Art

Art show at Orinda Books. November features the paintings of Lisa Gunn. Lisa has long had a prominent artistic presence in Orinda. Her style is a "California Impressionism" involving plein air, landscapes, and abstracts. She notes "I am hoping that people will connect with my painting and find some attachment that speaks to them whether it be through color, composition or some thread of energy transmitting from one human to another." Visit the Artist of the Month at www.orindabooks.com/events.

Annual 57th Artful Giving exhibition at Valley Art Gallery, which continues to Dec. 31, includes a wide variety of beautifully crafted ceramics, wood and glass pieces, original designer jewelry, fiber arts, small paintings, and many other unique, one-of-a-kind gift items all handcrafted by our talented East Bay artisans. Valley Art Gallery: 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek, www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311.

Music

Get ready for some holiday music! “Bells and Noels” will help you ring in the holiday season with good cheer! Join us on either Saturday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. or Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, 1543 Sunnyvale Avenue, Walnut Creek, to purchase advance tickets go to diablowomenschorale.org."

The Saint Mary’s College Music Program will wrap up the fall semester with several days of concerts from Dec. 1 - 4. All shows are open to the public, and ticket information is available by visiting www.stmarys-ca.edu/music-concerts-Dec22. LeFevre Theatre, 1928 Saint Mary's Rd., Moraga. Tickets: $15 general admission, $8 for SMC students, $12 staff/faculty/ non-SMC students. Online sales only.

Diablo Women's Chorale holiday concerts: Dec. 10, 3 p.m. or Dec. 11, 3 p.m. at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, 1543 Sunnyvale Ave. in Walnut Creek. Pre-concert tickets are at a discounted price of $28 online. Ticket prices at the door on the day of the concert are $33 for adults and $18 for students. www.diablowomenschorale.org.

Cantare’s annual holiday

 concert Saturday, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek. Sunday, Dec. 4, 4 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Oakland. Cantare, an Oakland-based nonprofit community choral organization, presents its annual December Holiday Concert. Featuring the adult Chorale and Chamber Ensemble and student singers of Nova and Youth Honor Choirs, accompanied by full orchestra and organ; directed by David Morales and Julie Haydon. General admission: $40, seniors: $30, students: $10. www.cantareconvivo.org.

Theatre

Town Hall Theatre Company presents: “Cinderella: A Fairytale” directed by Sequoia Schirmer, written by Sally Cookson and Adam Peck. Dec. 3-18. Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School Street, Lafayette. Tickets: $25-$40. Dec. 17 is Pay-What-You-Can.

Literature

Orinda Books Pat's Book Club will read and discuss on Thursday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. “Matrix” by Lauren Groff. All are welcome. Orinda Books 276 Village Square, Orinda. www.orindabooks.com, (925) 254-7606

Other

Hospice East Bay is proud to be celebrating its 36th annual Tree of Lights. Tree of Lights ceremonies will begin Nov. 6 and run through Dec. 11. Orinda, Saturday, Dec. 3, 4:30 p.m. at 31 Orinda Way; Moraga, Sunday, Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m. at Moraga Country Club.

Mocktails & Cocktails, Sunday, Nov. 27 from 3 to 5 p.m. Join those who love art, literature, music and everything in between at The Coop, 32 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, from 3 to 5 p.m. Time for some conversation about your creative journey with friends of the Lamorinda Arts Council. Look for our framed Piccassoesque poster of a crazy art lady – that’s us! No host bar. Just show up. Questions? Email literary@lamorindaarts.org.

The 7th annual Bright Ideas Film Festival will be on Friday, Dec. 2, 7-10 p.m. at the Orinda Theater. We are excited to host a showcase of short films accompanied by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Bright Ideas was created to give students and filmmakers a place to showcase their hard work with family, friends, and others who appreciate the art of filmmaking. Tickets: $10, www.orindamovies.com or at the door.

Saint Mary's Business School is inviting the community to listen to speaker Matt Rogers, who served as the Senior Advisor to the US Secretary of Energy. He will be discussing Realistic Pathways to Net Zero, a timely discussion as we enter this new realities of climate change in our world. Dec. 7, 6-7 p.m., De La Salle Hall, Saint Mary's College, Moraga.

Confronting Antisemitism, Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Temple Isaiah Social Hall. Anti-Defamation League Regional Director Seth Brysk will tackle the current moment in antisemitism from high profile incidents to what is happening more locally in our community. He will also discuss tools we can all use to confront antisemitism as we encounter it in our own lives. This event is free and open to the public. 945 Risa Road, Lafayette.