ART

The Lamorinda Arts Council invites writers and artists to participate in their free program from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Arts and Science Room. Emerging writers read from their work surrounded by visual artwork from local artists. Artwork is videoed and uploaded onto social media. In this way art literally “embraces” the spoken word. A reception with light refreshments follows the readings. Go to https://lamorindaarts.org/art-embraces-words/, email literary@lamorindaarts.org or call (925) 359-9940 for more information.

The Lamorinda Arts Council kicks off the New Year with the artwork of the F-15 Photography Group, Alex Meckes’ mathematical origami and ceramics by Ian Clark, Diva Fontinelli and Angela Lusk of the Rossmoor Ceramic Arts Club at the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, through Jan. 31. For more information visit www.lamorindaarts.org.

Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery presents “Artist talks 3D” at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Wednesday, Jan. 22. It’s time to bring in the artists to share their stories and studio practices on a deeper level. Featuring multiple artists on two separate nights, you will hear from sculptors working in clay, bronze, stone, metal and concrete. Each artist will have time to walk guests around the gallery to share specific artworks and to answer your questions. Free. There is two-hour parking in the back parking lot of the building 3525 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.

Moraga Art Gallery’s new show “Serendipities,” runs through Feb. 1 and includes artwork by a score of guest and member artists, including Graig Crossley of Moraga, an abstract painter who uses a full palette of blazing primary colors, and Rick Nelson, a wood-turner of the first rank whose forte is museum-quality wooden bowls. An oversized metal sculpture by popular Joe Bologna serves as the show’s centerpiece along with jewelry by K. de Groot and walls lined with photographs of landscapes by Wenda Pyman, florals by Lucy Beck, watercolors by George Ehrenhaft and various mediums by new members. The Gallery’s new location in the Rheem Shopping Center is 432 Center Street (between Nation’s and the Dover Saddlery). For more information call (925) 376-5407 or visit www.moragaartgallery.com.

Lamorinda Arts Alliance presents an exhibit, Strictly Abstract, though Feb. 28 at the Lafayette Bank of America at 3530 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. The new exhibit features abstract paintings by Susan Erickson, Carla W. Gelbaum, Irenka Kudlicki, Pam McCauley, Geoff Meredith and Judy Bolef Miller. https://laa4art.org

MUSIC

The Kyle Athayde Dance Party (A 22 piece big band with members from NYC, LA, DC, Utah, and the SF Bay Area) will give a concert performance at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Lafayette Library. Tickets are $20 at the door. They will have a swing, salsa, and R&B/Soul dance night at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Saint Mary’s College Soda Center. Tickets are $25 at the door. For more information visit www.kyleathaydedanceparty.com/performances.  

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert “Czech Marks” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 in the Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26 at Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont. There will be a pre-concert talk 30 minutes prior to each concert. Tickets: $45 General, $40 Senior (65+), $15 Student. Purchase online: GCCPmusic.com or by phone: (925) 283-3728.

St. Paul’s Concert Series presents Rena Harms and Anyssa Neumann, Soprano and Piano Duo at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walnut Creek. St. Paul’s Concert Series kicks off its 2020 Season with Soprano Opera Star Extraordinaire Rena Harms joining piano virtuoso Anyssa Neumann, presenting works by Strauss, Schoenberg, Barber, and Vaughn Williams. Donation at the door: average $20, students $10 (all are welcome regardless of donation).

Diablo Women’s Chorale - Singers Wanted. Do you love to sing and want to bring more harmony, fun, and musical company into your life? Then audition for the Diablo Women’s Chorale at 6:30 p.m. on Jan, 27 at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, 399 Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek. Auditions are by appointment only. Contact Nancy Hickman, Membership Chair, at (925) 899-5050 or hickmandg@gmail.com, to book an audition time. www.diablowomen
schorale.org/join-us.

THEATER

Plotline Theater Company presents “The Glass Menagerie” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays from Jan. 17 to Feb. 2. at the Martinez Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward St, Martinez. Ticket Price(s): $22 for adults and $19 for seniors and students. Online ticket purchase at brownpapertickets.com or call (925) 350-9770. https://www.campbelltheater.com for more info.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

KPFA Radio 94.1 FM presents David Talbot and Quincy McCoy: “Between Heaven and Hell: Story of my Stroke” from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27 at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street, Berkeley. Talbot and McCoy will discuss Talbot’s new book, “Between Heaven and Hell: The Story of My Stroke,” answer questions and sign books. Cost: $12 advance, $15 door. For more info see http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4486178 or call (510) 967-4495.

Daniel Levitin introduces his new book, “Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19 at Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda.

AAUW-OML Meeting on the 2020 U.S. Census - Matt Lardner, Census Outreach Coordinator for Contra Costa County, and Chunling Wang with the U.S. Census Bureau will speak at the AAUW-OML (American Association of University Women-Orinda Moraga Lafayette Branch) general meeting from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 21 (9:30-10 a.m. social time) at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Free. Reservations are not required. For more information, visit our website at https://oml-CA.aauw.net

The Stanford Women’s Club of the East Bay presents the 45th Annual Books on Review program, featuring four Stanford authors speaking about their books from 9:15 a.m. to noon on Jan. 30 at Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane at Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Price: $35, cash or check only, at the door. Or register for this sell-out event now at http://alumni.stanford.edu/goto/BOR. Everyone is welcome!

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Packets for TK-5 Registration for the next school year, 2020-21 are now available at your neighborhood elementary school. Registration for Lafayette students entering TK and Kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year begins Jan. 13. Additional information can be found at www.lafsd.org. In addition, an informational presentation, “A Roadmap to Kindergarten” will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 at Lafayette Elementary, Multi-purpose Room at 950 Moraga Road for all interested parents. This presentation is for parents only.

Registration opens Jan. 24 for the fifth annual AAUW-OML Techbridge STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) conference for middle school girls being held from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. on March 21, at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. For online registration and more information visit the conference webpages via the link on AAUW-OML’s website https://oml-CA.aauw.net. Conference registration fee is $25 per student. Space is limited; early registration is encouraged.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance from 4 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Orinda Way, Orinda. Stuart House, who worked in the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama during the `60s, will share his stories. He has continued to fight for justice throughout his life. Please join us for Chili, crafts, and discussion about how we can fight racism and injustice now. This event is for kids and adults. All are welcome!

OTHER

Orinda Books presents an ARF Fundraiser at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 at 276 Village Square, Orinda. Photographer Barbara Brady-Smith introduces Hug Tails, stories about the Pet Therapy Team from Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. Animal lovers, photographers, veterinary professionals, and anyone interested in pet therapy will find in Hug Tails an array of stories to delight the eyes and lift the spirit. A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book will benefit ARF.

Lamorinda Lions Foundation 39th Annual Crab Feed beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 1700 School St., Moraga. Silent and live auction, cocktails, dinner. Tickets: $60, or $30 for ages 6-12. INFO: (925) 283-6921 or moragalions@gmail.com

Winter Rose Care Workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at McDonnel Nursery, 196 Moraga Way, Orinda. Email info@mcdonnellnursery.com or call (925) 254-3713 to reserve a seat.

Understanding Your Breast Cancer Risk Factors from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 28 at the Lafayette Library, Community Room. Come and experience an event focusing on the most common breast cancer risk factors. A panel of medical experts will give an overview of genetic counseling, MRI breast screening guidelines, extremely dense breast tissue findings, recommendations for chemoprevention therapy and lifestyle changes. Reservations recommended. Call (925) 677-5041 x272 or email to sjung@dvohmg.com.

Diablo Ballet presents the second program of their 26th season, “Balanchine & Beyond” at 8 p.m. on Feb. 7 and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Feb 8 at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek. The program features selections from five ballets. Tickets: $15-$48 (925) 943-7469; lesherartscenter.org, diabloballet.org

SENIORS

Anne Randolph Physical Therapy presentation on Arthritis from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Sequoia Room, Lafayette Community Center. Live the best life you can with arthritis! Understand the challenges and changes arthritis brings on and find practical solutions to make daily activities easier. Members: free; non-members: $10.

GARDEN

The Lafayette Garden Club will meet at 10 a.m. (speaker at 11) on Jan. 9 in Lafayette Veteran’s Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette. The guest speaker this month is Judy Thomas who will educate us on Trees and Mediterranean Plants. Judy formed her own consulting company, Bay Area Plant Consultants, in 1996, and serves as a consulting arborist and landscape adviser for attorneys, insurance companies and homeowners in tree-related cases. Free. Contact twalklet@comcast.net

The Walnut Creek Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting beginning at 10 a.m. (program at 11) on Jan. 13 at the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, in Walnut Creek. The topic of the January presentation will be “The three cans.” Kerry Rivers from Republic Services presents the company’s sustainability goals and initiatives for a cleaner, safer and healthier world for generations to come. Bring your questions about recycling, landfill technologies, and use of renewable energy.

The Moraga Garden Club Monthly General Meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street. Juanita Salisbury of Landscape Architecture will be speaking about “Leveraging Biodiversity in Your Landscape.” Her work is elegantly understated and is sure to get the audience inspired. General meetings are free and open to the public. www.moragagardenclub.com

The Montelindo Garden Club’s January meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 17 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Community Hall. Presentation: Camelia Sinensis, A Plant That Changed the World by speaker Susan Leech. Susan is an expert in the growing history and enjoyment of tea. One of Montelindo’s own, she is the owner of the charming Orinda Village Antiques shop, where she presents teas during which she regales people with the history of the British tea experience. www.montelindogarden.com