ART

Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery presents: Painting with Light — Photography and Watercolor from through July 9. Photographers: Maude Pervere, Stephen Elbert, Suzanne Engelberg, Tanya Knoop, and Watercolorist Julie Cohn. (925) 284-1485 www.jenniferperlmuttergallery.com

Valley Art Gallery presents their new show, “A Summer Place,” which runs through July 30. “A Summer Place” is “your place” visualized by gallery artists — the places we visit, activities we enjoy. It features over 300 new works of art as warm and wonderful as our summers in the Diablo Valley, including works from the best East Bay artists, for sale or rent. Plus, there are beautifully crafted, ceramic, wood and glass pieces, and original designer jewelry. www.valleyartgallery.org

The Moraga Art Gallery’s new show is “Porcelain Poetry/Textile Treasures,” featuring beautifully-crafted, functional pottery by member artist Donna Arganbright of Lafayette and a selection of vibrant quilts created by guest artist Denise Oyama Miller. The show runs through Aug. 13. The Moraga Art Gallery is located at 522 Center Street, Moraga; (925) 376-5407.

The new Lafayette Library Art Gallery Exhibit features oil paintings by Geoff Meredith, pastels and watercolors by Dalia Alekna, and ceramics by Olga Jusidman. The Exhibit runs through Aug. 31.

MUSIC

The MFA in Dance Program at Saint Mary’s College presents Coalesce, an original and distinctive dance work that explores universal themes of culture, community, spirituality, family and the physical body within the context of distance and proximity. Coalesce is presented at 4 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 30 at Saint Mary’s LeFevre Theatre, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga. Cost: general, $15, senior and SMC Community, $10, Buy online at stmarys-ca.edu/forms/mfa-dance-concert.

Orinda Summer Concerts in the Park Series continues from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Orinda Community Park. July 5: Floorshakers, Funk Soul/Rock n’ Roll, with El Ranchero, taco truck; July 12: What the Funk!, R&B/Soul/Disco/Rock with Streetdogs, Chicago style hot dogs; July 24 (Sunday): Opera in the Park with Solo Opera, 4-6:00 p.m. Food Trucks will not be available that day.

Thursday evening concerts continue 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Moraga Commons Park: June 30 Moonalice, Bay Area 60s; July 14 Spill the Wine,  Jackson 5 to Maroon 5.  Picnic on a blanket or lawn chairs on the grassy hillside in front of the band shell. 

A free outdoor concert honoring our Veterans and saluting our troops from 5:30-8 p.m. on Saturday, July 16 at the Lafayette Reservoir’s stage will feature the Big Band of Rossmoor and The Shakey Zimmerman Acoustic Trio. Bring a blanket and a picnic.

THEATER

Cal Shakes presents a debut of Pulitzer-prize winning playwright August Wilson’s “Fences” July 6 through July 30. For show times and to purchase tickets see www.calshakes.org.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Summer Movies in the Park Series - movies begin at dusk on Thursdays at the Orinda Community Park. July 7: “Hotel Transylvania 2”; July 21: “Cinderella.”

Isabel Azam will be hosting their second annual Lamorinda Kid’s Fashion Show at Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Dr. Moraga, from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 20. Come out and enjoy fashion, fun, music, special guest and activities for the kids. We will be holding a book drive and are collecting items for our charity. Tickets are FREE! We just ask that you and your family RSVP by visiting, www.lamorindafashionshow.eventbrite.com.

OTHER

Fourth of July in Lamorinda: Parade in Orinda at 10 a.m; races, booths, food, games, and music in Orinda and Moraga until early afternoon;  concert and dance party at Moraga Commons at 7 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m. See page A11.

Enjoy Ice Cream in a Bag and Sun Tea at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 7 at the Moraga Library. Do some kitchen chemistry and make ice cream in a bag to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. Then harness solar energy to make sun tea. Staff will help kids cool off during this STEAMy Summer and be ready with these cool recipes for the next NPS camping trip!

Celebrate ARF’s 25th birthday by growing your family by four feet. Through June 30, all dogs, cats, puppies, kittens at ARF have $25 adoption fees. There’s no better time to meet a new best friend. Stop by ARF at 2890 Mitchell Drive in Walnut Creek to meet your perfect match, or browse pets online to find your favorite furry face. Standard adoption criteria apply

Online Privacy Class on at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 30. Join Jeremy Gillula, staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, to learn how sketchy companies (and shadowy government agencies) track you everywhere you go online, often without your permission. The class will cover how tracking works, why companies do it, and what tools do (and don’t) work to protect yourself. A Summer Reading Festival event at the Moraga Library.

Happy July Fourth from the CC4C kitties! Come on down to see us at our adoption event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3, at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill, and Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information see www.communityconcernforcats.org.

The City of Berkeley presents 4th of July @ the Berkeley Marina from noon to 10 p.m. on Monday, July 4, at Berkeley Marina, 201 University Ave., Berkeley. Fireworks at 9:30pm. This free event features live bands, a kid’s stage, food trucks, Sumo soccer, pony rides, and dragon boat rides. An alcohol-free event. Cost: Free Admission; Parking $15. For more info see http://www.anotherbullwinkelshow.com/4th-of-july/ or call (510) 548-5335 or email Lisa@AnotherBullwinkelShow.com.

Hair care professionals and massage therapists needed! Hospice East Bay provides care to terminally ill patients and their families in their homes or facilities throughout Contra Costa County. Many of our patients benefit greatly from a haircut or hair set or from the gentle and compassionate touch of a massage therapist. If you would you be interested in volunteering a few hours a month to provide comfort to our patients, please contact the volunteer department at Hospice East Bay, (925) 887-5678 or volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org. License and/or Massage Certification required.

Marin Headlands and Muir Woods: Exploring the “Wilderness Next Door” at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 14. Join Ken Lavin, hike leader for the Sierra Club’s Mount Diablo Group, on an armchair tour of the Marin Headlands and Muir Woods. His talk will include some fascinating but little known anecdotes about the land and people in this “wilderness next door.” An NPS Centennial Celebration event at the Moraga Library.

The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) will be hosting an Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, at their headquarters and treatment plant location, 5019 Imhoff Place, Martinez. The free, family-friendly event will include live music, free food, giveaways, games, exhibits, big truck displays, tours of the treatment plant, and much more. For more information, go online to www.CentralSan.org/70.

Beyond the Shower Bucket: Water-Smart Living from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on July 20 at Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center, 315 Cortsen Rd., Pleasant Hill. The drought continues despite El Nino rains. Learn conservation methods, including using low flow fixtures and appliances, tankless water heaters, grey water systems, rain catchment methods, drip irrigation, lawn replacement/sheet mulching, etc. $20. Register at www.sustainablecoco.org/workshops.

Lights! Camera! Environmental Action! Sustainable Lafayette will be hosting its sixth annual summer film series at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center, featuring recently released documentaries and short films. This year’s film selections focus on clean energy, land preservation, East Bay trail restoration, the Grand Canyon, bicycle travel, and sustainable ranching. The series opens on July 12, continues on July 26 and concludes on August 2. All movies will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the Lafayette library, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. July 12: “Catching the Sun.”

SENIORS

Take the Smart Driver four-and-a-half-hour refresher course from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 21 in the Sequoia Room, Lafayette Community Center. This abbreviated refresher course is for those who have taken an AARP driving course within the last four years. Refine your driving skills, develop safe, defensive techniques, and possibly lower your insurance premium. Send check, made payable to AARP, to Lafayette Senior Services, 500 St. Mary’s Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549. Important: Prior to sending check, please call 284-5050 to determine space availability. $15 for AARP members/ $20 non-members.