Moraga Commons- free summer concerts- Thursday evenings, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Provided by the Moraga Park Foundation. Thursday, June 4: Rossmoor Big Band Swing & Jazz; .Thursday, June 11: Stone Soup (a local band playing rock & roll).
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Orinda Community Church will host a Jazz Cabaret Evening in its Fellowship Hall on Friday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. People of all ages are invited to this event, which will feature a professional jazz combo together with singers performing standards from the Great American Song Book. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Dancing is optional- but may prove irresistible! This is a fundraiser benefitting O.C.C. Tickets are $10.00. Come and join the fun!
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Lafayette’s annual Jazz Café will be held Friday, June 5, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Stanley Middle School Auditorium. General Admission is available at the door for $8.00 per person, children under 6 are free.
There is a fabulous line-up featuring Stanley Middle School: Jazz Crusaders, Double Take, The Thundering Herd and The Jazz Messengers. The Jazz Café will also be featuring The Acalanes Jazz Ensemble. If that’s not enough, Chef’s Touch will be selling scrumptious food from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
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Jim and Jean Strathdee, internationally honored concert artists, worship, and song leaders, will perform at the Lafayette Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 5. Writers of “I Am the Light of the World” and hundreds of other hymns, songs and anthems, their concert will take place in the church sanctuary at 584 Glenside Drive, Lafayette. There is no admission charge, but attendees may make a donation. Dessert and coffee will be served afterward. Overflow parking is available across the street at Las Trampas Pool. For additional information, call (925) 283-8304.
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Try Lafayette First Community Celebration at Plaza Park on Friday, June 5th from 5pm-8pm. Free BBQ and music by THE BUZZTONES. See article page 1.
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Cal Shakes presents “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare and directed by Jonathan Moscone, May 27–Jun 21. Shakespeare’s passionate tale of young lovers caught in a dangerous and threatening world.
See story to the right. For details see: http://www.calshakes.org
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Town Hall Theatre Company presents the world premiere of the musical comedy, One Night at the Hotel Grand, the latest work by award winning author and actor, Joel Roster May 28 – June 27. Contact the Town Hall Theatre Company Box Office for exact dates and times. Rating – PG. Town Hall Theatre Company, 3535 School Street at Moraga Road in Lafayette. For Tickets call 925-283-1557 or vist www.townhalltheatre.com.
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Diablo Actors’ Ensemble presents Neil Simon’s comedy “The Prisoner of Second Avenue“ June 5 – 27. WHERE: Diablo Actors’ Ensemble Theatre, 1345 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. TICKETS: $10 – 25. PUBLIC INFO: 925-482-5110, www.diabloactors.com.
See press release on next page.
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Orinda Starlight Village Players present Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web” June 5 -June 27, Fridays & Saturdays, at 8:30PM; Sunday, June 14th at 4PM; and Thursday, June 25th at 8PM. No reservations needed. Tickets are always available at the box office adjacent to the theater which opens a half hour before show time. Adult $15, $35 for three plays; senior/student $7.50, $21 for three plays; group rates are available. The Orinda Community Center Outside Amphitheater is located across the street from Rite Aid and the Orinda Post Office at 26 Orinda Way: Telephone (925)254-5530.

The Hearst Art Gallery’s exhibition- Sacred Mountain: Images of Mt. Diablo and Mt. Fuji, on view through July 3. Uncounted artists have been drawn to both of these mountains, sometimes because of their sheer beauty, other times to inspire and energize historical, spiritual or environmental messages. Julie Armistead, guest curator and Hearst Art Gallery Registrar/Collections Manager, has selected approximately 90 works that date from contemporary pieces of both Fuji and Diablo to works from more than 150 years ago. Exhibition hours: Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 am until 4:30 pm.
Admission: $3 adult; children 12 and under free; free parking. Web site: http://gallery.stmarys-ca.edu.
Telephone: 925-631-4379.
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The Moraga Art Gallery presents a new group show “Transparent Emotion” featuring the work of Monet Foster and introducing new members starting June 2 and running through August 15th. There will be an Artists’ reception on Sat. June 6th from 3-5pm. Music to be provided by Carol Alban. Moraga Art Gallery, 570 Center St, Rheem Valley Shopping Center- next to Longs Drugs. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 12-5 pm. 925.376.5407.
www.moragaartgallery.com.
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“Feathers, Fur and Fins,” the new exhibition at the Lafayette Gallery, honors the creatures large and small that enrich our lives. The show is open from June 1 to August 15th. As a special feature during the show, the community is invited to bring in pet photos and related quips to be posted on the gallery’s bulletin board. On Sat. July 11th, an animal caricature artist will be available to draw your beloved pet. On Sat. August 8th, a drawing will take place for bulletin board entrants. Two winners may choose a portrait of their pet as a prize. During the exhibition, a portion of the gallery sales will be donated to the Animal Rescue Foundation. Gallery Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm- 50 Lafayette Circle in downtown Lafayette.
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Martinez Art Gallery’s new show "Red, White and Blue" will open May 30th. This exhibit features the work of 26 artists in a variety of media and will run through July. A reception, 3-6 pm, May 30, will kick off the event. Exhibited work includes water, oil and acrylic paintings; photographs; prints; sculpture, pottery; glass; and textiles. Open: 11 am - 3 pm, Mon and Wed – Fri, as well as 9 am – 1 pm on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Martinez Art Gallery is located at 630 Court St, downtown Martinez.

Phil Simon will be exhibiting his original oil paintings at Fastframe of Lafayette through June 30, 2009. Phil enjoys painting contemporary landscapes and he compares his painting process to being an improvisational jazz musician. He considers his work successful if it aspires toward and approaches music. “If the viewer feels a sense of something musical in the air when looking at one of my pieces, then I think I've done my job.” Fastframe is located at 3571 Mt. Diablo Blvd., next to Postino’s. Call owner Anthony Ruiz at 283-7620 for more information.
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East Bay Women Artists, Art Exhibit at the Orinda Library
"Summer Show" with original paintings, photography and baskets June 2 - June 29. This exhibit is free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible to all. Orinda Library, 24 Orinda Way in Orinda; Hours: Monday – Thursday 10am-8pm; Friday and Saturday 10 am –6pm, Sunday 1-5pm Info: 510/531 1404. EBWA is a 20-year old art group comprised of award-winning artists from Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.
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The first “Art Talks at Knoxx” event will feature artists from the Lafayette Gallery. The ongoing series begins on Wednesday, June 10 from 4:30 – 6:30pm. Featured artists are Shanon Essex, oil painting, Julee Hermann, mixed media collage and reliquaries, Margaret Lucas-Hill, silk painting and Pat Prosek, etchings. Visit the Lafayette Gallery web site to preview their work www.lafayettegallery.net. Meet Gallery artists and listen to them present their history, work and processes. Mingle with other art lovers and enjoy complementary appetizers. Knoxx Restaurant and Bar is located at 3576 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, tel: 925-284-5225.

Free movie night in the Moraga Commons! The Moraga Youth Involvement Committee will show “Madagascar” on May 29th at 8 pm. Refreshments will be sold out of the band shell to fund future MYIC events.
Teen Movie Night! Showing The Goonies Fri, May 29, 7:30pm. Orinda Community Center Auditorium $2 in advance $5 at the door. Bring blankets to sit on! Loard’s Ice Cream & Top Dog. Presented by the City of Orinda Teen Advisory Council. Sponsored by OCCA and the Friends of the Library.
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“The Music Man:” Purchase your tickets now for Lafayette Elementary School's adaptation of the classic Broadway hit, The Music Man. Performance dates and times are as follows: Cast 1: June 3 at 1:00 & 7:00 p.m. Cast 2: June 4 at 1:00 & 7:00 p.m. All performances will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room. Tickets are $5 for teens and adults and $2 for children. The last day to pre-order tickets is Friday, May 29. Pre-ordered tickets will be held at the door. Additional tickets will be sold at the door depending on availability. For tickets email:
leopardspots@lafayettepta.info.
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Costa Rica 2010! Does your 6th grade student like to learn about science in a hands-on setting? Does your student like to river raft, zip line, and ride horses? Does your student like to learn about sea turtles, birds, monkeys, and volcanoes? Then the 2010 Costa Rica trip is for them. Come to a parent informational meeting on Tuesday May 26th at 6pm in room 29 at JM to learn more about this excellent opportunity. Ask your 6th grader for the flyer with information. For more information contact Kim Lockett at klockett@moraga.k12.ca.us
or 377-4249.
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Orinda Idol 2009 Auditions May 29 and 30 at Orinda Intermediate School (80 Ivy Drive, Orinda). Auditions for the High School Solo and Group Categories (K-5 & 6-12) are open to all residents of and/or those attending school in Lamorinda, while the Elementary (K-2 & 3-5) and Middle School Solo Categories are open only to residents of and/or students attending school in Orinda. For reservations (which close May 24), e-mail your name, grade, school, and e-mail address to orindaidol@bluestar.com. Cash prizes for winners. Finals will be held on Sept. 13 at the Orinda Theatre. For more information and audition schedule, visit the OAC Web site at www.orindaartscouncil.org.

Sienna Ranch is hosting a free event-the Sienna Ranch Family Picnic Open House on May 31st, from 11-3. We will have naturalists, pony rides, entertainment, archery demonstrations, art workshops, snow cones and more! For more information, call 925-283-6311 or go to www.siennaranch.net.