Enjoy live jazz each Sunday evening from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Southern Café, 400 G Street in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown. This Sunday, March 13, enjoy the sounds of Yolandra Rhodes. Get a sample of her singing, here.

Dinner reservations preferred but not required. Full bar available. No cover charge.

“Thank you for voting Southern Café Restaurant as the #1 Soul Food Restaurant in the Bay Area,” says Phillip Bell, owner.

For reservations call (925) 754-1172 and for more information please visit their website at www.SouthernCafe2000.com

Two regular tall ship visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area will spend seven weeks and three days in four ports hosting school children and the public for tours and excursions. Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, both U.S. Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessels, will stop in Oakland, Antioch, Redwood City, and Sausalito. In each port, the ships will open for walk-on tours and offer public sailings, including the popular two-ship Battle Sails. Here’s the dates for each port:

Oakland (Jack London Square): February 20-29.

Antioch (City Marina): March 2-9.

Redwood City (Port of Redwood City): March 12-23.

Sausalito (Bay Model): March 25 to April 11.

The three-hour Battle Sails feature close-quarters maneuvers with real cannon firing real gunpowder, but no cannon balls. Guests are encouraged to help operate the ship and verbally taunt the adversaries. Tickets are $75 adults, $67 seniors, students, and active military, $39 children 12/under. Most Battle Sails are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The ships will also offer two-hour Adventure Sails, which also feature a chance for guests to help raise a sail or take the helm of a real tall ship, conditions permitting. Tickets are $47 adults, $39 children 12/under. Most Adventure Sails are scheduled at 11 a.m. Sundays.

Purchase all tickets online at www.historicalseaport.org or by calling 800-200-5239. No reservations are required for the walk-on tours, which are usually scheduled for 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. For a detailed schedule of tours and sailings, visit www.historicalseaport.org.

Both ships are booking specially priced one-hour and three-hour educational programs for elementary school students and home-school groups during the week. For information, call 800-200-5239.

Launched in 1989, the wooden-hulled Lady Washington has appeared in several motion pictures and television shows, including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Once Upon A Time. The steel-hulled Hawaiian Chieftain, built in 1988, accompanies Lady Washington on her voyages.

The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) public development authority based in Aberdeen, Wash. that owns and operates the tall ships Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington. GHHSA provides educational, vocational, recreational and ambassadorial activities and experiences that promote and preserve the maritime history of Grays Harbor, the Pacific Northwest, and our nation while serving the needs of the community.

How do we help young people enjoy poetry? One answer is Poetry Out Loud (POL),  a national recitation contest open to high school students. Poetry Out Loud generates a love of poetry, helps students master public speaking and builds self-confidence.

The County Finals competition will be held 11:00 a.m., this Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Los Lomas High School Theatre, 1460 South Main in Walnut Creek.

You will hear great poetry recited by the best high school finalists as they compete to be this year’s County Winner.

This free event is presented by the Arts & Cultural Commission of Contra Costa County (AC5).

The State Finals will be held in Sacramento on February 28 and 29, 2016.

For more information about AC5, visit their website at www.ac5.org.

The Antioch Historical Society will host Art & Our Delta at the museum, featuring photographs by Larry Kramm, decoy and bird carvings by several artists, and Saturday demonstrations of carving by Jim Burcio.

The art of decoy carving is considered one of the five authentic American art forms, as it originated with the Indians of North American and was then turned into wood carving by the first American settlers. It is an art form that did not exist in Europe.

The show opens Wednesday, February 3rd and Saturday the 6th will be the first big day with Burcio demonstrating wood carving of his shore birds. They hope to have one Saturday (possibly Feb. 20th) with antique decoys for sale.

The museum is located at 1500 West Fourth Street. For more information call (925) 757-1326.

By Rick Sullivan

The soon to be award winning hip hop musical, My Block, will run February 9, 10, and 11 at the California Theatre in Pittsburg and feature Antioch’s own Lenard “The KYD” Jackson. This new, breakthrough musical, by Pittsburg native Federico Bartolo III, has been referred to by many as “The musical version of the Wire.”

You don’t want to miss this play, with an original sound track that will be one you’ll want to purchase and take home.

The story centers around Raphael, a young man living in an urban city where money is hard to come by and you have to fight for what you get. His best friends run drugs and the lead the gang that rules the streets of his block. While his friends entice him to join them in making easy money in the streets Raphie finds the love of his life. The only problem is the woman he is falling for is the little sister of his best friend. Will Raphie fight his circumstances to be with the woman he loves or be seduced by the fast life of easy money and crime? Join us for an incredible event filled with unforgettable music, explosive dancing, and breathtaking drama that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

The California Theatre is located at 351 Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg.

Performances will be Tuesday – Thursday, February 9-11 at 7 PM

Tickets are $15 General Admission, $12 with student or military ID, $10 with high school or middle school ID and can be purchased at www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.