LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Calendar | Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda Event Listings

The Moraga Art Gallery’s new show, “Divine Inspiration,” includes paintings of Saint Mary’s College by resident artist Barbara Hudler Cella, and stone and glass crochet beadwork by guest artist Mona Bourell. The show, which runs through June 1, will include works by the gallery’s 14 resident artists and several guest artists. The gallery is located in the Rheem Shopping Center at 522 Center Street, Moraga. For more info, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

A free reception with hors d’oeuvres, adult beverages and live music, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2 at BMW Concord, 1867 Market Street, Concord to honor 12 Artists from Lafayette Gallery featured at the BMW-Concord dealer showroom. Join them and view the artworks on display. Titled “Road Show,” the paintings, photographs, collages and ceramic wall hangings were all created by local artists from the Lafayette Gallery. The art will not only be hanging on the walls, it will include jewelry and ceramics, prints and paintings, displayed in and around the latest models from BMW. For more info, call (888) 707-2860, or visit bmwconcord.com.

New Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art Exhibitions. Building a Collection: Selections and New Acquisitions, May 5 – July 14, includes Western landscape paintings by Albert Bierstadt, Armin Hansen, George Inness, William Keith, Lorenzo Latimer and others; European paintings, statuary, and works on paper by Honoré Daumier, Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Goya, and others; works of modern and contemporary artists; Russian icons and ethnographic objects around the world. Marc Chagall: Stories of the Bible, May 5 – July 7, features 16 etchings from one of his greatest bodies of work: the Bible series from the 1930s. SMC Senior Art Majors Thesis Exhibition, May 5 – May 25. There will be an opening day talk by museum director Carrie Brewster from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Admission: $5 adults, K-12 free. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For info, call (925) 631-3379 or visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/saint-marys-college-museum-of-art.

WCSA Lafayette Songwriters’ Competition. Come join the Lauras for the inaugural Lafayette WCSA Songwriters’ Competition! You do not have to be a songwriter to attend this event. The meetings are at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at 81 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Cost: $5. For more info, contact Laura Zucker by email at zuckers@aol.com or visit

The Contra Costa Performing Arts Society will perform a free concert at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 26 at the Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. The concert opens with Henry Martin's sonata for clarinet and piano, followed by Debussy's Images 1 for solo piano. The program concludes with Poulenc's Flute Sonata for flute and piano. For more info, visit www.ccpas.org.

Harps Etc. presents a Harp Festival from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, May 3-5 at Harps Etc., 1601 N. Main Street, Suite 106, Walnut Creek. Carlos Reyes, Paraguayan harp, Meredith Clark, classical, Bindi Society and more. Cost: $30 and up. For more info, visit www.HarpsEtc.com or call (925) 937-4277 or email info@HarpsEtc.com.

Join the Contra Costa Wind Symphony at 8 p.m. Friday, May 3 at the Lesher Center for the Arts for a magical evening as it performs the legendary music of jazz pianist Dave Brubeck; the brass sound stylings of Brazzissimo, the Bay Area’s No. 1 brass ensemble; and “Casey at the Bat,” narrated by Dick Callahan, announcer for the Oakland A’s. Tickets: $25 adult; $18 senior; $10 child/youth. Available at www.lesherartscenter.org or by phone, (925) 943-7463.

Musicians representing all seven sections of The Performing Arts Society will play over 20 compositions for voice and/or instrument to honor its founder, Rosamond Davis at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek. The music spans Baroque to Contemporary and includes known and loved composers from each. Free. For details, visit www.ccpas.org.

The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra will be and will feature soulful saxophonist Dale Wolford performing Glazunov’s “Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Also on the “French Connection” program are Debussy’s “La Boite a Joujoux” and Ravel‘s “Le Tombeau du Couperin.” Tickets: $10-$30 at the door, by phone (925) 943-SHOW) or online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org.

Support the students of Miramonte High School in their endeavor to support "Free the Children" by coming to watch the spring Performers for Progress performance – a high school student-run variety show – at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 and Saturday, April 27 at the Miramonte High School Theater. Tickets: $6 students; $12 adults. Available at the box office. (See article page A10)

The Acalanes High School DramaDons theater group presents The Arabian Nights May 1-4 at the Acalanes Performance Arts Little Theater, 1200 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lafayette. A favorite for all ages. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $10 general, $7 students. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ahsperformingarts.org or at the door. All proceeds benefit the Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters - Drama Discipline.

Diablo Ballet concludes its 2012-13 season at 8 p.m. Friday, May 3 and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the Shadelands Arts Center Auditorium, 111 N Wiget Ln., Walnut Creek, with the Company's popular Inside the Dancer's Studio series, featuring George Balanchine’s legendary Stars and Stripes Pas de Deux. Tickets: $29 - $38. For more info, visit www.DiabloBallet.org or call (925) 943-1775

Part of Playwrights’ Theatre series in the Old Barn at Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville Sunday, May 5. The Cherry Orchard is an important example of how Chekhov and other European dramatists influenced the writings of Eugene O’Neill. Presented by Eugene O’Neill Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service. Tickets: $25. For more info, visit www.eugeneoneill.org or call (925) 820-1818.

Company C Contemporary Ballet presents its innovative spring program Thursday, May 9 at 8 p.m.; Friday, May 10 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 11 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, May 12 at 1 p.m. at Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Cost: $23-$45. For more info, visit www.companycballet.org or call (925) 943-7469.

“The Lady From The Sea,” a staged reading of Henrik Ibsen’s play of romance and self-realization at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, part of Playwrights’ Theatre series in the Old Barn at Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville. The play is an important example of how Ibsen and other European dramatists influenced the writings of Eugene O’Neill. Presented by Eugene O’Neill Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service. Tickets: $25. For info, visit www.eugeneoneill.org or call (925) 820-1818.

Town Hall Theatre closes out its 2012-2013 Season with William Shakespeare's “Measure for Measure.” Set in a fictionalized Vienna, the local government instates laws to control a populace that it feels has fallen into moral decay. The production will run May 25 - June 15, with previews on May 23 & 24. It is rated PG for some suggestive moments. Contact Town Hall Theatre Box Office for tickets at (925) 283-1557, or purchase online at www.TownHallTheatre.com.

Young Adult author Yvonne Prinz will discuss two of her books including “All You Get is Me” and “The Vinyl Princess” at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 25 in the Arts & Science Discovery Room at the Lafayette Library.

Beyond nuclear power in Californian: a presentation and discussion with Jerald Brown, Ph.D at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10 at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, Owl Room, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek; a potluck dinner proceeds at 6 p.m. Dr. Brown will make a presentation on the World Business Academy's Safe Energy Project with the goal of replacing the San Onofre and Diablo Canyon nuclear power plants with green energy projects, thereby reducing the risks of cancer for those living near the reactors. Suggested Donation: $20 and dish to share if attending potluck. No one turned away for lack of funds. For more info call (925) 933-7850.

Orinda’s own Cinda Crabbe MacKinnon will read and discuss her new novel “A Place in the World” at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda. For more info, call (925) 254-7606, email orindabooks@thegrid.net or visit www.orindabooks.com.

Celebrate the publication of “Brenda Corrigan Went Downtown” with local writer Donna Kaulkin at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 19 at Orinda Books, 276 Village Square. Champagne and Nibbles will be available along with the reading and signing. For more info, visit BrendaCorriganWentDowntown.com

The 8th Annual Lamorinda Idol auditions are coming! Created and sponsored by the Orinda Arts Council, Lamorinda Idol is a singing competition open to kids K-12th grade as of spring 2013, who either attend school or reside in Orinda, Moraga and Lafayette. Entries may be made by soloists or groups. Auditions will be held May 16 - 18, when finalists and runners-up will be selected by a panel of three judges. Registration for auditions will be from April 1 - 30 at www.orindaartscouncil.org. Finalists will perform at Orinda Theatre Sunday, Sept. 8. Category winners will receive cash prizes, the Audience Award winner will receive a special prize and all finalists will receive gift certificates.

SEED's (Special Education Enrichment Development Foundation) annual fundraiser is almost here! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and raise money to help our kids from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 3 at the Walker Residence at 910 Reliez Station Rd., Lafayette. Tickets: $25 (includes delicious Mexican favorites such as: made to order tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, dessert from Doodle Cakes and unlimited margaritas, sangria, beer and soda). Purchase tickets in advance at SEED's auction website: seedauction2013.weebly.com.

Incoming kindergarten-age children and their parent(s) can come to enjoy a casual conversation with school administrators and staff, discussing our kindergarten program and common topics including kindergarten readiness, emotional maturity, creating smooth transitions and more at St. Perpetua's Taste of Kindergarten from 9 to 10 a.m. May 3. To register for this event, visit stpsparenteducation.eventbrite.com.

7th Annual Moraga Community Faire will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11 in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center. This annual event is planned and organized by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. The core of this community gathering is its businesses, coming out to meet and greet the public. Other attractions will include a classic car show, wine tasting from our local vineyards, cool music from our schools' bands on our stage, and oodles of activities for the kids.

Make-A-Wish's 4th annual family, dog and stroller-friendly 5K walk will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1 at Saint Mary’s College, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga. Walk day includes food and entertainment, with a focus on wish-granting and wish children! Registration, breakfast and entertainment will be from 8 to 9 a.m.; the walk starts at 9 a.m. and ends about 10 to 11 a.m. with food, entertainment and BYO picnic. For more info, call (415) 982-9474 or visit www.sf.wish.org.

Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church Taize’ service is the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Come for a respite from the holiday rush to refresh your spirit in the candle-lit sanctuary, where the quiet songs, silence, and scripture with no sermon invite you to be still. Child care is provided if there are at least three children and two business days notice. Email Susan Wentworth at childcare@LOPC.org. More questions? Contact Nancy@lopc.org.

Mount Diablo Adult Education (MDAE) has a large selection of excellent woodworking courses for the spring. Hand Tools course teaches how to select, set up, maintain, and use the most necessary hand tools in a workshop. Twelve classes offered from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 12 through June 28. Students may register online at www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/adulted/lifelongeducation.htm or at the Pleasant Hill MDAE office on One Santa Barbara road, Room 210.

Lafayette United Methodist Church will be having a huge rummage sale from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 26-27 on the church campus, 955 Moraga Rd., Lafayette. They will have jewelry, clothes, books, house wares, furniture, toys and much, much more. Come find that special treasure! Questions? Call (925) 284-4765.

Volunteer a few hours from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27 in the Garden Room of the Orinda Community Center to learn about Sudden Oak Death including preventative measures, and how to identify possibly infected trees from UC expert and research scientist Dr. Matteo Garbelotto. Also assist in the survey for infected trees in areas of your choice, collect suspect leaves during times and in areas of your choice. Dr. Garbelotto’s lab will analyze the leaves over the summer and post the results in October on his website. For more info on SOD and results of previous surveys, visit Dr. Garbelotto’s website: www.sodblitz.org.

Chinese Art and Chinese Calligraphy from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 in the Arts & Science Discovery Room at the Lafayette Library. The Contra Costa Chinese School will be at the library to teach the basics of brush handling, brush strokes and ink preparation for Chinese art and for Chinese calligraphy; learn brush strokes and construct Chinese words.

It is that time again. The Lafayette Community Foundation (LCF) is accepting grant applications from local non-profits for its spring grant cycle. LCF invests in programs and projects that promote and enhance the civic, cultural, educational and environmental health of Lafayette and beyond. The deadline to submit a grant for the spring 2013 cycle is April 30. For more info, visit the Lafayette Community Foundation website: www.lafayettecf.com.

Emergency Preparedness for Individuals and Families from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 2. Emphasis will be on earthquake preparation, but the information applies to other emergencies as well. Bring pencil and paper. Materials will be provided. Neighborhood Captains’ Training will be from 7 to 8: 30 p.m. Thursday, May 9. Classes will be held at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Mary’s Rd. in the Elderberry Room (back parking lot). Classes are taught by the Emergency Preparedness Commission. Free. Register at (925) 284-2232. For more info, call the Commission at (925) 299-3220 or email csurges@lovelafayette.org.

A free Bike Commute Workshop will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2 at the Lafayette Public Library & Learning Center, in the Arts & Science Classroom. This one-hour workshop will cover skills, basic gear, and rules of the road. This is a great introductory workshop for people who are new to bicycling or interested in learning how to enjoy safe and comfortable bike commuting. Sign up for the workshop is required. For more information and to sign up, please contact Bart Carr at bart@sustainablelafayette.com.

Area residents who own classic cars are invited to participate in the 5th Annual Moraga Classic Car Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 (as part of the 2013 Moraga Community Faire). The $30 registration fee includes an entry ribbon, lunch for two, a commemorative photo, and a chance for owners to display their restoration work to the public. Prizes will be awarded. The registration deadline is May 1. The car show is sponsored by 5A Rent a Space and CVS Pharmacy. To register, visit www.moragachamber.org/faire or call (925) 247-4629.

The Moraga Barn is excited to announce that its beautiful and historical building is now available for event rentals! The Barn is the home of a new community event called PopIn at the Barn! The PopIn events will be themed, unique and fun events occurring throughout the year. The first PopIn, an open house and market, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4.

Join the National Park Service for a free campfire program Saturday, May 4 at John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) in Martinez. The program begins at 7 p.m. and lasts roughly 1.5 hours. Rangers will lead the group in songs, skits and stories to celebrate the legacy of John Muir, one of the greatest naturalists and conservationists the United States has ever known.

The Hacienda Foundation of Moraga presents the 5th annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at the Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga. The fiesta will feature live Mariachi music, gourmet Mexican food and drinks, available for a nominal charge. Activities for children of all ages include tortilla making, piñatas, and jumpy houses. Free parking will be available at the AAAAA Storage parking lot on Moraga Road. A shuttle van will run between the lot and the Hacienda during the hours of the fiesta. Admission: $5 per adult. Children are free. The Cinco de Mayo fiesta is sponsored by the Hacienda Foundation of Moraga and the Town of Moraga. All proceeds from the fiesta will go to the restoration of the Pavilion area at the Hacienda. For more info, visit www.haciendafoundation.org/events.php.

See what Valley Stitchers and Fiber Arts Guild members did with the challenge to make something related to "Birds of a Feather" at their luncheon beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 6 to at Faith Lutheran Church, 50 Woodsworth Lane, in Pleasant Hill. Cost: $5. For more info, visit www.valleystitchersguild.com or call Sheila at (925) 945-1338.

Californians live in a drought state and water is vital to all aspects of life. Join others for a roundtable discussion "Water: From Crisis to Opportunity" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 at the Lafayette Public Library, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd., Oak Conference Room. Learn about how companies are inventing new technologies, the ideas being created to address these problems, and the opportunity for investors to support these efforts. Free. Refreshments will be served, and reservations required. To RSVP, call Allan Moskowitz (510) 215-6700.

Lafayette Rotary’s Concert at the Res will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11 on the new stage at the Lafayette Reservoir. Come enjoy the sounds of the Big Band of Rossmoor, Stanley Symphonic Band, Acalanes Jazz Ensemble, Bentley Jazz Ensemble and Lamorinda Theatre Academy ‘s Stevie Coyle Strings. Special Guests—Oakland Westlake Middle School Town Hall Troupe. The new stage is located a few hundred yards to the left of the parking lot. The concert is free but food and raffle ticket sales support Lafayette Schools and Rotary projects.

The 6th Annual Campolindo Hall of Fame Dinner takes place Saturday, May 11. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. at Back Forty Texas BBQ in Pleasant Hill. Coach Kevin Macy will be honoring Sean Irving and Pat Galligan from the class of 2004 and Bob Wilson, Coach and Athletic Director at Campolindo High School. Macy will also be honoring the 2012 Team for their outstanding season. This dinner sells out each year so please contact Valerie Durantini at v.durantini@sbcglobal.net or (415) 999-6116 if you are interested in attending.

Contra Costa Kops for Kids will hold its 7th annual Run Walk/Wheelchair Race at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 18 at the Willows Shopping Center, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord. The Run/Walk/Wheelchair Race features 1 mile, 5K and 10K races. There will be wheelchair races held in each category in addition to the run. The event will feature a live band, and proceeds from the race will go to Contra Costa Kops for Kids. To register for the race, please visit www.active.com. For more info, please visit www.contracostakopsforkids.org or call (925) 827-1998.

Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation's Animals on Broadway will be Sunday, May 19 at the Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek. Kick off the event by joining the one-mile fundraising Pet Walk. Pet Walk begins at 10:30 a.m. sharp (registration is from 8:30 to 10 a.m.). After, stay and enjoy an array of booths, mobile adoptions, face painting, a Pet Wellness Fair, Walnut Creek Police K9 Unit demonstrations, live music, and crafts for kids from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info, visit www.arf.net.

Tour Lafayette’s finest eateries at “Taste of Lafayette” from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. Gather at the Plaza Park in downtown Lafayette first to enjoy a glass of wine and appetizers and then stroll down Lafayette’s Restaurant Row on Mt. Diablo Boulevard or take the shuttle bus up and down the boulevard. Twenty-two local restaurants and catering companies will be participating – each stop, a “taste.” Tickets available through the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, 100 Lafayette Circle, Suite 103 via lafayettechamber.org or call (925) 284-7404.

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets the first Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center 1700 School St., Moraga. Social hour at 11 a.m., lunch at noon. The May 1 after-lunch speaker will be Brother Dominic of Saint Mary's College, a very engaging speaker who will discuss the Christian Brothers who, 150 years ago, created Saint Mary's College in San Francisco and its evolution to Moraga. For membership information, call Larry at (925) 631-9528.

Once again, The City of Walnut Creek and The Gardens at Heather Farm are teaming up to present a free workshop, “Discovering a Sense of Place (Part II)” with Patrice Hanlon, GHF garden manager and Susan Handjian from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27 at the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Dr., Walnut Creek. Explore Walnut Creek’s “Creek Walk.” Each session includes activities or walks to explore watersheds, plants, animals and insects that live in our area. Workshops can be taken individually or as a series. Pre-registration required. For info, visit gardenshf.org.

The Ninth Annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5. This free, award-winning tour features 40 Alameda and Contra Costa county gardens that are pesticide-free, conserve water, provide habitat for wildlife, and contain 60 percent or more native plants. This self-drive tour showcases a variety of gardens, from large parcels in the hills to small lots in the flats. Native plant sales and talks are offered at select gardens. Space is limited and registration is required. This tour will fill; register early to ensure a place. Volunteers are needed. Please register or volunteer at www.bringingbackthenatives.net. For more info, contact Kathy@KathyKramerConsulting.net or call (510) 236-9558 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. (See story page D1)