ART

The City of Lafayette Public Art Committee welcomes its latest art exhibit featuring the Bay Area Studio Artists. The exhibit is on display in the Library Gallery adjacent to the Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center through Feb. 13. www.bayareastudioartists.com.

Come to the Orinda Library for a fun, relaxed evening as patrons reconnect with the creative spirit at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Local artist Felicia Morris will speak about exploring artistic expression as a way to move with greater awareness and love through life’s challenges.

A Valentine to Myself —Music and Guided Reflection with Leslie Darwin O’Brien and Julia Shepard Stenzel. Identical one-hour programs at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m. on Feb. 13 at Lily Dong Photography, 3506-D Mount Diablo Boulevard. www.lilydongphotography.com http://tinyurl.com/h38m63s. Free registration (suggested donation $20).

“Sow. Harvest. Share” Anniversary Group Exhibit. The Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery is celebrating three fabulous years in Lafayette! In honor of the anniversary the gallery will showcase a selection of work from the artists we have collaborated with over the last three years. Also on view will be mixed media paintings by Jennifer Perlmutter, who will extend her work space into the gallery. The exhibit will run through March 4, with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9.

MUSIC

Temple Isaiah’s annual Dessert Concert is at 4 p.m. on Feb. 12 at 945 Risa Road in Lafayette, This year the Ensemble will present popular songs from the 20th century, including “A House Is Not a Home,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “It Had To Be You,” “Mona Lisa,” “Isn’t It Romantic,” “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “This Will Be an Everlasting Love,” and several others. A silent auction opens at 3:30 p.m. Also enjoy desserts, wine and a raffle. Tickets: $35 and can be purchased at www.cantareconvivo.org, or by calling (510) 836-0789.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert: “Threads” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 5 in the Lafayette Library Community Hall. Music for piano, strings and voice by women composers. Tickets and information: www.gcplayers.org.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Author Talk with Dean Karnazes at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 in the Lafayette Library & Learning Center Community Hall. Ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes will discuss his new book “The Road to Sparta: Weaving the History of the World’s First Marathon” with his own Greek ancestry and his experience running this monumental route. Tinyurl.com/DSSKarnazes

The Value of Community & Choice as we Grow Older,” a live-streamed event hosted by Beacon Village in Boston and locally by Lamorinda Village features bestselling author of “Being Mortal,” Dr. Atul Gawande at 2 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church at 49 Knox Drive. For more information or to register (seats limited) call (925) 253-2300 or RSVP@LamorindaVillage.org.

Natalie Baszile, author of the debut novel, “Queen Sugar,” which is being adapted for TV by writer/director, Ava DuVernay of “Selma” fame, and co-produced by Oprah Winfrey for OWN, Winfrey’s cable network, will be doing a reading for the Saint Mary’s Creative Writing Reading Series from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Feb. 15 at the college’s Hagerty Lounge located inside De La Salle Hall, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, in Moraga. Questions: (925) 631-4762.

Humanities West Fireside Chat at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21 in the Orinda Library. Join George Hammond of Humanities West for a fireside chat at the Orinda Library exploring “The Vikings: Raiders, Traders, Neighbors.” More information about Humanities West and other events at www.humanitieswest.net.

Contra Costa Tale Spinners meets at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23 in the Orinda Library Garden Room. Join this lively group to tell or listen. This is storytelling for adults with a featured teller every month. This month’s featured teller is Kiran Rana.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Make Valentines and Care Packages for Local Firefighters from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Orinda Community Church Fellowship Hall. For a heartfelt event right before Valentine’s Day, Mindful Littles is partnering with the Moraga-Orinda Fire District for a mindful community service project to give back to the incredible firefighters who protect our local community. During our event, parents and their littles will get to learn from MOFD firefighters and tour a fire engine, participate in mindfulness and compassion activities, and put together valentines & care packages to give to MOFD. For more details or to register for our event, please visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/valentines-care-packages-for-our-local-firefighters-tickets-31494113742.

Lamorinda Arts Council will host its 14th Annual High School Visual Arts Competition from Feb. 28 to March 20 at the Orinda Library Art Gallery. This annual exhibition provides the community a wonderful opportunity to view a wide range of creative, original work by local students and recognizes the region’s dedicated high school art teachers. Entries for the High School Visual Arts Competition will be accepted from Feb. 1 through 24. The competition is open to ninth through 12th grade students living in or attending public or private high schools in Orinda, Lafayette and Moraga. The competition is also open to all students who attend the Acalanes Union High School District schools, including Acalanes, Campolindo, Las Lomas, and Miramonte High Schools, regardless of residence. The registration form as well as the full details of the competition can be found at www.lamorindaarts.org/vac.

The Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center is sponsoring a Bookmark Contest and invites all Lafayette students grades K-8 to enter their original art work. The entry forms will be available beginning Feb. 17 at the Lafayette Library main desk, the Friends Corner Book Shop and at school libraries in the Lafayette School District and St. Perpetua School. The entry deadline is Friday, March 10. For more information please contact Kay Pekrul:kae865@hotmail.com.

CRAB FEEDS

The Soroptimist Crab Feed is at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Lafayette Community Center. Includes all-you-can-eat crab, pasta, salad, bread & dessert. Tickets are $55. For tickets or more info call 925.283.2279.

Mt. Diablo Center’s 42nd Annual Crab Feed at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb, 25 at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane. Tickets are $65 and are available at www.mdccrabfeed.eventbrite.com.

OTHER

Enjoy Valentine delights at Community Concern for Cats’ adoption event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11 and 12. Meet some purrfect partners who will love you unconditionally, and taste Valentine treats. We have lowered our adoption fees this weekend only. Locations are Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill, and Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information see www.communityconcernforcats.org .

Winnie Jasper and Jerry Chamberlain will be starting a beginning bridge class from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday nights starting Feb. 15. This card game is great to keep your mind active and expand your social contacts. Also, if you are looking for an activity which you and your spouse can participate together for years to come then this may be a wonderful option. Fees are $20 per person plus any text books as needed. If interested please contact Winnie at 376-1125 or winnie@wjasper.com

Tutus and brews meet up at Ballet & Brews from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at The Cooperage in Lafayette (32 Lafayette Circle). Join the Lafayette Young Professionals and Diablo Ballet to mix, mingle, and network. Meet some of Diablo Ballet’s dancers and snap a picture in our “selfie station” with ballet props. Admission is free, with The Copperage donating a portion of food and drink sales to support Diablo Ballet youth outreach efforts. www.diabloballet.org/events.

Middle East Children’s Alliance presents the U.S. Premiere of “Jerusalem, We Are Here” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23 at Berkeley City College, 2050 Center Street, Berkeley. This interactive documentary brings Palestinians back into the Jerusalem neighborhoods from which they were expelled in 1948. Wheelchair accessible. Cost: $10 -$100 sliding scale. For more info visit www.mecaforpeace.org/events/berkeley-ca-us-premiere-interactive-documentary-jerusalem-we-are-here or call (510) 548-0542 or email meca@mecaforpeace.org.

“Evil Cyborg Sea Monsters” a multimedia stand-up comedy show about superheroes, sci-fi and monsters from comedian and cartoonist Mike Capozzola at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the New Rheem Theatre. PG-14. Tickets: $10. www.lamorindatheatres.com.

Moraga Baseball Association’s Opening Day Parade is at 9 a.m. is on Saturday, Feb 25 along Camino Pablo Road in Moraga. The parade route runs from Camino Pablo Elementary School to Rimer Drive. The community is invited to enjoy coffee and hot chocolate, view vintage cars, the Moraga Fire and Police departments and cheer on the players.

“How to Raise Chickens Sustainably” from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 and March 5. Papa John will again offer workshops on how to raise your own chickens. Topics will include raising young chicks, laying hen maintenance, and sustainable coop construction, which is unique in offering no odor and no cleaning. Free workshop, Reservations are required - jhkiefer@comcast.net. Directions provided upon registration.

Join the Lamorinda Democratic Club for an expert panel discussion on the issues of healthcare in California at 7 p.m. on Feb. 9 at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Expert Panelists include: William Dow, Ph,D,, Professor of Economics, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Elizabeth Gibboney, CEO of the Partnership Healthplan of California, which coordinates healthcare for over 500,000 Medi-Cal recipients in Northern California, and Dr. Jeremy Fisher, Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program at John Muir Medical Center. For additional information, please visit www.ldclub.org

SENIORS

Discovering Opera: Kevin Puts’ “Silent Night” is presented by Bradford Wade from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Feb. 9 at the Lafayette Library, Arts & Science Room. Lecturer Bradford Wade will give a guided tour of “Silent Night,” with a description of the plot interspersed with musical examples. This lecture is given in conjunction with Opera San José’s production of “Silent Night,” Feb. 11-26. Members Free, Non-Members $10

Come to the Lafayette Library at 1 p.m. every Friday for a variety of activities, games, film screenings, and presentations. Meet someone new or catch up with an old friend over a cup of tea. Check with library staff or the online calendar (www.tinyurl.com/lafcalendar) for this week’s activity and meeting room. For more info, contact Chris Gray at (925) 385-2288 / cgray@ccclib.org.

The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will hold its February meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 in the Concord I Room at John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus, 2540 East Street, Concord. The speakers will be: Janet Patterson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Chief, Audiology & Speech-Language Service at the Veteran’s Administration, Martinez along with Kevin Dalziel, Research Associate. They will be discussing “Aphasic Comprehension: Conflict Resolution and Short Term Memory.” For further information about the Stroke Support Group, contact Ann Dzuna at (925) 376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Words of Wisdom Discussion Group Led by Craig Janke from 10:30 to noon on the third Tuesday monthly in the Elderberry Room, Lafayette Community Center. Share your opinions with us in a freewheeling exchange of ideas: from current events to philosophy to the inspirational. There may be agreement or there may be different opinions -- it’s all in the spirit of learning, sharing, enrichment and good humor. Fee per meeting: Members: Free, Non-members: $10

Cooking for One or Two: Breakfast & Brunch with Jaime Rios, Byron Park Executive Chef from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 29 at Byron Park, 1700 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. As we all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In this demonstration-style class, Chef Jaime will help you find new inspiration with recipes that will transform your breakfast and brunch routine. Space is limited; these classes fill up quickly. RSVP to Lafayette Senior Services by Wednesday, March 22: Seniors@LoveLafayette.org or 284-5050.

GARDEN

Lafayette Garden Club General Meeting is from 9:45 a.m. to noon on Feb. 9 at the Lafayette Veteran’s Building located at 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The speaker will be Bruce Rodgers, the “orchid whisperer” who will speak about the many charms of orchids and how to grow them. Bruce has been growing, hybridizing, and decorating with orchids for over 30 years and offers a wide range of orchid growing and decorating services. His books will be available. Visitors are welcome! Please email Carolyn Poetzsch cpoetzsch@gmail.com

The Walnut Creek Garden Club monthly meetings are held at the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Dr., Walnut Creek. The Feb.13 program is “Designing Beautiful, Edible Gardens” with Mike Irvine, lead gardener and project director of Homestead Design Collection, who designed Test Gardens for Sunset Magazine. 10:30-11 a.m. social, program 11 a.m.to noon. All are invited to attend and consider becoming a member.

The Moraga Garden Club’s monthly meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb.16 at the Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. Guest speaker will be Laurie Callaway, of Laurie Callaway Garden Design. Her topic will be, “Secrets of a Four Season Garden.” Interested parties are welcome to attend the 9:30 a.m. social hour, the 10 a.m. meeting, as well as the presentation by Laurie Callaway, immediately following the meeting.

The Montelindo Garden Club meets at 9 a.m. Friday Feb. 17 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, in Orinda. Everyone is welcome. Presentation: Plant Hunting at the “Edge of the World” with William McNamara, Executive Director of Quarryhill Botanical Garden of Glen Ellen, California, and plant hunter extraordinaire, who has been instrumental in building this botanical garden, which “Advances the Conservation, Study and Cultivation of the Flora of Asia.”

Come to the Kokedama String Garden Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 25 at Orchard Nursery in Lafayette. String gardens are the latest trend for displaying houseplants. Also called Kokedama, string gardens wrap a plant’s root system in moss and string, creating a piece of living art. In this hands-on, make-and-take class, you’ll learn wrapping techniques, as well as how to care for your string garden. Cost: $40 class fee includes all supplies needed. Reservations: Call (925) 284-4474 and make your reservation today.