Labor Day Weekend Happenings

On the odd chance you don’t have much going on this weekend, here are a few events you might want to check out over the next few days:

• The artists have once again decended on Marin County for the 61st annual Sausalito Art Festival. Nearly 300 artists from all over the country will display their works — from paintings to photographs to sculptures and more — at Marinship Park (next door to the Bay Model) starting tomorrow and running through Monday. Premier maritime artist — and the America’s Cup artist in residence — Jim DeWitt will again be featuring his America’s Cup artwork, along with some other of his favorite pieces, in Booth #102. 
   



• At the entrance to the Festival, you’ll notice one enormous tent that will house the Educational Tall Ship, a Matthew Turner-inspired brigantine, that will eventually become San Francisco’s official tallship. Director Alan Olson and crew are getting ready to lay the keel of the ship soon, but for the next few days the ETS site will act as the gateway to the Art Festival. Tours will be offered and the infamous Waterfront Pickers — featuring our very own ‘Banjo Andy’ Turpin — will be playing Monday, 1-3 p.m.
   



• Well-known local artist Roderick ‘Smitty’ Smith will be painting a marine mural on one of the ETS containers during the Art Festival. Smitty’s work can be seen around the waterfront, typically on the transoms of boats, but his more inspired pieces are hung (or painted) on walls. His delightfully realistic ‘antiqued’ life rings featuring the names of famous boats will be on display (and for sale) at the ETS site.
   



•  Next Wednesday, September 4, the Sausalito Historical Society will host a party at the Ice House Visitors Center (780 Bridgeway) at 6 p.m. to celebrate the launch of Sausalito Sets Sail, a new self-guided walking tour along the waterfront. The tour will include interpretive panels and a special exhibit on the top floor of City Hall (420 Litho). 
   



• Of course, if you’re heading for Mexico this fall — or you want to — you’ll have to scoot over to the other side of the Bay on September 4 for Latitude‘s annual Mexico-Only Crew List Party at Encinal YC, 6-9 p.m. It’s a terrific opportunity for skippers to find an extra pair or two of eyeballs for those tiring night watches. Paid 2013 Baja Ha-Ha skippers and first mates get in for free; everyone else pays just $7. Snacks, no-host bar and cruiser-friendly vendors will be there to answer your questions. (Also, don’t forget to check out the Mexico Cruising Seminar presented by Paradise Village Marina Manager Dick Markie and Marina El Cid’s Geronimo Cevallos downstairs at the club starting at 4 p.m.)