Point Richmond's Fall Festival 2009

Yesterday morning (Oct 10) I enjoyed returning to Point Richmond, where I spent many years performing in community theater productions at the Masquer's Playhouse. It all began in 1986 when I participated in a musical theater camp for kids and we performed a show for our families called "Wheels." My mom took me to the auditions the theater was having at the time for The Most Happy Fella. I sang "My Favorite Things" and the director, Pat Nelson, gave me a shot. I was in hooked from that point on. I participated in other productions in Point Richmond including I Remember Mama, Camelot, Shenandoah, and Amahl and the Night Visitors.

The city of Point Richmond is just off 580 as you're heading towards the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. I thought of the numerous trips to rehearsals and drama camp as we drove down on a cool, crisp autumn morning to enjoy the town's Fall Festival.

The town was just as small and quaint as I remember. The Indian statue still stands in the center of town. There's the firehouse, library, and historical society across the street from the theater.

One thing that I enjoy (and missed!) the most about out-of-the-way Point Richmond from many other places I can think of in the Bay Area, however, is its food offerings. Little China is still the hot spot for lunch goers throughout the week. The Baltic is re-opening as a German restaurant serving authentic cuisine. Hotel Mac still rests on the corner across from the theater and you can get a very tasty meal over there, or simply relax in their downstairs bar and lounge. I spent countless weekends until the wee hours of the night in the hotel bar enjoying our impromptu afters how parties. And the last two places are Little Louie's Deli which makes the best sandwiches, as well as The Spot.

In my opinion, Spot Dogs are without question, the tastiest hot dogs E-V-E-R. It's just a little dive liquor store at the far end of the town, and it was not situated near the Fall Festival, actually. Parked outside the Spot was actually a Plymouth Valiant, which probably has been there for the past 40 years. But I couldn't resist. So my folks and I ordered up some lunch and sat outside the deli up the block and enjoyed a taste of memory lane.

It was a blast to enjoy returning to Point Richmond; to bump into old friends; to spend a fun, sunny fall morning with family. It reminded me of all the good times I enjoyed in my youth. It was a very positive experience and I was greeted by a few of the friendly faces of my past that made my experiences so much more memorable, including theater and school friends I bumped into yesterday.

I'm looking forward to going back to The Baltic to see how it rates to another German restaurant Kari and I've recently enjoyed dining at in Alameda. Perhaps I'll even have to go back to enjoy a show at the Masquer's Theater. Or maybe I'll just go down on another quiet, cool, crisp, Saturday morning to look through the art galleries or corner store, or other shops that make Point Richmond one of my most favorite, hidden places in the Bay Area!