CV Musicians, Performers Featured on USS Potomac
The USS Potomac was former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic yacht, but for the next two weekends, it will be filled with music and theater performers from Castro Valley.
On Sunday, October 22 from 3 to 5 p.m., guests can take a 2-hour cruise with Castro Valley-based trio The Quitters. Right-side up finger picker Stevie Coyle, upside down flat picker Glenn "Houston" Pomianek, and upright bassist Chris Kee make up the band. They are three of the four original members of The Waybacks quintet. Chris Kee and Glenn Houston were also the long-time bassist and lead guitarist for Houston Jones.
All together now as The Quitters, these three deliver memorable, fun, toe-tapping performances spiced with humor and serendipity, says Castro Valley resident Jennifer Pettley, who also serves as the executive director of the USS Potomac Association which owns and operates the Potomac from Jack London Square in Oakland.
“This is a delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon, enjoying The Quitters and a cruise in the Bay on this historic vessel,” said Pettley.
Tickets are $75 per person for the two-hour cruise and concert.
Then on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Castro Valley's own Plethos Productions takes command of the former President’s yacht.
As the Potomac cruises San Francisco Bay, passengers will help solve the "Mystery on the Potomac." Plethos actors will bring back to life several illustrious characters from Bay Area history and lore, such as FDR, Steve Jobs, Amelia Earhart, Etta James, Willie McCovey, Janis Joplin, the Bird Man of Alcatraz, Bruce Lee, and Jerry Garcia. The passengers and performers all help to solve a birthday mystery. Passengers will interact with the characters and immerse themselves in the story to determine who the birthday celebrant is.
The three-hour cruise includes a box lunch, birthday cake, and the Plethos mystery performance. Tickets are $95 for adults, $55 for youths, and $15 for children.
The USS Potomac is a historically preserved yacht that FDR used between 1936 and 1945. Elvis Presley briefly owned it, as did some drug smugglers at one point. The Port of Oakland took control of the vessel, gave it a $5 million restoration, and has berthed the yacht at Jack London Square since 1995. Since then, the USS Potomac Association, a nonprofit organization, has owned and operated the 165-foot vessel since then and provides cruises for students and the general public from April to November.
More information about the USS Potomac and tickets for these shows can be found on the website (usspotomac.org).
