ART

The Moraga Art Gallery presents an international exhibit, “Impressionism Times 2,” featuring the work of lifelong friends: ceramicist Jacqueline Proulx of Walnut Creek and the celebrated French-Canadian expressionist painter Rita Rodrigue, a resident of Quebec. The show, which also includes the gallery’s 13 member artists and several guest artists, runs through June 2. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Campolindo Arts Festival “Explorations in Identity and Self-Expression” runs April 19 through 20 in the Campolindo High School Library. There will be an opening reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on April 19, and performances and a film screening from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Free.

Lamorinda Arts Alliance presents Artist Talk: Joani Share and the Wood Carvings of Oaxaca, Mexico at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 at the Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Drive. Share will present a slide show and talk about the wonderful wooden creatures of Oaxaca called “Alebrijes.” Share will bring examples from her collection and share information about the arts in the villages surrounding the city of Oaxaca. Free. www.joanishare.com

MUSIC

Pacific Chamber Orchestra director Lawrence Kohl presents “American Radio Hour” starting at 7:30 p.m. on April 21 at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church 49 Knox, Lafayette and at 2 p.m. on April 22 at the Bankhead Theatre 2100 First Street, Livermore. You will be the live studio audience for Scott Joplin’s delightful rag-time hit “The Entertainer”; George Gershwin’s sweet “Lullaby for Strings”; Charles Ives’ amusing “Three Short Pieces” and Aaron Copland’s masterful “Appalachian Spring”. Tickets are $10 - $59 and for both locations may be purchased through the PCO website: PacificChamberOrchestra.org.

Voci Concerts Celebrate the Elements at 2 p.m. on April 21 at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Avenue, Oakland. The concert will feature beautiful and dramatic choral music about Earth, Air, Fire and Water from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Tickets: $25 at the door, $20 advance, $15 students, free for children 6 to 12. Available at the door or online at www.vocisings.org.

The Founder’s Day Concert celebrates the anniversary of the creation by Rosamond Davis of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society (www.ccpas.org) in 1974. This free concert features 10 different groups of performers and covers the spectrum of musical styles from classical, jazz, modern, and new compositions by members of the CCPAS. The concert will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in the Sanctuary of Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek.

Mindful Littles presents A Heartful Earth Day Celebration with live music from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 22 at Just Be Yoga, 2333 Boulevard Circle, Walnut Creek. This is a free event, but tickets are being sold as an RSVP. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-heartful-earth-day-celebration-with-live-music-from-empty-hands-music-tickets-44057100975

8th Annual Lafayette Community Music Festival Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School Street in Lafayette. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show is modeled around Neil Young’s famous Bridge School Benefits, with each musician or band performing a 25-30 minute set of songs in a more “stripped down” acoustic format.  Tickets are available at www.townhalltheatre.com: $25 advance;  $30 at the door.

All are cordially invited for a first-time happening to attend Saint Mary’s College Guild’s Spring Concert, featuring a delightful celebration with pianist, professor of music at Saint Mary’s College, Lino Rivera, D.M.A. He has been featured on radio and television broadcasts, and performed live in concerts and symphonies on three continents. The concert will run from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at Saint Mary’s College Soda Center. $45 per person includes a delicious lunch, wine can be purchased.

SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Global Education) Club at Acalanes High School will be hosting its annual Benefit Concert from 7 to 9 p.m. on May 4 in the Performing Arts Center at Acalanes High School. The acts will feature students showcasing their talents in support of Trust in Education, an organization that promotes education, specifically women’s, in Afghanistan.

Musicians In Concert (MIC) is having its inaugural fundraising event from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday May 5 at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Lafayette. The benefit will generate funds for educational scholarships and grants to assist young musicians and underfunded Bay Area music programs. The live performance will open with a world-class jazz set followed by a 90-minute tribute to the late great Bay Area performer Mic Gillette. Tickets are $35 and are available at www.MusiciansInConcert.org.

THEATER

Saint Mary’s College proudly presents “Impure Thoughts (without apology),” the College’s latest collaboration with celebrated playwright Ken Prestininzi. The award-winning play is inspired by the true story of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th century brilliant poet and scholar who lived as a nun in Baroque New Spain (colonial Mexico). The production opens Thursday, April 26 for a one-weekend run in the intimate LeFevre Theatre at Saint Mary’s College, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga. Tickets are available online at stmarys-ca.edu/impurethoughts or at the box office. Show times and prices are online.

Orinda Intermediate School Bulldog Theater stages “All Shook Up Young@Part Edition,” April 26 through April 28 at Orinda Intermediate School, 80 Ivy Drive. This musical production tells the story of an unexpected small town romance through classic rock and roll music that will have you jumping out of your blue suede shoes! Tickets are $3-$10. Visit www.showtix4u.com for show times and tickets. Tickets are also available at the door.

DVC Drama presents a new musical “Godspell” running May 4 through 20 at 321 Golf Club Rd., Pleasant Hill. A small group of people help Jesus tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques, and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage. The messages of kindness, tolerance, community, and love come vibrantly to life. Show times are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. For tickets, call (925) 969-2358 or go to our website at www.dvcdrama.net

LECTURE & LITERATURE

The Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center presents an “Evening with Mark Dubois, Environmental Activist” beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 19 at 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette, California. There will be a reception at 6 p.m., followed by a presentation by Mr. Dubois at 7 p.m. on “50 years protecting rivers and helping give a voice to the communities that depend on them.” Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door. The event is free for students and $5 for center members. Pre-register at www.ourpeacecenter.org. For more information call (925) 933-7850.

Orinda books presents “Sisters-in-Crime” with Simon Wood, Janet Dawson, Glenda Carrroll and Wendy Hornsby at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 in a discussion of their latest mysteries: “Saving Grace” (Wood), “The Ghosts in Roomette Four” (Dawson), “Drop Dead Red” (Carroll), and “Number 7, Rue Jacob” (Hornsby). RSVP at (925) 254-7606.

Orinda Poet Laureate Reception at noon on Thursday, April 26 in the Orinda Library Garden Room. Join us to welcome Orinda’s very first Poet Laureate, Amy Alysa Glynn. We will celebrate with poetry readings and light refreshments. The inaugural Poet Laureate Program is presented by the Lamorinda Arts Council.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Engender Playgroup for gender variant kids and their parents. Join us for a spring activity and playtime from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28 in Orinda. For location, please email Sandra at sandra@engendernow.org. For more information about the Engender organization, visit Engendernow.org.

Engender Playgroup for gender variant kids and their parents. Join us for a spring activity and playtime from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28 in Orinda. For location, please email Sandra at sandra@engendernow.org. For more information about the Engender organization, visit Engendernow.org.

OTHER

Grand reopening celebration at Sanctuaire Spa in Lafayette (formerly Marilyn Monroe Spa) from 4 to 8 p.m. on April 18 at 3589 Mt. DIablo Blvd., Lafayette. Explore the spacious 2,000-square-foot spa equipped with a relaxation lounge, sauna and steam rooms, single and couple treatment rooms, a hair and blow dry salon, and pedicure and manicure room. The first 70 attendees will receive a free swag bag from Jan Marini Skin Research.

Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church invites you to “Remember, Renew and Refill—a Journey Through Grief,” a workshop and luncheon to honor our lost loved ones from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. The event is free to high school and adult participants, however please RSVP by April 18 online at mvpctoday.org or by calling Colleen Giovanni: (925) 376-4800 x285. 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga.

Lamorinda Music in Lafayette is hosting a restring and recycle event Saturday, April 21 to celebrate Earth Month. Musicians can bring in their old strings for recycling, as well as get their electric or acoustic guitars restrung with new strings, furnished by D’Addario, for free. Event details about the instrument string recycling program can be found: http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/daddario-playback

On Saturday, April 21 come and enjoy a walk in the woods with a forester! On behalf of the Bay Area Chapter of the California Society of American Foresters, you’re invited to a day at the University of California’s Russell Research Station in the hills north of Lafayette (4927 Happy Valley Road, Lafayette). Come anytime, the Station will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be demonstrations by the student’s Logging Sports Team and a hike through the forest led by a forester. Learn what a forester does. Learn about the trees, the forest, the wildlife, and the plants.

Mountain Shadow Film Society presents “Arrangiarsi: Pizza…And the Art of Living” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 at Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway St, Walnut Creek. The filmmaker, Marco Troncone, will be present to introduce the film and take questions. $12 admission. http://mountainshadow.org

The Orinda Community Foundation in partnership with the City of Orinda will be holding its 10th Anniversary Orinda Action Day from 9:30 a.m. to noon on April 21 at the Orinda Library and Community Center. All ages and community groups are welcome to participate in a variety of projects to clean parks, trails, walkways and creeks, and more. The public can sign up to become part of a team at www.OrindaFoundation.org under the volunteer tab.

Wildlife Earth Day at Wagner Ranch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Orinda on Sunday, April 22. Several community organizations will also present earth-friendly endeavors. Cynthia Brian will be autographing her newest book, “Growing with the Goddess Gardener” as well as talking about trees, flowers, and other botanicals. For more information on this nature-lover’s event organized by the naturalist guru, Toris Jaeger, visit https://fwrna.org/wildlifefest/.

Come to the Friends of the Moraga Library’s annual spring book sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 28 for some of the biggest bargains in Lamorinda. Books, CDs and DVDs of every category will be sold at prices ranging from 25 cents to $3. Beginning at 1 p.m. a bag can be purchased for $5 and filled with all the books it can hold. All proceeds from the sale go to fund library materials and programs, in addition to paying for staffing of the library’s Sunday hours. The sale will be held at the Moraga Library 1500 St. Mary’s Road.

Sam and Susan Sperry will be honored as the 2018 Moraga Citizens of the year at a celebration dinner 6 to 9 p.m. on April 28 at St Mary’s College Soda Center. This fun event is a great opportunity for socializing over drinks and a tasty dinner with your Moraga neighbors, many of whom are community volunteers, as well as some of the past year’s winners and community and county leaders. You may purchase tickets at www.moragachamber.org. Cost is $55.

The annual Wine and Dine tour will be happening this year from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 in and around Theatre Square in Orinda. The very fun event includes sampling foods from new and long standing restaurants, a free glass of wine from the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association, live music with Lamorinda Idols, Sunjams, school groups and more. Tickets are $40 at OrindaChamber.org, or, to support Orinda schools at OrindaEFO.org.

Humanities West Fireside Chat at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 at the Orinda Library. Join George Hammond of Humanities West for a fireside chat exploring the historical lives and influence of The Borgia. More information about Humanities West and other events at www.humanitieswest.net.

The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) will hold its 43rd annual Spring House Tour and Garden Reception from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 6. This year’s house tour takes us to Berkeley Woods, the bucolic hilltop tract adjoining Tilden Regional Park. Tour map, illustrated guidebook, and refreshments will be provided. General admission $45; BAHA members $35. For tour information and reservations, visit the BAHA website http://berkeleyheritage.com, email baha@berkeleyheritage.com, or call (510) 841-2242.

The 2018 Moraga Community Faire and Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 at the town’s Rheem Valley Shopping Center - offering a wonderful opportunity for a “family fun day.”  Kid’s Zone activities include pony rides, climbing wall, bounce house and basketball shoots. Grab a quick lunch at the food trucks, relax with a glass of local wine or beer and check out the over 70 amazing classic cars. Introduce yourself to over 50 local artists, business and organizations. Live entertainment will be presented all afternoon from the Saint Mary’s Jazz Band to local Battle of the Bands winners. For more information, visit www.moragachamber.org/faire.

Taste of Lafayette 5:30 – 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 begins at the Bank of the West building with more than 20 restaurants participating for the stroll.  A hosted wine and beer reception starts at 5:30 p.m. and the “stroll” begins at 6:30 p.m. when ticket holders head out at their own pace with friends to stop at any or all of the participating restaurants for sampling. Tickets available at www.lafayettechamber.org.

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

Lamorinda Republican Women Federated monthly luncheon from 10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 19 at the Orinda Country Club. The speaker is Timothy Donnelly, who is a Republican Candidate running in the primary for Congressional District 8. He has served as an assemblyman in the California State Assembly and has written for Breitbart. Cost of event: luncheon and speaker $31; speaker only $15; speaker only student discount $5. For information please contact Elsie Euing at ejeuing@comcast.net.

GARDEN

Montelindo Garden Club March Meeting (third Friday of every month, September through May) will be at 9 a.m. Friday, April 20 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. Presentation: The History of Mt. Diablo and its Open Space Preservation by Seth Adams, the Land Conservation Director at Save Mount Diablo. Since 1988, Adams has contributed to SMD’s growth into a major force for conservation in the East Bay. Everyone is welcome.

The Lafayette Garden Club will hold its first garden tour in many years from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at a series of five unique, private gardens in Lamorinda. The tour, Artful Gardens, also will include a pop-up market and a plant sale. The tour can give you good ideas of what you might want to do in your garden, to learn about new plants, and to have a fun day out with friends and family. The pop-up market, will offer a wide selection from local artisans featuring jewelry, ceramics, botanical art and specialty food items. The plant sale will include specimens propagated by club members. Tickets cost $40 or $35 each when four or more are purchased. lafayettegardenclub.com.