ART

The Saint Mary's College William Keith (1838 -1911) Collection will welcome visitors into the expanded galleries of the new Museum of Art. Among never before seen recent acquisitions and newly restored paintings are magnificent early views of the Columbia River Valley, Pacific Northwest, Mt. Tamalpais and Russian River. The Hearst Art Gallery is open from Wednesdays through Sundays, 11am-4:30pm. Admission is $4 for adults; free for groups, K-12th graders. For more information, please call (925) 631-4379.

“Textures, Layers and Lines” is a small group show featuring the works of four artists: Dalia Alekna, pastel artist and jewelry maker; Paula Boas, abstract painter; Linda Yoshizawa, printmaker; and potter Martha Kean. The show uses process and imagery to suggest a history or story beyond just a beautiful piece of art. The show is open through October 29.

The exhibit at the Orinda Library art gallery for November will feature the following artists: Kim Wong, painting; Terry Riggins, Photos; Thomas Tanneyhill, Block prints.

“Oh,Wow! Watercolors” by Moraga artist George Ehrenhaft will grace the Moraga Library’s art corner throughout November. Fully half of Ehrenhaft’s fresh landscapes lovingly portray sites familiar to Lamorinda residents: the trail to Valle Vista, the Lafayette Reservoir, Briones Regional Park, an EBMUD barn on watershed property. Open during library hours. For details, call 376-6852.

MUSIC

Saint Mary's Music Recital Series. Enjoy listening to students sing opera arias, perform piano sonatas and play Baroque trios and other chamber music on Wednesday October 26, 1pm. Where: Soda Center, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Admission: Free.

In the midst of a three week west coast tour, Seattle area Songstress Carolyn Cruso makes a stop in Moraga this week to play a House Concert at the home of Anasuya Krishnaswamy, on Saturday, Oct 29 at 7pm. Cruso weaves a web with her transcendent Celtic trance dulcimer and energetic Americana folk songs. $10-20 suggested donation. Email anu_krishnaswamy@yahoo.com to reserve and for directions. www.carolyncruso.com.

A Grand Night of Opera – classic music from the operatic repertoire, old and new – in concert at Hertz Hall on the UC Berkeley campus, on Saturday, November 12, 8pm. The program will include selections from Carmen, Turandot, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Der Rosenkavalier, Il Trovatore as well as other operatic surprises. Tickets are $20 for general admission and may be purchased at the door or in advance at (510) 642-3880. For more information go to the U.C. Alumni Chorus website: http://www.ucac.net.

SMC Jazz Band: Thursday November 17 at 8pm and Friday, November 18 at 5pm. Up-tempo numbers, tender ballads, blues, swing and salsa - they all create the energy of the jazz band concert experience. John Maltester, recently inducted into the California Alliance for Jazz Hall of Fame, directs the ensemble. Where: Soda Center, Saint Mary's College, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Admission: $5 SMC Community, $10 General Admission, $8 Seniors and non-SMC Students.

Cellist Eric Sung, heard by millions in movie theaters around the world, joins the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme. If you’ve seen Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, or Inside Man, you’ve already heard the sound of his rare 200-year-old cello. Also on the program: prime selections from Bizet’s voluptuous Carmen, including the unforgettable classic, “Les Toreadors.” Sunday, 11/20, 2pm Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, Tickets: $10 - $30 at the door, by phone ((925) 943-SHOW), or online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org.

THEATER

DVC Drama presents Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, directed by Nicole Hess-Diestler, Oct 14th - Nov 6th; Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2:30pm; Diablo Valley College Performing Arts Center. Order tickets at (925) 687-4445 or www.dvcdrama.net.

California Independent Film Festival is presenting "Mighty Macs" at the Rheem Theatre thru Nov 3rd. This is a heart-warming true story of a small, unknown school’s improbable journey in 1972 to win the first national women’s collegiate basketball championship. Tickets are $10 for general admission; and $8 for matinee admission, students and seniors.

Miramonte High School’s drama department is presenting two contemporary dramatic plays this fall. Marvin’s Room, by Scott McPherson, and Rabbit Hole, by David Lindsay-Abaire, will be performed in November. Both plays focus on family relationships as they cope with sudden tragedy. The productions will be at the Miramonte Theater at Miramonte High School on 750 Moraga Way, Orinda. Tickets will be available for purchase on the MHS webstore, www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/miramonte. Please call the school office at (925) 280-3930 with any questions.

June in a Box
Saint Mary’s College Performing Arts Department presents June in a Box, a new work by nationally acclaimed Latino playwright Octavio Solis. In June in a Box, an old corrido comes to life, recounting the sensational 1934 kidnapping of June Robles, child of a wealthy immigrant family from Tucson. June in a Box is a magical poem to innocence, to memory, and the force that heals life's scars. Saint Mary’s Performing Arts has one of the region’s outstanding theatre programs, and last year won 5 regional and 6 national awards from the Kennedy Center/ American College Theatre Festival.
Where: LeFevre Theatre, Saint Mary's College, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga
When: Nov. 10, 11, 12, & 18 at 8pm. Sunday, Nov 20 at 2pm. Meet Octavio Solis at 7pm Friday, Nov. 11 before the show. Admission: General: $15, Seniors and Non-SMC Students: $12. Tickets available by phone ((925) 631-4670) or at the door.

Red Carpet World Premiere of "Hercules Saves Christmas," November 17 at the Orinda Theatre. Red Carpet arrivals start at 6:30pm. Movie and Q & A at 7pm. Celebrities scheduled to attend include Hercules Shorty Rossi (Pit Boss), Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time), Richard Van Vleet (All My Children), Kathy Garver (Family Affair), Ashley Brooks (Pit Boss), Danny Arroyo (Lethal Weapon), Maggie VandenBerghe (Aliens in the Attic), and Anthony Robinson (Hercules Saves Christmas).
Don’t miss this Hollywood event in Orinda! Trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leqdNPmfYdU, Articles:
http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Animal-Planet-Movie-Hercules-Saves-Christmas-to-Premiere-20111020. bunch of photos available.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

SMC's Distinguished Speaker Series presents an internationally-recognized authority on brain-compatible teaching strategies, Dr. Marcia Tate, Saturday, October 29, 8:30am-1pm. Soda Activity Center, Saint Mary’s College; $60 - continental breakfast and lunch included. Open to the public. For information and registration: Lydia Wiley, (925) 631-8124 or lwiley@stmarys-ca.edu. Register online at: www.stmarys-ca.edu/saturdayseminars.

Iran and the Arab Spring. Dariush Zahedi, Author, Lecturer in Iranian and Turkish Affairs. Thursday October 27. East Bay Chapter of the World Affairs Council. Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd Lafayette. Registration & Social: 6:30pm; Program: 7pm. Council Members & EB Council of USF: $8 Non-members: $10; Students: Free; for reservations: www.WorldAffairs.org or call (415) 293-4600.

KIDS & PARENTS

Troop 246 is hosting their 2011 Open House for perspective Boy Scouts. Boys in 5th grade or older and their parents are welcome to attend our ice cream party Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7:30-8:30pm at the Scout Hut on Moraga Way. Learn all about Troop 246 and what makes us special. Have fun meeting our scouts, join in scout activities, and enjoy some ice cream. Contact information: Leslie Green, wessnjoe@netscape.net, 247-0846.

Lamorinda Moms 14th Annual Preschool Fair, Thursday, November 3, 6:30-8:30pm at Oakwood Athletic Club, 4000 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette. Representatives from more than 35 Lamorinda preschools will be available to discuss their programs and answer questions. Children are welcome! This free event is open to Lamorinda Moms members and the general community.

HALLOWEEN

Dark Dreams Haunted house returns to the Rheem Theater raising money for the California Independent Film Festival. Creepy movie sets and live monsters leave you shaking. Open 4-6pm on Halloween with lights on and no monsters for curious little kids. October 28-31, 7-11pm and 'til midnight on Halloween. $8 admission (sold at door), www.Hauntworld.com. See article page B9.

Lafayette Parks and Rec Haunted House Friday, Oct. 28th & Sunday, Oct. 30.

Moraga Farmers’ Market Halloween Harvest Celebration is Sunday, October 30, 9am-1pm. Come to the Kid’s Costume Contest at 10am with prizes for scariest, funniest, best Farmers’ Market theme, most creative, and best overall costume. Children decorate their own pumpkin, guess the weight of the giant pumpkin, and play the Pumpkin Pitch game. The autumn harvest features apples, grapes, tomatoes, flowers and more direct from California growers and producers. (800) 806-3276 or CAFarmersMkts.com.

Calling all ghosts, witches & goblins. Trick or Treat on Halloween, Monday, October 31, 3-5pm at Moraga's Rheem Center on the corner of Rheem Blvd. and Moraga Rd. Costumed children must be accompanied by an adult.

Contra Costa Wind Symphony, with Maestro Duane Carroll, will conduct a Halloween-themed concert for ghosts, goblins, and ghouls of all ages, including selections from popular movies and “spooktacular” surprises. 3pm, Oct. 29. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Tickets $6-$22. Children age 12 and under in costume admitted free. (925) 943-7469, www.lesherartscenter.org., www.CCWindSymphony.org.

Halloween Skit in Moraga
The folks at 12 Lynwood Drive (just off of Corliss) in Moraga will be performing their annual Halloween skit, now 15 years running, on October 31st. The theme for this year is Terrors in the Twighlight. Stop by to get some candy and enjoy the brief show, which will be repeated regularly between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

OTHER

CCSWA is offering a free home composting workshop on October 29, 1-2:30pm, at
Mt. Diablo Nursery, 3295 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayatte. Contact CCSWA at (925) 906-1801 x109.

19th Annual Lafayette Reservoir Run, October 30. Over 2,500 participants compete in a 10K, 5K or 2 mile race through the heart of downtown Lafayette, around the reservoir and back. Sprinters, walkers, the “stroller brigade” and many of Lafayette’s top four-legged residents. Race times begin at 8am and “day of” registration begins at 6:30am. Pre-registration can be done by visiting the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce website, www.lafayettechamber.org. or www.active.com. See article.

Senior Helpline Services, a Lafayette based non-profit agency, serves seniors with their Rides for Seniors and Reassurance Phone Friends programs. This year SHS is holding a fundraising raffle. Tickets are $25.00 each for a chance in the drawing that will be held on 11/1/11. Five tickets will be drawn and the lucky winners will have the choice of a $1000 gas card or $1000 in cash. Please help support SHS programs and give yourself a shot at winning $1000. You may either contact SHS directly at (925)284-6699 or Jennifer Williams with BrightStar at (925)785-0734 to purchase your ticket(s).

Toe-tapping music, twirling dancers, and the friendly buzz of conversation keep the atmosphere lively at the weekly Dance Social, Wednesdays 12:30-2:50 pm at Lafayette Community Center. The longtime event is held in the big, bright Live Oak Room. There’s plenty of space for a sizable group to swirl, twirl, and socialize. The Dance Social specializes in ballroom, but any style of dance adds to the fun. Professional dance lessons the first Wednesday of the month. The Lafayette Community Center is at 500 St. Mary’s Road. A map and additional details are posted at: sites.google.com/site/lafayetteteadance. The event is $2 for members of Lafayette Senior Center, and $4 for non-members. It’s $10 yearly to join the Center, and enjoy the complete range of activities.

BOOK SALE - Friends of the Orinda Library - Thurs. Nov. 3, 10am-1pm in the Book Shop and Sorting Room (Book Shop is open until 6 p.m.) Sale will include book ideas for holiday giving. Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda (925) 254-1358.

Revolutionizing ‘The Plate.’ A Nutrition Workshop for the Whole Family, Saturday November 5, 11am at the Moraga Library. This year the USDA replaced the Food Pyramid with the new nutrition model ‘The Plate.’ Join Karen Boateng, Teacher and Certified Nutritionist, as she takes us through the fascinating new research in nutrition in a kid-friendly way. Tips on how to get picky kids to eat more whole grains, fruits & veggies, healthy organic food samples and recipe ideas, school lunch ideas, and more.

Lafayette Juniors'Annual Rummage Sale, Saturday, November 5, 7am-1pm at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church. Find great deals on household items, clothing, decor, baby and kids' clothes, and loads of toys and gear for the whole family! Proceeds benefit local charities. For more information, visit lafayettejuniors.org.

The Gardens at Heather Farm Adult Education program: Introduction to Bird Songs and Sounds, Saturday, November 5, 9-11am. This fun class for all ages will introduce you to bird songs and calls to help you identify a variety of our wild friends. $20 GHF Members/$25 non-members. Call (925) 947-1678 or www.gardenshf.org to register.

Saturday, November 5, at 7pm, Oikocredit USA Executive Director Terry Provance will present Oikocredit’s model of economic empowerment for the world’s poor through socially responsible investing at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. Provance’s presentation will include personal stories from the beneficiaries of Oikocredit’s investments and a discussion of social impact investing as a means to fight poverty. Open to all. Attendees are asked to bring a bottle of wine and/or small dish to share with the community. For more information please call (925) 283-3722 or visit www.oslc.net.

Special Event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Sunday November 6, 8:30am, Lafayette Moraga Trail; Stanley Middle School to Olympic Blvd. and return. Come participate in a Walkathon to benefit St. Jude and join us in reaching our goal of $10,000.00 to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital fight pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases. You can register on line at St.Jude.org/special events.com or contact Andria at StJudewalkathon@yahoo.com.

Moraga Homeowners Workshop; Energy Savings and Rebates. Join Pacific Gas and Electric, and associated companies for an evening workshop to learn how a home energy upgrades can help to lower utility bills, protect the environment by saving energy and improve home comfort. Thursday, November 10, Moraga Public Library, Community Room, 1500 St. Mary's Road, Moraga. Doors open at 6pm, event at 6:30pm. Sponsored by Sustainable Moraga.

Saint Mary's College Guild's Annual Harvest Luncheon and Faire will take place on Thursday, November 10th, 10am-3pm in the Soda Center. It's a great time to browse and purchase true treasures at nominal prices. A Traditional Thanksgiving Menu will be served on Thursday at noon. $25 per person. Mail your check to Dolores McConigle, 828 Crossbrook Cir., Moraga, CA 94556 by Nov. 7. A preview of the "treasures" on Wed, Nov. 9, 4-7pm. Questions? Call Dolores at (925) 376-4339.

Willow Spring Church in Moraga will host a fundraiser concert for an organization called "A New Day For Children" on Nov 11, 7pm. A New Day provides a safe place for children ages 10 - 18 who have been rescued from Human Trafficking/sexual slavery in the Bay Area. Willow Spring Church is located at 1689 School Street in Moraga. For more info: (925) 631-1894 or go to www.willowspringchurch.org.

Come and experience the Many Faces of Ovarian Cancer, an event focusing on one of the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers in women. Join an engaging panel of medical experts, as they offer insight into the latest information on treatment options, family history, early detection, and explore the unique needs and issues of ovarian cancer survivors. Cancer specific nutrition will be discussed with an emphasis on holiday cooking. November 15, 6-8pm. Lafayette Library and Learning Center - Art and Science Room. No charge, refreshments and healthy snacks will be served. To register, please call (925) 677-5041. Co-sponsored by Clocks Etc, Oakwood Athletic Club and Diablo Valley Oncology.

CLUBS

Sons In Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets the first Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center 1700 School St. Moraga. Social hour 11 am, lunch 12 pm. On November 2, the after-lunch speaker will be Dick Callahan, a popular host and speaker at athletic conferences and events. He has been the voice of basketball at Saint Mary's College, the Golden State Warriors, the Oakland Athletics and the University of California Golden Bears. For membership information, call Larry at (925) 631-9528.

The Montelindo Garden Club Speaker for November, 2011: On Friday, November 18, Ria Sim, who is the founder of Twigs Studio and owner of Ria Sim Designs in Danville, will speak on planning events that coordinate floral decorations which are planned down to the last leaf giving focused attention to each project from food, table linens and to party favors.
The lecture is at 10:30am. A plant sale and refreshments are at 9am. The event is free and the public is cordially invited to attend. The event is held at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda.