ART

Art Embraces Words - Live Program July 23 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Artists paint with colors, writers paint with words. Together they enrich our community. Missing your creative tribe? The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to return to its free live program at the Lafayette Library. Emerging writers read from their work surrounded by artwork from local artists Pam Stefl and Alvin Ziegler. In this way art literally "embraces" the spoken word. AEW program dates are July 23, and Oct. 29 (Costume Program). We invite lovers of the spoken word and visual art, writers and visual artists to register online to participate. Reception follows outdoors in the Library Courtyard. Visit https://lamorindaarts.org/art-embraces-words/ for more information.

Valley Art Gallery presents: "ThoughtScapes" Featuring works by renowned Bay Area artist Paula Boas. June 26 - Aug. 6. Paula Boas' abstract paintings are rooted in architectural and natural landscapes and their respective geometric and organic forms. Free, open to the public, 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek. www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311.

Music

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 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. For more info see www.papermoonpresents.live or call (510) 517-2010.

The Bowerbird Collective presents Life on Land's Edge. A cinematic concert celebrating migratory birds on Saturday, July 30, from 5 to 6 p.m., at Orinda Library Auditorium, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. A cinematic concert experience drawing on art, science, and music from across the ages. Be immersed in one of nature's greatest stories. Cost: Adults $40, Seniors $35, Students $20, U18 $5. For more info see https://www.bowerbirdcollective.org or call 646-384-8080 or email hello@bowerbirdcollective.org.

Cantare, an Oakland-based nonprofit community choral organization, opens its 36th season with "You Can't Stop the Beat!" - a concert of Broadway show music. Directed by David Morales, the summer adult choir will perform music encompassing over 100 years of Broadway favorites in small ensemble songs, stunning solos, and a multitude of medley arrangements. Selections include a medley of Rodgers and Hammerstein as well as music from "Dear Evan Hansen," "The Color Purple," "Miss Saigon," "Rent," "Hairspray" and many more! Saturday, July 30, 7:30 p.m.; Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek. Sunday, July 31, 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets and more information for "You Can't Stop the Beat!" at www.cantareconvivo.org, by phone at (510) 836-0789, or at the door. General admission is $25; Students, $10. All audience members are required to wear masks.

Theatre

AlterTheater Ensemble presents "Pure Native" by Vickie Ramirez (East Bay Performances) on July 24, 1-3 p.m., at California Shakespeare Theater Upper Grove at the Bruns, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. A prodigal son returns home with a business proposal to bottle the tribe's water.... But his childhood sweetheart rallies the community against him. Cost: $10-35. For more info see www.altertheater.org/purenative or call 415-454-2787 or email boxoffice@altertheater.org.

Orinda Starlight Village Players presents "The Marvelous Land of Oz" with adaption and lyrics by Malcolm Cowler and music by Rice Majors, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. July 22 through Aug. 13, Sunday, Aug. 7 at 4 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Orinda Community Center Park Outdoor Amphitheater.  Regular admission: $20 (discount for seniors and children).  Tickets at Box Office or call (925) 528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org. www.orsvp.org

Shotgun Players presents "Dream Hou$e" July 20-Aug 7: Wed-Thurs at 7 p.m., Fri-Sat at 8 p.m., Sun at 5 p.m., at Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave, Berkeley. A dark comedy about two Latinx sisters who land the opportunity to remodel and sell their historic family home on a popular reality television show. Cost: $7 - $40. For more info see https://shotgunplayers.org/
online/article/dream-house or call (510) 841-6500 x303 or email boxoffice@shotgunplayers.org.

Literature

Orinda Books event: Thursday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m. Pat's book club will read and discuss "The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. Everyone is welcome; just email info@orindabooks to let us know you're coming. This is a remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan's personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation.

Other

The Ecology Center will host Plastic Free July, a month-long series of interactive and educational events throughout Berkeley. The event line up includes:  the Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market on July 30; and a workshop on gardening sustainably and without plastic on July 23 at the Ecology Center EcoHouse (1305 Hopkins St, Berkeley). Full schedule of events at: ecologycenter.org/plastic-free-july/

Mocktails & Cocktails - Sunday, July 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. Join others who love art, literature, music and everything in between at The Coop, 32 Lafayette Circle from 3-5 p.m. Time for some artsy banter with Ani Breslin and Elana O'Loskey of the Lamorinda Arts Council. No host bar. Just show up. Questions? Email literary@lamorindaarts.org.
Join us on Sunday, Aug. 28 for the annual Kapnek Trust USA fun run/walk. Starting at 9 a.m. on the Moraga Commons Path this event supports preschool education and nutritious food to children in Zimbabwe. Participants enjoy a T-shirt, food, music, carnival games, and fun! To register go to: https://kapnektrustusafunrun.eventbrite.com/