Diverse Fall Events at Craneway Pavilion on the Richmond Waterfront Include Rocktagon MMA, Green Drive Expo, Great Train Expo, Rosie the Riveter USO Dance, and Homefront Festival

RICHMOND, Calif., Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Craneway Pavilion—the world-class, sustainably designed 45,000-square-foot venue at historic Ford Point in Richmond, CA—announces a diverse calendar of fall events to draw visitors to its beautiful waterfront location.  With highlights including festivals, expos, evening entertainment, and sports, Craneway Pavilion offers attractions suited to a wide range of tastes and interests in a state-of-the-art facility that can accommodate up to 5,000 people.

September events at Craneway begin with the Rocktagon Mixed Martial Arts Amateur Fight League's Elite Series Battle of the Bay 2 (www.rocktagonmma.com) on Saturday, September 10. Featuring the best in amateur MMA talent, the fight card is stacked with exciting match-ups and many of California's rising MMA stars.  Doors open at 5PM, and the first bell is 7PM; general admission, standing-only tickets are $25, seated tickets are $45 and VIP Table Seats are $75.

On Saturday, September 17 (10AM-5PM), the Green Drive Expo (www.greendriveexpo.com) pulls in.  Attendees will explore a full array of green, alternative and fuel-efficient transportation from concept cars to purchase-ready vehicles (including hybrid, electric and biodiesel cars), learn from interactive exhibits and expert speakers, and test-drive cars.  Admission is $10; alt-vehicle owners can buy a $20 VIP ticket that allows them to display their ride in the Expo's car show.

The new workshop Critical Keystones to Greatness: The 4 Biggest Mistakes People's Success takes place on Tuesday, September 20 (1:30-6PM). Lindon Crow, Founder and President of Productive Learning & Leisure (www.productivelearning.com), will conduct the workshop, which will address creating the highest level of possible success regardless of the environment or conditions.  Tickets are $49, with a special bundle of five tickets available for $100.

On Saturday, September 24 (6:30PM-2AM), The Red Carpet Experience (www.trcexperience.com) presents a star-studded evening featuring performances by music artists Robin Thicke, Faith Evans, Ginuine, El Debarge, and newcomer Sydney Nycole, and a celebrity DJ set from Jermaine Dupri.  The night kicks off with a private VIP pre-show reception when Bay Area organizations including Richmond Pal, Berkeley Youth Alternatives and El Cerrito High School's James Morehouse Project participate in a fashion show benefiting actor Blair Underwood's health and wellness programs. General admission is $75, VIP tickets are $125, and special cabana packages are available.

A Qigong Workshop with renowned teacher/healer Master Mingtong Gu takes over Craneway on Sunday, September 25 (11AM-5PM).  In association with the Chi Center, the event will "awaken vitality for healthier 21st century living" and facilitate the ancient wisdom of healing. Founded in China more than 5000 years ago, Qigong improves energy and wellness through movement, meditation, sound, and visualization. Tickets are $44 before September 20, $55 thereafter (www.chicenter.com).

October at Craneway kicks off with the Great Train Expo (www.greattrainexpo.com), "America's Coast To Coast Train Show," on Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2 (10AM-4PM).  Catering to model railroad enthusiasts, the Expo serves more states than any other such show, and features operating model railroads, dealers, collectors, exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, and opportunities to connect with and join local clubs.  Tickets are $7, and kids under 12 are free.

From October 7-10, the 2nd Annual Divine Play AcroYoga Festival comes to Craneway (www.acroyoga.org).  Daytime sessions feature classes for all levels, from total beginners to day-long intensives for in-depth study—taught by master teachers in the respective fields of yoga, acrobatics, and Thai massage, and AcroYoga teachers from around the world.  Saturday night's Give Love Bodywork Benefit—featuring therapeutic flights—will benefit the Africa Yoga Project in Kenya.

Two major October events at Craneway celebrate Ford Point's legacy in addition to offering great entertainment. On Friday, October 14 (7-11PM), the Richmond Chamber of Commerce hosts the Rosie the Riveter 1940s USO Dance with WWII period attire, live music, dancing, free coffee and donuts, and a cash bar and concessions.  It's a spirited kick-off for Saturday, October 15's Home Front Festival by the Bay (11AM-6PM), the 5th annual celebration of Richmond's special role in the history of modern America (http://rcoc.com/events/home-front-festival/). With a theme of "Celebrating Extraordinary Ordinary People," the free Festival features a YMCA Home Front Run, Kiwanis Classic Car Show, Tour Marina Bay on the DUCK, live entertainment, food, and more.

The November Craneway calendar starts with a Girl on Girl Dodgeball Tournament on Saturday, November 5—doors open at 6:30PM, games begin at 7:30PM (www.girlongirldodgeball.com).  32 teams of "girls who dodge balls" will compete for cash prizes; other activities include arm-wrestling, push-up, and bull-riding competitions plus food and cash bar.

Owned and operated by Orton Development since 2004, Craneway Pavilion is part of the historic 525,000-square-foot Ford Assembly Building, also home to BoilerHouse Restaurant.  The building was originally designed by legendary 20th century industrial architect Albert Kahn, and opened in 1932 as Ford Motor's Model 'A' production plant.  In the 1940s, it became a hub of WWII home front efforts when it was retooled to produce tanks and jeeps.  During that time, the legend of Rosie the Riveter was born, and now the building is adjacent to the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park.  The restoration and adaptive re-use of the historic Ford Assembly Building—a cornerstone of the revitalization of Richmond—was honored with a 2011 American Institute of Architecture Honor Award for Architecture.  

Boasting panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline and surrounding environs from a 25-acre waterfront setting, 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

Craneway Pavilion Fall 2011 Events Calendar / For more information and event updates: www.cranewayblog.com

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