ART
Moraga Art Gallery’s new exhibit “Precision Beauty” features interpretations of nature in the form of jewelry by member artist Kuniko Kay Nitta of Walnut Creek and watercolor paintings by Berkeley’s Karen Kramer. The Gallery is located at 522 Center Street in the Rheem Shopping Center. For more information visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Annual Arts in Bloom Festival 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17 at the Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way. For details see www.lamorindaarts.org/arts-in-bloom-festival.
 
Valley Art Gallery presents “Celebrating Light” - their new Summer Collection Continues opening June 26, featuring Artist Judith Feins and her plein air landscapes. The show runs through Aug. 5. There is an opening reception from 3 to 5 p.m. on July 14. www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art and the California Watercolor Association present “The Color of Summer.” Fifty new works are on view reflecting the member artists’ charge to capture their visions of summer. CWA is one of the largest and most active watermedia organizations in the nation with a mission to create, foster and sustain artistic growth and interest in watermedia. This exhibition will include a series of events including plein air painting, live demonstrations, and lessons for youth. The exhibition runs through Aug. 26.

MUSIC

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir presents “Roots from the West” OIGC and Norwegian Choir SKRUK from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 30 at Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Experience OIGC’s gospel repertoire alongside SKRUK’s Scandinavian choral music. As SKRUK’s director Prots says, the concert is ‘a new musical latte.’ Cost: $22-$25. For more info see http://www.oigc.org/oigcskruk or call (510) 839-4361 or email admin@oigc.org.

Solo Opera teams up again this year with the Orinda Rotary Club to present the club’s 10th annual Opera in the Park. Sponsored by the Orinda Rotary, the free performance will be presented from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 22 at the Orinda Community Park. It is an opportunity to hear professional opera singers perform favorite arias, duets, and ensembles, which organizers say will thrill even non-opera lovers. Free parking is available. For more information on Solo Opera or the concert, please visit www.SoloOpera.org or email solomail@pacbell.net.

You are invited to join your neighbors from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings at the Moraga Commons Park for a relaxing free concert in the park. Bring your picnic blanket or lawn chairs to the grassy hillside in front of the band shell. Enjoy the music while your children enjoy the park. The volunteers of MPF will cook dinner for you with the Snack Bar opening at 6 p.m. The lineup includes the following: June 28: Beatles Flashback - Beatles tribute band; July 4: David Martin’s House Party - Dance party & show songs (7 p.m. concert).

Free summer concerts Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Orinda Community Park, 28 Orinda Way: July 10, Crawdad Republic.
Free “Rock the Plaza” music concert 6:30 -8:30 p.m. in Lafayette Plaza Park Friday evenings: June 29, Lamorinda Idol Finalist.

THEATER

California Shakespeare Theater extends Quixote Nuevo through July 7. This music-filled, contemporary retelling of Miguel de Cervantes’ classic Spanish novel Don Quixote, was written by celebrated Latino playwright Octavio Solis and directed by KJ Sanchez, and takes us on a journey to the fictional modern-day border town of La Mancha, Texas, where an aging Don Quixote loses himself in stories of chivalrous escapades and embarks on a quest of imagination, adventure, and Tejano music. Added performances at 7:30 p.m. on July 5, and at 8 p.m. on July 6 and 7.

Town Hall Theatre is excited to announce its annual Donor Thank You Event, a one-night only performance of the original and inventive documentary musical “Gone Missing”, created by The Civilians, with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman. “Gone Missing” will have one performance only at 8 p.m. on July 14 at Town Hall Theatre Company, 3535 School Street, in Lafayette. The event is free to all Town Hall donors, with a suggested donation of $20 for the general public. Seats can be reserved now through the Box Office at (925) 283-1557 or online at www.TownHallTheatre.com.

Woodminster Summer Musicals Opens 52nd Season with “Oklahoma!” This popular classic will be performed at 8 p.m. July 6 through 15 at Woodminster Amphitheater in Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park, located on Joaquin Miller Road at upper Sanborn Drive. “Oklahoma!” is set in a Western territory just after the turn of the 20th century, where the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a headstrong farm girl, play out their love story. Tickets are available by phone, at (510) 531-9597, online at www.woodminster.com, or in person at Woodminster Amphitheater 10-4 weekdays and 10-2 weekends, or at the box office 2 hours before any performance.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Literary Luncheon featuring Chloe Benjamin, author of “The Immortalists” at 11:30 a.m. on July 10 at Orinda Books. $12 includes a light luncheon, author presentation of her best-selling book and Q and A. Call (925) 254-7606 to make your reservation.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

The Dave Rocha Jazz Trio will perform jazz music tailored for kids at the Moraga Library from 4 to 5 p.m. on July 10. This event will also include a presentation and demonstration of some of the instruments used in a jazz band.

The Contra Costa County Library is proud to kick off Summer Reading on Monday, June 4. The program is the Library’s yearly effort to keep kids reading during the summer months, preventing “brain drain.” This year’s theme is “Reading Take You Everywhere” and the program is filled with activities, events and reading lists designed to show you that reading can take your imagination anywhere. Summer Reading runs through Saturday, Aug. 4. For more information on Summer Reading including a list of prizes, challenges and events, visit your local Contra Costa County Library branch or ccclib.org/summer.

Haley’s Color Run for a Reason begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4. A 2-mile run/walk or a 5-mile run thru scenic parts of Orinda and EBMUD watershed. Participants meet in front of the Community Center. Haley’s Run for a Reason benefits research for SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood), small donation requested. To register: www.angelhaley.org.

Fourth of July Parade in downtown Orinda begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4 followed by music and community activities from 11:30-1:30 at the Orinda Community Park.
 
Fireworks in Moraga begin at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4.  View from the Common’s Park and enjoy David Martin House Party in concert which begins at 7:30 pm. Fun activities at the Commons all day-see  http://www.moraga.ca.us/dept/park-rec/july4 for the complete schedule.

OTHER

It’s kitten season! The best time of year to visit Community Concern for Cats weekend adoption events. We bring beautiful, happy, healthy kittens who have been raised in foster homes to you from 1 to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill, and Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information, see www.communityconcernforcats.org.

Friends Corner Book Shop in Lafayette will be having a half price sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. All proceeds benefit Lafayette Library.

Moraga Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. on July 4 at the Moraga Shopping Center. www.moragafunrun.com

City of Berkeley presents Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina from noon to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4 at Berkeley Marina, 201 University Ave., Berkeley. Fireworks 9:30 p.m. Free event with live bands, food trucks, free photo booth, water balls, pony rides, dragon boat rides, Alcohol-free event. Parking $20 vehicles/ $50 large vehicles. For more info see http://www.anotherbullwinkelshow.com/4th-of-july/ or call (510) 548-5335 or email Lisa@AnotherBullwinkelShow.com.

Document Shredding Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 14 in the parking lot at 400 Taylor Blvd, Pleasant Hill. Bring old tax returns, bills, business records, bank statements and other documents containing personal information (no x-rays or film) to our fundraiser. Your documents will be shredded onsite by a certified shredding company. For questions, please call Diablo Valley Oncology (925) 677-5041 x272.

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

Congressman Mark Desaulnier presents Protecting the Environment Town Hall from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on July 2 in the Campolindo High School Multi-Purpose Room, 300 Moraga Road, Moraga. Please RSVP by visiting https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp.