ART

The Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery is pleased to present “Surreal,” which opens on Aug. 2, featuring the work of Bay Area artist Tom Gehrig. The exhibit will also include works by Catherine Moore, Carol Aust, and sculpture by Southern California artist Emily Maddigan. In times when truth is stranger than fiction, and the daily news feels surreal, we look to art for understanding and perspective. Viewers will be delighted by this engaging exhibit of work, a tribute to surreal art. The exhibit is on view through Sept. 1, with an artist’s reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug 2. www.jenniferperlmuttergallery.com

The American Craft Show returns to the Festival Pavilion at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture Aug. 3-5 for a not-to-be-missed weekend showcasing more than 250 of the country’s top contemporary craft artists, including talented emerging makers. Craft collectors and design enthusiasts will also have the chance to engage in three experiential showcases: Make Room: Modern Design Meets Craft, Style Slam, and Let’s Make. As the largest juried fine craft show on the West Coast, this show is a truly unique chance to shop one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces, eat and drink artisanal foods and beverages, and meet the country’s best artists. Tickets: $12. Buy advance online at https://craftcouncil.org/sf.

Valley Art Gallery presents “Celebrating Light” featuring Artist Judith Feins and her plein air landscapes. The show runs through Aug. 4. www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMCMoA) and the California Watercolor Association (CWA) present “The Color of Summer.” Fifty new works are on view reflecting the member artists’ charge to capture their visions of summer. CWA is one of the largest and most active watermedia organizations in the nation with a mission to create, foster, and sustain artistic growth and interest in watermedia. This exhibition will include a series of events such as plein air painting, live demonstrations, and lessons for youth. The exhibition runs through Aug. 26.

MUSIC

Jazz in July, with the Mark Holzinger Trio from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 451 Moraga Way in Orinda. (925) 254-0769, smumcorinda@gmail.com. Suggested donation of $20, no one turned away.

Free summer concerts Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Orinda Community Park, 28 Orinda Way. Food trucks will be provided for all events by Tastes of the World: July 31: Bay Bridge Beat; Aug 7: Little Dog 2; Aug 14: Floorshakers

You are invited to join your neighbors from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings at the Moraga Commons Park for a relaxing free concert in the park. Bring your picnic blanket or lawn chairs to the grassy hillside in front of the band shell. Enjoy the music while your children enjoy the park. The volunteers of MPF will cook dinner for you with the Snack Bar opening at 6 p.m. The lineup includes the following: July 26: Kings of 88 - Classic piano rock hits; Aug 2: Moonalice - Bay Area 60’s psychedelic rock.

THEATER

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 44th Season with the West Coast Premiere of “Everybody,” a sparkling new riff on the 15th-century morality play “The Summoning of Everyman” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. “Everybody” plays through Aug. 5 at the Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda. Tickets (ranging from $20-$92) are available through the Cal Shakes Box Office at (510) 548-9666 or by visiting www.calshakes.org. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

Orinda Starlight Village Players present Dave Freeman’s fast, furious and frantic farce, “Kindly Keep It Covered,” through Aug. 11 at the Orinda Community Park’s outdoor amphitheater. Showtimes and dates at www.orsvp.org. Call (925) 528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org for reservations.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Twilight at Fernandez Ranch from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16 at 1081 Christie Road, Martinez. Step outside and enjoy a night of outdoor exploration for the whole family. Llama meet-and-greet with Llamas of Circle Home, reptile show-and-touch with East Bay Vivarium, visit birds of prey with Lindsay Wildlife, Sliders food truck, ice cream, arts and crafts, and more! The event is open to the public, free of charge, and ADA accessible. Free parking available.

Lafayette will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in a big way from 2:30-7 p.m. on July 29.  The celebration begins at 2:30 p.m., in the Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, with an informal reception honoring those who made Lafayette possible. If you’d like to tell your historic stories of Lafayette – or if you just want to listen to tales of the City – simply arrive at the Community Hall. The main party is from 4 to 7 p.m. and will include a special Back Forty Texas BBQ dinner along with entertainment from Dave Martin’s House Party band, a kid zone with games and activities and a parade at 5 p.m.  

OTHER

Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center presents Project Censored - Addressing ‘Fake News’ from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, at Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center at Our Savior’s Lutheran, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. Students and Faculty discuss investigative journalism, identify censored news stories, their suppression and the problem of ‘fake news’. Cost: $10 pre-registered ($15 at door), $5 Peace Center members, free for students. For more info see http://ourpeacecenter.org or call (925) 933-7850 or email margli@ourpeacecenter.org.

National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 7. Gather with your neighbors and celebrate National Night Out, building neighborhood camaraderie and making our town safer. For more information, see the information on the Moraga Police webpage: police.moraga.ca.us.

What Does Lafayette Look Like to you on the special occasion of our 50th Anniversary of Incorporation? The City of Lafayette Public Art Committee is sponsoring another “Day in the Life” photo contest in celebration of the city’s 50th. Photos must be taken in Lafayette on July 29 and submitted by Aug. 17. There are a few rules that apply and you must register to enter. You can find out all the details and more about the contest at http://www.lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/public-art-committee/day-in-the-life-photo-contest.

A Bird’s Rainbow from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on July 30 in the Orinda Library Garden Room. Join us as well-known local birder, photographer and educator, Bob Lewis, explains why birds are often brightly colored, where the color come from, and what makes hummingbirds so special.

Travel Adventures with Road Scholar from 1 to 2 p.m. on Aug 1 in the Orinda Library Garden Room. Ambassador Mary Ann Irwin shares her travel experiences and information about Road Scholar, a trusted, well known travel program geared toward solo and couples travelers over the age of 50. You’ll learn about the history and mission of the Road Scholar organization, the benefits of group travel, the educational component, and the cost of a program as well as what’s included.

Diablo Ballet’s Annual Gourmet Gallop food and wine walk returns to downtown Walnut Creek for the eighth consecutive year from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9. The event, sponsored by Diablo Magazine, invites guests to sip, sample and stroll their way through 18 downtown Walnut Creek locations as they experience a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure. Tickets are on sale now to the public and only $39 if purchased on or before July 26. After that date, the price goes up to $45 per person. Special group pricing is available. Tickets are available online at www.diabloballet.org or by calling (925) 943-1775.

A Life Rebuilt: The Remarkable Transformation of a War Orphan from 4 to 5 p.m. on Aug 9 in the Orinda Library Auditorium. Born in 1939 Belgium, Sylvia Ruth Guttman became an orphan at age 3 when her parents were sent to their deaths at Auschwitz. In her debut memoir, “A Life Rebuilt: The Remarkable Transformation of a War Orphan,” chronicles her escape to Switzerland with her two sisters, their arrival in New York to the home of her uncle and his abusive wife, and her struggles to overcome the trauma of her childhood. For more information about Sylvia visit her website at https://sylviaruthgutmann.com/.

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

Join the Lamorinda Democratic Club for a fun evening of political trivia and frozen margaritas at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Proceeds from this fun event will benefit the Lamorinda Democratic Club American Dream 2109 Scholarship. Suggested donation is $20 per person or $100 for a table of 5 or 6. Contact hotaugtrivia@gmail.com for more information.

SENIORS

Transportation Circles: What are they and how do you create one at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 26 at Aegis Moraga. Worried about giving up your car keys? What if you had a transportation plan before you face that moment? Learn how to navigate this major life change to give you the confidence you need to get around town. RSVP to Lamorinda Village (925) 283-3500 space is limited! Lunch included.

Home Match Program presented by Max Moy-Borgen, Home Match Contra Costa from 10:30 a.m. to noon on July 31 in the Sequoia Room, Lafayette Community Center. Do you live alone on a fixed income? Do you have a spare room? Do you need help around the house, extra income to pay for basic necessities, or just a little companionship? Covia Senior Communities’ Home Match program matches homeowners with people seeking affordable housing in the area. Learn about this program that will be expanding in Contra Costa County this year. Free. To sign up, please call Lafayette Senior Services at (925) 284-5050, email seniors@lovelafayette.org or register online at www.lafayetterec.org.

Lafayette Community Foundation’s 10th Annual Senior Symposium, “Aging By Design” will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 4 at Acalanes High School. Attendees will hear from a variety of experts including Dr. Alan D. Brast, a medical/mental health professional for more than 40 years. In addition, many vendors and nonprofit agencies will have booths at the Symposium’s Resource Fair providing information about their products and services. Free. Please register in advance by visiting http://www.lafayettecf.org.