ART

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.

Award winning plein air artist Gerry Severson will be featured at Valley Art Gallery with an exhibit of his latest work from May 14 to June 22. A free "Meet the Artist" reception will be held Saturday, May 18 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 1661 Botelho Drive, Ste 110, Walnut Creek.

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, which runs through 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, runs until 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.   

MUSIC

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 www.westcoastsongwriters.org/become-a-member.

The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra will be at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12 and will feature soulful saxophonist Dale Wolford performing Glazunov’s “Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra.” 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.

A free evening concert will feature piano sonatas by Scarlatti and Scriabin and a Khachaturian trio for clarinet, violin and piano at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at the Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. The program concludes with Schoenfield's Cafe Music for violin, cello and piano. For more info, visit www.ccpas.org.

Contra Costa Children’s Chorus presents “Oh, How They Sing!” Saturday, May 18 at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, Lafayette. Family concert featuring all chorus levels at 2:30 p.m. Upper choir levels and graduating seniors at 4:30 p.m. Tickets: $15 general; $10 seniors; $5 students. Email your order to www.childrenschorus.org or phone (925) 945-7101 x 1.

Voices of Musica Sacra presents “Eternal Light,” a concert featuring Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna, with Mark Tuning as music director and John R.S. Walko, accompanist at 8 p.m. Friday, May 17 at the First Presbyterian Church Concord, 1965 Colfax Street and at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19 at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1101 Keaveny Court, Walnut Creek. Tickets: $10-$20. For info, visit www.vmschorus.org or call (925) 228-1181.

A free morning concert opens with Beethoven’s piano sonata No. 15, followed by a quintet by John Steinmetz for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 24 at the Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. The program concludes with Schubert's piano sonata in A Major.

Contra Costa Children’s Chorus: auditions and placement interviews will take place at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 29 for fall semester.  Open to boys and girls ages 7-15.  Our newest class, MetroGnomes, is now accepting children ages 5-6 years old, no interview necessary. The choirs rehearse at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. Contact frontdesk@childrenschorus.org, call (925) 945-7101, or visit www.childrenschorus.org.

Lafayette’s Annual Jazz Café will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 31 in the Stanley Middle School Auditorium. There is a fabulous lineup. Chef’s Touch will be selling scrumptious food from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and there will be dessert, coffee and beverages available for purchase all evening. Drawings will be held to give away prizes. This is the only fundraiser for the Stanley Jazz Department. Tickets: $10 general; $5 elementary students; free for children under 6.

THEATER

DVC Drama presents the David Ives comedy “All in the Timing” through May 19. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, May 12 and May 19 at 2:30 p.m., 321 Golf Club Rd, Pleasant Hill. For tickets, call the Box Office at (925) 687-4445 or for more info, visit www.dvcdrama.net.  Free parking for all performances.

Company C Contemporary Ballet Presents its innovative spring program in Walnut Creek at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 9-11 and at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 12 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.

Classic Film Festival Weekend, Friday through Sunday, May 10-12, with a Red Carpet Arrival at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Hall of Fame Awards Inductee Ceremony at the Rheem Theatre. All proceeds from the Classic Film Festival and Hall of Fame Ceremony benefit the Rheem Theatre Digital Conversion Fund. Thank you for your support to keep film history alive! (See Spring Events page B2)

“The Lady From The Sea,” a staged reading of Henrik Ibsen’s play of romance and self-realization Sunday, May 19 as 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.

Onstage Theatre Company presents 100 Lunches, by Jack Sharkey and Leo W. Sears, directed by Helen Means May 24 through June 8. Performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:15 p.m.; Sunday June 2 at 2:15 p.m. and Thursday June 6 at 7:45 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.  Tickets: $22 general; $17 seniors; and $10 youth to 17. Thursday's performance is $12 everyone except youth. For tickets call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or for more info, visit onstagetheatre.homestead.com.

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.

Lois Ann Flood, founder of Diablo Dance Theater, will perform a free hour-long series of Duncan dances at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29 at the Orinda Library.  Poet Marjorie Lynne Wagner will narrate the program with a selection of readings by and about Isadora Duncan. Free. The performance is sponsored by the Friends of the Orinda Library. For more info, call Beth Girshman, at the Orinda Library at (925) 254-2184, ext 1 or visit ccclib.org.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Saint Mary’s College annual MFA Faculty & Alumni Reading with poets Christopher Sindt & Brett Fletcher Lauer at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 at the Soda Center, Claeys, Saint Mary’s College. The readings are free and open to the public.

Beyond nuclear power in California: 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 at 6 p.m. precedes the discussion.  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” by 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 reading and signing. For more info, visit BrendaCorriganWentDowntown.com.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Be the Star You Are!® teens sponsored by Comerford Solar offer free book mark making as well as book sales at the Moraga Faire from 11 a.m. to  4 p.m.  Saturday, May 11. Cynthia Brian (Digging Deep with Cynthia Brian) will autograph books and attendees can talk with the teen writers of Lamorinda Weekly's "Teen Scene." Potpourri and Meyer lemons available. For more info, visit     

www.btsya.com/events_calendar.html.

All Orinda students in grades 3 to 5 are invited to participate in the 63rd Annual Frank Isola Field Day – a great day of track and field events, including school relays from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11 at Del Rey School. Medals are awarded for each competition and the winning school team takes home the prized Field Day annual trophy. Free. Refreshments available for purchase.

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

A new Modern Woodmen of America Youth Service Club is starting in Orinda. The club will have its first activity at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 2 at the Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way. Children ages of 10-16 are invited to the activity to find out about the benefits of membership. Jenny Hee of Orinda will lead the club, and Winifred Tran, a local Modem Woodmen representative, will sponsor the club's monthly activities. If you'd like more information about becoming a member of this new club, call Tran at (808) 384-9464.

The Campolindo Senior Class of 2013 would like to invite you to view their Memory Boards and write personal notes in their Mailroom at the CPAC from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 9 p.m. June 4 and 6 and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. June 5. Memory Boards will also be available to view after graduation on June 7.

OTHER

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.

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 are offered from 1 to 4 p.m. 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.

Join the National Park Service this spring and summer for a series of guest speakers who will explore John Muir’s modern legacy. To kick off the series, special guests Peter and Donna Thomas will present “Muir Ramble Route: San Francisco to Yosemite” at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at the John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) Visitor Center. The series will continue with special programs Sunday, June 23 and July 14.

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.  (See Spring Events on page B2)

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. (See Spring Events page B2)

Car Wash Fundraiser for Be the Star You Are!® charity from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Star Service Station, 398 Rheem Blvd, Moraga. $10 per car with discount coupons at the Be the Star You Are!® Fair Booth at the Moraga Faire. Volunteer to wash cars or just come by and get your car cleaned by our teens. For info, visit www.btsya.com/events_calendar.html.

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.

Imagine a world where every girl owns a least one dress...  Help change a life by sewing a simple dress for a girl in need between 6 and 9 p.m. Thursday, May 16 in the Sewnow studio, 3534 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette.  All supplies, instructions and refreshments will be provided. The dresses will be donated to Hope4WomenInternational. Basics sewing skills required. Ages 8-100 welcome.  There is fee parking in the Oak Bridge parking lot across the street from Sewnow.

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. (See story page B2)

Dogs & Diapers Workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 5.  Your dog has probably been the baby for a long time. From diapers to blinky, squeaky toys to crying in the night, your dog's world is going to be turned upside down. Working together, we make sure that both you and your dog are ready for baby to come home. Cost: $25. For more info, visit training.arf.net.

Motorama World of Wheels Car Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 16 on Golden Gate Way in Lafayette is presented by the Rotary Club of Lamorinda Sunrise. For more info, visit www.motorama.us.

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

The Lamorinda Democratic Club's will feature Kish Rajan, Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) at 8 p.m. speaker Friday, May 10 (club meeting at 7:15 p.m.) at the Lafayette Library and Community Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard. Cost: $5; students free. For info, call (925) 567-3367 or visit www.lamorindademoclub.org.

SENIORS

Lamorinda Seniors Nature Walk and Bird-Watching. Flock together with fellow bird lovers as you delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend from 9 to 11 a.m. on these free Wednesday local trail walks. Trail maps provided; please bring a water bottle. Binoculars may also be useful in helping you learn to identify a variety of birds. Supported by the Lafayette Senior Services, Town of Moraga, and City of Orinda. Call (925) 254-2445 for the weekly meeting location.

The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will hold its May meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 13 in the Concord Room at John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus, (2540 East Avenue, Concord). The speaker will be Georgia Upshaw of Lingraphica, who will discuss Alternative Communication Systems. After the program, attendees will break up into three coping groups: stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivors with aphasia, and caregivers and families of stroke survivors -- each group led by a trained professional. For further information about the Stroke Support Group, contact Ann Dzuna at (925) 376-6218. Free.

GARDEN

The Lafayette Garden Club’s Plant Sale and Lafayette Garden Shed from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 9 at 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. The plants have been lovingly propagated by our club members, and our Master Gardeners will be available to give planting advice. The Lafayette Garden Shed will feature gently-used garden tools and garden art/crafts, birdhouses and bonsai containers.