ART

Valley Art Gallery’s annual Artful Giving show runs through Dec. 29 and includes a wide variety of beautifully crafted ceramics, wood and glass pieces, original designer jewelry, fiber arts, holiday decorations, small paintings, and many other unique, one-of-a-kind gift items all handcrafted by talented East Bay artisans.


In the spirit of the season, the Moraga Art Gallery presents “Holiday Magic in Porcelain and Paint,” a colorful new show featuring the works by two of Lamorinda’s most celebrated artists: Lafayette’s Donna Arganbright and Orinda’s Maria SantaStefano. The show, which includes paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photographs, and many other gifts of art by the gallery’s 14 members and guest artists, runs through Jan. 5. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Bedford Gallery, located in the Lesher Center for the Arts, offers enriching, educational volunteer opportunities. Train to become a docent from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6, 13. Docent volunteering is fun and provides opportunities to make friends, learn about art, and help foster the arts in our community. No prior art knowledge is required. To sign up, contact Carmen Kelly at (925) 295-1416 or kelly@bedfordgallery.org. Learn more at: http://www.bedfordgallery.org/support/volunteer

MUSIC

Drum, Relax and Learn at the monthly Lamorinda Drum Circle from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7 at Lamorinda Music, 81 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Enjoy learning to drum in a fun small-group environment. Drums are provided. Meetings on the first Monday of each month. Suggested donation $10-$20. www.MusicForTherapy.com

William Feasley, classical guitarist, performs at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Walnut Creek, in Multi-Media Program “Echos of Goya” at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 at 1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek. A Classical Guitar Master, Feasley is world-recognized as the featured guitarist in the CBS special, “Eulogy of Segovia.” Feasley has been the featured artist for numerous prestigious guitar and music festivals around the world. Donation at the door: average $20, Students $10 (all are welcome regardless of donation).
 
Living Jazz presents “In The Name of Love,” the 17th Annual Musical Tribute Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20 at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr., Oakland. Tickets: Adv. $25- $60; Door: $30-$65 (discounts for Children 12 and under). All proceeds will benefit the Living Jazz Children’s Project. Livingjazz.org/mlktribute

LECTURE & LITERATURE

The World Affairs Book Group will meet at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15 at Orinda Books to read and discuss “Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence,” by Christian Parenti. They meet bi-monthly and welcome new members.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Mindful Littles presents Building Blankets and Warming Hearts from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Las Trampas, 3460 Lana Lane, Lafayette. Mindful Littles is excited to team up with our Special Friends at Las Trampas for an important service project this winter. Each year the clients at Las Trampas help prepare around 200 blankets for Trevor’s Eagle Project Foundation. These blankets will be finished by local Scouts and donated to Children’s Hospitals to help keep their patients warm this winter. Free. Register at https://www.flipcause.com/secure/event_step2/NDYyNjg=/37314

Lafayette Youth Commission seventh and eighth grade Tri-City Dance – seventh- and eighth-graders from all three Lamorinda middle schools are invited to the LYC’s first Tri-City Dance of the year from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18 at the Lafayette Community Center. Cost: $7 per attendee and must be purchased prior to the dance. Dances sell out fast, so reserve your spot today! To reserve your spot or for more info, please visit www.lafayetterec.org or call (925) 284-2232.

OTHER

Lion’s Club Crab Feed with silent auction at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. Tickets for adults are $55; children 6-12 years are $27.50. To purchase call (925) 283-1841.

Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church’s annual Crab Feed and Dance, 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1700 School Street in Moraga. Dinner and Dance tickets are $50 and must be purchased in advance. Please call or text Thea at (925) 890-0918. The Dessert Silent Auction is back.  Chicken dinner choice available by special advance order request.

GARDEN

The Walnut Creek Garden Club meeting begins at 9:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14 at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road, Walnut Creek. David Rust, an expert on mushrooms and president of the Mycological Society, with his slide show, “Know Your Mushrooms,” will help us identify the good and the bad and we will come away with a new appreciation of fungi’s significant benefits to our ecosystems and human health. Times: 9:45 a.m. - Business Meeting; 10:30 a.m. - Social; 11 a.m. Program. We invite you to attend a meeting. Questions: mslittle44@gmail.com

The Moraga Garden Club will hold its next meeting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. The guest speaker will be Gail Emmons, author of “A Beginner’s Guide to Working with Leaves in a Contemporary Way.” She will speak on “Leaf Manipulation.” Emmons started her flower arranging journey more than 30 years ago while living in Hong Kong and taking classes in Sogetsu Ikebana. Emmons’ trademark in flower arranging has been the development of a dynamic sculptural style that mixes the traditions of both East and West in new and daring ways. This event is free and open to all interested parties. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit moragagardenclub.com.

The Montelindo Garden Club will be holding its January meeting at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Community Hall. Presentation: Pruning Tips with speaker Scott Paris. In South Placer County, Scott Paris started as a Landscape Designer and opened the High Hand Nursery in 2003 to acquire plants for his landscaping business. More recently he became the owner of Maple Rock Gardens, a landscaping gem and year-round farm which is opened to the public a few times a year. Paris will give tips on pruning plants in your landscape. www.montelindogarden.com

Winter Rose Care Workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at McDonnel Nursery, 196 Moraga Way, Orinda. Email info@mcdonnellnursery.com or call (925) 254-3713 to reserve a seat.