Art

Lamorinda Arts Alliance Announces the Exhibit "Wellness & Wellbeing" at the John Muir Health Auxiliary Gallery at John Muir Health, Aspen Center, 133 La Casa Via Suite 150, Walnut Creek, Monday, April 10 through Thursday, May 18. The show features 13 artists and 31 original artworks in acrylics, oils, watercolors, etchings, monoprint, mixed media and photography. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., for Saturday hours call (925) 937-8100.

Moraga Gallery invites the public to a re-opening celebration. Works by two-dozen painters, print-makers, photographers, and others grace the spanking, freshly-painted walls of the Moraga Art Gallery, at 432 Center Street in the Rheem Shopping Center. To help celebrate both its new look and the current show, "Spring Exhibit '23," the public is cordially invited to a free reception on Saturday, April 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. The current show runs until June 4 and is open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Valley Art Gallery announces new exhibition, "Art Sparks," through May 13. Free, open to the public, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek, www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

Art show at Orinda Books. April features paintings and collages by local artist Rebecca Lillard, who is an accomplished abstract artist with a bold vision. Visit the Artist of the Month for a preview at www.orindabooks.com. Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda, (925) 254-7606.

The Lamorinda Arts Alliance presents a Spring Show at the Papillon Cafe in Lafayette's Fiesta Square, 67 Lafayette Circle. The show will run until June 14 and includes LAA artists who will present a variety of mediums including watercolor, oil, mixed media, encaustic and digital photography. The cafe is currently open Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Music

Barefoot Chamber Concerts presents "Paris - San Francisco, a Dialogue" on Friday, May 5, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Saint Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley. Jerome Hantai, Lynn Tetenbaum, and Lillian Gordis play music for harpsichord and two viols by Schenck, Bach, Marais, Forqueray, and Ste.-Colombe. Cost: $25. For more info see http://barefootchamberconcerts.com or call (510) 220-1195 or email info@barefootchamberconcerts.com.

Pianist Carlos Vargas performs at St. Paul's in Walnut Creek on Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. In-Person - 1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek, online broadcast: visit stpaulswc.org/concert-series to receive concert link. Donations graciously accepted at the door (avg. $20/$10 Students) and in our online registration. All are welcome regardless of donation!

Berkeley Chamber Performances presents Deborah Pittman and Friends on Tuesday, April 25, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley. Berkeley Chamber Performances is excited to welcome Deborah Pittman and Friends to our series for a multimedia evening of African American composers. Cost: $35, free to students through high school, and $17.50 for Higher Ed students. For more info see https://berkeleychamberperform.org/ or call (510) 525-5211 or email info@berkeleychamberperform.org.

Theatre

Orinda Intermediate School Bulldog Theater proudly presents Shrek JR. on April 20-22! The musical, produced by Bay Area Children's Theatre, includes 48 sixth- to eighth-grade actors grouped into two casts and 12 student tech crew members. All six performances (three per cast) will take place in the Orinda Intermediate School multi-purpose room at 80 Ivy Drive, Orinda. Tickets are $12 www.showtix4u.com/event-details/71860.

Literature

Children's book reading at Orinda Books.  Bring in your little bookworms (ages 2-6) and snuggle in for a reading of popular children's picture books (classic and new) on Thursday, April 27, at 11 a.m.  Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda, 925-254-7606. Visit www.orindabooks.com.

Other

The Junior League of Oakland-East Bay (JLOEB) invites families to Touch a Truck at Balestrieri Family Farm, Briones. Touch a Truck is a hands-on family event that provides the opportunity for kids to explore vehicles of all types, including public service, emergency, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation, delivery, and just plain cool or unique trucks - all in one place! There will also be live music, wine tasting, food trucks, crafts and a raffle of exclusive goodies. For more information visit www.jloeb.org/truck. Location: Balestrieri Family Farm 6140 Alhambra Valley Road Briones April 29 at 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Low-sensory hour 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. $15 Kids, $20 Adults

Creating Peaceful Schools presents Contest Deadline for Contra Costa Youth - Art & Writing Challenge 2023 on Contest deadline April 21 at Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. Topic prompt, contest rules and submission requirements on website. Cost: No Charge. For more info see https://creatingpeacefulschools.weebly.com/ or call (925) 933-7850 or email margli@ourpeacecenter.org.

Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center is announcing the 25th Art & Writing Challenge and Youth Activist Awards for students of Contra Costa County is now open for submissions. Local youth are encouraged to address issues of peace and social justice through fine art (includes visual art, sculpture, photography, video, and music) or writing (creative writing or essay). We are open to nearly all mediums, and are now expanding our categories to include original music into the "Arts" category! Topic/Prompt for 2023: "Young People Making a Difference." Contest website: www.creatingpeacefulschools.weebly.com submission deadline: April 21.

Moraga Community Faire & Car Show Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Annual family-friendly event put on by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce, showcasing live music and performances; a beautiful car show; robust Kid's Zone with games, animal interactions and BIG wheels; an Artist's Alley; Food, Wine and Beer and many interesting booths to tour! Rheem Shopping Center, 580 Moraga Rd, Moraga. CommFaire@gmail.com www.moragachamber.org/communityfaire/

Lafayette Earth Day Festival is coming to Lafayette Plaza Park on Sunday, April 23, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., with fun and inspiration for all ages. There will be a live band - the Jim Ocean Band, arts, activities and games, a petting zoo and free bike tune-ups. Wide variety of educational booths and local environmental organizations will give us tools to live sustainably. Free community event. Learn more at sustainablelafayette.org.

Garden

Orinda Garden Club Plant Sale Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Orinda Library Plaza. We will have Perennials, Pollinators, Succulents, Drought Resistant, Vegetable Plants (including over 20 varieties of tomatoes) and more. The club also plans to provide informational tables on various horticultural topics. And lastly, there will be a Garden Marketplace with fun, garden-related products. Sale will be located throughout the outdoor plaza at the Orinda Library, located at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. Open to the public. For more information, see www.orindagc.org/plantsale-public.html or email communcations@orindagc.org.

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour. Online tour: April 15 and 16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., free, though donations are requested. Doug Tallamy is kicking off this online event! His inspiring talk "Restoring the little things that run the world: Why is matters, and what you can do" will be followed by, among others, tours of seven private native plant gardens, including a tour of my own native plant garden and green home, a presentation on a pollinator pathway that was created in a Berkeley neighborhood, a talk on gardening for monarch butterflies (hint: this goes beyond just planting milkweed) and many more. In-person Garden and Green Home Tour- May 6 and 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 55 beautiful Alameda and Contra Costa native plant gardens-20 of them with green home features-will be open on this self-drive event; choose the gardens and homes you'd like to see, and go at your own pace. Registration required: www.bringingbackthenatives.net/2023-tour-registration

Montelindo Garden Club April 21 to hear "All About Olive Oil: A Tasting" with Amphora Nueva Olive Oil. See www.montelindogarden.com/meetings for information. Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. 9 a.m. registration. Free.

Lafayette Garden Club monthly meeting begins on April 13 at 9:30 a.m. for social time and munchies before the meeting begins at 10 a.m. It is held at the Veteran's Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. We are lucky to have the design skills of two longtime members, Laurelle Thom and Jean David, giving a talk and floral demonstration called "A Home Full of Flowers." They have done many programs and workshops for local garden clubs over the years and designed exquisite bouquets for Bouquets to Art at the DeYoung for many years. The meeting is free to attend. We welcome new members and if you would like to attend or consider joining, please contact LGCMembershipCommittee@gmail.com