ART

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.


The Moraga Art Gallery announces the opening of “Into the Wood(s)” - an homage to trees. Watercolor landscapes by Moraga’s George Ehrenhaft, the show’s featured artist, capture the arboreal splendor of Lamorinda and beyond - from the Pacific shore to peaks of the Sierra. The show’s featured guest artist, Duke Herrero of Orinda, has created museum-quality wooden objects - utensils, table-top boxes, footstools, cutting boards, and more - all hewn and lovingly shaped from a variety of trees from everyday walnut and cherry to exotic ipe and cocobolo. The show runs through June 1. The current show “A Sense of Place” is running through March 16. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Lamorinda Art Alliance featured artist Zarmine Aghazarian through May 31 at Dr. Samadian’s Center for Reconstruction and Implant, 23 Orinda Way suite 301, Orinda. There will be a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on April 19. Dr. Amin Samadian is proud to have affiliated with the Lamorinda Arts Alliance for the opportunity to showcase the artwork of the organization’s artists and to celebrate the integration of Art, Science and Technology.

Valley Art Gallery Announces “SPLASH,” a new exhibition for Spring running through May 11. Nothing refreshes an interior like a splash of original art. With that in mind the Gallery has assembled more than 300 fresh pieces for this 70th annual spring show that are sure to create a Splash! From abstracts to zoomorphics to everything in between, the work represents the best of the best by East Bay artists - with all works available for sale or rent.

The Green Gaels Club of Saint Mary’s College is putting on the Eco Art Show at the college’s Museum of Art from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 25. The show is designed to bring community together to explore the role of environmental artwork in today’s critical climate by listening to the voices of students. The artwork will be for sale in a silent auction; all proceeds go to the Green Gaels Club which is propelling the environmental movement at SMC.

Art exhibit at the art gallery at the Orinda library features photography of birds in flight by Barbara Brady smith, landscape photography of Yosemite and the Bay Area by Wenda Pyman, and etchings and wood block prints by Moose Wesler. The exhibit runs through the end of April.

MUSIC

Clerestory presents Songbook II: More from the Great American Songbook from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on May 12 at David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley. Clerestory returns to its popular series of Americana concerts with African American spirituals, barbershop, folk songs, and jazz styles. Cost: $5-30. For more info seewww.eventbrite.com/e/
songbook-ii-more-from-the-great-american-songbook-tickets-49925539633 or email info@clerestory.org.

An Afternoon of Jazz featuring Matt Zebley and His Oversize Quartet. OSLC Concert Series, at 4 p.m. on April 28 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane in Lafayette. Free admission; freewill offering.

By and By Cantare Con Vivo Chamber Ensemble at 4 p.m. on May 5 at the Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Dr., Lafayette. The Cantare Con Vivo Chamber Ensemble presents an intimate concert featuring 10 eclectic selections, including Poulenc’s exquisite a cappella Mass in G Major, Also included are Brahm’s Three Gypsy Songs, two spirituals: By and By, and Let Us Cheer the Weary Traveler, two popular classics from the 1930s: I Get Along Without You Very Well and Ain’t Misbehavin’, and other works by Pearsall, Hawley, Barber, and Whitacre. Tickets: General $22, Student $10. Ticket link: https://cantareconvivo.
secure.force.com/ticket#sections_a0F0B00000J5pM9UAJ. https://www.cantareconvivo.org/
upcoming-events

Drum, Relax and Learn at the monthly Lamorinda Drum Circle from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday May 6. 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.

Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble presents “Northern Lights,” a concert featuring rich and rarely performed works by 20th and 21st century Baltic and Scandinavian composers, including recent works from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Latvia and Estonia. Marked by long, cold winters and short but highly celebrated summers, these countries’ landscapes are reflected in their music and poetry, with themes of darkness and light, winter, night, and stars in the sky. Showtimes at 7 p.m. on May 5 at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley and on May 11 at St. Perpetua Catholic Church, 3454 Hamlin Road, Lafayette. Tickets: $25 suggested donation at the door, $20 advance, $15 students, free for children between 6-12. Available at the door; or online from brownpapertickets.com or www.vocisings.org


Pacific Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Lawrence Kohl, performs Beethoven’s Symphony #3 “Eroica” Coriolanus Overture and “Triple” Concerto with Trio Foss as soloists. Concerts are at 7:30 p.m. on May 18 at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church 24 Knox, Lafayette and at 3 p.m. on May 19 at Bankhead Theatre, 2400 First Street in Livermore. Tickets may be purchased online at www.pacificchamberorchestra.org and additionally for the Livermore performance by calling or visiting the Bankhead box office (925) 373-6800 located at 2400 First Street, Livermore or www.bankheadtheater.org.

THEATER

Orinda Intermediate School Bulldog Theater stages “Footloose,” April 25-27 at Orinda Intermediate School, 80 Ivy Drive. “Kick off your Sunday shoes!” One of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the live stage with exhilarating results. Tickets are $3-$10. Visit www.showtix4u.com for show times and tickets. Tickets are also available at the door.

Acalanes DramaDons present “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” by Ken Ludwig at 7 p.m. April 24-27. Get your deerstalker cap on - the play’s afoot! From the award-winning mastermind of mayhem, comes a fast-paced comedy about everyone’s favorite detective solving his most notorious case. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must crack the mystery of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Tickets and Information at www.ahsperformingarts.org
 
Town Hall Theatre Company presents “Uncanny Valley” - Town Hall Theatre’s staged reading series In the Wings is a one-night only reading of Uncanny Valley, a riveting new play about artificial intelligence and ethical quandaries by Thomas Gibbons, directed by Lana Palmer at 8 p.m. on April 29 at the Town Hall Theatre Company, 3535 School Street, Lafayette. Tickets are $10 general admission and free to subscribers, and are available through the Box Office at (925) 283-1557 or online at www.TownHallTheatre.com.

Diablo Ballet closes its landmark 25th season with Celebrated Masters, at 8 p.m. on May 3 and at 2 p.m. on May 4, at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek. Diablo Ballet will feature an encore presentation of Swan Lake Suite, the romantic Tryst by Val Caniparoli, and Walk before Talk by KT Nelson. Immediately following each performance, ticket holders are invited to a dessert and coffee reception where you can meet and mingle with the dancers. Single tickets are $15-$47. For tickets, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org. For more information, visit www.diabloballet.org.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Wine and Tapas Speaker Series presents The Poetics of the Ecosphere; a multimedia presentation by artist, poet, and author Deborah Kennedy from 5 to 6 p.m. on April 27 at 1035 Carol Lane, Lounge. Recognized with several national book and poetry awards, Kennedy combines visual arts and poetry to expresses the range of emotions and moments that bind us to the natural world. Bring a bottle of wine or finger food to share.

Lit Lamorinda at 7 p.m. on April 27 at the Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery. Join Poet Laureate Amy Glynn for an upbeat trifecta of the senses. Enjoy wines from Lamorinda boutique wineries paired with five Bay Area poets set against the SF based Jazz trio Rob Evans Trio. $25. Tickets at jpgatthebank.com

Please join Friends of Hospice Orinda for coffee and refreshments followed by a presentation of the widely popular book “Beneath the Scarlet Sky” from 9:30 a.m. to noon on May 3 at Friends of Hospice, Orinda. The author is Mark Sullivan who gathered authentic material from the son of the protagonist, Pino Lella. His son, Michael Lella, will deliver a fascinating view of his father during WWII in Italy. He will bring slides and comments about his father, Pino, who is still living, at 92 years of age, on Lake Como, Italy. Reservations are available for $50 per person. Please make a check out to Friends of Hospice, Orinda Mail to Diane Hill, 41 Charles Hill Rd. Orinda, CA 94563.

A book launch to celebrate local author Heidi Eliason’s “Confessions of a Middle-Aged Runaway: An RV Travel Adventure” will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda. Come and enjoy refreshments, book signings, and a prize drawing. Free.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Free photo with the Bunny 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 20 at Moraga’s Rheem Valley Shopping Center in the suite between Dover Saddlery and Nations Giant Hamburgers.

The Lafayette Rotary Club “Annual Candy Scramble” will be held at 10 a.m. on April 20 at Lafayette Plaza (corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Rd). This event is open to all children ages 2-through second grade. The park lawn will be covered with candy for the kids to put in their baskets. The youngest are always given extra time to get their share! The Bunny along with the Police and Fire Departments will be there to take pictures with the kids. And don’t miss the Jonny’s Donut Dive (for adults only).

Lamorinda Arts Council (LAC) will host auditions for their 14th annual Lamorinda Idol singing competition May 9-11 at the Orinda Intermediate School (80 Ivy Drive, Orinda). Registration for solo and group auditions is open through April 30. The singing competition is for anyone in kindergarten through 12th grade who is living or attending school in Orinda, Lafayette or Moraga. Singers outside of the Lamorinda area can participate in a group, providing the group has at least one member from Lamorinda. To learn more about LAC’s Lamorinda Idol 2019 and register go to www.lamorindaarts.org/

OTHER

Health Care for All in California - Join us for a viewing of “Fix it,” a 38-minute documentary that takes an in-depth look at our dysfunctional health care system from 7 to 9 p.m. on April 18 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Sanctuary 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. This system is unaffordable for a third of our citizens, discourages health care professionals and suffocates our businesses. The viewing will be preceded by a short presentation, followed by a panel discussion and question and answer period. Free event but RSVP is requested: https://tinyurl.com/HCAFixit

Join the National Park Service (NPS) and the John Muir Association in celebrating John Muir’s 181st birthday and Earth Day, during its annual Birthday - Earth Day event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 20 at the John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) in Martinez. The celebration, held rain or shine, features family-oriented activities, food for sale, live music including a bagpipe band, song performances by original cast members of the play “Mountain Days,” and exhibits by national parks and local environmental organizations. Parking and admission are free. For directions, please visit www.nps.gov/jomu/planyourvisit/directions.htm. For additional information, please visit www.johnmuirassociation.org or www.MuirEarthDay.org.

Many Faces of Skin Cancer from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on April 23 in the Lafayette Library-Community Room, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Join an engaging panel of medical experts including as they offer insights into the latest information on prevention, risk factors, new treatment options, and explore the unique issues of skin cancer survivors. Reservations recommended, call (925) 677-5041, ext. 272.

The giant spring book sale sponsored by the Friends of the Moraga Library will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at the Moraga Library, 1500 St. Mary’s Road. Books, CDs and DVDs of every category will be sold at prices ranging from 25 cents to $3. Beginning at 1 p.m. a bag can be purchased for $5 and filled with all the books it will hold. Proceeds from the sale go to fund library materials and programs, in addition to paying for staffing of the library’s Sunday hours.

The Farm to Table movement gets local at this upcoming tasting of products from four local farmers and producers that deliver organic, seasonal, and sustainable foods each week to the Lafayette Community Supported Agriculture Project drop site. Stop by and sample breads, fruit, vegetable, and some Real Good Fish at this year’s Earth Day event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 28 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.

Bluegrass Music, projects for the kids, poetry of the ecosphere, meditation pods, and handmade mimosas kick off the celebration of Earth Day from 10 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 28 at 1035 Carol Lane, Outside Courtyard. Experiences to move you more fully into a healthy relationship to the planet designed and presented by The Lafayette Order of the Sacred Earth.

Gait and Balance Affecting Your Daily Life with Valerie Watase, PT at 7 p.m. on April 30 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 or call (925) 284-6150.

The 2019 Moraga Community Faire and Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 at the town’s Rheem Valley Shopping Center - offering a wonderful opportunity for a family fun day! $5 unlimited Kid’s Zone activities include pony rides, bounce house and mazes, Bot Bash Party and Bay Area Ball Players. Food trucks, live music, wine & beer, over 70 classic cars and booths to meet local artists, business and organizations. Area residents who own classic cars are invited to participate in the car show. The $35 registration fee includes an entry ribbon, lunch for two, a commemorative photo, and a chance for owners to display their restoration work to the public. Prizes will be awarded. The registration deadline is April 30. For more information, visit www.moraagachamber.org/faire.

15th Annual JF Kapnek 5/K Fun Run at 9 a.m. on May 5 at Miramonte High School. Along with a 5K run and a 1K children’s run or walk, event participants will enjoy music, arts and crafts, food and prizes for the top finishers including certificates from Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Sports Basement. All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Strollers welcome! The event supports early childhood education, nutrition and AIDS treatment and prevention programs for children and families in Zimbabwe. Visit www.kapnektrustusa.org for more information and to register go to http://jfkapnekusafunrun.eventbrite.com. Onsite day of registration is also available.

Bay Area Book Festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 4 and 5, at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, 2151 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley. Meet national book award winners, NY Times top 10 authors, international writers, YA and children’s book legends, and a diverse literary community. Cost: Free to $15. For more info see https://www.baybookfest.org or email info@baybookfest.org.

Taste of Lafayette - Lafayette’s Favorite Dinner Party! from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on May 14 in downtown Lafayette. The Taste of Lafayette stroll begins when ticket holders head out at their own pace to stop at any or all of the participating restaurants for sampling. Evening includes music throughout the stroll and a raffle supporting the Lafayette Community Foundation. Drawing for the raffle will be held at 7:45 p.m. at JPG@TheBank.

John Muir National Historic Site (John Muir NHS) will launch its second annual series of Stewardship Saturdays. Join the National Park Service for these free, Ranger-led land stewardship programs at the Martinez, California site. The programs begin at 9 a.m. at the Strentzel Creek meadow area of Mt. Wanda. This area recently came under NPS management and is currently only open to visitation with an NPS chaperone. The stewardship project will entail removing invasive plant species from the sensitive creek and surrounding meadow. All training and tools required for this project will be provided. The three 2019 Stewardship Saturday events will be on March 23, April 27, and May 18. Find more information and register at: https://jomu.eventbrite.com/

GARDEN

The Montelindo Garden Club’s April meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. on April 19 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Community Hall. Presentation: Edible Plants and Fruit Trees; Speaker: Katie Wong, who has been a Master Gardner and a board member for the Rare Fruit Growers and the Western Horticultural Society. She will share her passion for unusual fruits from around the world which can be grown successfully in the Bay Area.

Registration for the 15th Annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 5 is now open. This award-winning, self-drive tour features 37 Alameda and Contra Costa county gardens that are pesticide-free, water conserving, provide habitat for wildlife, and contain 60 percent or more native plants. Two of these gardens are located in Moraga. Pre-registration for the Tour is required. Cost: $10 to purchase the garden guide; donations requested. www.BringingBacktheNatives.net, (510) 236-9558.