ART

The July exhibit at the art gallery at the Orinda Library will feature illustrations and their books by Elaine and Rob Drew, paintings by Jeanette Baird and Joanne Taeuffer, and paintings and painted wine bottles by Kath Balamuth. The exhibit runs through July 31. 26 Orinda Way.

Valley Art Gallery presents “Two for the Show” through Aug. 10 at the Valley Art Gallery, 1660 Botelho Drive, Walnut Creek, featuring the distinctive and beloved ceramics of Gerry Wallace and the colorful abstracts of Phil Simon. Both have ties to the gallery’s long history. www.valleyartgallery.org

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMC | MoA) presents two new exhibitions on view July 25 through Dec. 8. “Kal Spelletich: Significance Machines and Purposeful Robots” explores boundaries between humans and machines, integrating spirituality and mysticism through an unlikely form - robots. “New Formalism in Painting and Photography” presents the collaborative work of artists R&D (Diane Rosenblum and Joe Doyle) expanding the boundaries of painting and photography through digital manipulations. MoA admission is free. For information on programming and hours, visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum.

The Moraga Art Gallery’s new show running through Aug. 10 will feature the work of Lafayette artist-photographer Lucy Beck, who “paints” floral portraits with light to show the astonishing variety of colors and shapes of small flowers in our gardens, fields and woodlands, and guest artist, Oakland ceramicist Tomoko Jarrell, who specializes in the design and creation of simple, comely, Japanese-inspired functional and decorative vases, cups, bowls, and more. For hours and more information visit www.moragaartgallery.com, call (925)376-5407.

MUSIC

Cantare Con Vivo’s Summer Choir of 125 singers will present African-American spirituals and gospel songs, offering heartfelt passion in reflecting life rooted in American slavery at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27 at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church. We hear the perspective of an oppressed culture, embracing the promises professed in Judeo-Christian traditions that proclaim freedom, justice, equality and respect. These expressions of faith must now turn toward a spiritual plane where such promises can ultimately be trusted. Ticket price: $20. www.cantareconvivo.org.

The Kyle Athayde Dance Party is coming to Lafayette on Wednesday, July 24 for a one set performance at the Lafayette Library, featuring special guest, Bijon Watson. The 20-piece big band features world class musicians from New York City, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Kyle’s music draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources, from video games and internet memes to jazz and classical masterworks. If you like the big band music of Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, or Don Ellis, then you’ll love the Dance Party! Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20 at the door. kyleathaydedanceparty.com

Free and Fabulous Opera in the Park Concert from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 28 at the Orinda Community Park. The Rotary Club of Orinda and Solo Opera proudly present the 11th Annual Opera in the Park. Bring the entire family, a blanket and a picnic to enjoy an afternoon of best-loved opera arias/duets/ensembles and musical theater favorites performed by first-rate professional singers. Free admission - BART and handicapped accessible - free parking. For more info, contact cmroeder@comcast.net and www.soloopera.org.

Moraga Commons Park Summer Concerts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday evenings in the summer. July 25 features Mixed Nuts, a band performing hits from the `40s to the present and Aug. 1 will showcase Moonalice, Bay Area `60s psychedelic rock. Join your neighbors for a relaxing free concert. 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 Moraga Park Foundation cook food with the Snack Bar opening at 6 p.m.

S’mores at Sundown Family Concert with Andy Z and the Andyland Band at 5 p.m. on Aug. 11 at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek. Say “So long!” to summer while enjoying sweet treats and live music at this family-oriented event. Andy engages children (and parents) with songs and stories that range from educational to silly. Venue seating is limited. Food, blankets and lawn chairs are welcome. Outside alcohol is prohibited. Tickets: $15 General Admission Adult; $10 GA Child (ages two and up); children under age two are free. Tickets available online at gardenshf.org or by phone at (925) 947-1678.

Orinda Concerts in the Park, with food trucks, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings at the Community Center and Park: July 30, Vintage Jukebox; Aug. 6, Site 6 Bank; and Aug. 13, Floorshakers.

THEATER

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2019 summer season with the world premiere of “House of Joy” by Madhuri Shekar as part of their New Classics Initiative; playing Aug. 14 through Sept. 1 at the Bruns Amphitheater. A Pay What You Can performance will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 14. House of Joy is an action-adventure romance set in a harem at the beginning of the end of the Mughal Empire. Once upon a time and place, in something like 17th century Delhi, an imperial bodyguard risks her life to fight for what’s right, turning against everything she’s been raised to believe. Additional information and online ticketing are available at www.calshakes.org.

YMTC presents the epic musical, Les Mis‚rables, featuring a cast of 40 and a live 30-piece orchestra. Now on stage in El Cerrito, this superb production tells Victor Hugo’s classic tale as perfectly as it can be told. The show features talented young actors (teen through college age), including Moraga’s Alex Kolm playing Marius. Final performances are at 7 p.m on July 26 and 27 and at 2 p.m. on July 28. Tickets are $16-$32. For more information, visit https://www.ymtcbayarea.org.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Cinderella Story Time from 11 a.m. to noon on Aug. 3 at the Pleasant Hill Library 1750 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Diablo Ballet School faculty members Amanda Farris and Edward Stegge will bring the classic tale to life in this 30-minute interactive reading. Following the reading, Cinderella and her prince will teach the audience a short class demonstration. Admission is free for children of all ages. Children are invited to come dressed as their favorite fairytale character! To RSVP or for more information, visit diabloballet.org/events.

OTHER

Fascia: The Mystery Tissue That Holds You Together at 7 p.m. on July 30 with Tim Appleford, PT, MPT, OCS, ATC, Clinic Manager at Lafayette Physical Therapy at 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.

Summer is simply cooler with cats. Visit with the kitties of Community Concern for Cats at this weekend’s adoption event from 1 to 4 p.m., July 27 and 28 at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill and Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information, see www.communityconcernforcats.org online.

National Park Service Hosts Animal Evidence Program - join John Muir for a workshop about animal evidence. Learn how to identify tracks and scat from local animals. Make a cast of your favorite animal track to take home. This free, two-hour drop-in program begins at noon on July 27. Visitors should meet behind the visitor center. All ages welcome. No reservations are required. Please call the John Muir NHS Visitor Center at (925) 228-8860 x0. For more information, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/jomu.

HighlineKites.com presents Berkeley Kite Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 27 and 28 at Berkeley Marina’s Cesar E. Chavez Park, 11 Spinnaker Way. Arts & Crafts, Bounce Houses, Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, Candy Drop, Free Kitemaking, Team Kite Flying, Giant Kites, Japanese Kites, Kite Shop on site Cost: Free For more info see http://BerkeleyKiteFestival.com or call (510) 235-5483 or email HighlineKites@gmail.com.

The public is invited to hear Katherine Parker, water microbiologist and UMC missionary in Nepal, at 6:30 p.m. on July 28 at Lafayette UMC, 955 Moraga Road. Katherine conducts workshops on sanitation, drinking water, women’s self-reliance, hygiene and safety issues, serving UM Global Ministries and the ecumenical United Mission to Nepal.

Diablo Ballet’s Annual Gourmet Gallop food and wine walk returns to downtown Walnut Creek for the ninth consecutive year from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8. Diablo Ballet invites guests to sip, sample and stroll their way through 18 downtown Walnut Creek locations as they experience a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure. Tickets are on sale now to the public at only $39 if purchased on or before July 25. After that date, the price goes up to $45 per person. Special group pricing is available. Tickets are available online at: diabloballet.org or by calling (925) 943-1775.
 
Summer Wine Festival 2- 5 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 10, Saint Mary’s College Soda Center in Moraga. $50 per person with pre-registration at stmayrs-ca.edu/wine or (925) 631-8744.

Cancer Support Community is offering free public tours of our open space in Lafayette. Drop in between 10 and 11:30 a.m. Aug. 10 or Oct. 12 to meet CSC staff, walk the site, and hear our plans for building a cancer community center. Location: south side of Mt. Diablo Blvd, across from Lafayette Community Garden. Contact Libby Eppinga at leppinga@cancersupport.net or (925) 953-1216 for more information.

SENIORS

Lafayette Community Foundation’s 10th Annual Senior Symposium, “Aging By Design” will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Acalanes High School. Attendees will hear from a variety of experts about the latest findings on aging while maintaining independence. In addition, many vendors and nonprofit agencies will have booths at the Symposium’s Resource Fair providing information about their products and services. Attendance is free. Please register in advance by visiting http://www.lafayettecf.org. to fill out the attendee registration and to have you name included in the raffle drawing.

GARDEN

Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center presents Home Composting for Busy People from 3 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 10. Presented by Master Gardener Marian Woodard. Registration is required. Call (925) 906-1801 x306 to register. The event is free.