The Hearst Art Gallery at Saint Mary’s College presents Gifted Hands: the Fine Art of Craft, featuring 90 objects by 15 major contemporary Bay Area artists, opening Sunday, Oct. 10. On view are both functional and decorative objects: furniture, wearable art, jewelry, pottery, quilts, turned wooden bowls, and fabric and metal sculpture. Opening events on Oct 10: panel discussion, 4pm; reception with the artists, 5 - 6pm, and a demonstration with Bay Area ceramic sculptor Erin McGuiness will also follow the panel discussion. Admission is free to panel discussion and reception.

Moraga Art Gallery is presenting a new show, “Favorites," featuring local artists showing watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, ceramics, photography, mixed media, jewelry and glass designs. The show runs through October 23 and features the work of John Diestler and fused glassworks by Nancy Slack. The Moraga Art Gallery is located at 570 Center St in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center next to CVS Drugs. Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 12-5pm. Phone: (925) 376-5407.

The Orinda Community Foundation in conjunction with the City of Orinda will host an art show and reception to celebrate the City’s 25th anniversary. The event will be held on Saturday, October 2 from 4-7pm at the Orinda Library.

15th Annual Open Studios Tour on October 16 and 17. During this free showcase for the arts, you can visit over 30 artists in 15 venues who open their homes and studios from 11am-4pm. Maps are available at the Moraga Art Gallery (570 Center St.,Moraga) or online at www.laa4art.org/openstudios.html. A kick-off reception will be held on Friday, October 15 from 6-8pm at the Moraga Gallery.

The Lafayette Gallery's latest show, "Southwest Inspired"
­runs from October 12- October 30. The public is invited to a Southwest-themed reception on Friday, October 22 from 6:30-8:30 pm at 50 Lafayette Circle in downtown Lafayette. Gallery artists show work in many mediums including printmaking, oil and acrylic paintings, mixed media works, jewelry, wood, ceramics, photography and pastel. Hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 11am-5pm. Phone: (925) 284-2788.

Candlelight Cabaret: An evening of vocal jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. Friday, October 8th, 7:30-10pm in the Fellowship Hall, Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda Come and enjoy wine, appetizers, great music, and the company of friends! Bring guests! Ticket price: $30, benefiting Orinda Community Church.

Power of Ten, WomenSing’s season kick-off salon concert features outstanding entertainment, excellent food and wine, and an exciting auction. Sunday, Oct. 10, 4pm, Lafayette Veterans’ Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Tickets $45. Reservations: (925) 974-9169.

Under the direction of David Morales, the 100-voice Cantare Chorale begins its 24th season with I GOT RHYTHM, a concert for the entire family featuring Broadway tunes, Gershwin favorites, spirituals, etc. An après-concert ice cream social will cap off the event. Sunday, October 17th, 4:30 pm at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. Tickets: $10 youth, $25 general, $50 per family. (510) 836-0789. For more info and tickets: www.cantareconvivo.org.

Town Hall Theatre’s 2010-2011 Main Stage season opens October 2 with the exciting and frightening Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the Robert Lewis Stevenson novella. This unusual adaptation brings all of the tension and thrills of the legendary story with a cast of only six actors, each playing multiple characters that create foggy Victorian London in the heart of Lafayette through Halloween. For exact times, more information and to buy tickets contact Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925) 283-1557, or purchase online at www.TownHallTheatre.com. (See article)

Commonwealth Club: The Club in Lafayette presents "Uncovering the Secret Washington Family-Fundamentalism in American Politics" with author Jeff Sharlet on Wednesday, October 13 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. 5:30pm check-in; 6:30pm program; 7:30pm book signing. $12 members, $22 non-members, $7 students (with valid ID). For tickets go to commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705.

Lois Requist, author of RVing Solo Across America . . . without a cat, dog, man, or gun, will read from her book and sign copies at Orinda Books, on Saturday, October 9th, at 1pm The public is invited.

Phyllis Theroux, essayist, columnist, teacher and critically acclaimed author of California and Other States of Grace introduces her newest book, The Journal Keeper: a memoir. She reminds us that there is no such thing as an ordinary moment as she shares the art of journaling. Tuesday, October 5, 7:30pm, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, (925) 283-3872.

Musuem of Children's Art calendar for October: MOCHA is located at 538 9th Street, Oakland, (510) 465-8770. www.mocha.org.

Saturday, Oct 3: Saturday Stories, "How Do You Know?"
by Deborah Trotter, 1-2pm, $8 per child. Hear Moraga author Deborah Trotter share the ways Polly learns that things are still there even though the fog hides them. Then, make your own foggy landscape where all sorts of items can be hidden in the mist.
Saturday, October 23: Jack-O’-lantern Carving and Decorating, 1-4pm, $8 per child. Halloween decoration using paints, spoons, and simple carving knives. Bring your own hefty squash or try one of our samplers.
Saturday, October 30: Create a Costume, 1-4pm, $8 per child

Amigos de las Americas, (AMIGOS) is an international non-profit organization that provides leadership and community service opportunities for high school students. AMIGOS Volunteers immerse themselves, during their summer, in the lives of their host communities and truly experience collaborative development work. AMIGOS will have an informational meeting for students and parents on Wed., October 6th at Stanley Middle School at 7:30pm. For more info visit www.eastbayamigos.org.

Parent Education: Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, Tuesday, October 5, 7-9pm, Acalanes High School Theater, 1200 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette. With humor and humility, using real-life scenarios and poignant cases, Dr. Ginsburg gives parents concrete tools and teaches effective communication approaches needed to raise resilient children. Tickets required: $10 for 1 and $15 for 2. Send a check to: Roxy Klein, 4170 Happy Valley Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549. Make out to HVPC (notation Ginsberg).

Sleepy Hollow Halloween Fall Carnival, Saturday, October 30th, 10am - 3pm, 20 Washington Lane, Orinda. Featuring a Magical Harry Potter Haunted House; a wild and wacky cakewalk; giant slide and jumper, a petting zoo with miniature horses, ducks, geese, pigs, sheep; a rock wall & obstacle course, delicious food from Top Dog, Jamba Juice & Wood Fired Pizza, and homemade treats.

Students and their families are invited to Orinda Academy’s Open House on Saturday, October 30 from 1-4pm. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet faculty, staff and students, as well as learn about the school’s extracurricular offerings including arts, sports, travel and technology. Orinda Academy is located at 19 Altarinda Road in Orinda, California. For more information, call Orinda Academy at (925) 254-7553, or visit www.orindaacademy.org.

Lafayette's first Outdoor Movie Event will screen Pixar’s Monster’s, Inc. on Saturday, October 30 at 7pm at the Lafayette Plaza (corner of Mount Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Road). The movie will be free of charge. All are welcome to attend! Residents are encouraged to pack a picnic, grab a blanket or two, invite the family and friends, and come enjoy this family-friendly movie, as a great way to celebrate Halloween Eve. Popcorn and hot chocolate will be available. Come in costume! Raffle tickets will be available for purchase with prizes awarded that evening. Please note that the screening will be cancelled in the event of rain.

Lamorinda Dogs is sponsoring FALL AFTER FOUR – dinner with your dog at Rancho Laguna Park on Saturday, October 2nd from 4:00 pm till dusk. There will be food, fun, raffles and an auction. Bring your dog and support off-leash activities at our local parks with a $50.00 or more, tax-deductible individual membership to Lamorinda Dogs. Your donation will help fund park improvements for off leash use areas. To pre-register or for more information please visit www.lamorindadogs.org, e-mail webmaster@lamorindadogs.org. or call (925) 594-1907.

Moo. Moo. Bow.Wow. Meow. In other words, please join the Orinda Community Church on Saturday, October 2 at 3 p.m. for our annual Blessing of the Animals Service. All animals are welcome, even the human kind. Blossom Courtyard at Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way. This is a casual, family friendly service. All are welcome. For more details, visit www.orindachurch.org.

Building Jewish Bridges: Thursdays, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 7:30-9:30pm. Free, pre-registration required. Explore Judaism's relevance in today's world. Learn about Jewish perspectives on spirituality, ethics, and community. These classes are designed for all who are interested in learning more about Judaism whether they are born Jewish or not. Location: Netivot Shalom, University Ave, Berkeley. Website: www.buildingjewishbridges.org. Email: dawn@buildingjewishbridges.org.

The First Annual Railroadiana, Mining & Western Artifacts Show & Sale Event, Sat., October 9th from 9am-3pm with a $5.00 admission. Early entry during the show's dealer set-up is available on Friday, October 8th from 4-8pm with a $20.00 admission. Walnut Creek Elk's Lodge, Creekside Hall, 1475 Creekside Dr. Walnut Creek. For more information, please contact: Jack Lucas at (925) 260-0287.

OKTOBERFEST! Sunday, October 10, 2-6pm at the Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga. This family event, sponsored by the Hacienda Foundation of Moraga and the Town of Moraga, will feature a live polka band, authentic German food and beverages, jumpy houses, pumpkin painting and chalk drawing. For more details see ww.oktoberfestmoraga.com. Free Parking and Shuttle will be available in Rheem Shopping Center along Moraga Rd. (See article)

On Tuesday, Oct. 19th the Lamorinda Branch of AAUW will sponsor a meeting at the Serbian Orthodox Church, l700 School St., Moraga starting at 9:30 a.m. to inform ourselves and the public on the issues raised by the nine initiatives on the ballot. Members and guests will be randomly seated at round tables, each of which is provided with materials from the League of Women Voters and other non-partisan sources concerning a single ballot measure. At the end of the discussions each table will report its observations and viewpoints to the entire group. General materials on all of the ballot measures will also be available. This meeting is free and open to the public.

Free Small Business Workshop at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center: Optimizing LinkedIn for Local Business Networking, Weds, Oct 20, 8am. Presenter: Robin S. Fox, Social Media Coach, www.inboundmarketingtraining.com. Free, but reservations recommended. Email your reservation today: workshops@lafayettechamber.org. Download flyer: http://bit.ly/small_business_workshops.

Las Trampas, Inc.’s annual "Walk n' Roll" will take place on Sat. October 23 from 8:30am-12noon. This family friendly event is a 1mile or 5K walk/roll or run on the beautiful Lafayette-Moraga Trail. Fee is $25 per person and includes: t-shirt, gift, refreshments and live entertainment. Register at www.active.com. For more information visit www.lastrampas.org.

Moraga Movers will gather at St. Mary's Soda Center on October 11, with social hour at 5 pm and dinner at 6pm, followed by the monthly speaker. Moraga Movers is an active organization of over 400 local citizens aged 55 and older, and are happy to have community members join in their activities. Please call (925) 376-6622 to make reservations at $15 per person or for more information.

The Lafayette Reservoir Run will take place on Sunday, October 31. This race is a “family affair”, involving kids, parents, grandparents, and hundreds of serious runners from throughout the Bay Area. 2200-2500 participants compete in a 10k, 5k or 2 mile race through the heart of the downtown, around the reservoir and back. Sprinters, walkers, the “stroller brigade” and many of Lafayette’s top four-legged residents share the streets on that festive Sunday morning.
For more info or to register:
phone (925) 284-7404, email info@lafayettechamber.org, web www.lafayettechamber.org.

The Lafayette Garden Club is happy to announce that grant applications are currently being accepted for funds generated by the 2010 Gardens for Gardeners Tour. Grant applications should be consistent with the club’s objectives: strive to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to encourage home and community beautification, to improve the knowledge of horticulture and to encourage civic planting and conservation programs. Approximately $8,000 will be available for distribution. For more information or a grant application please contact: Janet Tittiger: (925) 284-2380 or janet.t@comcast.net.