ART

Klein Gallery is pleased to invite the Lafayette community to its new show “Prickly Point.” This month’s show includes work from nine Bay Area Artists who use a diverse array of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture and photography. As the title suggests, the exhibition celebrates the unique character of each artist’s work while encouraging viewers to take in the show as a whole. “Prickly Point” will be up through Jan. 12 at Klein Gallery, open Tuesday through Sunday.

The Moraga Art Gallery’s new show “Good Looking: California Revealed” highlighting the beauty and wonder of California through watercolor paintings by resident artist George Ehrenhaft and oil paintings by guest artist Loreta Landucci  opens Jan. 8 and will run through March 15. There will be a free opening reception to see the exhibit and meet the gallery’s artists from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 at 522 Center Street, Rheem Shopping Center, in Moraga. It is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit the gallery’s website: www.moragaartgallery.com, call (925) 376-5407 or email moragaartgallery@gmail.com.

SMC Art and Art History Department Alumni will showcase art in all media and sizes including video and small sculpture. Come see fantastic alumni art, catch up and network with fellow Art and Art History alums and faculty at the opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, refreshments included. If you would like to volunteer and help with press, installation, opening reception or de-installation, please feel free to contact Lily Manderville, (510) 849-8935, gallery@care-gtu.org or Professor Anna Novakov, anovakov@stmarys-ca.edu.

“Love at First Sight,” the new show at the Lafayette Art Gallery will be opening on Jan. 7. It celebrates the love of the visual and tactile world, and the multitude of ways artists express that love through the mediums of our art. A champagne and chocolate reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 1, and all are welcome. If you haven't yet visited the new location at 3420 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette (at the corner of Brown Ave.), come by and view the over 100 works of original art by local members. For info, call (925) 284-2788 or visit www.lafayetteartgallery.com.

Please join us for Moraga Country Club’s Third Art and Wine Event from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28. Discover the beautiful florals of artists Hilary Mills and Kiyomi Kubo while tasting wines from Jaume Serra Cristalino and Brandt Rossi Family Vineyards, including both still and sparkling wines from California and imported fruits. Cost: $15 for members; $25 for non-members (special offer: two for $40). Appetizers and wine tasting Included. No host bar. For reservations, call (925) 376-2200 or email frontdesk@moragacc.com.

Student Art from Afghanistan will be on display at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Community Hall through Jan. 13. Afghanistan is a country with deep roots in art and culture. Though many beautiful treasures have been destroyed by war and political strife, Afghan children continue to create art and imagine a world of peace. This exhibit, brought to you by Trust in Education and the Lafayette Public Art Committee, highlights drawings created by students taking classes funded by TIE.

MUSIC

Experience the joy of singing in a community of talented and dedicated women! WomenSing is holding auditions Tuesday, Jan. 7 – and by appointment for experienced singers. All voice parts are welcome, and scholarships are available for qualified singers. You may also visit www.womensing.org to review our recent repertoire and listen online. For info, email audition@womensing.org, call (925) 974-9169, or visit womensing.org.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert “Horn and Plenty” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Community Hall, Lafayette Library. Chamber music for French horn, oboe, strings and piano by Mozart, Brahms and Herzogenberg. Principals from SF Opera orchestra are featured. Tickets: $10-35 Call (925) 283-3728 or at www.gcplayers.org.  (See related story page B3)

Faculty Chamber Music Concert from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Chapel, Saint Mary’s College of California 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga. The free concert opens with guitar trio Mori Achen, Michael Williams, and Martin Rokeach, performing Turina's delightful Rafaga. Donna Olson, Diane Maltester, and Wendy Tamis showcase music for mezzo-soprano, carinet, and harp. A set of jazz improvisations, with vocalist Julie Ford and pianist Bob Athayde, rounds out the performance.  For more info, call (925) 631-4670.

Warm up in the New Year with beautiful music at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the Orinda Library. The Orinda Library continues the Winter Music Series with Brenda Lin, a Lamorinda vocalist, who performs a wide repertoire of songs. Standards, jazz, show tunes, classic rock, R&B, country and bossa nova. The performance is free and takes place inside the library. For more information on the upcoming concert, please visit the library website at ccclib.org or call (925) 254-2184.

THEATER

Role Players Ensemble presents Thornton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker.” The crafty scheming of widow Dolly Levi turns the world of Horace Vandergelder upside down in this frantic farce. The play opens on Jan. 17 and runs until Feb. 8 at the Danville Community Center. For exact times and tickets, visit www.RolePlayersEnsemble.com

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Children who like to sing can audition from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church for Spring Semester. This internationally known chorus is recognized for excellence in vocal training and performance skills. There are choir levels for boys and girls ages 6-16, with local performances and touring opportunities for advanced choirs. The honors level choir is currently preparing to travel to Argentina during the summer of 2014. Call for an appointment or info at (925) 945-7101, ext. 1 or email frontdesk@childrenschorus.org.

Madeline Levine, clinical psychologist, author of “Teach Your Children Well,” and co-founder of Challenge Success at Stanford University will discuss parenting for authentic success – why values and coping skills matter more than grades, trophies, or "fat envelopes." The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23 in the Acalanes High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $10 for one; $15 for two. Purchase tickets at http://madelinelevine.eventbrite.com.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum "Mini Mondays."  At 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, children from 2-5 years old become naturalists as they experience live animal encounters. The two-hour program allows little ones to explore different animal species through arts, crafts, activities and more. Nut-free refreshments are provided. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Registration is not required. Cost: $8 members; $15 non-members; $5 each additional child age 2 and older. For more info, call Kelly Hughes, registrar, (925) 627-2913 or visit Lindsay Wildlife Museum.

OTHER

Start the New Year right by join Valley Stitches and Fiber Arts Guild for a presentation on a Revival of Tile Quilts: Reinventing a Forgotten Form. The technique can be used on many items such as clothing, accessories, wall hangings and more. The guild will meet at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6 at the Faith Lutheran Church, 50 Woodsworth Lane, in Pleasant Hill but come earlier and shop for unique items at the Little Shop. For info, contact Sheila at (925) 945-1338.

“How Your Food is Grown: Challenges and Sustainability” features speakers Margaret Reeves, Ph.D., soil ecologist, Darryl Wong, UC Santa Cruz Agroecology Farm Site research land manager, and Barbara Cecchini, Brentwood farmer from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Community Hall. For info, email Janet Thomas at janet@sustainablelafayette.org.

“Let’s Talk About It: Muslim Journeys,” a community reading and discussion series. Discussions will be led by nationally-renowned scholar Hatem Bazian, Ph.D., (UC Berkeley) and will cover five unique books at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. The first program will explore the book “When Asia Was the World” by Stewart Gordon and will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. For more information on the series, including links for registering and ordering the books, please visit guides.ccclib.org/journeys. For info, contact Jeff Gibson, project director at (925) 927-3240 or jgibson@ccclib.org.

In January, Bentley School will honor PBS News Hour correspondent and president of Learning Matters, John Merrow, for his trailblazing work advocating for the elevation of the state of education in the United States, the social justice issue of our generation from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 at the Bentley School Student Performing Arts Center. Free.  RSVP to communications@bentleyschool.net.

The Rotary Club of Orinda will host its annual all-you-can-eat crab feast from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Orinda Masonic Lodge, located at 9 Altarinda Road. Come for fresh-off-the-boat crab accompanied by delectable pasta, salad, sourdough (courtesy of La Piazza), wine, beer and live entertainment. Cost: $50 per person. Advance reservations required by calling Barbara Bontemps at (925) 219-0082.

The Friends Corner Book Shop is planning its first sale of the year from 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Lafayette Library. Everything will be half price.

LUNAFEST, the fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities, will be hosted by the Women's Resource Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 in the SMC Hagerty Lounge. The films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, motherhood, body image, sexuality, cultural diversity, and breaking barriers. (See story page B5)

Special Presentation, "Global Warming: What's Changed Since an Inconvenient Truth?" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall. Come learn all the latest facts about climate change from Lafayette resident Wei-Tai Kwok who was trained by the Climate Reality Project to give Al Gore's most up-to-date slide show. Discover how your family can participate in the many solutions.

Learn how to make Sushi at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 in the Community Hall, Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Participants can learn how to make delicious sushi at home. They will learn how to make both Hand rolls and Maki style sushi. No raw flesh will be used. Registration is required and is limited to 20 people. Register online at tinyurl.com/m3maab6 or at the Information Desk.

SENIORS

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets the first Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center, 1700 School St., Moraga, with social hour at 11 a.m.; lunch at noon. The after-lunch speaker on Wednesday, Jan. 8 will be Saint Mary’s College Professor Ron Olowin, of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Olowin is known for his creative and entertaining perspectives on the Universe. He will share his latest views of the cosmos. For details and membership information, call Larry at (925) 631-9528

Document Your Life Story - If you have wanted to write the stories, memories, and experiences of your life but haven’t known where to start, wait no longer. Yuska Lutfi will guide you through the process of leaving a living history for future generations –what a gift! Included will be optional outings to Saint Mary’s College for their creative writing reading series, “Afternoon Craft Conversations” from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the second and fourth Thursday of the month in the Cedar Room, Lafayette Community Center.  Cost: $1 members; $3 non-members, per session.

Free Peer Counseling - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-on-one counseling with senior (55+) counselors who use their life experiences to help other older adults cope with life changes, problems, crises, and challenges from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Tuesday of the month in the Alder Room, Lafayette Community Center. Confidentiality is strictly observed. Appointment required. Please call Lafayette Senior Services to sign up for one of the 60-minute appointments: (925) 284-5050.

Anne Randolph Physical Therapy Presentation: Parkinson’s.  Living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be challenging, but there are things you can do to maintain your quality of life and live well. Learn about the stages of PD and how to optimize your physical ability as long as possible from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 in the Elderberry Room, Lafayette Community Center. Cost: $1 members/ $3 non-members.

GARDEN

Contra Costa Master Gardener's present “Pruning” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the Lafayette Library. A gardening expert will be on hand to share the basics of healthy pruning practices for your trees, shrubs, and roses. Learn how to prune, when to prune and what to prune. Cost: $5 per person. For reservations, email: higginssierra@gmail.com.