bay Trail map (http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/map.htm) for alternative bicycle and walking routes. Those driving may take Marina Bay Parkway exit from I-580 in Richmond, head toward the Bay and after about 0.4 mile turn right on Regatta Blvd. At end of Regatta Blvd. turn left on Marina Way South and park near Lucretia Edwards Park to walk west on Bay Trail to eastern side of Ford Assembly Building.

About the Craneway Pavilion

Craneway Pavilion is a world-class and sustainably designed 45,000 square-foot event, concert and production facility located on 25 waterfront acres in one of the planet's most iconic destinations. It offers awe-inspiring panoramic views of the waterfront, the San Francisco skyline and surrounding environs, matched only by the inventive programming and infrastructure options available inside. As state-of-the-art as it is historic, Craneway is part of the award-winning, iconic Ford Assembly Building, designed in 1932 by legendary industrial architect Albert Kahn; an adjoining 20,000 square-foot open-air patio seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces. Craneway's atmosphere and amenities set the stage for special occasions, meetings and cultural events--of every size and every stripe--as unforgettable as San Francisco itself.

The Craneway Pavilion is located at 1414 Harbour Way South in the Marina district of Richmond and can be accessed from the 580 freeway. Its wharf is accessible by private ferry from most waterfront locations in the Bay Area, and is also accessible by helicopter, BART and Amtrak (+ shuttles from nearby stations), car (the venue has 1,200 dedicated parking spaces), and by foot or bicycle from the shoreline Bay Trail. See the attached Richmond Bay Trail map for alternative bicycle and walking routes: http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/map.htm

http://www.craneway.com/

SOURCE Craneway Pavilion

http://www.craneway.com

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