ART

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMC | MoA) presents two new exhibitions on view 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. And “New Formalism in Painting and Photography,” which 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.

Youth Maker’s Expo at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. New this year to the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is the Youth Maker’s Expo (Y-ME)! Local young entrepreneurs ages 9-16 are encouraged to display and sell their products and services during the festival, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22. Y-ME will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Entrepreneurs will have the option to attend business and marketing classes before the festival. To apply for free table space visit LafayetteFestival.com/y-me/

24th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 in Downtown Lafayette. Four stages featuring over 20 Bay Area cover bands, 300 artist / craft booths, 3 kid zones with activities for all. New this year - The Young Maker’s Expo and the Xfinity Pigskin Party. Free admission. Free bike valet + parking at BART. Supports local education. www.lafayettefestival.com

The Moraga Art Gallery announces its end-of-summer show, “Pattern Parade,” an exhibit that features stylized portraits of exquisitely-coiffed, fashionably-clad women by Lafayette’s Angelica Samame. The show also features guest artist Irene Needoba of Orinda, whose abstract landscapes take viewers on unique visual journeys into a fragmented world where rocks may also be waves. The public is cordially invited to a free opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17. Come to meet artists and enjoy live music, light snacks and wine. The exhibit runs Aug. 14 through Oct. 19. For more information, visit the gallery’s website: www.moragaartgallery.com

The August exhibit at the art gallery at the Orinda Library features wood turning by David Fleisig, and paintings by Chung Ae Kim, Patsy Taylor, and Laurie Mansur. The exhibit runs through Aug. 31. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 26 Orinda Way on the second floor of the library building.

MUSIC

St. Paul’s Concert Series welcomes Soprano Marina Tolstova to the stage with Musalliance duo, featuring Anna Kusner on Classical Guitar and Peter Omelchenko on Domra/Mandolin at 7 p.m. on Aug. 24 at 1924 Trinity Ave., Walnut Creek. Renowned throughout Europe and now home in the Bay Area, Tolstova captivates audiences with her passionate, yet angelic voice. At St. Paul’s, Tolstova shares the stage with the world class guitar and mandolin duo Musalliance, to bring us an enchanted evening of Baroque, Classical, and Modern favorites. Donation at the door: average $20, Students $10 (all are welcome regardless of donation).

Womensing auditions - Sing with a vibrant group under an enthusiastic and energetic conductor. Learn more about music and vocal technique, and perform beautiful concerts. Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings in Lafayette from 7:15 to 9:45 p.m., beginning on Sept. 4. For more information, please visit www.womensing.org/audition. Auditioning is free.

YMTC presents the epic musical, “Les Miserables,” 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 Aug. 26 and 27 and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 28. Tickets are $16-$32. For more information, visit https://www.ymtcbayarea.org.

Barefoot Chamber Concerts presents Burning River Baroque: ‘A Mad, Burning Desire’ from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, at Parish Hall of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. Cleveland’s cutting-edge baroque ensemble sheds light on the 17th-c. fascination with madness in a concert of mad songs by Henry Purcell and others. Cost: $15. For more info see http://barefoot
chamberconcerts.com or call (510) 220-1195 or email info@barefootchamber
concerts.com.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert, ‘Sitkovetsky Plays Schumann’ at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 at Don Tatzin Community Hall, at the Lafayette Library. 20th Anniversary celebration following the concert at JPG@thebank. Tickets: https://app.arts-people.com/
index.php?actions=4&p=1089. More information: www.gccpmusic.com/concert-1

Pacific Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Lawrence Kohl, performs Beethoven’s monumental Symphony #9 at 7:30 pm Sept. 14 at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 24 Knox, Lafayette. Experience with Beethoven the hero’s inner journey from mysterious and humble beginnings to thundering triumph. Tickets are available at www.PacificChamber
Orchestra.org.   
 
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 through Sept. 1 at the Bruns Amphitheater. “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.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

San Francisco Opera previews at 7 p.m. at Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Aug. 28: Romeo and Juliet (Charles Gounod), Speaker Timothy Flynn and Sept. 4: Billy Budd (Benjamin Britten), Speaker Jonathan Khuner. Contact: Silvia Lin at (925) 838-9255 or slininalamo@gmail.com

Moraga author Jo Mele will hold a book signing for her memoir The Odd Grandmothers at 3 p.m. on Sept. 8 at Cine Cuvee Wine Bar, 2 Theatre Square, Orinda. She compares the similarities in the lives of her great-great-grandmother, her grandmother, and herself; the odd generations of her maternal family. She follows three strong women from Sicily, to Brooklyn, to San Francisco, and back again to Sicily. An immigration success story you will enjoy. Rsvp: jomele@comcastnet

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Mindful Littles will be facilitating family volunteering projects at White Pony Express from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Aug. 25 and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Each project will be a unique, highly-engaging experience for families with children under 12 - grandparents welcome! (Please email youthleaders@
mindfullittles.org if you would like to get your teen involved.) This is an opportunity for children to engage in service in fun ways and for families to spend quality time together, including learning more about empathy and mindfulness. The projects will benefit the many communities served by White Pony Express. Free. Register: For Aug. 25 event: www.flipcause.com/secure/
cause_pdetails/NjExNDY=. For Aug. 28 event: www.flipcause.com/secure/
cause_pdetails/NjExNDg=

OTHER

This year’s California Independent Film Festival will run Aug. 23-31 at the Orinda Theatre. There will be a fabulous line-up this year celebrating independent filmmakers from around the globe, and a new generation of amazing talent. Dramas, comedies, documentaries, musicals, screenplays, thrillers, shorts and animated films will all be showcased within the glamorous aesthetics of old world Hollywood that is the Orinda Theatre. For all of the featured films, times and tickets, please go to https://www.caiff.org.

Friends Corner Book Shop in Lafayette is having a Half-Price Book Sale from 9 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. Now that school has begun again, what a wonderful opportunity for all family members to settle into new routines and learn something new from an interesting book! Friends Corner Book Shop operates under the auspices of Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, and proceeds benefit the Lafayette Library. www.lllcf.org/shop-for-a-
used-book/

North Shattuck Association presents Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Gourmet Ghetto, North Shattuck Ave., 1400-1800 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Eat chocolate and make art! Chalk Art Contest cash prizes; chocolate menu with 25+ items; live music; arts and crafts; beer and wine and food trucks. Free entry but chocolate tickets are 20/$20, Box of Chalk is $10. For more info see www.anotherbullwinkel
show.com/chocolate-chalk-art/ or call (510) 548-5335 or email Lisa@AnotherBullwinkel
Show.com

Soul on the Green is a family friendly fundraiser for child abuse prevention from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill. Enjoy a magical evening with live music, dinner, wine stroll, kids’ games, Jungle James, bounce house, silent auction, raffle, and more. Proceeds support education, outreach, and training to prevent child abuse including the Speak Up and Be Safe program in local schools. Ticket information at www.capc-coco.

Formula 3 presents free community classes from 9 to 10 a.m. on Aug. 25 in Lafayette Plaza Park (across from Sideboard and Lemon). These will be 20-minute classes, but all who attend can take one, two or all three classes. Formula 3 is a fitness system designed to offer a complete and effective workout by including strength (FORGE), cardio (FIRE), and mobility (FLOW) in every class.

Join us for the fourth annual Lamorinda ShortDocs Film Fest at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25. For the first time, the screening is being hosted by the renowned California Independent Film Festival and will take place at the historic Orinda Theatre. Lamorinda ShortDocs features short documentary films, six minutes or less, from Lamorinda Filmmakers of all ages: some returning to the festival, and some first time Filmmakers! Don’t miss this red-carpet event right here in our own backyard! Purchase $10 advanced sale tickets at https://lamorindaarts.org/
shortdocstickets/

Notes4Hope Presents Silent Disco at the Hacienda Pavilion from 7 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 29. All Ages. Beer, wine and champagne for purchase for 21 and over. Tickets: $40 in advance, $45 at the door. www.notes4hope.org

Moraga’s Leisure sport triathlon, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. Gather your friends and family and create a team for this fun alternative to the traditional triathlon where teams play Bocce Ball, Corn Hole, and Disc Golf. Teams of four rotate between the three activities throughout the day. Participants will receive an event T-shirt, event pint glass, and catered hot BBQ lunch. Info and registration at www.moraga.ca.us.

Notes4Hope Presents MIXXEDFIT Master Class featuring instructor Javier Alvarez from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Oakwood Athletic Club, Lafayette. All Ages. 9 p.m. - Afterparty @ The Roundup, Lafayette, 21 and over only. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. www.notes4hope.org

Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa and St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa, (SVdP), are excited to announce their 2019 Bocce Ball Tournament: The Big La Bocce beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Martinez Bocce Federation. The Bocce Ball Tournament will raise funds to support safety-net programs that improve the quality of life for residents of Contra Costa County who struggle to make ends meet. For more information and registration, please visit https://loavesfishescc.

The 2019 Orinda Classic Car Show Weekend with its Saturday Car Show and Friday Party before it will celebrate the history and excitement of classic cars. The car show will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 and the Friday Party will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the beautiful new Orinda Arts and Garden Center. Online car exhibitor entries and Friday party ticket sales are now available. Enter your car or buy tickets for the party at www.orindacarshow.com.

KPFA Radio 94.1 FM presents Randall Munroe: How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Problems from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley. Munroe will discuss his new book, “How To,” answer questions and sign books. Hosted by Brian Edwards-Tiekert. Cost: $12 advance, $15 door. For more info see www.brownpapertickets.
com/event/4268685 or call (510) 967-4495.

Orinda Junior Woman’s Club Open House from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Taverna Pellegrini 65 Moraga Way, Orinda. Orinda Junior Woman’s Club invites Orinda residents to join us for appetizers, drinks and mingle while you learn about what we do and how we give back to the community. An RSVP would be great, but please feel free to drop in even if you didn’t get a chance to. www.orindajuniors.org

GARDEN

The Walnut Creek Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 9 at the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, in Walnut Creek. The featured speaker will be Tina Neuhausel on the topic of “Sustainable Contra Costa - What’s happening in our community.” Sustainable Contra Costa is a community of citizens, educators, innovators, and organizations designing and building pathways to ecologically sustainable, economically vibrant, and socially just communities for all. You do not need to be a gardener to join the Walnut Creek Garden Club.