ART

The exhibit Born to be Wild at the Main Street Arts Gallery in Martinez, showcases the artwork of 23 Lamorinda Arts Alliance member artists through Oct. 16. Lamorinda Art Alliance member Ruth Stanton curated this exhibit of abstract and representational 2D and 3D artwork that is both colorful and captures the essence of adventure and wildness in nature. Open House Reception on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 3-5 p.m. Main Street Arts Gallery, 613 Main Street in Martinez open Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Music

Pacific Chamber Orchestra presents “Courageous” – music from the heart of Europe. Immerse yourself in the beauty, courage and folk wisdom of Dvorak's Serenade for Strings (Czech & Slovak Republics), Kolessa's In the Mountains (Ukraine), Kilar's Theme from the movie "The Pianist" (Poland, and more!) Purchase tickets at www.pacificchamberorchestra.org/calendar for concert to be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Orinda on Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) Adult ticket price is $48; Student ticket price is $20.

Irish Music Concert at the Veterans Memorial Building in Danville Friday, Sept. 16. A concert of traditional and contemporary Irish music. The concert celebrates the Friendship City relationship between Danville and New Ross, Ireland, from which O’Neill’s father James emigrated. Acclaimed Bay Area musicians Cormac Gannon, Erin Thompson, and Steve Gardner will sing and play a variety of instruments, including the fiddle and uilleann pipes. Tickets are only $20 at https://eugeneoneill.org/.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert: Brahms Reunion. Friday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Johannes Brahms Sonata for cello and piano, No. 2 in F Major, op. 99 Piano Quintet in F minor, op. 34. The concert will be recorded for online viewing beginning Sept. 30. Single tickets $15-45; Online: www.gccpmusic.com, by phone: (925) 283-3728 Discounted subscription packages also available.

Art Embraces Music: Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 to 9:30 p.m., Lafayette Community Hall. Musicians take us places in a language without words. Artists tell stories with form and color. Together they enrich our community. Ensemble ARI takes the stage surrounded by original artwork and streaming video; thus art embraces the music. https://lamorindaarts.org/
art-embraces-words-events/.

Stone Student Scholarship Concert at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Saturday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m., Suggested Donation: $15–20 General; $5 Student; Children free. Dwight Stone is a local artist and performer encouraging and initiating concert performances in the Bay Area.

Theatre

Orinda Starlight Village Players present: George Bernard Shaw's “Pygmalion” through Oct. 1. Fridays, 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 25, 4 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 29, 8 p.m. Outdoor Theater, Orinda Community Center Park, 28 Orinda Way. www.orsvp.org/

Literature

Orinda Books and Firewise Orinda present on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. Katherine Blunt, author of “California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas & Electric & What It Means to America’s Power Grid” who will be in conversation with Carol Pogash. 276 Village Square, Orinda, www.orindabooks.com, info@orindabooks, (925) 254-7606

Sweet Thursday Author Series is starting on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. in person in the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Author Kirsten Chen will be discussing her new book “Counterfeit.” This free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Lafayette Library. Register at tinyurl/sweet-Sept22.

Other

The 2022 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Lafayette. The Festival offers complimentary bike valet parking at 81 Lafayette Circle. Driving? The Festival is an easy walk or free shuttle ride from free Festival parking in the BART parking lot. Music on four stages features some of the Bay Area’s top cover bands. https://lafayettefestival.com.

AAUW OML Showcase Meeting with speaker from CCC D.A’s office talking about social justice Tuesday, Sept. 20 – 9:30-11 a.m. at Orinda Community Church Fellowship Hall, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda, 925.254.4906, www.orindachurch.org

AAUW-Orinda Moraga Lafayette will welcome Brandon Parks, Chief Assistant Public Defender, Contra Costa County on Sept. 20, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. to speak on “Advancing Equity in Justice in Contra Costa County.” Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda.

Pear and Wine Festival Moraga Commons on Sept. 24, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. A community event celebrating the Town’s heritage and fall harvest.  This family friendly event features kid’s activities, community booths, fall harvest treats, and more.

Mocktails & Cocktails Sunday, Sept. 25, 3 to 5 p.m. Join those who love art, literature, music and everything in between at The Coop, 32 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Time for some artsy conversation with Ani Breslin and Elana O’Loskey of the Lamorinda Arts Council. No host bar. Just show up. Look for our framed poster of a crazy art lady – that’s us! No host bar. Email literary@lamorindaarts.org.

Garden

Montelindo Garden Club, membership open to all, Friday, Sept. 23, Shannon Fitzpatrick from Sloat Garden Center will help you transition your garden into the new season with a talk on “Fall Color in the Garden.” Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd. For COVID requirements visit the website below. Doors open at 9 a.m., attendees must be seated by 9:45 a.m., meeting begins at 10 a.m. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information visit the website at montelindogarden.com.