Macdonald Avenue and Music on the Main

On Wednesday, July 22, I attended the ribbon cutting for the Macdonald Avenue improvement project, which preceded the season opening for Music on the Main featuring the Junius Courtney Big Band and the East Bay Center for the Arts Jazz Collective. Macdonald avenue looks great, and an exciting new feature is the series of interpretive exhibits describing the history of Macdonald Avenue.

The second show on August 26 will feature Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic along with saxophonist Ric Alexander and his band 2wo 4our 1ne.

A special September 12 show will be held at the city's Civic Center Plaza Reopening Celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering three stages of entertainment, including jazz, blues, gospel, ethnic dance, hip-hop and poetry.

Richmond Main Street isn't stopping there. The organization will hold its first-ever Wine and Jazz fundraiser headlined by Latin jazz legend and percussionist Pete Escovedo and his jazz orchestra, featuring guitarist Ray Obiedo, at the Ford Craneway Pavilion from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 20. Tickets go on sale July 1, and proceeds will go to the Richmond Main Street Youth Entrepreneur Program, which trains and employs young people ages 16 to 21.

For more details, visit www.richmondmainstreet.org or call 510-236-4050.

The Boilerhouse Restaurant

Also on Wednesday, July 22, I had lunch at the Boilerhouse Restaurant at the historic Ford Assembly Building, now open 7am-10pm weekdays and 8am-3:30pm weekends.  The restaurant, which occupies the former boilerhouse of the plant, is a showcase. It is adjacent to the San Francisco Bay Trail and has amazing views of the bay. And the food is great!