ART

Orinda Books is featuring four Contra Costa artists for its June Artist of the Month exhibit, entitled “Habitat: A Collaborative Series.” Cindy Baker, Kath Balamuth, Jules Campbell and Pam Jameson set out to create a series of mixed media artworks on the broad theme of “Habitat,” which became a thoughtful conversation between the artists. The show will run through June 30.

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art exhibitions include: “Visual Language: Mystery and Meaning” through June 21; “River Passage: New Work by Danae Mattes” through Sept. 6; and “The Darker Side of William Keith: Late Paintings” through Sept. 6. Museum admission: $5 adults; members and K-12 graders free; free parking. For info, call (925) 631-4379 or visit stmarys-ca.edu/museum.

The Moraga Art Gallery presents “Precision Beauty,” a new show featuring works created in the artistic traditions of Japan and China. The show, which includes the gallery’s 15 resident artists and several guest artists, runs from June 17 to Aug. 22. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

The Lafayette Art Gallery’s new show, “Spring It On Me,” will run through June 28 at the Gallery, 3420 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite A, Lafayette. The featured artists are Judy Feins, Jill Landau and Lauri Moffet-Fehlberg. For more info, visit www.lafayettegallery.net.

MUSIC

The Concerts in the Park, sponsored by the Orinda Parks and Recreation Foundation and supported by the Orinda Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Orinda and City of Orinda, are held on Tuesday evenings. The following, with the exception two concerts, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: June 23 Spill the Wine - pop and rock; June 30 Dennis Johnson & Ramblers - Blues & Swing; July 7 Floorshakers - Funk Soul & Rock n’ Roll.

Summer Concert Series at the Moraga Commons begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18 with local band Moonalice playing '60s music. Bring your own picnic or enjoy dinner for purchase on site. The second concert on June 25 will feature the group Forejour, a Foreigner Journey tribute band. The ADA path constructed by the town will be finished in time for the first concert. For information, visit www.moragaparks.org/concert.html.

Lafayette’s Rock the Plaza’s free family-friendly live concerts run 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday evenings in June at Plaza Park at the corner of Moraga Road and Mt. Diablo Boulevard. The Accents, featuring Raja Singh, the founder and owner of Red House Studios will play on June 19. Wrapping up the series on Friday June 26, is a bevy of talented teens from Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda, also known as the Lamorinda Teen Idol Finalists. 

Charged Particles - Plugged-in Jazz with a Spark at 7 p.m. June 23 at the Moraga Library. Charged Particles is comprised of Murray Low, a keyboard wizard, Aaron Germain, an inventive acoustic and electric bassist, and Jon Krosnick, a fiery drummer. These players are making some of the most electrifying jazz in the country today.

THEATER

The Orinda Starlight Players will present Agatha Christie’s “Black Coffee” Thursdays-Sundays through July 4 at the Outdoor Theatre in Orinda Community Center Park located at 28 Orinda Way. Cost: $16 regular admission; $8 seniors. For show times and ticket information, visit the box office, go to http://www.orsvp.org or call (925) 528-9225.

Cal Shakes will be performing "Twelfth Night" through June 21, "Life Is a Dream" July 8 to Aug. 2, and a one night show "Virgins To Villains: My Journey Through Shakespeare's Women" on July 20.  Cal Shakes performances are held at Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way (formerly 100 Gateway Blvd.), Orinda. For more information, visit www.calshakes.org.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Diablo Ballet Dance on Film Presents: Anchors Aweigh at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17. Diablo Ballet Artistic Director Lauren Jonas and dancer Edward Stegge will present fun facts about the film prior to the screening.  Cost: $5.  Light refreshments will be served.

Dharma College workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 20 at 2222 Harold Way, Berkeley. The mind is the consummate storyteller. Through a plot as intricately woven as any novel, the mind presents experience as “the story of ME.” If the mind’s story leaves you feeling guilty or sad, anxious or confused, angry or simply bored, this workshop will present the tools you need to re-write your story. We’ll examine mind’s natural capacity to play with genres, reduce conflict, shift emotional tones and switch perspectives. Most of all, we’ll have fun beginning a new story and making a fresh start. Cost: $25 ($20 for seniors 60+).  For info, email registrar@dharma-college.com or call (510) 809-2010.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

The Orinda Parks and Recreation Department is happy to bring back Movies in the Park for a second consecutive year. The movies will be held Thursday evenings at Orinda Community Center Park located at 28 Orinda Way. The following movies will begin at dusk: June 25 – “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day;” July 9 – “The Boxtrolls”

Tot Shabbat at Temple Isaiah from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 26 in the Sanctuary. Enjoy an evening celebrating Shabbat with young families with children up to 5 years old. Singing, dancing, arts and crafts and a meal included.  For info, contact Abby Seitelman, membership at (925) 283-8575 or abbys@temple-isaiah.org.

Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center invites you to join us for another great series - Our Secret Garden III, from 9 to 10 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning June 29. Our Secret Garden is in its third year of celebrating our earth and her sustainable young stewards. Lafayette Community Garden’s Eli Chan and Tracy Randolph will host an hour of stories, crafts and exploration for children of all ages. Each class builds upon the next “big idea” and sheds light on the impact we have on the world around us. To register, visit lafayettecommunitygarden.org/classes--?and--?events.

OTHER

Pints for Prostates & Men’s Health Fair from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 18 at the Pyramid Alehouse, 1410 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. June is Men’s Health Month - join us for a cold beer as we raise awareness and money for prostate cancer research. Joe Starkey will be the keynote speaker, along with Kilted to Kick Cancer emcees and Pacific Urology physicians and staff. $20 donation includes beer, beer glass and heavy hors d’oeuvres. For reservations, call (925) 677-5041.

The students of the MFA in Dance program of Saint Mary’s College proudly present Body Object/Body Subject, a creative culmination born of the integration of Creative Practice, Design and Production disciplines. The dance starts at 8 p.m. and runs June 25-27 in the LeFevre Theatre. Tickets: (925) 631-400 www.stmarys-ca.edu.

Lamorinda’s volunteer emergency communicators assemble at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27 at the Moraga Commons to talk across the country over amateur radio during the 101st annual Field Day competition. It’s free, it’s fun, and everyone is welcome. For more information, email k6ori@groupspaces.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lamorinda-Area-Radio-Interest-Group/252700361590786.

Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery presents Benefit for STAND! from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Wine, gourmet food, art, June Sablan Designs Jewelry and TART Fashion. STAND! For Families Free of Violence is a catalyst for breaking the multi-generational cycle of violence, promoting safe and strong relationships, and rebuilding lives.

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley invites you to hear Joe Canciamilla, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, talk about the Future of Voting at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 20 in the Cedar Room at the Lafayette Community Center on 500 St. Mary's Road, Lafayette. $5 donation requested. Call the Diablo Valley League office at (925) 283-2235 to make reservations or if you need more information.

SENIORS

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets at 11 a.m. the first Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center 1700 School Street, Moraga. The after lunch speaker on July 1 will be James Bettinger, director of the Knight Fellowships Program at Stanford University who has worked in daily newspapers for 20 years. In addition, Bettinger has taught courses in journalism and been a columnist and written numerous articles in many publications. The title of his talk is “What happened to my news?” which will focus on how the public is now better informed but it is harder for news institutions to thrive. For membership information, call Larry at (925) 376-9528.