ART

Art show at Orinda Books. June features the paintings of the Bay Area Studio Artists (BASA) – a local collection of painters who have been working and showing together for 15 years. The exhibit is titled "Going to the Dogs," and you will meet the BASA artists’ favorite canine friends and a couple of cats who appear a little leery about the company they find themselves in. The BASA artists include Suzun Almquist, Jeanette Baird, Lassie Colebourn, Ellen Reintjes, Ruth Stanton, Joanne Taeuffer, Sharon Tama, and Marcy Wheeler. Visit the Artist of the Month at https://www.orindabooks.com. Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda, (925) 254-7606.

"Creative Contrasts" at the Moraga Art Gallery's New Show. Featuring the eye-catching work of two member artists: ceramicist Mary Leigh Miller and acrylic painter Angelica Samame. Running from June 22 to Aug. 28, the show also contains paintings, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, glassware, etchings, woodwork, photographs, monotypes, and a great deal more by the gallery's core of 18 member artists and two guests. Free reception on Saturday, July 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. Open from noon until 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, located at 432 Center Street in Moraga's Rheem Shopping Center. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407

Music

Free Lafayette downtown concerts! Rock the Plaza Concert Series: Friday evening, June 24, 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 10: Juke Joint is an experienced 6-piece horn band playing Classic Soul, R&B and Blues music. Juke Joint has been entertaining Bay Area audiences to rave reviews since 2001. June 17: A tribute to the Woodstock Generation Keep On Truckin’ performs Rock, Blues, Funk and R&B, faithfully recreating the musical experience of one of the greatest events in music history. June 24: Now in its 17th year, Lamorinda Idol, a program of the Lamorinda Arts Council, is an annual singing competition open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade who attend school or reside in Contra Costa County. Lafayette’s Plaza Park is located in Lafayette at the corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Road.

Paper Moon Presents offers Brett Dennen at the beautiful Bruns in the Berkeley hills on Saturday, July 30, from 5 to 11 p.m., at Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. Come out and enjoy a night of sweet songs and good vibes with Brett Dennen and Megan Jacobs at a spectacular setting in the Berkeley hills. Cost: $40. Lyrics Born and Destani Wolf at the beautiful Bruns - Berkeley hills on Friday, July 29, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Come join us for an amazing night of great local artists. It is going to be a best night ever with great food and great music in a perfect setting. Cost: $35.00. For more info see www.papermoonpresents.live or call (510) 517-2010 or email info@papermoonpresents.com.

Theatre

Orinda Starlight Village Players – “Towards Zero” now open. Fridays and Saturdays through July 2, 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, June 26 at 4 p.m. and Thursday, June 30 at 8 p.m. Regular admission: $20, Senior/Children: $10. Tickets are available at the Box Office, call (925) 528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org for reservations. Outdoor Theater, Orinda Community Center Park, 28 Orinda Way.
Aurora Theatre Company presents Wives on June 24 - July 24: Tuesday through Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Streaming July 19 - July 24, at Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison Street, Berkeley. From Hemingway's widow to a maharani in Rajasthan, great men are left behind as their wives claim center stage in this celebration of female power. Cost: 40-75. For more info see www.auroratheatre.org/ or call (510) 843-4822 or email boxoffice@auroratheatre.org.

Literature

Thursday, July 7, 11 a.m. at Orinda Books. Pat's Book Club will read and discuss “The Netanyahus” by Joshua Cohen. Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Literature, “The Netanyahus” is a fictionalized account of Harold Bloom's encounter with the Netanyahu family while studying at Yale. Mixing fiction with nonfiction, “The Netanyahus” is a wildly inventive, genre-bending comedy of identity and politics. Everyone is welcome; just email info@orindabooks to let us know you're coming.

Dave Iverson will introduce his memoir, “Winter Stars,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at Orinda Books. Iverson was a busy broadcast journalist recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when he decided to do something he'd never quite imagined: He moved in to take care of his 95-year-old mom. Winter Stars is the moving story of their 10-year caregiving journey. This is a free event. Register at: www.eventbrite.com/e/dave-iverson-author-of-winter-stars-tickets-361207861437

Other

Sunday Strong! Free summer fitness classes at Moraga Commons. Presented by MCF, with the sponsorship of the Town of Moraga Department of Parks and Recreation. This program is free and will be held every Sunday in July at 8 a.m. on the grassy area near the intersection of St. Mary’s Road and Moraga Road. Schedule: Mat Pilates; July 3 Bootcamp; July 10 Flow Yoga; July 17 Mat Pilates; July 24 Bootcamp. See Moragacommunityfoundation.org to register and see our amazing instructor’s bios.