How to Dance on a Runway in San Francisco Bay 

On a decommissioned naval base in the San Francisco Bay, we danced in the sun and drank cold beers from the brewery next door, while the La Misa Negra fired up the crowd with cumbia and brass. ⁠
⁠
The SF skyline was our backdrop in a sea of smiles and gyrating hips.⁠

The Radium Runway, Alameda Point. Photo @alexmaksf

Back in 1927, Pan American World Airways (commonly known as Pan-Am) developed an airstrip on an island overlooking San Francisco. “This’ll be the bee’s knees, for our all our flying contraptions,” they must have said, but in 1936 a President named Franklin D. Roosevelt was a bit more concerned with Japanese flying contraptions and bought the land to build a US Naval Air Station (NAS).

A dramatic recreation of two sailors gazing at the San Francisco skyline and contemplating new uses for a Naval base. Photo by @kayla_brittingham

Starting in 1941 this airstrip and sea-plane lagoon played a critical role in the Navy’s defense mission following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. NAS Alameda’s primary wartime mission was simplified — “keep ‘em flying” from airfields and carriers. The base piped massive quantities of men, machinery, and supplies across the Pacific.  Throughout World War II this runway and Naval Station logged 2,000,000 man-hours in around-the-clock operations.

Flash forward to 2024, and the artists and brewers have taken over the base. The runway is used for concerts and dance parties, and the hangers are used to brew beer and distill spirits.

Leave Your Mark Dance Battle event, hosted by Turf Inc on Radium Runway, Alameda Point.

So on Saturday, we sailed to the Radium Runway, a new outdoor venue on Alameda Point where we danced in the sun to the firey cumbia and samba of La Misa Negra and SambaDá, and sipped fine beers from Almanac Brewing next door.

SambaDá performs at Radium Runway.  Photo by @creamyandcrisp

The nonprofit behind the new runway venue is Radium, and its founder Christopher Seiwald has a vision to build a vibrant Performing Arts Center for local and international artists with a theater for music, dance, opera, theater, and literary arts too.

Oakland’s own La Misa Negra performing at Radium Runway.  They rocked our shit, they’re hella fun to dance to. Photo @alexmaksf

“A permanent cultural institution for today’s artists to inspire audiences, nurture the next generation, and play an important role in the rejuvenation of Alameda Point”.   – Christopher Seiwald

SambaDá performs at Radium Runway.  Photo by @creamyandcrisp

Every month this summer there’s a great outdoor show at Radium Runway, they’re all outdoors, kid-friendly, dog-friendly, and dance-friendly shows that cost just $20, and it takes literally 20min to get there by ferry from San Francisco.

We salute all the fine sailors, aviators, and service men and women who served in WWII, they fought so we could drink and dance in peace!   Photo by Vita Hewitt

Radium Runway

Radium Runway Summer Concert Series features LA MISA NEGRA,
SUNNY WAR, JAZZ MAFIA’S GRATEFUL BRASS and TRUE LOVES
June – September 2024

$20 Advance | $25 Onsite
Age 13 & Under Free
Radium Runway
2151 Ferry Point b, Alameda, CA 94501, USA

Tickets & Info here

This post was sponsored by the wonderful Radium Presents. who seek collaborators, donors and investors who share our vision for this extraordinary theater arts center in Alameda.