ART

The Moraga Art Gallery presents its new show, “A Sense of Place” running through March 16. Wenda Pyman’s latest exhibit of beguiling landscape photographs kicks off the new year at the Moraga Art Gallery. Calling to mind the camera work of Ansel Adams and Eliot Porter, Wenda captures the luminous and timeless splendor of places like Mt. Diablo, Morro Bay, SF’s Baker Beach, and the Florida Keys. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Valley Art Gallery presents “Celebrating 70,” a new exhibition for its 70th Anniversary running through March 15, 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek. www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

Clerestory presents Movement of Colors: Music Inspired by Art and Artists from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley. Immerse yourself in the world of art, sculpture, and invention during our winter concert, Movement of Colors. Cost: $5-30. For more info see https://www.eventbrite.com/
e/movement-of-colors-tickets-49925162505 or email info@clerestory.org.

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMC | MoA) is pleased to present two Spring Exhibitions, “Foad Satterfield: THINGS KNOWN” and “David Otis Johnson: NOCTAMBULANT.” These exhibitions open with a free public reception from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28 and continue through June 9. For more information on programs and events, please visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum.
 
Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery is proud to present an exhibition featuring 16 glass artists from the Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California. This exhibit features a variety of wall and pedestal art glass - sculptural, conceptual, and decorative. The exhibit runs through March 2.  www.jenniferperl
muttergallery.com

MUSIC

Temple Isaiah’s Cantor Leigh Korn presents “Coming Together: Songs of Unity and Community” featuring a stellar cast of cantors from across the country at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21 in the Temple Isaiah Sanctuary. Tickets are $36. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at https://temple-isaiah.org or (925) 283-8575.
Campolindo Symphonic Band Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 in the Campo Performing Arts Center. Enjoy an evening of wide-ranging music performed by talented students for your listening pleasure.

Bryan Baker conducts Beethoven’s Mass in C, featuring the combined choirs of the Unitarian Universalist Churches of Berkeley and San Francisco, along with the Kensington Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. on March 2 at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Road, Kensington. Tickets: $15 to $20. (510) 525-0302, http://www.uucb.org.

Drum, Relax and Learn at the monthly Lamorinda Drum Circle from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, March 4. Enjoy learning to drum in a fun small-group environment. Drums are provided. Lamorinda Music, 81 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. We meet at this time and place on the first Monday of each month. Suggested donation $10-$20. http://www.MusicForTherapy.com

East Bay treble choir, WomenSing, is hosting an event to celebrate International Women’s Day at 8 p.m. on March 8 that will include a screening of the acclaimed documentary “Little Stones,” a concert, and reception. The audience will have an opportunity to meet members of WomenSing at a reception after the performance. The event will take place at the Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. Tickets: $10 youth; $30 general, lesherartscenter.showare.com/
LittleStones

Cantare Con Vivo presents Messa da Requiem at 7:30 p.m. on March 16 at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave., Walnut Creek. The Cantare Chorale, 120 fabulous singers strong, will join with soloists and full orchestra to present one of the pinnacles of Western Art, Verdi’s Requiem. This historical text has been assembled over several hundreds of years and remains relevant today in its addressing personal loss, hope, grief, joy, sorrow, mercy and acceptance. Tickets available online, by phone, or at the door: General $38, Senior $33, Student $10. www.cantareconvivo.org; (510) 836-0789.

Gold Coast Chamber Players performances W.A.M. at 7:30 p.m. on March 16 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall. There will be a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. Tickets: $45 General, $40 Senior (65+), $15 Student. Purchase online: www.gcplayers.org; By phone: (925) 283-3728.

Pacific Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Lawrence Kohl, performs Schubert’s Octet, Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, and Francaix’s Dixtuor, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23 in the Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Tickets may be purchased for “Schubert - The Sublime” online at www.pacificchamber
orchestra.org.

THEATER

“Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests and the Future,” a one-hour documentary, will play at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12 at the Town Hall Theatre on School Street in Lafayette. Sponsored by Sustainable Lafayette, the movie reveals how fuel build-up and climate change have exposed Western wildlands to large, high intensity wildfires, while greenhouse gases released from these fires contribute to global warming. This vicious cycle jeopardizes our forests and affects us all with extreme weather and more wildfires, some of which are now entering highly populated wildland-urban areas. General tickets are $10 and are available via www.sustainablelafayette.org.

Diablo Ballet celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a world premiere fairytale ballet, Once Upon a Time at 6:30 p.m. on March 22 and 2 and 8 p.m. on March 23 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Join Diablo Ballet on this fairytale adventure where you will meet Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and more. Children in attendance are invited to dress up as their favorite fairytale character and stay and meet the dancers after the performances. Single tickets are $15-$50. For tickets, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org. For more information, visit www.diabloballet.org.

Town Hall Theatre Company presents “Brooklyn Bridge” by Melissa James Gibson, directed by M. Graham Smith through March 23. Tickets and showtimes are available at TownHallTheatre.com or by calling (925) 283-1557. The theatre is located at 3535 School Street in Lafayette.


LECTURE & LITERATURE

Start Your Year Off Right: Be The Best You Can Be, a free lecture with Lauren Masi, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC,, 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, at Lafayette Physical Therapy, 3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Suite B110 in Lafayette. This is a free event, but space is limited, so please sign up at lafayettept.com/events.

Saint Mary’s College MFA Creative Writing presents its Graduate Student Reading from 7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27 in De La Salle Hall: Hagerty Lounge, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga. Curated and hosted by a committee of graduate students, the Graduate Student Reading Series showcases the dynamic and welcoming arts community here at Saint Mary’s College. All readings are free and open to the public.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Hack the Future is coming to Contra Costa County from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center for a one-day hackathon for youth ages 10-19. Attendees will be able to explore and experiment with different STEM activities while learning from tech industry professionals. Activities / Demos to include: Programming, Electronics, 3D Printing, Robotics, Virtual Reality, and more. Stay tuned for more information about this very special opportunity and head over tohttp://hackthefuture.org/ for more information and sign up to be notified when registration opens.

Contra Costa Camp and School Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Acalanes High School, with free activities and over 100 exhibitors allowing attendees to view a smorgasbord of camps, enrichment programs, schools, S.T.E.M. and S.T.E.A.M. programs, performing arts, preschools, cooking, educational, sports and other programs available this spring and summer. Admission is free and there is ample free parking. Call (925) 408-4014 or visit www.ContraCostaCampFair.com for more information or to register for a free family ticket.

The 2019 Bookmark Contest sponsored by the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center will be open to all Lafayette students grades K-8th to enter their original artwork. The entry forms will be available beginning Feb. 15 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 8. For more information please contact Kay Pekrul:kae865@hotmail.com.

Mindful Littles Kindness Book Club from 10:30 a.m. to noon on March 9 at the Orinda Library Garden Room. Read a book on a special kindness theme, practice heart-centered movements and mindfulness, and do a fun creative art project. Water and snacks for your kids. Please wear comfortable clothes. Ages 4-11. Parents/guardians are required with children. Register at: https://mindfullittles.org/

Lamorinda Teens Read - the school libraries of Acalanes, Campolindo, Los Lomas, and Miramonte present “One Community, One Book” from Feb. 25 through March 29 when all four schools will read Nic Stone’s latest novel, “Dear Martin” and multiple events will happen at the Contra Costa Library branches. Pick up a free copy of the book to keep in the school or local library on Feb. 25.

OTHER

Community Concern for Cats presents some of the finest friends you could find. See them at our adoption event from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24 at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill and Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information, see www.communityconcernforcats.org.

“Let’s Talk About the Most Common Female Urologic Conditions” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, at the Lafayette Library’s Community Room, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Join an engaging panel of medical experts as they discuss the most common urologic conditions experienced by women. This special event will explore the latest treatment options and provide insights into female incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, menopause and postmenopausal symptoms. Speakers include a urogynecologist, continence specialist, gynecologist and menopause specialist. Register by emailing: sjung@dvohmg.com.

Free Tax preparation for the 2019 tax season is available starting in February from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs. Service is provided by volunteer tax preparers who are IRS trained and certified. EKS service is limited to those with incomes below $54,000, while Tax-Aide does not have an income limit. For Tax-Aide site information or appointments in Walnut Creek call: (925) 943-5851 for the Walnut Creek Senior Center site; (925) 405-6278 for the Walnut Creek Grace Presbyterian Church site; or (925) 979-5013 for the Walnut Creek St. Paul’s Episcopal Church site. For information on other Tax-Aide sites, call: (925) 726-3199. For information on EKS sites, call 2-1-1 or visitwww.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

First Friday Forum presents a cutting edge topic for its guests at 1:30 p.m. on March 1 in the Sanctuary of Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. Jim Marggraff will speak on “Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality.” If you’ve wondered what these terms are all about Marggraff is the person to explain. He worked as a Director in Google’s Virtual and Augmented Reality division, following the sale of Eyefluence, a company founded by him, to Google in 2016. Refreshments will be served at 1 p.m. For further information call LOPC at (925) 283-8722.

Orinda Books presents Chef Charlie Cooks Parisian Springtime in Paris - luncheon and cooking demonstration (featuring Frisee Salad, White Bean Stew & Tarte aux Noix) at 11:30 a.m. on March 6. $35. To register, call (925) 254-7606.

In partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission, MCE will hold an upcoming workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 7 at 2300 Clayton Rd Suite 1150, Concord to learn about General Order 156. Commonly referred to as “Utility Supplier Diversity,” this CPUC program encourages California investor-owned utilities to provide a fair proportion of total utility contracts and subcontracts to businesses that meet diversity qualifications. This program is open to women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT-owned firms representing at least 51% of the business ownership. MCE is hosting an informative workshop with guest speakers from the CPUC and the Supplier Diversity Clearinghouse. Together, we will speak to the purpose of this program, certification qualifications, and the contracting opportunities available through the Clearinghouse. Refreshments will be served and parking will be validated. Seating is limited, so please RSVP by Feb. 28 at certifyamplify.eventbrite.com

Lafayette resident, Papa John Kiefer, will, again, offer workshops on “How to Raise Your Own Chickens.” Topics will include raising young chicks, laying hen maintenance, and sustainable coop construction. Workshops are free and will be held in Lafayette from 1 to 3:30 pm on Sundays, March 3 and 17. Reservations are required. Contact: chickenspapajohn@gmail.com. Location provided upon registration.

Say Something Workshop: How to Help a Friend or Family Member Living with Domestic Violence at 10:30 a.m. on March 23 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 451 Moraga Way, Orinda. Every year more than 10 million women and men are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Come learn how to listen, talk and take action when someone you care about is being abused. Facilitated by Rev. Michele Robbins, an ordained pastor with a background in Family Relations. Her workshops focus on understanding the cycle of violence, types of power, abuser tactics, and how to talk with victims, including avoiding pitfalls and words that help. More info: shalompastor3@gmail.com.

SENIORS

Cooking: Eggs, Eggs and More Eggs by Byron Park Dining Services Team from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 14 at Byron Park, 1700 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. In this demonstration-style class, you will be guided in the many ways the humble yet versatile egg can be prepared - from basic to complex, scrambled to souffl‚! You will enjoy samples of the dishes and be given the recipes so you may recreate them at home. Space is limited; these classes fill up quickly. Please arrive early to allow time for parking. Cost: $10. RSVP to Lafayette Senior Services by Monday, March 11: Seniors@LoveLafayette.org or 284-5050.

GARDEN

The Moraga Garden Club will hold its next meeting at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 21, at the Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. The guest speaker will be Keith Silva, UC Master Gardener, who will be discussing “Pruning Tools and Techniques.” The event is free and open to all interested parties. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit moragagardenclub.com.

Walnut Creek Garden Club’s March meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. on March 11, at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road in Walnut Creek. The featured speaker, Liz Emmonds, will demonstrate how easy it is to manipulate plant materials to create interesting forms to take flower arrangements to a new and exciting level. Please email mslittle44@gmail.com with any questions.

The Montelindo Garden Club March meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. on March 15 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Community Hall. Presentation: Chelsea Flower Show, Speaker: Barbara Norkus, who is an anglophile who has attended the world famous Chelsea Flower Show many times. She will share her music video from the 2016 show.