ART

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art presents three new exhibitions: “Visual Language: Mystery and Meaning” through June 21; “River Passage: New Work by Danae Mattes” May 25 – 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 newest show at the Lafayette Art Gallery is titled "H2O." It will run through Aug. 29, and will focus on water. Whether it is the use of water in the artistic process, water as subject matter, or the current absence of water, our talented group of local artists will showcase their works related to the theme of water. For info, call (925) 284-2788 or visit www.lafayetteartgallery.com.

Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery presents Thursday Night Live from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on July 9. Live Painting by local artists, in the gallery window. Stop over and take a look at art in action and see the summer show and all the gallery has to offer!

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 through Aug. 22.  For more info, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

MUSIC

Orinda Library's Summer of Music - Crying Time at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. Honky Tonk Revisionists. Nashville Apologists. Crying Time plays classic country music that puts a smile on your face and pulls at your heartstrings.

The Concerts in the Park, which are 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, are held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: July 7 Floorshakers - funk soul and rock ‘n’ roll; July 14 Lamorinda Idol with Arts in Bloom at 5 p.m. - variety; July 21 West Grand Boulevard – Motown, and rhythm and blues.

Summer Concert Series at the Moraga Commons begins at 7 p.m. July 4 with rockin' dance band FUNdamentals; July 9 Mixed Nuts - decades of rock; July 16 Mania - Beatles tribute band. For information, visit www.moragaparks.org/concert.html.

Dirty Cello, featuring the virtuosic cello stylings of Rebecca Roudman, one of the Bay Area's most exciting cross-over cellists, with uptempo music featuring down home blues, Eastern-European dance music, a bit of bluegrass, and some classic rock, from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 10 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall.  Free.

Operation Swingtime.  Local Rotary Clubs (Lafayette, Lamorinda Sunrise, Orinda, Moraga and Rossmoor) are planning a very special evening concert on the Rotary stage at the Lafayette Reservoir on Saturday, July 18 beginning at 5 p.m. Operation Swingtime is a free outdoor concert featuring Mic Gillette on Trumpet (formally with Tower of Power), the Big Band of Rossmoor and the Swingin Blue Stars. Bring a picnic and enjoy a family concert honoring our veterans lakeside. For more info, visit www.thebigbandofrossmoor.org.

THEATER

The Orinda Starlight Players will present Agatha Christie’s “Black Coffee” Thursdays through 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 "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.  (See story page B5)

LECTURE & LITERATURE

“The importance of Environment and How it Affects those with Cognitive Decline,” presented by Michael Pope, DEO, Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9 at Aegis Living of Moraga, 950 Country Club Dr. Please RSVP as space is limited: (925) 297-6760.

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: July 9 – “The Boxtrolls;” July 23 – “Big Hero 6.”

Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center series, Our Secret Garden III, will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. 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.

Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center - Discovering Connection Through Miwok Eyes Summer Camp from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 10-12 at 3932 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette (across from Lafayette Reservoir). Kids ages 8-12 can come discover their connection to nature and her peoples. Experience nature’s riches all around you – her foods, her materials, her peaceful sounds and spaces. We’ll explore nature’s land, plants, trees, and animals, make acorn meal, arrow shafts, clapper sticks, and more. Cost: $30 ($15 deposit required at time of registration).  For info, visit http://lafayettecommunitygarden.org/classes-and-events/.

Moraga Library Kids Programs for July: Independence Day Craft 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 2 - Children make an Independence Day Craft, just in time for the Fourth of July; Special Dance Storytime with the Tutu School 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 - Children are invited to a special interactive dance story time with a ballerina from the Tutu School of Walnut Creek. Free. No registration required. For more info, visit ccclib.org or call (925) 376-6852.

FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS

There are a day’s and evening’s worth of wonderful events planned in Orinda and Moraga July 4, including fun runs, a pancake breakfast, a dog parade, the ever-popular Fourth of July Parade, concerts and a fireworks display to celebrate Independence Day.  (See events listing on page B2)

OTHER

Diablo Ballet Dance on Film presents “Top Hat,” a 1935 screwball musical comedy film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall.  Diablo Ballet Artistic Director Lauren Jonas and dancer Edward Stegge will present fun facts about the film prior to the screening and light refreshments will be served. Cost: $5 at the door. (See story page B4)
Free Girl's Fashion Show to introduce the new made-to-order, sustainable and educational dress concept, Isabel Azam by designer Jaleh Naasz at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22 at Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga. Fashion show will start promptly at 6 p.m. To
RSVP, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1606223822986453/. For those without access to Facebook, e-mail RSVP to Jaleh.naasz@gmail.com and indicate the number of attendees.

Moraga-Orinda Fire District Chief Stephen Healy from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25 at St. Stephen’s Church will discuss the fire and medical emergency services to the Orinda and Moraga communities, and about the proposed deal with Contra Costa County regarding a new fire station. The Church is located at 66 St. Stephen’s Drive in Orinda.

For the fifth year in a row, Sustainable Lafayette will be hosting a summer film series at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center featuring three recently released documentaries about waste reduction, food production and food waste. These award-winning films will be shown on weekday evenings in June and July. All movies will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the library. Schedule: “Food Patriots” – Tuesday, July 7; “Just Eat It” – Tuesday, July 28. Free snacks, cookies, coffee, and refreshments will be served at each movie and special guest speakers will be included when possible. $10 donation requested; $5 for students. For info, visit http://www.sustainablelafayette.org/our-events/summer-film-series.

Lindsay Wildlife Experience: "Wild Cats at Lindsay Wildlife" on July 25 and Aug. 22 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek. Celebrate the Lindsay’s "Summer of Cats- Felines: Fierce and Friendly." With Barbara and Rob Dicely of Wild Cat Conservation and Education Fund, who will bring their big cats to the Lindsay to introduce them to the public and provide a valuable learning experience. For info, visit http://lindsaywildlife.org/summer-of-cats/.

As a thematic prelude to the “Row with the Champions” Rotary Regatta, scheduled Aug. 22 at San Pablo Reservior, Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary is presenting an author-appearance event at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Veterans Memorial Building on Mount Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. Special guest is Daniel James Brown, who wrote “The Boys In The Boat,” a national bestseller about an unheralded team from the University of Washington that overcame towering odds to win the rowing title at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The book, being made into a motion picture, is in the vein of “Seabiscuit,” the plucky prize-winning racehorse. Tickets: $30, available through www.rowwithchampions.org.

SENIORS

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 174 meets for lunch at 11 a.m. the Second Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. Our guest speaker on July 8 will be Dinah McFarlane from ARF. For attendance and membership info, call Tyler at (925) 284-5561 or visit www.branch174.sirinc2.org.

Consumer Scam Stopper Seminar from 10:30 to noon Wednesday, July 15 in the Elderberry Room, Lafayette Community Center. Seniors are the most targeted group for scammers.  Learn how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Topics covered will include scams related to home repair, phone solicitations, insurance, Medicare, mail/foreign lottery fraud and more. Attendees will have their questions answered and obtain assistance if they have been scammed. Free for Senior Services members; $10 non-members.